Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 AT&T Stadium 925 N Collins St Arlington, TX 76011 Dallas Cowboys website AT&T Stadium website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 80,000 Dallas Cowboys: AT&T Stadium AT&T Stadium is the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and is in Arlington, Texas, in the heart of the DFW Metroplex between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. AT&T Stadium opened on May 27, 2009, when country singer and Texas’ own George Strait performed in front of 60,188 fans. A few months later on September 20th (4 years to the day after ground was broken at the stadium), the Cowboys played their first regular season game versus the New York Giants – the attendance on this historic night was 105,121. Although AT&T Stadium’s listed capacity is 80,000 people, the standing room only areas on the east and west side, referred to as Party Passes (available for $50), give the facility the potential to hold up to 105,000. AT&T Stadium is one of the premier stadiums in the world, breaking numerous attendance records. Besides being home to the Dallas Cowboys, the stadium has hosted events such as Super Bowl XLV, the NBA All-Star game, the NCAA Final Four, the Big 12 Conference Football Championship, the annual AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, the Academy of Country Music Awards, the UIL Texas state high school football championships, WrestleMania XXXII, and WrestleMania XXXVIII Food & Beverage 5 AT&T Stadium’s incredible catering is handled by Legends Corporation, which comes through with a few unique items – although the prices are high the tastes are incredible. Some of their unique dishes are chicken waffle sandwiches, Kobe burgers dressed up with either green chiles or BBQ, catfish po-boy sandwiches, prime rib sandwiches, and Frito pie. All of these are outstanding choices, but the high prices may deter some fans from purchasing them. Beside these unique items, AT&T Stadium offers classic fare such as ultimate nachos, jalapeño and cheese sausages, Nathan’s hot dogs, pretzels, refillable popcorn, and peanuts. The venue does cater to a healthier lifestyle as well, with choices including gluten-free turkey sandwiches, vegetarian black bean burgers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit cups, and whole dill pickles. The venue also serves Pepsi and Dr Pepper products. Miller Lite is a main sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys, so throughout the stadium Miller Lite and Coors are sold at the price of $10. In addition, Shiner Bock, Dos Equis, MGD 64, and Blue Moon are sold for $12, and if you have club seats you will have the same variety of beer along with mixed drinks. The stadium does serve wine in all club bars, including the four upper concourse bars and at the portable beer carts. However, the most popular alcoholic drink seems to be the Cowboy Rita (a frozen margarita) for $20. There is plenty of food around the stadium, however, as with other sport venues the real eating should be done at tailgates or at outside restaurants to save Legends Corporation from eating your wallet. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere at AT&T Stadium is alive and electric and begins hours before kickoff when the tailgaters enter the parking areas. Since tailgating is limited to designated areas, space is hard to come by, so plan accordingly if you want to participate. But the atmosphere is friendly and festive no matter which team colors you are wearing – the Cowboys provide pre-game entertainment beginning two hours before kickoff, with two stages located at AT&T Plaza (east side of the stadium) and at Miller Lite Plaza (west side). Other pre-game entertainment features the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, the Dallas Cowboys Drum Line along with the Rhythm & Blues Dancers, and portable bars and food trucks. The countdown to kickoff begins with an appearance by Rowdy, the Cowboys mascot, riding a motorcycle down the sideline. The attention then quickly turns to the entrance of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders from the corner tunnels on the west side of the stadium – the cheerleaders then take center stage and perform to AC-DC’s Thunderstruck, ending their performance with the dance line performing a jump split. The performers then file into the tunnel at midfield on the Cowboys side, before re-appearing for the Dallas Cowboys’ player introductions. Both teams enter the field at the 50 yard-line through the lower club seats on opposite sides of the field – the north sideline of the stadium is the visitor’s side while the south side is for the Cowboys. The game atmosphere itself depends on what is happening on the field, but many people feel that the stadium is so amazingly large that a home field advantage just doesn’t exist – However, this isn’t from a lack of trying by Cowboys fans; the pure massiveness of this venue makes the fans seem sometimes distant from the playing field, with the fans in the 400 sections being high up and far away from the playing surface. However, the incredibly large video screen does bring the action closer for fans in the upper level. The Cowboys also offer party passes for every Cowboys home game throughout the season. The holders of these passes have access to the east and west platforms of the stadium, which is a standing room only type of access that gets the holder into the stadium, but without a seat – stadium ushers have been advised to check tickets closely because of the party pass option. Party pass holders will line up early to enter the stadium as they rush to claim their standing space, as it doesn’t take long for those areas to fill up, leaving some pass holders ending up watching the game on the large video screen. Overall, the stadium, fans, and the amazing architectural structure, with its retractable roof and doors, provides a good atmosphere to see a game. However, don’t expect to have the roof or the doors open during the game, as they are customarily kept closed due to the Texas weather. The fantastic artwork located throughout the stadium also adds an interesting touch and brings another reason any sports fan would enjoy their visit to AT&T Stadium. In addition, the facility now has its own mobile app that can provide real-time information during your game day experience. Neighborhood 3 AT&T Stadium is within reasonable walking distance of the Arlington artery of restaurants on Collins Street – there is no public transportation in the city of Arlington, so there is plenty of foot traffic going to and from these restaurants. The Tailgate Tavern (located on the other side of Walmart) is close to AT&T Stadium, but is highly overpriced, crowded, and has slow service. The better choice is to look on or across Collins Street from the stadium – there you have Fishbone Grill and Airway Burgers, along with many popular fast food and chain restaurants such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Wendy’s, Subway, etc. Another good spot in the neighborhood is Lincoln Square, an area of restaurants and shops approximately a quarter mile from AT&T Stadium on the corner of Interstate 30 and Collins Street; Lincoln Square offers Catch-A-Ride if you spend $40 (for example by buying a simple gift card), meaning parking will be free and you can ride their shuttle to and from the stadium for $5. However, due to the traffic congestion I would forget the shuttle and make the walk instead. If you prefer to be away from the congestion of Collins Street, but still want to find a couple of restaurants that would be a good pre or postgame hangout, you can visit the old downtown area of Arlington between E. Abram Street and E. Division St, only a couple of miles from AT&T Stadium. In this small area there are plenty of options such as Flying Fish, Twisted Root Beer Company, J Gilligan’s Bar and Grill, Babe’s Chicken, and Grease Monkey Burger Shop. There are also two local craft breweries to visit here as well: Legal Draft Beer Company and Division Brewing. The most popular place around AT&T Stadium’s neighborhood is Texas Live. Texas Live is a $250 million world class dining and entertainment district opened in 2018 next to Globe Life Field (home of the Texas Rangers ) There are plenty of food and drink options inside Texas Live such as Lockhart Smoke House, PBR Texas, Pudge’s Pizza, and Troy’s, as well as the outdoor concert venue Arlington Backyard. Loews Texas Live Hotel provides a close luxury hotel besides the Sheraton-Arlington; there is construction currently going on for another Loews Hotel and parking garage across from the current hotel. AT&T Stadium is only a short distance from Globe Life Field , Six Flags over Texas, and Hurricane Harbor in an area known as the Entertainment District. For lodging, consider a stay at the Sheraton (1500 Convention Center Drive) or Courtyard by Marriott (1500 Nolan Ryan Expressway). Fans 5 Every Cowboys fan seems to have a reason why they “bleed Cowboy blue” – for some being born and raised in Texas is reason enough, while for others it might be that their hometown doesn’t have an NFL team, but television brought the Cowboys into their homes and hearts. Cowboys fans are knowledgeable, passionate, and they take every win or loss by their team very personally. Many fans seem to have traveled to Texas specifically for a Dallas Cowboys home game, because it is on their bucket list and has been a life-long dream. It is truly amazing to witness fans coming from all over the world to AT&T Stadium, just to see the star on the field and be in the presence of their extended Cowboys family. Access 3 AT&T Stadium is located about 20 minutes south of DFW International Airport, and although the facility is at the center point between Dallas and Fort Worth, there is no public transportation to or from Arlington. Therefore, transportation can become a bit expensive – an Uber/Lyft can easily cost $80 to $100 if you are staying at a downtown hotel in Dallas. Besides the cost, be prepared to wait at least an hour to be picked up – Uber/Lyft drop-offs and pick-ups are located on the west side of the stadium, off N. Collins and Cowboys Way. However, there is also a Cowboys bus that shuttles fans from downtown Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium, leaving from Vickery Park & Ride and accessed from the 200 block of W. Vickery Blvd, just south of the T&P rail station. The Dallas Cowboys have the highest average parking cost in the NFL at $75 per vehicle, so renting a car isn’t much cheaper. AT&T Stadium owns 15 parking lots with about 12,000 parking stalls, and the Texas Rangers parking lots add another 12,000 spaces, meaning the rest of the parking comes from local businesses, churches, and private homes renting out their lots, and the further away from the stadium you get the cheaper the cost. The Walmart parking lot is NOT an option, as cars will be towed. Also note that during the early part of the Cowboys schedule the Rangers are still in season, so on game days when both teams are in action parking and traffic issues will be multiplied, so be sure to leave yourself additional travel time. Various nearby hotels in the Arlington area and around DFW airport do provide free or low-cost shuttle service to AT&T Stadium. There are also a couple of hotels within walking distance of the stadium if you can book a room early, most likely as soon as the NFL schedule is released. There are ten guest entrances into AT&T Stadium, however, I recommend that you enter the stadium at the gate stated on your ticket – the main concourse of the stadium is split in half because of the premier club seating, which may prevent you from walking across to the other side, forcing you to go up to the 400 level and then back down to the main concourse. AT&T Stadium has a wide concourse, plenty of concessions stands, two large pro shops on the main concourse, and two smaller shops in the upper level for Cowboys fans to add souvenirs to their collections. The facility is also a premier venue that is fully ADA accessible, the concourses and restrooms are well kept, and there is plenty of legroom in the seating sections. The stadium security/gate procedures follow the NFL’s ‘clear bag’ policy, and it’s best to familiarize yourself with these rules ahead of time to avoid unnecessary headaches. You may want to read the policy, as many fans are sent back to their cars for not complying. Return on Investment 3 The Cowboys average ticket price is $99, below the league average of $107, according to Statista. However, I’m sure that is including the party passes – add in the highest average parking cost in the league and attending a Cowboys game can be expensive. The $50 party passes offer a way to get into the stadium, but this option doesn’t guarantee seeing the game live – the $50 ticket is standing room only located on the two end zone platforms of the stadium, and most fans on these platforms end up just watching the game on the video board because the platforms are overcrowded throughout the game. These party pass tickets are more for fans that want the feel of being at the game rather than those who really want to watch it. Nevertheless, the return on investment at AT&T Stadium can be manageable, if plans are made in advance, as ticket prices can vary based on the opponent or date of the game. The phrase, “you get what you pay for” may be the best way to describe the return on investment when attending a Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium. Extras 5 AT&T Stadium has several extra elements which help push the overall game day experience over the top. First, the Cowboys do not retire jerseys to honor their past greats, as they have the Ring of Honor – the ring currently has 22 names of legends and continues to grow. This is a great extra element, to be reminded of past Cowboy greats like Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach, and Tony Dorsett, among others. There is also a nice statue of Tom Landry near the ticket booth and pro shop. The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders also deserve a mention as one of the most prolific cheerleading organizations in any sport. These young women are not only beautiful, but are well-educated, hardworking, talented, and are truly great ambassadors for the NFL, visiting local hospitals, supporting charities, and traveling overseas to visit and support U.S. troops through their USO tours. In addition, the Dallas Cowboys art collection, located throughout the inside of the venue, features 27 different works of art from various artists. Fans can also enjoy the array of large glossy historic photographs that can be found throughout the venue, depicting some of the greatest moments in Dallas Cowboys history. AT&T Stadium also offers four different types of stadium tours – VIP guided, unguided, audio art tour, and guided art tour. The venue also opens for a limited number of days during the season for Rally Days, which offer fans the chance to take a self-guided tour, meet former Cowboys players, take pictures with the Super Bowl trophies, and enjoy appearances from the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. Final Thoughts AT&T Stadium has been the home of Dallas Cowboys football for a decade. However, the stadium continues to be a leader in providing top notch entertainment year-round. The facility is the blueprint for other new NFL venues such as Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, but AT&T Stadium is still very impressive to all fans, especially newcomers, as they walk in for the first time. There is no argument that the AT&T Stadium experience comes with a higher price than other stadiums around the NFL, However, a trip to watch a Dallas Cowboys game in the Mecca of sports venues should truly be at the top of any football fan’s bucket list.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Rhodes Field 3331 River Fields Dr Philadelphia, PA 08105 Penn Quakers website Rhodes Field website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 650 The Might of the Penn Tucked into the River Fields Complex between I-76 and the railroad tracks, you can find Rhodes Field, home of Penn Quakers soccer. The complex is located on the bank of the Schuylkill River and also includes Meiklejohn Stadium , home of the Quakers' baseball team, and Ellen Vagelos Field , home of Penn field hockey. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Rhodes Field. Fans are free to bring in their own. Occasionally, food and drink may be available at receptions to certain groups such as donors or alumni. If this applies to you, you will be able to register in advance. Atmosphere 5 Rhodes Field is located in an unusual urban setting. The Philadelphia skyline is visible across the field and cars zoom by on I-76 behind the bleachers. The stadium itself has a beautiful brick facade and bleacher seating for about 650 fans. A digital scoreboard is located to the left of the field that shows some team stats and also shows a pregame hype video to get the crowd fired up. The seats are all very close to the action - there is no track or anything else separating them from the field, and with only a few rows, you will be close no matter where you sit. As is often the case at soccer matches at any level, much of the energy comes from the fans (more on that later) but the team itself puts in a lot of effort too. Penn has a mascot, a costumed Quaker, who has been known to make appearances at Penn soccer games and interact with fans. Rhodes Field is always full of energy from the crowd and that really helps contribute to the atmosphere here. Neighborhood 5 Rhodes Field is located in a park next to several other Penn athletic venues in the University City Neighborhood of Philadelphia. Within a short walk, you can find numerous restaurants ranging from pizza to burgers to chicken to bars, and much more. Most of this can be found north of the stadium, as the university hospital is located directly to the south. The Schuylkill River is directly to the east, but there are plenty of options as you head west along the streets as well. The New Deck Tavern is one favorite, as are the White Dog Café and highly rated Mexican restaurant Cucina Zapata. Fans 5 Although Rhodes Field only seats 650, Penn fans fill the bleachers every game. They are loud, especially after Penn goals, but even at other points during the game it can be quite raucous and rowdy here. Penn fans are also not afraid to get on the ref's case for making what they perceive as a bad call, even if it had little impact on the game. If a Penn player gets called for a questionable offsides shortly before shooting the ball wide of the net, expect fans to boo and yell at the ref, even though the only real effect is that the ensuing free kick by the other team will be taken from a few yards further up the field. Access 3 Rhodes Field is located in the River Fields Complex and finding it can be tricky if you are not using a GPS. Even if you are using one, it can be unclear where to park. On weekends or weekdays after 2:00, the lots in the River Fields Complex are open to the public. On weekdays before 2, you can only park here with a permit, but since Rhodes Field has lights, most games on weekdays are played at night and this is not a problem. The closest lot to the stadium is by the Hollenback Annex, all the way at the back of the Rhodes Field Complex. The final portion of the road is undergoing significant construction and only one lane is open. This means that staff have to direct traffic to keep cars going into the lot, cars leaving the lot, and pedestrians walking from the lot to the stadium or vice versa from colliding with each other. It is a huge mess. If this lot fills up, which it will, there are a few spaces available by the baseball stadium, which isn't significantly further away, but if these fill up, you will have to park at the Penn Museum Garage, about a ten minute walk away, which will also be your only option on weekday afternoons. Getting from either of the lots at River Fields to the stadium involves walking down a narrow unlit road with no grass or sidewalk along the majority of the route that you can walk on. Since cars are zooming by on I-76 on the other side of the fence, you won't even hear cars when they approach on the River Fields access road, so you need to be paying careful attention as both a driver and a pedestrian. Getting from the Penn Museum Garage to the stadium involves walking down a long staircase behind the Hollenback Annex (and back up it at the end of the game) which will put you in the Hollenback lot. Just as if you parked there, you will need to walk down the chute and hope the staff successfully keep vehicular traffic out while you do so. The Penn Health SEPTA stop is a short walk away near the Penn Museum Garage, but you run into the same problem walking from here that you do walking from anywhere else. If you do drive, parking will will cost $4 per hour, up to $18 for the whole day. While Penn receives an average score for access, the fact is that they could receive a much higher score without adding any significant access, simply by improving what is already there. There is room for a sidewalk along the River Fields Access road, but instead there is a steep incline along the side that is impossible to walk on, and at many points contains rocks or other things you would not want to trip over when walking at night on an unlit road. If they simply added a sidewalk and some lighting along the road, and made it easier and safer for vehicles and pedestrians alike to get to and from the Hollenback lot, this rating would go up significantly. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Penn soccer games is free, and Rhodes Field is an outstanding venue, so the value here is good. However, the high cost to park takes this score down a notch. Extras 3 One star for the banners at Rhodes Field honoring Penn's tournament appearances. A second star for the unusual location of Rhodes Field, between a highway and railroad tracks, with cars zooming by behind you and trains passing on the other side of the field, and the Philadelphia skyline visible beyond the tracks. A third and final star for the pregame hype video that gets the crowd fired up. Final Thoughts Rhodes Field is a gorgeous college soccer stadium that fans in the Philadelphia area will definitely want to visit. While it is a bit tricky to get to, once you are here, you will not regret coming.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Agganis Arena 925 Commonwealth Ave Boston, MA 02215 Boston University Terriers hockey website Agganis Arena website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 6,221 Beanpot University Hockey has been played at Boston University since 1917. The team is among the most successful college squads in the nation, with a resume that includes 38 NCAA Tournament appearances, 23 Frozen Fours and 5 national championships. They are also the most successful of Boston’s four Beanpot schools, having won the prestigious midseason tournament 31 times. This has led to the school being nicknamed “Beanpot University.” Agganis Arena was built in 2005 on the site of the old Commonwealth Armory. It was constructed to accommodate crowds that had grown too large for the team’s former home, Walter Brown Arena . The arena is named after “The Golden Greek,” Harry Agganis. Agganis was a star quarterback and first baseman at BU who spurned the NFL to play for the Boston Red Sox. Agganis, considered by many to be the best athlete ever to attend Boston University, died at age 26 from a massive pulmonary embolism. The rink at Agganis Arena is named for longtime Terrier coach Jack Parker, who spent 40 years as head coach of the Terriers and 47 years at the school. 92 former Terriers have made it to the National Hockey League. Ten of them have had their name engraved on the Stanley Cup. In addition, 49 Terriers have represented their countries at the Olympics, including four players from the legendary 1980 United States Olympic team. Food & Beverage 4 As is the case with most sporting venues of recent vintage, a particular emphasis is placed on having a quality and variety of concessions options. Agganis Arena is no exception. Stands are specialized in what they offer, so you may need to search around a bit to find what you want. Stands include Commonwealth Concessions (hot dogs, bratwurst, nachos), Terrier Grill (chicken fingers and french fries), North End Pizza (pizza slices, calzones, salads, clam chowder), Rhett’s Ice Cream and Terrier Town (pretzels, popcorn and snacks). In addition, there are portable carts selling Dippin’ Dots ice cream as well as a variety of snacks and beverages circling the concourse. Pepsi products are featured at Agganis Arena. Fans looking for adult beverages will find a selection of beer and wine, featuring Agganis New England style-IPA brewed by Bent Water Brewing in nearby Lowell. Atmosphere 5 At any college hockey game, much of the atmosphere is driven by the student section and band. Despite playing in a modern arena with all sorts of bells and whistles at their disposal, the Boston University game day staff let the students do the bulk of the work. The large video board and PA system are used to supplement, not replace, the noise generated by the students and pep band. Instead of relying on pre-recorded music, the band plays during most play stoppages. The student section fills up the north end zone sections and comes armed with a repertoire of chants, songs and routines designed to rattle the opposition and entertain themselves. While some of the noise coming from the student section may be a bit salty for some, there is no doubting the home ice advantage it gives the Terriers. In addition, there is enough going on at Agganis Arena to keep the casual fan. Rhett, the school’s mascot, wanders around interacting with fans. Pee-wee players take the ice during intermissions, and t-shirt tosses, trivia contests and online contests give fans chances to take home some BU gear. Neighborhood 4 Boston University is an urban campus, straddling Commonwealth Avenue for approximately a mile and a half on the Boston/Brookline border. Located across the street from Agganis Arena is Nickerson Field , home to BU’s lacrosse and soccer teams. It is also known to baseball historians as Braves Field, which was home to the National League’s Boston Braves from 1915 to 1952. Walter Brown Arena and Case Gymnasium are also located on this site. Fans coming to the BU campus will find plenty of choices for dining in the area. BU students recommend Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and El Jefe’s Taqueria, both located right next door to Agganis Arena. The neighborhood features a diverse variety of food options, with excellent Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese eateries nearby. The Paradise Rock Club, known nationally for giving bands like U2 and REM their first area shows, is located a block away from Agganis Arena. It continues to host both local acts and up-and-coming national acts. If you expand your search to beyond Agganis Arena’s immediate neighborhood, Kenmore Square and Fenway Park are just over a mile away. Not far beyond that are the tourist destinations of Copley Square, Back Bay, Boston Common and Chinatown. All are easily accessed by the Green Line, which has stops up and down Commonwealth Avenue. Fans 4 Boston University averages around 4,500 fans annually, which ranks them in the top 20 nationwide. The crowds here are a mix of locals and alumni. In hockey-mad Boston, with numerous options for the local hockey fan, BU is one of the top draws in the area. Anchoring the crowd at Agganis Arena is an excellent turnout from the student body. The students fill the sections at the north end of the arena and make enough noise to fill the barn. As a result, the rest of the crowd can be pretty laid back. They can afford to be, the kids do all the heavy lifting here. But get a traditional rival in the building for a big game, and the atmosphere ramps up accordingly. Boston University’s inclusion in the Hockey East Conference guarantees that the Terriers schedule will be filled with local teams and longtime rivals. You can expect a good turnout from visiting fans most nights. Access 3 Agganis Arena is located on the western edge of the Boston University’s urban campus, which straddles Commonwealth Avenue on the Boston/Brookline city line. The city of Boston is a difficult one to drive around in, even on the best of days. Traffic jams and construction projects are a constant nuisance, not to mention streets dating back to colonial days that are laid out in seemingly random directions. Agganis Arena is located on Commonwealth Avenue, one of Boston’s busiest streets. If driving to a BU game, your best bet for parking is the Agganis Garage located underneath the arena. There is limited on-street parking in the area. Driving directions can be found here . Stadium Journey’s recommended method to arrive at the arena is to take the subway, known in Boston as the “T.” The Green Line’s B Train stops right at the front door of the arena at both the St. Paul and Pleasant Street stops. Detailed directions can be found here . Agganis Arena features a large indoor lobby. Stairs on either end of the lobby take fans up to the concourse, which circles the entire rink. All of the facility’s concession stands, suites and rest rooms are located on the concourse, which is a bit narrow and can get crowded at peak times. Rest rooms, while numerous, are smallish. Time your trips wisely. Fans enter the steeply pitched seating bowl at the top and walk down to their seats. All seats at Agganis Arena are individual red folding stadium seats. Fans requiring accessible seating will find ample room at the top of the seating bowl, along with some limited standing room. All seats offer excellent views of the action. Return on Investment 4 BU hockey is a bit more expensive than other colleges in the area, but not outrageously so. Tickets to Terrier games cost $23, while parking in local lots and garages will run an additional $12. Concessions, while a bit on the high side, are in line with other facilities in the area. There are some ways to save a few dollars at a Terriers game. The Me Plus Three ticket package discounts tickets by 25% when you buy a block of four. There is free on-street parking available in the area for fans who are willing to search for it and walk a few blocks. To save some money and aggravation, Stadium Journey recommends taking the subway to Agganis Arena. The Green Line’s B train has stops right at the arena’s front door. A one-way fare costs only $2.75, and accesses most of the city. Check out the MBTA website for more details. Extras 5 Boston University has a notable hockey history, which they display throughout Agganis Arena. A statue of Harry Agganis stands at the main entrance. Two of the program’s most notable figures, Jack Parker and Jack Kelley, have statues inside the arena. Displays located throughout the concourse honor BU Hockey All-Americans, players and alumni who played in the NHL, those who have represented their countries in the Olympics as well as members of the BU Hockey Hall of Fame. Terrier All-Americans are also featured in murals located in the entry plaza to the concourse. Banners hang over the ice throughout Agganis Arena. National titles, conference championships, Beanpot titles, Frozen Four appearances and Hobey Baker award winners are all memorialized. The four BU players who were members of the 1980 USA “Miracle On Ice” gold medal-winning team have a banner here too. Three retired numbers are commemorated here: Harry Agganis (#33), Jack Parker (#6), and Travis Roy (#24). You may not be familiar with Travis Roy. His career lasted all of one shift, during which he fell awkwardly into the boards while trying to make a check. The fall paralyzed him. He became an outspoken advocate for spinal cord injury rehabilitation through his foundation. His book, “Eleven Seconds,” is a must-read for any sports fan. Another BU hockey alumnus is honored at Agganis Arena. The BU Players’ Suite is named in honor of Mark Bavis, class of 1993, who was aboard the plane that was crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Final Thoughts Boston is a hockey city at heart. And even though most of Boston bleeds the Bruins’ black and gold, there is a corner of the city along Commonwealth Avenue that proudly sports the red and white of the Terriers. In a city with no shortage of college hockey options, Agganis Arena offers an experience that may top them all. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Red Springs, North Carolina, will most likely never be the home of minor league baseball. The small town is 23 miles southwest of Fayetteville, smack in the middle of Interstate 95 and State Road 401. However, 55 years ago, the city was the “World's Smallest Professional Baseball Town." The town had not housed a minor league baseball team in almost twenty years. It was home to three textile mills, a weekly newspaper, a radio station, two restaurants, and no hotels. The town closed up early and was “so quiet that you could hear yourself walk.”  Why would a major league baseball team place a farm team in a town of just over 4,000 residents? Even by 1969 standards, these communities were part of minor league baseball’s past. However, it was a premonition by a baseball owner who thought it might be worth giving it another shot. The city still retained its old minor league ballpark, built in 1942 for the Red Springs Red Robins, a team in the semi-professional Twin States League. It had been built within two months under the watchful eye of Tom Cope, a leading sportsman in the county. The 2,500-seat ballpark featured two dress rooms with hot and cold showers, men's2 and women's restrooms, concession stands, a press box, and box seats. It was 300 feet to left and right field and 350 to center field. A green 9-foot fence surrounded the field, and wiring was installed with the hopes of adding lighting after the conclusion of World War II. A crowd of 1,500 was on hand to watch the Robins defeat the Second Regiment baseball team 11-4. Cope looked at his stadium with pride and quipped, "Best this section of the state." The ballpark seated 2,500 and featured a playing field among the best in the league. Lights were added to the stadium before the 1947 season when the Robins joined the Class D Tobacco State League. The club affiliated itself with Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics. Improvements on the ballpark took place the following year to make it one of the most “viable and suited Class D parks in the country.” The umpire's dressing room received new locker rooms, the team offices were refurbished, a new equipment room, a drainage system, and a new concession were installed. The ballpark received box seats from Philadelphia's Shibe Park placed at field level to increase capacity. An assemblage of 12 local businessmen formed the Red Springs Baseball Club to increase attendance to 40,000 for the 1948 season. They did not reach that goal as the high point mark in this category was in 1949 when 33,303 fans watched games at Robbins Park. However, the club did capture the 1948 and 1949 Tobacco State League championships. The Robins remained in the league until it dissolved in 1950 due to a shortage of skilled players available for service and the high costs of maintaining a professional league. Attendance in the loop dropped 25 percent, and most clubs operated at a loss. The organization would live on and join the semi-pro Eastern Carolina League for the 1951 season and then jump to the Strawberry League for a few seasons before disbanding in 1954. Jump ahead to 1969, when Matt Boykin, owner of the Wilson Tobs in the Carolina League, decided to take an innovative approach. He had lost money the past 12 seasons at Fleming Stadium and relocated his club to Red Springs, a much smaller market of around 25,000 people. It was a bold move for the Minnesota Twins affiliate in the Carolina League. Boykin was excited; he felt the small community of 4,000 people would embrace his ball club since there was nothing else to do at night. He explained in length to Sports Illustrated writer Peter Cary when he came to town in July for a story. “This is the solution to the survival of the low minors. Last year, I had to compete with two community centers, a bowling alley, two swimming pools, five movies, and a drive-in restaurant on every corner. Here, baseball is the only thing to do, and there's a bunch of little places like this with ballparks that can be fixed over. We should forget the big towns and go to the small ones.” At the time, Red Springs was the smallest town to host a professional baseball club. It was one-seventh the size of Newport News, home of the Peninsula Pilots, with a population of 134,000. However, interest from the area was strong; demand for tickets and advertising was brisk in the months before the start of the baseball season. A total of 350 season tickets were ordered for $12,000, 2,500 in program ads, and $4,000 for billboard fence ads were also secured within days of announcing the team’s arrival in town. Boykin added that people would call up and demand a sign in the outfield, but when there wasn’t any space left, they would opt for an ad in the game day program. Team manager Tom Cope, who also served as the general manager of the Red Robins during their time in Weed Loop (that is what newspapers at times referred to), helped make a lot of this happen. He sold tickets and scorecards and secured 27 businesses to place ads on the outfield walls. The old ballpark was refurbished with $10,000 from the Office of Economic Opportunity, adding extra bleachers, a new scoreboard, fresh paint, upgraded concession stands, and a new infield. In April, the city put up a hand-painted sign at the town’s entrance on Highway 71, proudly announcing it as the world's smallest professional town. A few days before the season opener, an open house drew 300 fans, sparking speculation that opening day would see a strong turnout for the Red Springs club. The new club sparked interest in surrounding communities, and a crowd of 3,000 was expected for the home opener. On opening night, 2,185 people watched the Twins lose to Kinston 3-1 in 10 innings. It was the first professional game since the 1950 season and included members of the 1913-1915 ball clubs, the first professional clubs in town. The local Robenson newspaper stated that the crowd was polite and respectful until the bottom of the ninth when many returning from their cars saw the home team tie the game at one.  Crowds continued to show up for the following games, and by the 15th game of the season, attendance had reached 12,918 fans. In comparison, the club attracted 22,400 fans in Wilson for the whole season in 1968. This was highlighted when 4,157 came out to a July contest that more than doubled the size of the town’s population. Ticket prices were 99 cents, and start times were pushed back from 7:30 to 8:00 pm to adhere to local tobacco farmers’ schedules. Many of the fans were tobacco farmers who enjoyed a relaxing night at the old ballpark after braving the hot summer heat in the tobacco fields. Cope told The (Raleigh) News and Observer why he thought crowds were high at games. “We’ve had a lot of response from surrounding towns. There was no city within a hundred miles of us with a pro team; we feel we can draw well from this whole area.” However, playing in such a small town had its downsides, primarily felt by the players. Most of them lived in an old Victorian mansion, with limited activities available within a 30-mile radius. There was only one television station that came in somewhat clearly during the day and at night; the majority of religious programs and beer had to be purchased across the county lines, and there was almost no social life for players at night. When the season was over, the ball club sported a 57-84 record and attracted 40,332 fans for 66 games, for an average of 572 fans a game. At the time, an average rate of 450 was considered good for the league, and Red Springs attracted about 17 percent of its population. They doubled the input of Burlington’s 22,000 and were almost even with Lynchburg’s number of 42,286 from a population of 54,000.  Sadly, that would be the final season for minor league baseball in Red Springs. The Minnesota Twins relocated the club to Lynchburg after the Chicago White Sox pulled out of town. Cope was surprised by the decision, according to a 1970 report in the Charlotte Observer . “The people from Minnesota gave us every indication that we were doing fine. We were not told that we were lacking in any way.” George Brophy, Minnesota’s assistant director of minor league operations, was quoted in the same article saying the reason for leaving Red Springs was that the young players didn’t like it there. “It was tough for them to find places to live, even tougher to turn something up in the afternoons, you can go down to the barbershop and watch haircuts for entertainment.” It was 13 miles across the county line to purchase beer in a can or on tap, 16 miles to the nearest motel, and the local cafe had to stay open late on game nights to serve post-game meals to both clubs. Player Danny Monzon was one of the players who seemed to enjoy his time that summer. He remembers hanging out at the local stores downtown to talk baseball with people who were true fanatics of the game. He also added that Robbins Park was a bad place to play. There was hope that the town would reach an agreement with another parent team in either the Carolina or Western Carolinas leagues, but no other organization was interested in placing a team in Red Springs. Boykin turned a profit in town and even turned down the general manager position with the Twins affiliate in Orlando. Perhaps even a few businesses felt somewhat bitter with Boykin about the club’s demise. Baseball continued at Robbins Park with Little League, Junior League, and Senior League ball. Pembroke State University of the North Carolina Collegiate Summer League used the ballpark after its playing field was turned into a parking lot in 1973. By this time, the stadium had a capacity of 2,000, and the lights were no longer in minor league condition. By the mid-1980s, the grandstand would be razed. The outline of the ball field is still visible and perhaps part of the original fencing as well. The site of baseball dating over 80 years is now called Tom Cope Memorial Park, the town’s major baseball guru who passed away in 1975. It is home to the Red Springs High School Red Devils baseball team and is considered by a few as one of the best high school fields in the state. Even if the Twins decided to remain in Red Springs, who knows how long the minor leagues would have lasted. Still, the fan and business support was strong enough that there could have been another year. It was most likely the last of its kind. If the grandstand remained, it would be prime for a franchise in the Old North State League. For one season in 1969, Red Springs was the smallest professional baseball town. A fleeting moment that resulted in blackberries growing in parts of the outfield only a year later. It has been 55 years since the Red Springs Twins walked off the field at Robins Park, but it was an interesting experiment during minor league baseball's speculative days . ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 McBride Stadium 204 NW 13th St Richmond, IN 47374 Richmond Jazz website McBride Stadium website Year Opened: 1936 Capacity: 3,000 Jazzing up the Summer at McBride Stadium Baseball has been played at John Cate Field at McBride Stadium since August 1936. The former gravel pit was transformed to replace Exhibition Park, which had been destroyed by a fire the previous year. McBride was first known as Municipal Stadium when it opened for American Legion baseball, funded by the Works Progress Administration. The first professional team was the Richmond Roses, who began play in 1946, the Class D affiliate of the Boston Braves. The 1947 home opener saw the Roses notch a 4-1 victory in front of 1,559 fans under cool, windy Indiana springtime weather. The club compiled a 202-220 record in three seasons and attracted 58,039 fans during the 1948 season, the highest total of any affiliated club at the stadium. In 1949 the independent Richmond Robins were established but were soon replaced after one season by the Richmond Tigers of the Ohio-Indiana League. The Detroit affiliate featured future Hall of Famer Jim Bunning, who posted a 7-8 record in his first year of pro ball in 1950. However, in December 1951, Detroit withdrew its affiliation, citing instability with the league and the scarcity of players due to the military draft. It would be 44 years before another professional minor league ball club would return to the city. McBride would continue hosting American Legion and high school baseball during the next four decades, but the years of baseball took its toll on the diamond. The playing field was uneven and in bad shape; it was recrowned thanks to efforts by Richmond High School baseball coach John Cate. He would later manage the Richmond Roosters of the Frontier League, the first professional baseball team at McBride in 43 years. The ball club would capture two league championships in 2001 and 2002. Unfortunately, the club relocated in 2006 and then replaced with the Richmond River Rats of the Prospect League in 2009. The collegiate summer league team would compete for seven years before making way for its current tenant, the Richmond Jazz of the Great Lakes Collegiate Summer League, in 2016. The 1,874-seat ballpark features a small wooden roof grandstand, original light poles, a sloping grass hill down the left field line, and plenty of memories from high school, legion, professional, and collegiate baseball of the past 80 years. From gravel pit to baseball ballpark, McBride is a hidden gem of a ballpark in Indiana. Food & Beverage 3 The stadium introduced an updated menu for the 2023 season that includes a few upgrades. Burgers come with all the fixings; brats, hot dogs, corn dogs, nachos, and fries are served with chili and cheese if desired. The team reinstated the Rowdy Roosted chicken sandwich popular during the days of the Roosters of the Frontier League. There is also a chicken club and BLT sandwich. The stadium's signature item is the Dog-a-Rita: smoked sausage, chili, shredded cheese, and Fritos. The cost is $5, and worth trying if you are an adventurous eater. It is a filling item on the concession stand at McBride Stadium. There is also an abundance of candy and frozen treats for sale. Candy bars sell for $1, boxed candy for $2, and frozen chocolate bars and ice cream are $2. Coca-Cola products cost $2 a bottle, Budweiser, Coors, and Miller products sell $4 a can, and a glass of wine is only $5. Atmosphere 3 The game-day atmosphere has been somewhat vapid the past two seasons with a lack of merchandise area, signage, and banners that use to enhance the ballpark's atmosphere. The Jazz first few seasons had a few more fans in attendance and that could depend on the night you attend during the season. The small ticket window greets customers walking up the hill from the parking lot. The two-window concession booth offers menu items from food to drink, but there does not appear to be a merchandise table at the ballpark. The entrance to the grandstand holds a bit of nostalgia as it is sunken into the field and a hill. There are roughly 14 rows of wooden and metal bleachers and plastic theater-style box seats. The wooden bleacher seats take up the majority of the seating bowl and were built in 2021. The wooden columns are a reminder of ballparks of the past and the view of the game is not interrupted by them. Down the left field line is plenty of green grass for kids to run around. The sloped area extends behind the left field wall and features a wooden deck that was once used as a picnic patio section; it’s now open to anyone who wants to watch the game from a different vantage point. There are in-between inning promotions and gimmicks, but on a much smaller scale than in previous seasons, but there is an on-field P.A. announcer who does a nice job of entertaining the crowd on hand in the stands. He speaks from the newly constructed PA booth that now sits underneath the grandstand. The Jazz does not have a mascot who parades around entertaining fans young and old. Neighborhood 2 McBride is nestled into a residential community in Clear Creek Park and it is adjacent to several little league fields. It is a type of town where one can leave their doors unlocked or take a stroll at 3 a.m. without fear. It is also a reminder of what small towns might have felt like a few decades ago when minor-league ballparks were almost everywhere. There are not many dining options within proximity of the stadium and one would need to drive a few miles to find a place to eat. Little Sheeba’s offers great pizza and baked jalapeno poppers, and Galo’s Italian Grill is another fine option. Firehouse BBQ is located in a historic firehouse, Roscoe's Coffee Bar & Tap Room allows visitors to play board games in a relaxed environment, and The Cordial Inn is classy and casual in n the Historic Depot District There are quite a bit of national chains, but one local establishment off Interstate 70 called Fricker’s has some of the best hot wings in the area. And to my beer and wine connoisseurs, there are two local brewpubs in town: New Boswell. Fans 3 The crowds have been somewhat smaller than in previous seasons, but on certain weekends and fireworks nights, the games are very well attended. The ballpark does not need to be at capacity to feel like a sellout, crowds of 1,000-1,500 could easily give the place some much-needed life. Access 3 Even though Richmond is a small town, it is easy to get lost when trying to find McBride Stadium, as there are no road signs to the ballpark from either I-70 or SR-40. The ballpark is a 10-minute drive south from I-70 but use GPS. If you are traveling on I-70: take exit 149 A Williamsburg Pike south, make a right onto Indiana Ave, then a left onto NW 13 St, and the stadium is on the left. Once arriving at the ballpark, you should be able to find a spot in the free parking lot, on the street outside the stadium's walls, or somewhere on the streets in the neighborhood. Return on Investment 3 Tickets to all Jazz games are only $6 for adults, $5 for kids, and free of charge for kids under six. The parking is free in the grass-covered parking lot and menu options, such as a hot dog for $2.50, are a great price. It is a nice price point for Great Lakes League baseball. Extras 2 McBride earns a point for the vintage light towers that loom over the field. They look as if they are as old as the stadium itself. The setting of McBride Stadium takes visitors back to another era of baseball and at one time, a typical scene in minor league baseball following World War II. Sometimes it’s nice to take a step back in time and enjoy baseball the old-fashioned way. Final Thoughts A trip to a Jazz game at McBride Stadium should not go unnoticed. It may not be for the casual fan, but depending on who you are with, it may make a nice little treat during the baseball season. In an era where million-dollar structures are opening up and trying to outshine one another, a small cozy ball field will always be a reminder that home is not too far away. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Michael Rusignuolo, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Pim Mulier Sportpark Jaap Edenlaan 7, 2024 BW Haarlem, Netherlands DSS Haarlem website Pim Mulier Sportpark website Year Opened: 1963 Capacity: 500 Complicated Arrangements Haarlem’s baseball history is long and complicated, and remains so to this day. The Dutch major leagues, Honkbal Hoofdklasse, work on the European football (soccer) relegation system, so teams need to qualify for the top league and stay competitive to stay there. The first Haarlem club to hit the big time was the turn-of-the-century SC Haarlem, who had great success, winning several early Holland Series championships before relegation and eventual merger with competing sportclub HHC into the Sparks (which still plays in lower leagues today). Haarlem Nicols formed in the 60s and was the next big powerhouse, setting the Holland Series victory record in the 70s and 80s that was only recently eclipsed by Rotterdam’s Neptunus. But financial mismanagement crippled the team, and it went bankrupt in 1994. Then came Kinheim, which formed in the 1930s but was only a relatively recent contender to king-of-the-hill Neptunus, but an exedous of players saw them withdraw from Honkbal Hoofdklasse in 2017. Newcomer Haarlem DSS made it to the Honkbal Hoofdklasse in 2015 and is now the only representative from Haarlem in the top league. Following so far? Since the 1960s, most Haarlem baseball teams have played at Pim Mulier Sportspark, a multi-sport athletic complex named for one of the founders of modern Dutch sport. These sportparks are usually arranged as an MLB Spring Training facility, with a main stadium and several subsidiary fields all crowded together to handle different levels of baseball and softball. The main field at the sportpark was built in 1994, the 2,500-seat Pim Mulier Stadium, one of the nicest and most modern ballparks in the Netherlands. It rises to the level of about AA US MiLB (where the league-average field is about a Rookie-level facility), and the stadium features a business area, a small museum, and a full restaurant. Due to the vagarities of club politics, Kinheim alone has the rights to play in Pim Mulier Stadium, even though they are relegated to a lower level due to the player departures in 2017. The current Honkbal Hoofdklasse team in Haarlem, DSS, must play on a lesser field in the Pim Mulier Sportspark a short distance away. Pim Mulier Sportpark gets the job done for seeing a ballgame in an easy-to-get-to location at great prices, but it does leave a lot to be desired by the physical facilities. [All prices are in Euros. At the time of writing, one Euro is worth about $1.15.] Food & Beverage 3 Nearly all the teams in Honkbal Hoofdklasse have their food and drink concessions in their clubhouse, and DSS is no exception, but their clubhouse isn’t in their tiny park, but across the pedestrian walkway near the football fields. There is a small canteen located under the small grandstand that sells snacks, but if you want anything substantial (or bathrooms for that matter), you have to walk over the main clubhouse. There’s a normal selection of Dutch sports food on offer, including hamburgers, hot dogs, frites, toasti sandwiches, and Dutch meatballs (all €5 and under). The portions are good, and the prices are unassailable. DSS serves up a good selection of suds in their clubhouse, including Jupiler and local-boy Jopen, as well as wine and spirits for €3 or less. Again, can’t argue the prices. Coca-Cola rules the non-alcoholic roost. Since you’re in Haarlem, grab a Jopen beer, brewed a short distance away. Take your pick of food, but the Dutch meatballs are worth a try, and, of course, grab some frites. Atmosphere 2 Pim Mulier Sportpark’s baseball field is the lesser of the baseball facilities in the park, but even its cramped confines let you watch a game. The field walls are all constructed out of chain link, with the exception of the small brick grandstand. Bunker-like brick dugouts sit outside the chain link fence, and fenced bullpens sit outside either outfield wall. The tight confines behind home plate hold a small grandstand of five rows of molded plastic seats, topped with a small press box. There are several fixed benches in the area looking to the field, but there are also many loose chairs that patrons use to make their own seats. There is a small elevated pavilion on the first base side with a tall table and bar chairs that have ashtrays for the local smokers (of whom there are quite a bit), and there are other tall tables scattered around for people to eat and drink. A large electric scoreboard sits in the left field corner, displaying the count, outs, inning-by-inning score and the number of the player at bat. The high outfield chain link wall is covered in advertisements against a backdrop of trees only broken up by an apartment construction going on beyond the right-center wall. The main clubhouse and all restrooms are at the DSS clubhouse across the street. As is the case in most Honkbal Hoofdklasse games, there are no mascots or between-innings entertainment that permeate all levels of US baseball. You get in-stadium PA announcements, batter walk-up music, and the Seventh Inning Stretch, period. Since this is a step up from club ball, however, there are some nice vestiges of sportsmanship. Each batter coming the plate for the first time usually shakes the hand of the umpire and the opposing catcher. Sit where you want. The grandstand is the best view, but feel free to either grab a chair and make your perfect seat behind the batter’s box or sidle up to a tall table with your food from across the way to eat and drink while you watch the game. Neighborhood 4 Pim Mulier Sportpark is located a short distance from the city center in Haarlem, with a good selection of restaurants and hotels, but not much to keep you occupied. Unlike most Honkbal Hoofdklasse stadiums, there is a good selection of restaurants right by the park. To the west of the park are foodie heaven Restaurant N.A.P. Bloemendaal, upscale Restaurant Noor, and the Italian La Capannina. Just to the east are SushiRito Haarlem, the Indian Roti Room, Ricardoz Tapas, and Chinese Lok Moon. If those don’t tickle your fancy, take the short trip to downtown Haarlem or the train up to Amsterdam. One downside is there is not a lot to do in the immediate location directly around the park. Obviously, this is quickly fixed by the short ride to Haarlem city center or heading east to Amsterdam. There is the nature park Natuur-en Milleucentrum Ter Kleef (great for kids), and that’s about it unless you go further afield. There is a nice selection of hotels near the park, dozens more after the short ride to Haarlem center, and countless options the twenty minutes to Amsterdam. Nearest the park is the budget Stayokay Haarlem, to the north is Bastion Hotel Haarlem Velsen and Hotel De Weyman, and to the southwest are the more upscale Hotel ibis Styles Haarlem City, Hotel Bleecker, Bloemendaal, and Hotel Bloemandaal. Fans 3 Baseball (or honkbal, as it is known locally) is very much a fringe sport in The Netherlands, and for all of Europe for that matter. The Dutch Honkbal Hoofdklasse is one of the only semipro/professional leagues on the continent, sharing the distinction with the Italian Baseball League. Even in their cramped stadium, DSS seems to draw the low-end of the average Dutch baseball crowds (between 100-250 people per game). After games and practices at the surrounding fields end, the players and spectators come over to watch the top-level men play their games. Another out-of-the-ordinary status quo is that there are usually pet dogs at every game. It is a welcome change for dog lovers, less so if you don’t like them. Local fans sit in the small grandstand or arrange chairs behind home plate. Smokers and drinkers line up at the tall tables on the firstmbase side. Visitors arrange chairs on the third base side close to the visiting dugout. Sitting by the announcer’s booth can be enjoyable, as you can often hear them object to calls on the field before they make official announcements. Access 3 Pim Mulier Sportpark is easy to get to and relatively quick from most major cities, although the cramped stadium and the separate facilities does make it little inefficient to get around. Mass transit is a snap, as the park is a short walk away from the Haarlem Bloemendaal train station. It is about twenty minutes from Amsterdam Centraal (€5.00) and a little under an hour from Rotterdam (€13.50). Driving, cab, or ride share is just under ten minutes to the center of Haarlem, a half hour from Amsterdam, and an hour from Rotterdam. There is a parking lot by the park, and there is plenty of free bicycle parking. Cabs and ride shares can drop you off right at the park entrance, a short walk to the field. The stadium just has one entrance into the cramped confines. Entering is not a problem, but even with the relatively small crowds, you have to step aside for people sometimes if they are coming from the other direction. All facilities are located across the pedestrian walk at the main clubhouse, so getting grub and using the facilities is a lot more difficult than it needs to be. Return on Investment 4 There’s no charge to get into the park, so you can’t really argue with that. Everything is €5 or under, including alcohol, so you can’t quibble on the prices. . Extras 2 As with all the Dutch stadiums, extras are at a minimum. The clubhouse has the usual selection of baseball memorabilia, as well as club trophies and awards, plus a “DSS Hall of Fame” on one wall. There is one retired number on the right field wall for Ruud Naaktgeboren #2, a small plaque for Dick Hoff on the grandstand wall. DSS is also the only team in Honkbal Hoofdklasse to offer a free program to visitors. As Dutch clubhouse personnel are almost all volunteers, they are polite and helpful to a person and are always glad to talk to and assist visitors. Final Thoughts Pim Mulier Sportpark’s cramped confines are somewhat alleviated with its convenient location with lots of local amenities, and it still hits the basics to enjoy a game of baseball.

Photos by Matt Collins, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Monmouth Park 175 Oceanport Ave Oceanport, NJ 07757 Monmouth Park website Year Opened: 1870 Capacity: 8,000 Horses Down on the Shore Monmouth Park has been a horse racing venue since 1870. It is located near the Jersey Shore in Oceanport, NJ and seats 8,000 but holds way more on major race days. It has live racing each weekend from May until September (the typical summer shore season) and hosts numerous major races, none bigger than the Haskell Invitational in July. Food & Beverage 4 Monmouth Park has a massive array of food options, so many that an entire review could be dedicated just to food. There are food and drinks available at every turn at the venue; there are food and liquor stands on the first and second floor grandstand, including one with a horse racing themed name, The Winner’s Circle. Two stands are near the park entrance selling Max’s Hot Dogs, a local staple for almost a century. A famous Max’s Hot Dog is offered for $7 and a cheese dog is offered for $8. A Jersey Shore touch is a pork roll and cheese hot dog for $10. Chicken Tenders with Fries are offered for $12 and a cheeseburger with chips is $11. The cheeseburger from the Max’s stand was excellent and the chips added a nice touch, a welcome diversion from the usual fries that accompany a burger. Boardwalk Eats, a first floor concession stand, offered a cheaper hot dog at $5 and a $12 Boardwalk Burger with fries. Drinks offered at the Max’s stand included Gatorade for $4 and Bottled Water, Coca-Cola, and Iced Tea all for $3. Alcohol was not served but was ubiquitous everywhere else. The Silver Bullet bar offers hard seltzer and beer for $7 and wine for $9 and a premium mixed cocktail for $12. The concession stands accept both cash and credit/debit cards. Monmouth Park Max's Hot Dogs, Photo by Matt Collins, Stadium Journey Atmosphere 3 The stadium is laid out in the typical style of horse racing tracks. The main grandstand is quite imposing and is three stories high. Seating is plentiful; the first floor features bench seats and standing room that provide an up close and personal view of the action on the track. The second floor is a mixture of box seats and seats with backs for general admission customers. The third floor is all general admission seating, although a lot less crowded than the first two floors. However, the third floor provides an amazing vista of the entire track and surrounding area. The second and third floors are covered while the first floor seating is out in the sun. The clubhouse is on the outer edge of the grandstand and is for the privileged elite that have a pass or have a connection to a horse through trainer, owner, or breeder. The clubhouse features luxury boxes and air conditioning. Betting stations are almost everywhere and what once was illicit is now embraced as sports betting is legal in New Jersey. In the main grandstand, numerous replay boards are available for those watching other horse races at Saratoga, Belmont or elsewhere and the replay board also features other sporting events like baseball. The third floor has an air conditioned room for serious hard core racing fans, mostly older men. The first floor features a gift shop and free WiFI is available throughout the venue. The paddock is a short walk from the main entrance and gives fans the opportunity to view the horses up close before they take to the track. The track scoreboard is huge in width and features a replay board that shows the action that occurred in the previous race. Music was not played over the PA at Monmouth Park and the track announcer was obscured by the din of the crowd during races. The announcer could be heard crystal clear in the paddock and outdoor picnic area, where less people gathered during races. Neighborhood 3 Monmouth Park is located in Oceanport, a sleepy residential town that doesn’t have much in the way of nightlife. However, Oceanport is 10 minutes away from Long Branch and Red Bank, two cultural hubs of the Jersey Shore. There are hotels on Route 36 near the park which were built in an effort to capitalize on tourists flocking to the shore in the summer. Long Branch and Red Bank are both newly revitalized cities that had once seen better days but are now becoming gentrified and hip places to go. Long Branch has the recently built Pier Village near the water that has numerous shopping options as well as McLoone’s Pier House, a restaurant owned by legendary Jersey restaurateur Tim McLoone. Red Bank has the Count Basie Theatre, a beautiful waterfront, and a bustling downtown. However, tourists should be aware that there are sections of both towns where one should not venture at night. Additionally, the PNC Bank Arts Center is located about 15 minutes away in Holmdel and plays host to numerous famous musical acts including Hall and Oates, Santana, and Rod Stewart. Fans 4 A Monmouth Park crowd is loud. So loud that the track announcer is barely audible. So loud the buzz from fans can be heard well after a race has ended. The day Stadium Journey attended the park the crowd was a large mix of young people clad in Vineyard Vines, horse racing junkies (mostly middle aged and older men) living and dying with every bet they made, and families seeking a good time, maybe skipping the beach for a day to explore what the surrounding area has to offer. Access 5 There is an NJ Transit train stop located behind the third turn of the track and spectators can see the train go behind the race course on any given race day. Parking availability is enormous as there is nothing around the park besides a massive field for parking. There are two NJ Transit bus stops at the park and Lyft/Uber service was available outside the main gate. Tickets are available both online and at the gate. There was a large sign at the entrance declaring that the park doesn’t allow outside food/drink and no coolers were allowed. Moving around the concourse was difficult at times because the place was packed (a welcome sight after a restrictive summer of 2020 due to COVID) but on less crowded days it would be a breeze to walk around the park. The bathrooms had few lines despite the large crowd and large amounts of handicapped parking and seating were available. Return on Investment 5 Tickets at Monmouth Park are the best prices imaginable, free. Parking is also free. That doesn’t mean that food and drink are but still free parking and admission to see 12 high level horse races is pretty damned good. A program at Monmouth Park costs $5. Extras 5 -A row of statues of jockeys as you walk up to the entrance -Silks of past winners at the track hanging on the first floor concourse -A program that alerted fans about new amenities at the park for 2021 as well as upcoming promotions like a t-shirt giveaway, classic car night, and $2 happy hour beer night. -A mini golf course designed for families that costs $10 for adults and $8 for kids 12 and under. -Due to New Jersey Racing Commission statues, jockeys are no longer allowed to whip horses at any New Jersey track including Monmouth Park. Final Thoughts If you’re looking for something fun to do down the shore during the summer, look no further than an exciting day of horse racing at Monmouth Park.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Electric Supply Company Field at Truist Stadium Whitehead Ave NE Wilson, NC 27893 Barton Bulldogs website Electric Supply Company Field at Truist Stadium website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 3,500 Electric Blue at Barton After a 70-year hiatus, the Barton Bulldogs finally fielded a football team again starting in the spring of 2021, although without many fans in attendance – like many schools the planned 2020 season was put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting in the fall of 2021, however, the Barton Bulldogs are finally able to fill their brand-new facility, Electric Supply Company Field at Truist Stadium – the venue was mostly completed in 2019, but the new press box tower was added in 2021. The facility holds 3,500 fans with grandstands along both sidelines and features a bright blue border around the playing surface. Food & Beverage 5 When it comes to concessions Truist Stadium shines, with several different food trucks and an assortment of menu items which rivals that of much larger stadiums, although strangely the concessions are not near the main stands, but instead are located in one end zone and on the visitor’s side since that is where the venue has space for them. Starting off the list is Item 9 Pizza, which sells its 10” cheese or pepperoni pizzas from a white food truck for $11 or $12, followed by Sunset Slush (black food truck) which offers ice cream, gelato, or Italian ice starting at $4. You can also get wings or burgers from the Chiefs on the River food truck (also white), starting at $5 or $6 for the main dish only, or $12 for a combo meal with fries and a drink – I didn’t try the wings but heard they were to die for. There is also a fixed concessions stand that sells typical items such as popcorn, peanuts, candy, and chips, and all the stands sell bottled water, bottled soda, or energy drinks if you need a beverage. My personal favorite at Truist Stadium, however, is Krueger’s Candies (blue food truck), which sells Brightleaf hot dogs with chili for only $3, and Krueger’s even makes their hot dog buns! The buns have a very slightly sweet flavor, and the hot dogs are the rare red type, which incidentally is very popular in North Carolina (you can buy them at some of the MiLB stadiums in NC, for example at Carolina Mudcats games). Besides hot dogs, Krueger’s also sells nachos and caramels, but the hot dogs are the best – you can’t beat the $3 price anywhere for a chili dog, and they taste amazing to boot. Atmosphere 4 Truist Stadium is a great venue, and it still retains that new, modern look and feel – think new car smell. The bright blue border around the field pops, and the team has all the typical bells and whistles, such as the cheerleaders running back and forth waving flags after each score, and a bulldog mascot in costume. The only downside I would mention is that the scoreboard doesn’t have any video capability for replays. Neighborhood 5 Truist Stadium is located in Wilson, NC, which is not that big of a town, but there are plenty of restaurants and hotels nearby if you plan to be in town for the day or the weekend. The variety of restaurants near the venue is pretty impressive, ranging from Kountry Kitchen and Western Sizzlin to barbecue, Mexican, and fast food, to Daniel’s Casual Fine Dining and Varee Asian Café & Bakery. The hotels tend to be a little further from the stadium, closer to I-795, but you can choose from a variety of options ranging from America’s Best Value Inn on the cheaper side to Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn on the more expensive side. Where Wilson shines, however, is in terms of the attractions it offers – probably the most interesting and unique is Whirligig Park & Museum, featuring wind-powered mechanical sculptures which look kind of like Rube Goldberg machines (think the Mousetrap game you may have played as a kid, where you put together different pieces to make a complicated machine to trap the mouse). Whirligig Park is worth a look, and if you are a sports fan Wilson also offers the NC baseball museum, in addition to numerous historical sites, parks, and botanical gardens. Fans 2 The crowd at Truist Stadium is very small, unfortunately, and it may take some time for Barton to build up its fan base again after such a long football hiatus. This is a shame since the venue is so nice – you definitely would not expect to see such a small crowd here. Access 4 Truist Stadium and Barton College are very easy to get to; not far from I-95 and I-795, inside the loop made up of Highway 42 and Highway 301. If you don’t have a special pass (which will let you park right next to the field), you can park for free 2-3 blocks from the stadium in a small parking lot on Woodard Street. There is not very good signage, however, about where to park, so just ask for directions at one of the VIP lots you pass, and the parking attendants there will be happy to point you in the right direction. Once you get to the stadium there are plenty of entrances behind the north end zone – all tickets are technically mobile tickets, but if you didn’t buy one beforehand or don’t have a Smartphone with you, you can still buy a ticket (basically a QR code printed out on plain paper, not a regular ticket) at the door. The concourse is easy to move around, and there are more than enough restrooms to accommodate the crowd. One thing to mention is that the bathrooms are inside large trailers, but they are modern and better than you might expect – note that the differently-abled bathrooms offer a lot more room inside and have elongated seats, so those might be a better option for some fans. Return on Investment 5 General admission tickets to football games at Truist Stadium are $17 including fees, which is very reasonable for this level of football; couple that with free parking, an outstanding and brand-new facility, and cheap concessions depending on which items you choose, and Barton Bulldogs football offers a great return on investment for your sports viewing dollar. Extras 3 Truist Stadium doesn’t have a lot of extras to offer during a Bulldogs football game, but they have the basics covered – the mascot, cheerleaders, great décor, fun music, and fabulous concessions all combine to make your visit to Wilson a great one. I recommend taking a journey to Barton College for a football game; you won’t regret it.

Photos by Ron Ford, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 LaHaye Ice Center 1971 University Blvd Lynchburg, VA 24502 Liberty Flames hockey website LaHaye Ice Center website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 4,000 Liberty, Liberty, Liberty...Hockey The American Collegiate Hockey Association covers most of the college hockey programs that have not been absorbed into the NCAA and usually organizes programs which would not have the budgets normally seen amongst their big brothers and sisters in the NCAA divisions. The ACHA represent 450 programs across the United States. Located on the campus of Liberty University the LaHaye Ice Center is the home of Liberty Universities Division 1 men's and women's ice hockey teams, as well as Virginia Military Institute and Lynchburg Colleges Division 2 schools. Built in 2006 with assistance of a $4.5 million dollar grant by Tim LaHaye, it has been renovated in 2008 and again in 2015. The arena also hosts public skating, broomball and recreational hockey. Food & Beverage 3 Basic arena food with a few extras. LaHaye offers all your basic stadium fare, from hot dogs to cheeseburgers to chicken tenders, all standard preparation with no real frills, fresh popcorn and cotton candy are a nice touch and there is a wide selection of chips and candy. Coke products are available along with some hot drinks. The surprises start in that they offer discounted combos at the main concession stand. Along with a nightly concession special such as $1 hot dogs it might make this the most affordable stadium food I have seen in ages. Exploring further, there are also local businesses offering specialized snacks along the concourse. While these were slightly more expensive they are still not outrageous and fill the void for those who are looking for more sophisticated eats. While limited to mostly snacks and desserts it's still nice to have some truly homemade ice cream or cookies. There does not seem to be any adult beverages on the premises. Atmosphere 4 LaHaye is clean, well lit with simple lines and surprisingly well furnished in terms of private concourse boxes. There are some odd uses of riot gate to separate the general admission from the premium seating. General admission has bench seating with no back, but also access to standing room and glass-side viewing. Premium seating are comfortable (even for larger folks) plastic mold form seating with cupholders. It has a central video scoreboard which allows for professionally rendered and produced video screen introductions, a simple light show during player introductions and also features an ample PA system with a decent selection of arena rock music. which brings me to my next point... Neighborhood 4 LaHaye is located in the Liberty sports complex. Its neighbors are Williams Stadium for football, Worthington field for baseball, Liberty Arena for basketball and various fitness centers. All of these are well lit and well integrated buildings with the lone exception being LaHaye which stands out slightly as a white cement and chrome structure in contrast to the red brick and brass of most of the other stadiums. There are plenty of restaurants including local and franchise names in the strip malls surrounding the sports complex. From Macados to Star Ginger and Crab Du Jour, you are sure to find something to match your pre-game tastes within mere blocks of the arena. Several hotels spot the area surely awaiting out of town parents visiting students. Fans 4 This place is loud. In the best way. In that babies the next town over cry when the hometown scores. The fans are knowledgeable, and dedicated, they have their favorite players, as a community. There are disparaging chants for the introduction of the opposing team, and individual cheers for the players with personalities. D1 men's finished the 2023 season with several consecutive sell outs, which most teams in any level of sport would hope for. Access 4 LaHey is located 2 blocks off 29 in Lynchburg Virginia. My direction app happened to take me on a backwoods adventure through the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Which was honestly a pleasant surprise. I occasionally forget why I moved out to the mountains. And my GPS reminded me. But getting to the arena is a fairly straightforward trip from most towns north and south. All sections of the arena are easily accessible, and there is an elevator for those with mobility issues. Parking is plentiful and free as long as you register for the free parking registration here: https://www.liberty.edu/police/parking/visitor-parking/ Return on Investment 4 There are so many positives here. I could treat a family of 4 to night out of exciting competitive sporting action for less than $ 100. I do recommend getting your tickets early as I was shut out of one game due to the building reaching capacity. There is a great souvenir / pro shop with a wide variety of Liberty University paraphernalia and some hockey and skating gear as well. Having seen hundreds of minor league games in dozens of arenas over the years the sports going experience here is one of the best I've ever had. Extras 0 If visiting LaHaye Ice Arena, keep in mind that Liberty University is owned and operated by the Fallwell family there is a heavy handed helping of religion and politics here. Should you find the presence of either overly intrusive, this might not be the venue for you.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Veteran’s Memorial Park 85 Eckhart St. Bridgeport, CT 06606 Sacred Heart Pioneers baseball website Veteran’s Memorial Park website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 500 Pioneer Baseball   Sacred Heart University first fielded a baseball team in 1966. The Pioneers originally competed in Division Two, reaching the D-2 World Series in 1992. In 2000 the school elevated all of their athletic teams to Division One status. After spending more than two decades in the Northeast Conference, the Pioneers will be joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in the fall of 2024. Since joining the sport’s top level, the Pioneers have appeared in the NCAA tournament four times, most recently in 2015. Three Sacred Heart alumni (Troy Scribner, Zack Short and Jason Foley) have played in the Major Leagues.   Sacred Heart played their home baseball games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard  in nearby Bridgeport from 2001-2017. When the ballpark was closed in order to convert it to a concert venue, Sacred Heart was forced to play in several area ballparks until a suitable replacement was found. In 2019 the Pioneers found a field closer to home at neighboring Veteran’s Memorial Park, right across the street from the Sacred Heart campus.   Founded in 1937 as Ninety Acres Park, the park was re-dedicated in 2005. The baseball field, built in 2009, is formally named the Perry Pilotti Field after the prominent Bridgeport resident and businessman. Also located within the park are several hiking trails, a disc golf course and soccer fields.   Food & Beverage 0   There are no concessions available here at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Visiting fans are welcome to bring their own refreshments to the game. Many fans stop at one of the food trucks that line up at Veterans Park along Park Avenue to pick up a snack for the game.   Atmosphere 2   One wouldn’t expect an elaborate game day presentation here at Veteran’s Memorial Park. The Sacred Heart staff set up shop in a pop-up tent behind home plate. From here, the student interns play music between innings and keep the streaming services updated. The PA announcer does a nice job with lineups on surprisingly clear temporary speakers. A new scoreboard in right field displays basic game information.   Fans fill up the small bleachers behind home plate or set up their lawn chairs on the hill on the first base side of the diamond. It’s a nice vantagepoint from which to catch a game, and many fans bring their dogs to bask in the sun on a warm spring day. It’s exactly the kind of low-key atmosphere you would expect at a small community ballfield such as this.   Neighborhood 2     Sacred Heart University is located in the affluent Connecticut suburb of Fairfield. Veteran’s Memorial Park is located across the street, about a mile from the campus in the adjacent city of Bridgeport.   While Fairfield is a really nice place to live (in fact, Money Magazine rated Fairfield as one of the top 50 places to live in the country), it’s not exactly what you would consider a destination city. Fans visiting Sacred Heart will not find many options for dining or lodging close to campus. To the north of campus on Park Avenue is a residential area, and a few miles to the south is urban Bridgeport. Fans looking for places to eat may have to drive a bit. The downtown areas of both Fairfield and Bridgeport have plenty of choices for the visiting Pioneer fan.   Adjacent to the Sacred Heart campus is the Discovery Museum and Planetarium. This attraction features rotating exhibits and interactive educational displays. JP’s Diner, a 50s style full-service restaurant, is located on campus next to the William Pitt Center and Campus Field . If arriving early enough for a weekend game, locals rave about the breakfast sandwiches at The Tasty Yolk, one of many food trucks that set up shop on Park Avenue. Visiting fans looking for some physical activity after a Sacred Heart game can check out the disc golf course at Veterans Memorial Park or the zip lines at Discovery Adventure Park.   Fans 2   The crowd at a Sacred Heart baseball game is a “friends and family” type of gathering. Crowds range in number between 100-200 people. Many of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players on the field and are vocal in their support of the home team throughout the game. With Sacred Heart’s schedule consisting largely of local opponents, it’s not unusual to see visiting fans mixed in among the Pioneer supporters.   Access 3     Sacred Heart University is located in the affluent Connecticut suburb of Fairfield. Veteran’s Memorial Park is located across the street, about a mile from the campus in the neighboring city of Bridgeport. The area is easily accessed by either the Merritt Parkway or Interstate 95. Traffic in this part of the state is often heavy, even on weekends, so allot extra time to arrive at the ballpark.   Parking is available adjacent to the ballpark at the John Winthrop Elementary school parking lot. From here paved paths will take you down a hill to the baseball field. Seating is available on some small metal bleachers located behind home plate. Many fans bring their own chairs to set up around the field. A most popular spot is the hill on the first base side of the field, which offers the best views in the park. Access to much of the grounds is blocked off to fans by ropes. Fans are only allowed to access the area behind home plate and the hill on the first base side of the field.   Unfortunately, the dugout roofs and wrapping have the unintended effect of blocking views of the field from much of the seating area. No matter where you sit at Veteran’s Memorial Park, you will be looking through some thick chain link fencing while you watch the action.   There is a building containing rest rooms at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Unfortunately, the doors to the men’s room did not completely close during Stadium Journey’s visit. Some port-a-johns nearby augment these permanent rest rooms.   Return on Investment 5   Admission to Pioneer games is free of charge, as is parking in the elementary school parking lot next door to the ball field. With no concessions, visiting fans will not spend a single cent while at a Sacred Heart baseball game.   Extras 1                                                                                                 The Pioneers honor their conference title teams and NCAA tournament appearances with graphics on the back of the visitor’s dugout and on the left field. The three Sacred Heart alumni who have reached the majors are honored on the right field fence.   Final Thoughts   Despite improvements in Pilotti Field over the course of Sacred Heart’s tenure here, this remains at best a nice community ball field. Rumors are swirling that the school is looking to build their own facility on or near campus. A permanent and dedicated home is long overdue for the Pioneers squad.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Ed Pelle, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 0.00 Changlimithang Stadium Chang Lam Thimphu, Bhutan Bhutan Football Federation website Changlimithang Stadium website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 45,000 Land of the Thunder Dragon It is said that the second Buddha, Padmasambhava, did descend from the sky while riding a tiger to the sanctuary of a small cave at the top of a remote Himalayan mountain in what is now known as the Kingdom of Bhutan. Here he would meditate for three years and three months before emerging to spread his teachings throughout the region. From the many chortens, prayer wheels, and golden statues that dot the mountainous countryside to the remote dzongs(fortresses) and monasteries, Buddhist culture is reflected in nearly every aspect of society in Bhutan, which is the worlds only officially Buddhist country. Bhutan is located south of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and utilizes the Dzongkha language which is descended from the Old Tibetan language. Often referred to as the hermit kingdom, Bhutan was only accessible by foot until the early 1960’s. Today it remains one of the least visited countries in the world. In 1885 a major battle occurred on the site that is now occupied by Changlimithang Stadium. The result of this battle established the first king of the newly united country. Changlimithang Stadium is the home of the Bhutan national football team and several club teams that play out of Thimphu. The stadium was first opened in 1974 and has undergone several renovations since then. At approximately 7650 feet above sea level/2331 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest elevation soccer pitches in world competition. Bhutan joined FIFA officially in 2000 and attempted their first ever qualification for a FIFA World Cup on March 15, 2015. In a shocking win they defeated Sri Lanka 1-0 as a road team, despite being the lowest ranked team in World Football at the time. They would go on to defeat Sri Lanka in a second game at home, advancing to the second round of Asian Football Confederation World Cup Qualifying, their best result to date. Food & Beverage Food and beverages are not available for sale in the stadium. There are however many dining options located directly across the street from the main entrance to the stadium for pre or post game meals. It should be noted that meat is not commonly served in Bhutan outside of establishments that cater to tourists as the population is mostly vegetarian in accordance with Bhuddist practice. In some local restaurants meat may need to be ordered in advance. Bhutanese food tends to be very spicy for western palettes. One of the most common food items is chilis and cheese. Use of Betel Nut, a drug common to South Asia is widespread and sold at local markets. It is chewed similar to tobacco. The use of Betel Nut is very common while attending sporting events or engaging in other pastimes in this region of the world. Atmosphere The tone of any event held at the stadium is set by the large golden Buddha statue posing in the Kataka mudra, overlooking the field from Centenary Park on the east side of the stadium. Also located on the eastern side of the pitch is the Royal Pavilion, the most iconic and heavily photographed area of the stadium. This limited seating area, which is not connected to the other seating areas is surrounded by highly stylized intricate woodwork, and is generally reserved for VIPs. The rest of the seats in this stadium, that can accommodate up to 8000 at full capacity in its latest renovation, are located along the western side and a small section that curls behind the northern goal. There is a large video replay screen located behind the northern goal as well. On the southern end of the stadium is a practice soccer field and further south an archery range. The seating area continues on along behind the practice field but tickets aren’t sold for this area when an event is happening on the main field of play. Despite this, some fans will choose to sit here as the area is not closed off and there is more room to stretch out. The best time to visit is in the spring or fall seasons. June to September is considered the monsoon season and very few people visit during this time due to the near daily rain fall. Most visitors to Bhutan will experience some form of altitude sickness initially. The best method for combating its effects are lots of rest and eating lightly in the first 24 hours to allow the body time to adjust. Neighborhood Bhutan is referred to as Druk Yul in its native language which means land of the Thunder Dragon. Thimphu, despite being the capital and largest inhabitance in the country, is not a large city with a population of slightly more than 100,000. Most areas within the city are walking distance apart. There are no traffic signals in Thimphu or the country for that matter, as they simply aren’t necessary. Like many of the population centers in Bhutan, Thimphu is located in a long thin valley surrounded by large mountains. Overlooking the city on the Southwest corner of the valley is the giant Buddha Dordenma statue, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world and one of the major tourist points in Thimphu. Inside it is filled with thousands of smaller Buddha statues and the Buddhist monks that look after the site offer free blessings to those who wish them. The main downtown area is located around Clock Tower Square. Most tourists will stay in the hotels located near this junction. Changlimithang Stadium is one block east as is the archery range. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and matches both formal and informal are held nearly everyday here. The Tiger’s Nest which is also named Taktsang Monastery is a holy pilgrimage site and the image that most would associate with Bhutan. It is located near Paro, and is the most frequently visited tourist destination. Many tourists choose to photograph the monastery from a distance because to enter inside requires a hike from 7000 feet to 10000 feet up a sharply inclined path for several hours. Once inside the Tiger’s Nest, you will find many different meditation areas and various statues depicting the incarnations of Guru Rinpoche also known as Padmasambhava. Fans When the national team plays fans fill the stadium as a matter of national pride. The vocal supporter section sits midfield lower level and leads the cheering. Although most attendees will be wearing the traditional Bhutanese dress (a gho for men, a kira for women) most will find a way to incorporate yellow or orange into their outfit. The supporters will wear Bhutan team jerseys, bang on drums and wave flags throughout the contest. Thunder sticks are dispersed to help create a more raucous environment. Most of the players on the national team are college students, as opposed to highly paid professionals found on other national teams. After the game many of them just walk home from the stadium or meet up with friends for dinner. It is not hard to approach a player and thank them for their efforts on the day. Access While it is not impossible to visit Bhutan is certainly is not easy. A tourist visa for all countries other than India costs $250(US) per day per person. All non Indian tourists are required to hire a registered tour guide and pay for all expenses before arrival including meals and accommodation. A tour guide can book flights for you or you can book them on your own, but tour guides get significant discounts on the only two airlines that serve the country which are Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. I used heavenlybhutan.com for my travel guide and would recommend their services. Once receiving payment the tour guide will apply for your travel visa and forward it to you electronically. Citizens of India, due to a special partnership, are allowed to cross the border without a visa and are free to travel about within the country without a guide. On average more people will visit Disney World in one day than visit Bhutan in one year. There is only one international airport in the country, located in Paro, Bhutan. It is arguably one of the most dangerous places to land a plane in the world due to the fact that the pilot has to maneuver the aircraft sharply around the peaks of several mountains before nosediving into a small landing strip located in a valley. The pilot cannot see the runway until he is only five hundred feet above ground and has to turn off normal computer guidance that would steer the plane away from mountains. Only 8 pilots in the world are certified to make this landing and it can only be attempted in daylight hours under clear conditions. After arrival in Paro, the drive to Thimphu is about a forty-five minute trip on a one lane winding mountain roadway with some spectacular views. There is no shoulder on this road and there will occasionally be some roadway obstructions like slow moving trucks or yaks. While it is possible to meet your guide at the Bhutan-India border and then drive to Thimphu, this would not be a recommended option. The drive would take around six to eight hours depending on roadway conditions, effectively wasting an entire day of your visa. Paro International Airport is only linked to a few other international destinations. There is service from the airport to New Delhi, India via Kathmandu, Nepal, to Kolkata, India to Dhaka, Bangladesh and Bangkok, Thailand. By far, the most popular route for tourists, is to fly from Bangkok. The flight from Paro to Kathmandu will fly you on a route that will pass Mount Everest to the south. If the weather is clear you will be treated to some spectacular views of the world’s highest peak. When traveling during the right time of year it might even be possible to view some mountaineers attempting to stand on “rooftop of the world”. Return on Investment For the vast number of local people in attendance, a ticket would only cost roughly a few American Dollars and would constitute the only expenses associated with the event, resulting in a huge return on investment. Anyone requiring a visa to enter the country can expect expenses to add up extremely fast. During a hypothetical three day stay, a budget of around $1500 would be advisable. This does not include airfare to a connection point like Bangkok, Thailand, where you will likely have to stay a night before reaching the final destination. From North America, travel time to Bangkok is approximately twenty-four hours. After a layover, forty hours plus on a one way trip to Thimphu would be a reasonable estimate of the time needed to reach this area. Extras There is no other place in the world that is quite like Bhutan. By royal decree, happiness was determined to be more important than economic development. Preservation of the environment and preservation of culture are two ways in which this is accomplished. Absent are all major western companies and sixty percent of the country by law, must remain forested. All students are taught to meditate two minutes per day, contemplating happiness. The result of these efforts is that ninety one percent of the population surveyed reported feeling a sense of happiness and fulfillment within their lives. When traveling in the country you will commonly encounter little painted chortens that kind of resemble a cupcake. These are the cremated remains of the dead left to weather away and return to the earth, a constant reminder between the relationship of life, death and rebirth. Final Thoughts As I conclude this highly Buddhist influenced review, I am reminded of the concept of Samjna or perception. How can I possibly know the true nature of this experience without my mind being clouded by past events and biases? Has my obstructed mind built a veil of illusion around the distorted way in which I perceive reality? For this reason I have decided to refrain from assigning a numerical ranking to the various categories. To quote his Holiness the Dalai Lama,” the absence of judgement is love”.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Falcon Field 2168 Field House Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80922 Air Force Falcons website Falcon Field website Year Opened: 1957 Capacity: 1,000 Academy Ball Founded in 1954, the Air Force Academy prepares more than 4,400 cadets a year for active duty as an officer in the Air Force. After 4 years of traditional classroom instruction, flight and survival training, lessons in military etiquette and tradition, and physical training, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants and with a Bachelor’s of Science from one of the top universities in the nation. One, of many, cadet requirements are mandatory participation in athletics, whether at the intramural or varsity level. While many facets of contemporary NCAA athletics are unsavory, the Academy uses athletics to boost physical fitness while also developing character and leadership skills, all important attributes for military officers. The Academy has 17 men’s and 10 women’s teams competing in NCAA Division 1, with the major sports belonging to the Mountain West Conference. The baseball team was founded in 1957, and while the Falcons themselves don’t have a lot of draftable talent, the Mountain West as a whole does, and this usually results in competitive games. The Falcons play at Falcon Field, a small field with a listed capacity of 1,000. The only official seating is a set of bleachers behind each dugout, but the grass ridges behind the bleachers offer a nice view with a chance to move around. The field is nestled between a football practice field, a rugby field, and various other athletic fields. Nearby is the Cadet Fieldhouse, which houses the Falcon basketball and ice hockey teams. The field itself is quite a throwback to the past compared to any modern major league stadium, but a good time can be had by any baseball fan. Food & Beverage 1 There is a small food trailer behind home plate serving hot dogs, brats, polish sausage, candy and soda. Here are the prices, as of the 2015 season: Hot Dog – $3 Brats – $5 Polish Sausage – $6 Chips – $1.50 Candy – $2.50 Soda (20 oz) – $3.50 Water (20 oz) – $3.50 Gatorade (20 oz) – $3.50 The hot dog and its sausage cousins are grilled ahead of time and kept warm in a water bath. The hot dog I had was a good size and quite tasty. The narrow selection combined with high drink prices only give this category one star. Atmosphere 4 The capacity is low – listed at 1,000, with turnouts much lower than that. The field has great views of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and the fans in attendance are attentive and very into the game. Seating is very close to the field, a welcome change if you don’t want to fork over a lot of cash at your local MLB park. The press box plays music between innings and walkup music for each Air Force hitter, something you wouldn’t expect walking up to the venue. The overall atmosphere is elevated by the setting in general – while the field opens up away from the foothills, there are breathtaking views looking back from home plate. The field (with the exception of the dirt mound) is FieldTurf, an unfortunate but pragmatic choice when accounting for the spring snowstorms that frequently occur along the Front Range. There isn’t a bad seat in the house – each bleacher runs from home plate to first/third base and are right on top of the action. The small grassy ridges behind the bleachers provide an area to sit with camping chairs or a picnic blanket. The bullpens are down each foul line, and fans can peer through the fence and be 10 feet away from pitchers warming up. There are no advertisements along the outfield wall, or anywhere close to Falcon Field. This is an unexpected benefit, and a welcome reprieve from the deluge of advertisements seen at virtually every stadium. One of my favorite things – there’s a banner past the left center field fence from the Commandant of Cadets (equivalent Dean of Students or Chancellor at a typical university). The banner promises a free weekend to any cadet who hits a home run off of the banner. Hopefully the NCAA does not rule a free weekend an impermissible benefit. The college baseball season happens in late winter/early spring, a turbulent time in Colorado weather. Conditions during the game will be a crap shoot – you could enjoy a gorgeous 70 degree game in late February, or have a game canceled by an early May snowstorm. Consult your weather forecast of choice the day of your trip to the Academy. Neighborhood 5 The Air Force Academy is about 10 minutes north of Colorado Springs and 45 minutes south of Denver. This makes the Academy relatively remote, and the enormous footprint of the Academy grounds mean there are no bars or restaurants in close proximity. If you are willing to travel a few miles on Interstate 25, there are restaurants and bars around the Briargate Road exit, as well as fast food and a brewery in Monument. The lack of immediate proximity to food and beverage is made up by the Academy itself and the numerous points of interest within the grounds. Continuing along the visitor road route past the field will bring you to the Barry Goldwater Visitor Center. Inside, you will find a gift shop, maps of the Academy, a theater showing a short film about cadet life, exhibits detailing the history of the Academy and the men and women who have passed through. Take a map – it will help guide you around the Academy, both to Falcon Field and various points of interest. Outside the Visitor Center is a short (about a third of a mile – takes about 10 minutes at a very leisurely pace) and beautiful trail that will lead you to the Cadet Chapel, the most recognizable landmark at the Academy. Completed in 1962, the Cadet Chapel soars more than 150 feet above the ground. The facility houses separate chapels for Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Buddhist services, all of which can occur simultaneously without interrupting the other services. There is also an All-Faiths room, which accommodates Muslims and cadets of other faiths. The chapel is very impressive and a must see for any trip to the Academy. There are a few aircraft replicas positioned along the roads through the Academy. I’d recommend stopping and taking pictures of at least the full size B-52 that is situated near the North Gate. Fans 3 While small in number, the fans that attend Air Force baseball games are very friendly and passionate about the game. Many friends and family of the players and cadets in the game are present. At the game I attended, the Air Force athletic director was mingling with fans behind home plate and having conversations about the future of the athletic department. The Air Force managers working the radar gun behind home plate are glad to talk baseball and give a decent scouting report on the other team. Access 1 This section is difficult – here at Stadium Journey, stadium access is typically graded based on the proximity of public transportation and price of parking. Based on this criteria, access is poor, but it’s not because of poor urban planning, or a greedy team owner building a publicly financed stadium in a remote suburb. The Air Force Academy is an active military installation and is subject to specific security-related restrictions that just don’t exist at other stadiums. At the time of my visit, all US military bases were under Force Protection Condition Bravo, an elevated level of security due to a credible terrorist threat. During past Air Force football and basketball games I’ve attended, guards waved cars through the security checkpoints. This visit was a little different. Because of the heightened security, the Academy was closed to individuals who did not possess an active Department of Defense ID. An exception was made for fans who were attending the baseball game. I was required to show a valid photo ID, and my car was searched before I was allowed to enter. The bottom line: due to external circumstances, access may be restricted, even on a game day. I’d advise checking the AFA website before scheduling a trip to ensure that the Academy is open. Even if security is relaxed to “normal” levels, I’d budget at least 30 minutes to get from Interstate 25 to your destination on the Academy grounds to account for possible security delays. I’d also recommend entering the Academy at the North Gate – it has more lanes for visitors. Once through the gate, it is an easy drive up towards the field. Some cars park along the roads that run parallel to the foul lines behind the bleachers – this is not recommended, as a few well-hit foul balls threaten windshields and headlights throughout the game. I parked in a small lot south of home plate and had no worries about possible baseball damage to my car. Due to location and the military nature of the base, there is no public transit to the Academy. The North Gate is located less than a half mile from Interstate 25 and is clearly marked on highway signage, so the entrance is not difficult to locate. Return on Investment 5 There is no charge for entrance to the Academy, entrance to the baseball game, or to any of the visitor activity areas. Enjoying a baseball game, enjoying the stunning architecture of the Cadet Chapel, and walking through the AFA museum, all set among the foothills of the Rocky Mountains for free is a return on investment that can’t be beat. Extras 1 If you enjoy mascots roaming the aisles, thousands doing the wave, and T-shirt cannons, this may not be the venue for you. If you enjoy baseball at its purest, the Academy is a great place to watch a baseball game while enjoying the scenery and exploring the place where future officers in the Air Force are trained.

Photo Courtesy of Stanford University Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Klein Field at Sunken Diamond 151 Sam McDonald Mall Stanford, CA 94305 Stanford Cardinal website Klein Field at Sunken Diamond website Year Opened: 1931 Capacity: 4,000 Baseball On The Farm The Stanford Cardinal have won 116 National championships, 102 of which are of the NCAA variety, second most all-time (UCLA). Of those 102, 41 represent women’s sports, the most all-time. It’s clear that the Cardinal athletic program is prolific and the baseball team is just one piece of it. Winning back-to-back championships in 1987 and 1988, Stanford baseball is one of the elite programs in the country. They have won 20 conference championships (most recently in 2004), have had 29 NCAA Tournament appearances (most recently in 2011), and 16 College World Series appearances (most recently in 2008). In recent years the football program has experienced greater success with back-to-back BCS bowl game appearances. In 2011 they beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium and in 2012 they lost to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Combine that with a NIT basketball championship in 2012 at Madison Square Garden by the Stanford men’s basketball team and a Final Four appearance at the Pepsi Center by the women’s team, and the Stanford baseball squad is experiencing raised expectations. The Cardinal baseball team have been playing at the Sunken Diamond adjacent from Stanford Stadium since 1931 and at a capacity of just 4,000, it provides a much more intimate atmosphere than its 50,000 seat counterpart. There is one level of seating that stretches around the backstop from first base to third base. Two sections of grass seating are located near the foul pole on both sides of the field where fans sprawl on picnic blankets and kids have the opportunity to run around a bit. The remodel in 2001 brought new seating, a three-tier press box, and new dugouts to Sunken Diamond. Food & Beverage 3 There are 6 main food items at the Sunken Diamond; the grilled colossal dog, cheeseburger, hamburger, grilled chicken sandwich and garden burger (all $6) and the cardinal dog ($5). The various sides include nachos ($5), french fries ($5), peanuts ($4), and licorice rope ($2). No alcoholic beverages are served at Klein Field however soda, frozen lemonade, hot chocolate and coffee were all available. The latter two items were particularly popular on this breezy, chilly night at Stanford. Atmosphere 5 The Sunken Diamond consistently ranks as one of the most beautiful venues in college baseball. This is due in part to the trees that hug the outer rim of the venue and the mountains in the background that make this a nearly perfect place to take in a baseball game. Keep in mind that the stadium is located at one of the most picturesque universities in the nation and be sure to check out the architecture viewable from inside and outside of the ballpark. There is a friendly vibe in the air at a Stanford baseball game. While there certainly is a family-friendly atmosphere at the Sunken Diamond, it certainly doesn’t lack a competitive nature. The game I went to pitted two top-end programs against each other as Stanford welcomed the Texas Longhorns to California. There were a good amount of Texas supporters as the game but they only enhanced the atmosphere. There was not a bit of mean-spirited nature in Stanford that night, yet the place was jacked the entire time, a great experience. Keeping with the theme of aesthetics, the Stanford baseball team satisfied with their classic uniform designs. One can picture the same uniforms being worn in 1931, complete with the high hosiery. On a silly note, you can almost assuredly bet for clear skies and pleasant whether at Stanford as they are neighbors to Redwood City, “Climate Best by Government Test.” Neighborhood 4 The university covers a lot of land and two zip codes and is separated from downtown Palo Alto by the El Camino Real. The downtown area is an affluent area with beautiful, safe streets. There is a bunch of shopping, bars and restaurants that are sure to meet anyone’s fancy. Right on the other side of El Camino Real is the Town and Country shopping center which includes a couple cafes, restaurants, a bookstore and a Trader Joe’s. Emerson Street and University Avenue is where most of the restaurants and hangouts are along. Wine bars and upscale dining dominate the scene in downtown Palo Alto with Vin Vino Wine, The Wine Room, Vino Locale, and Gravity Bar all serving the wine connoisseur. Other bars include Gordon Biersch, Scotty’s, The Old Pro, and Antonio’s Nut House. My choice would be Rudy’s Pub (corner of Alma and University) for a beer before the game, perhaps on my way from the Caltrain Station, which is right across the street. Dinner options in Palo Alto include: Pampas for steak, Tamarine for Vietnamese, Darbar for Indian, Garden Fresh for vegan, and Cafe Pro Bono for Italian. Most appealing may be the natural beauty you find yourself in. Seeing as most of the games are held during the day, a walk through campus may be the perfect way to start your college baseball game day. Fans 5 After going to a USF baseball game I didn’t have the highest expectations of the college baseball fan experience. However, Stanford fans really came out strong. The Sunken Diamond was packed. Granted, it was a Friday evening prior to the professional baseball teams nearby got going but I was still impressed. Families, students, and seniors were all engaged throughout and they were immediately rewarded with a lead-off homerun in the bottom of the first inning by the Cardinal. It was a very positive atmosphere and the fans had as much to do with that as anything. There was playful ribbing with the opposing fans as well as passionate support of their own squad. Though there was a lot of visiting amongst fans and wandering of kids, I never got the sense that the fans weren’t paying attention to what was going on on the field. Access 4 Stanford sits between two major freeways (101 and 280) and along the thoroughfare El Camino Real. This provides easy routes into and out of the university with ease unless it is rush hour. Palo Alto as with much of the vehicle-heavy peninsula is troubled by severe traffic after work hours. Your problem is solved if you take Caltrain which runs from San Francisco to San Jose. A ride from San Francisco to Palo Alto will run you $6.50. You can hop on the free Stanford shuttle from the train station if the 15 minute walking is daunting. Unlike during games at Maples Pavilion or Stanford Stadium, parking at the Sunken Diamond is free on game days. There may however be a fee if the game is played during normal school hours like there is at other parking lots on campus. For the game against Texas, the main lot filled out quickly so I was forced to park in a gravel lot adjacent from the main lot, a five minute walk. There is an upper and lower walkway that helps alleviate some foot traffic. The upper walkway allows access to the seats while the lower heads to the snack bar and restrooms. There is however only one set of restrooms, but they didn’t back up very bad and were quite clean. Return on Investment 4 Stanford baseball tickets are quite affordable as adult general admission tickets start at $7 and children start at $4. The most expensive ticket is $21 and that includes rivals such as California or UCLA. With parking being free, the most expensive part of the experience will undoubtedly be food. Though not overly expensive, it does seem a bit high in comparison to the ticket price. Even still, a hot dog, a ticket and parking will only run you $12. Can’t beat that. Extras 3 Though Klein Field at Sunken Diamond is a beautiful place to catch a game, it doesn’t provide an over-the-top “extras” though that’s fine for me. The Cardinal do display their two NCAA championship flags down in the right field corner near the entrance and the restrooms and there are plaques in the entryway. Also in the entryway is a plaque dedicated to Bud Klein by his family. Outside the entrance are three monuments representing Stanford world record holders, National Champions and Olympians. These monuments form a crescent shape and display the person being honored, the sport, and the year of accomplishment. The last bit of “extras” is the Stanford campus. Walk it; you likely won’t be able to see it all in one day. Final Thoughts Though the Bay Area has two professional baseball teams in the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants as well as the minor league San Jose Giants , the Stanford Cardinal provide an atmosphere on par, albeit smaller, than any of the above. It is my favorite of the three main venues on the Stanford campus.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Cashman Field 850 Las Vegas Blvd N Las Vegas, NV 89101 Vegas Vipers website Cashman Field website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 12,500 The XFL’s Sin City The XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers were formed in 2019 and played 5 games in 2020 before the XFL season was canceled (and the XFL ceased operations) due to the pandemic. It would take 3 years for the Vipers to make a return appearance, this time in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. The Vegas Vipers currently play at Cashman Field, a new soccer-specific stadium that is home to the Las Vegas Lights FC, but which used to be home to the MiLB’s Las Vegas ’51s, who now play at Las Vegas Ballpark under their new name, the Las Vegas Aviators . Food & Beverage 4 While food and beverage prices are generally on the high side, there is plenty to be found at Cashman Field – the main concession stand is called Lights Out Grill (named after the soccer team here), and offers a raft of options including burgers, churros, chicken tenders, fries, quesadillas, chips, candy, and beverages such as Jarritos soda, Pepsi products, bottled water, and canned/bottled beer. There are two Lights Out Grill stands, one on each end of the concourse, along what we used to know as the first and third baselines. Besides LOG you will also find a Papa John’s pizza stand on each end, as well as a stand called Tersty Treats Poke LV in the middle of the concourse, which offers Hawaiian fare – options include poke and pork bowls, or nachos, shrimp bowls, Spam Ramen, and Spam Musubi. The Spam Musubi is probably the best value on their menu; for $4 you get a log of Spam and rice wrapped in seaweed, which you can dip in Rooster or soy Sauce. In addition to the options mentioned above, there are also a few other stands serving up things like street corn in various flavors, as well as donuts, and there are also a few stands that have a mini selection of what LOG offers, as well as a couple of stands which only have beer – choices include Estrella, Budweiser, Bud Light, and Michelob Ultra. Note that all the stands at Cashman Field are cashless (which is slightly ironic given the stadium’s name). Atmosphere 4 There is not a ton of pomp and ceremony at XFL games, but what Cashman Field does have is a great facility despite its age – fans can choose to sit out on the grass in one of two “outfield” berm areas, or on those hot days, can sit under cover in the center section of the grandstand. The Vipers also have a corps of drummers called the Drumbots, who entertain fans throughout the day, and the staff also tosses out towels during breaks in the action. There are also a lot of vendors on hand, both inside and out, giving away freebies like Coke Zero, ZOA energy drinks, and vitamin water – there is also face painting and a football tossing game you can participate in, both of these outside the venue before you enter. There is no fixed videoboard at Cashman Field, but they set one up along the sideline facing the grandstand, complete with scaffolding and an upper deck, which is used by the broadcast crew during the contest. There are also mountains viewable in the distance as you watch the game, which is a brilliant aesthetic. One oddity to mention – while there are stadium lights at Cashman Field, for Vipers games they bring in 2 additional lighting rigs which are driven in on the backs of trucks, and then laddered up into the sky like a fire truck rescue basket; they had 2 of these lighting trucks at the most recent game I attended, but I am not sure why, as the game was in the middle of the day. Neighborhood 5 This is fabulous Las Vegas, so of course there is plenty to do in town. But even better, if you don’t want to confront the hustle and bustle (and noise, traffic, etc.) of the strip itself, there are several options within walking distance of Cashman Field. For example, right next to the stadium is the Old Mormon Fort, which contains the oldest building in Nevada. There is also the Neon Museum on the other side of the street from Cashman Field, which isn’t quite what it sounds like – it is an outdoor graveyard of old neon signs from Vegas’ bygone days, including classics like the sign from the old Area 51 hotel, or the 8-story tall Hard Rock Café sign from its prior location (don’t be fooled – the new Hard Rock Café is right on the strip; what you will find here is just their old sign). The Neon Museum looks especially great at night when many of the signs are lit up. There are also a few other quirky museums in Las Vegas, such as the Atomic Energy Museum, the Mob Museum, which just opened in April of 2023, and the Punk Rock Museum. There are also plenty of wedding chapels around if you are looking to get hitched in a hurry, and if you like gambling of course you can find slot machines in just about any hotel around, or even at the airport. Fans 2 There are not too many fans in attendance at Vegas Vipers games, but they are polite and do cheer at the appropriate times. There is a Vegas Vipers team store on site, however, in case you want to pick up any Vipers of XFL swag during your visit. Access 5 Access to and at Cashman Field is great – the facility is located on the north side of town a couple of miles from the heart of the strip, and you can park right next to the stadium for $30. You can also park for free on the streets in the neighborhood on the south side of the venue if you don’t mind walking a little further. Once you get inside there is plenty of room to move around – there are ramps on both sides of the grandstand, making ingress/egress easy, and there are short lines at nearly all of the concessions stands, with plenty of cashiers on hand to take your order. They are also more than enough bathrooms to accommodate the crowd size, and the aforementioned ramps make it accessible for the differently abled. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are a little on the high side mostly due to Ticketmaster fees – the cheapest ticket will probably run you $50 with half of that being the fees. Parking is also a little on the high side, as are concessions, but being as this is technically professional football the prices are probably to be expected. Cashman Field and the Vegas Vipers certainly offer a pretty good experience, but be aware it comes at a cost. Extras 3 All the giveaways they have on hand are a plus, and you can’t beat the numerous seating options fans can take advantage of – it likely won’t be anywhere full enough for the staff to bother checking tickets, so even if you don’t have seats in that area I would recommend sitting under cover to avoid the sun. Likewise, it is also great to see names like Eric Bellinger performing at halftime. Final thoughts All in all, I think a day at Cashman Field is worthwhile if you are in the Vegas area – a great setup for a football game, and you can also count on being very close to the action. There is also plenty to do in fabulous Las Vegas, so you really can’t go wrong with a visit to Sin City for an XFL game.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Shrine on Airline 6000 Airline Dr Metairie, LA 70003 Shrine on Airline Stadium website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 10,000 The Baby Cakes’ Crib The 2017 baseball season brought a number of changes to the AAA affiliate of the Miami Marlins. First, the team changed its name from the Zephyrs to the Baby Cakes (more on the name later). This necessitated the stadium being rechristened officially from Zephyr Field to the Shrine on Airline. Many locals still refer to the facility by its old name of 20 years, or choose to combine the two and call it “Zephyr Field at The Shrine on Airline”. The “Airline” reference is to the highway the stadium is located on. The Baby Cakes are members of the Pacific Coast League and over the years have gone to the PCL playoffs nine times, with five league championships and one AAA national pennant. Food & Beverage 4 New Orleans has always been known as a “foodie” city and the management at the Shrine on Airline knows that. They make sure they have a full array of the typical baseball fare, including hot dogs ($4.75), nachos ($6), a Southwestern chicken wrap ($7), large popcorn ($7), pretzels ($5), pickles ($1.50), chips ($2),cracker jacks ($3),and peanuts ($4). Pepsi beverages are served, including Pepsi sodas (24 oz. fountain drink for $4.50 or 20 oz. bottled soda for $6) or bottled water ($3). Draft beers are 16 oz. ($7). Thirsty Thursdays bring beers down to $2 and Two for Tuesdays provide two beers for the price of one. As you would suspect, the Baby Cakes also have a number of local favorites on their concession menu. They are available at stands with names like Bayou Social, Sugar Baby, Voodooque, Big Easy Dogs and Louisiana Links. You can expect gumbo ($7), red beans and rice ($7), po’ boy sandwiches ($9), jambalaya ($7) and pigskin nachos ($6) to be readily available as well. Bourbon Street comes to the ballpark through Bayou Social, where a wide variety of beers, cocktails and mixed drinks are available. Atmosphere 4 Despite the various name changes, the stadium amenities remain the same. The Shrine on Airline has chair back seating for 10,000 fans in a two level stadium. 1,000 more fans can watch the game from the berm (The Levee) beyond the center field wall. The stadium has 16 luxury suites and two party areas, the Cakes Party Shack along the first base line and the Metairie Bank Home Run Porch, which is located atop the left field wall. Two unusual amenities at the stadium are a swimming pool and a pair of hot tubs for use by groups attending the game. A very colorful scoreboard/video board in center field provides replays and info related to the players. The playing field has a natural surface, with dimensions of 330 feet to both left and right field and 400 feet to dead center. Neighborhood 3 The Shrine on Airline is actually located in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, which is 10 miles northwest of the riverfront and entertainment districts of New Orleans and 4 miles east of the Louis Armstrong International Airport. The location was chosen as it is less prone to flooding from the Mississippi River and does not face the high land expense of being located downtown. The stadium is rather isolated as far as dining or lodging choices within walking distance of the stadium (fortunately the food choices at the game are above average.) The restaurants that are located nearby are not fancy to look at, but the food they serve is excellent. Three that we recommend are Bevi Seafood and the Frostop at Clearview. You also have close proximity to the Metairie location of New Orleans Original Daiquiris to get your Bourbon Street beverage fix taken care of. Your best variety of lodging choices will be four miles west of the stadium near the airport. Brands in the area include Days Inn, Hilton and Marriott. Obviously there are a huge number of lodging choices just 10 miles away in downtown New Orleans… just be prepared for the extremely high prices anywhere near Bourbon Street or the Convention Center. However…you’re in New Orleans so let the good times roll! Fans 3 New Orleans is known for its hospitality and showing visitors a good time. The management of the Baby Cakes makes sure a trip to the ballpark is no different. The team is outfitted in new uniforms in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold, music is always playing and there is some type of contest or entertainment taking place between each inning. The seating is close to the field and there is no bad seat in the house. After Katrina, the necessary repairs resulted in a much nicer scoreboard to keep you updated on the game stats and upcoming events. Fortunately, the new team name has not resulted in a diapered baby mascot waddling around the park. You will be thoroughly entertained by Boudreaux Nutria and his wife Clotile, a pair of bayou creatures who set up shop at the stadium long ago. The baseball team has dealt with low attendance in recent years despite being well priced and entertaining. There are a number of issues that have led to this problem. The distance from the prime tourist areas of New Orleans is one of the most obvious causes. Other issues are that New Orleans in the summer time can be extremely hot and humid, making a three hour game into a steam bath for the fans and finally, that New Orleans is still, even 12 years later, recovering from the effects of Katrina. Access 3 The Shrine on Airline is easily accessible from its namesake Airline Drive. Airline is a main thoroughfare connecting New Orleans with Louis Armstrong International Airport. This provides greater accessibility than many of the narrow streets within the New Orleans CBD and riverfront areas. The access to I-10 is also much easier from Metairie than downtown New Orleans. The concourses within the stadium are wide and provide for a good flow during the game. There are two drawbacks to the accessibility at The Shrine on Airline. One is that like all buildings in the New Orleans area, the water table is just below the surface. This means the field cannot be excavated to a lower level. As a result the stadium concourses are elevated higher than the entrance to the stadium. This can cause a backup at the stadium gate. The second problem is that there are only two entrances and exits into the parking lot, resulting in a slow departure after the game. Return on Investment 4 The prices at the Shrine on Airline are what you typically would expect at the AAA level of baseball. Advance ticket prices are $12 for adults on the lower level or $10 on the upper level (game day sales are $1 more). Children, seniors, first responders, and military can attend for $11 in the lower level and $9 in the upper deck. Seats on the Levee are considered General Admission and are $5. Parking in the stadium lot is $5. The food prices are very good and the selection of regional foods available far exceeds most ballparks. Extras 5 Baseball, like the city of New Orleans, is a survivor. A team has played in the Crescent City region for over 110 years. In this period, the professional teams representing New Orleans have been members of five different leagues, had innumerable name changes and been affiliated with 14 of the 30 major league franchises. The Shrine was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina, but never missed a game. The end of the 2005 season ended three days prior to the storm coming ashore and the stadium was the first professional sports facility in the area to resume play with the 2006 season opener taking place on time. This provided a great emotional lift to the area and was the first sign that New Orleans was on the way to recovery. The game day staff is known as the Krewe. They do an outstanding job of making your trip to the Shrine a fun and enjoyable experience. The berms behind the outfield fences are known as “The Levee” and mark the highest altitude in the city of Metairie, which is below sea level. The name “Baby Cakes” refers to a longtime New Orleans tradition at Mardi Gras. A small plastic baby is hidden inside of a Mardi Gras cake, known as a King Cake. Whoever finds the baby in their slice of cake is considered to have good luck for the next year. The team will provide a lifelong pass to Baby Cake games to any child born in the state of Louisiana during 2017. Additionally, these babies will also be eligible for a raffle where the winner will win a 4 year scholarship from the team to attend any state college in the Pelican State. In addition to minor league baseball, the Shrine on Airline has hosted the Conference USA baseball tournament on two occasions and one Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament. After Hurricane Katrina, both the University of New Orleans and Tulane University played a season at the Shrine, as their campus stadiums received much greater damage from the storm.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Hinsdale Central Gym 5500 S Grant St. Hinsdale, IL 60521 Hinsdale Central HS Red Devils Hinsdale Central Gym website Year Opened: 1952 Capacity: 3,500 Red Ribbons and Plenty of Banners They have been playing basketball at Hinsdale Central High School since 1901 and when the Illinois High School Association created a basketball tournament to crown a state champion in 1908, the high school was one of 13 schools invited. The Red Devils would finish 4th that season but the following year captured the state championship with an 18-13 victory over Washington after sporting a 22-3 regular-season record. This was also the first season when the tournament was opened to all schools in the state. The 1909 game was the school’s lone championship in boy’s basketball but the Devils have produced 19 West Suburban Conference championships, three Elite Eight appearances in the state tournament, and two regional championships. The club also produced an impressive 27 consecutive home victories between 1996 and 1997 when the team sported an overall record of 55-7. Since 1952 the basketball games have been held at the Hinsdale Central Gym–the “Central” was added when Hinsdale South High School opened in 1965. The capacity was once listed as 4,200 but has been trimmed down to around 3,500 these days. The gym features a classic look from its exterior main entrance and is more impressive once you walk through its doors. The gym is also home to the annual Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic that features 16 teams from the area competing over 4 days of 32 high school hoops taking place on the iconic court. The tournament began in 2015 and is one of ten that takes place in the state around the holidays. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand at the corner of the gym on the lower level that is quite large for a high school venue. The options are similar to other gyms and include hot dogs, nachos, pizza slices, candy, and chips. However, fans can opt for a brat while watching a basketball game. The prices are reasonable and range between $1 to $4 and include the school’s official water that is made specifically for the high school. Atmosphere 4 The first thing you will most likely notice is the multiple banners hanging from the ceiling’s perimeter honoring the multiple school championship teams dating from 1909. There are 112 banners from the school’s various programs that include traditional powerhouses in tennis and swimming. There is also a banner from the 2014-2015 season when a record 8 different boys and girls teams won their respective championships. The second noticeable feature of girls is the looping red ribbons that hang from the ceiling that give the place much of its charm and character. The decor adds to the plethora of red that is featured in and around the gymnasium. The gym itself has a box-shaped design with an outer concourse with staircases at each corner.\ There is an upper balcony that wraps around the majority of the arena and features permanent thick brown bleacher seats behind each basket. The balcony seats behind the baskets almost hover over the action taking place down below. The box-shaped lower-level bleachers are more modern and can be pulled in and out depending on the event taking place in the gym. A wrap-around outer concourse houses multiple accolades and trophy cases along with a couple of small ticket windows. The atmosphere is quite different between a home Red Devils game in comparison to a holiday tournament. There is no band, student section, dance squad, or cheer team to be found during the games. However, the design of the venue and its charm provides its atmosphere during the winter break of basketball games. Neighborhood 3 Hinsdale is located 17 miles west of Chicago and features a population of 17,000 plus. There are a few places to grab a bite to eat before the game including classic Chicago foods at Chishack and Falco’s Pizzeria. Chishack is known for Italian beef, hot dogs sausages, and burgers. Falco’s serves regular, ultra-thin, or double-dough crust pizza along with sandwiches, pasta, and dinners. Pints of beer are $2 on Tuesday and Thursday. There are a few craft breweries within a couple of miles from the high school and including Scallywag Brewing and Black Horizon Brewing Company. Another great choice of beer is Fuller House, an American tavern offering wood-fired pizza. The Graue Mill is a water-powered grist mill that was originally erected in 1852. Now a museum, it is one of two operating water-powered grist mills in Illinois. The Hinsdale History Museum bridges the past, present, and future by engaging the community with its history and architecture. The Western Springs Water Tower is a museum and former water tower in nearby Western Springs. Fans 3 The Devils have some great fans and during the tournament came in droves to support their team on Boxing Day. It is probably a little different during a regular season home game where the student section comes alive and the band adds the musical soundtrack to the proceedings. Access 4 The gym is located within a few miles of I-294 and its design makes moving around the building quite effective. The contests are not heavily attended and fans will be able to move around to enjoy games without trampling over students and fans. Bathrooms are located on the outer concourse of the gym. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to games are $8 per day and that allows access to all four games. The concession prices are reasonable and parking is free in the large lot outside the gym. The games are competitive and many go down to the last second allowing for enjoyable experiences from the stands. Extras 4 The gym receives three points for its 112 banners that decorate the rafters, the red ribbons that hang from its ceilings, and it's balcony seating that hovers above the main court. The gym earns a final point for its Red Devil Fuel, basically bottled water, but a nice touch when visiting the concession stand during the game. -------- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Owen T. Carroll Field 400 South Orange Ave South Orange, NJ 07079 Seton Hall Pirates website Owen T. Carroll Field website Year Opened: 1907 Capacity: 1,800 Pirates Soccer in South Orange Owen T. Carroll Field on the campus of Seton Hall University is home to the Pirates' baseball and soccer teams. The stadium opened in 1907 and has been home to Seton Hall men's soccer since 1928 and the women's soccer program since its inception. It has been renovated several times, most recently in 2019. This review will focus on the experience at a Seton Hall soccer game. Stadium Journey also has a review of Owen T. Carroll Field for Seton Hall baseball . Food & Beverage 1 There is no concession stand at Owen T. Carroll Field. However, the reason we give this category one star rather than zero is that there are several promotions a year offering free food to fans. When Stadium Journey visited, Seton Hall was giving away free cookies and hot chocolate to fans, although they ran out by halftime. Check the promotion schedule for more details. Fans are also free to bring their food and drink, except alcohol. Atmosphere 4 The sightlines at Owen T. Carroll Field are better than you would expect at a dual-use baseball/soccer field. The seating area is located entirely along one sideline behind the benches in what would be the centerfield for baseball and runs parallel to the sideline. This makes for some odd dimensions for baseball but is ideal for soccer. The only downside is that you may struggle to see over the roofs that cover the team benches, but this will only obstruct a very small portion of the field near the sideline. There are only a few rows of seats in the soccer seating area. The middle sections consist of chairbacks, while the others are bleachers without backs. Seating is first-come, first-served, but you should have no trouble getting a chairback no matter when you arrive. A large scoreboard is located to the left of the seating area and shows the number of shots and saves for each team, as well as the score and clock. It is also capable of displaying animated graphics, although this is rarely used. It will show a graphic saying "Corner Kick" when one happens, but this feature seems underutilized. The seating area in the baseball stadium behind home plate is also open, but nobody will be sitting here, and you will only be able to see the soccer field over the advertising boards from the top couple of roads. It can be a unique place to watch a game from, but you will be very far from the field. Neighborhood 5 The Seton Hall campus is located in South Orange, New Jersey, which may be the best college town in the Big East. The downtown area around South Orange Avenue is filled with local businesses. Bunny's Sports Bar is very popular with the locals, but you will find many options here, from Italian to Chinese to bars, pubs, and whatever else you might want. Just keep in mind if you head too far east on South Orange Avenue towards Newark, the neighborhood gets a lot worse. You should be safe if you drive through here in your car on the way to or from campus, but you don't want to do too much walking around here. Still, as long as you stick to the part of South Orange Avenue near campus, this is a great neighborhood. Fans 3 Seton Hall draws a few hundred fans to a typical game, who will be a good mix of friends and family of the players, Seton Hall students, and local Pirates fans. While the seating area won't be full, the crowd can get fairly loud at times. At other times, however, it will be so quiet that you can hear most of the shouting going on on the field. Soccer may not be the biggest sport at Seton Hall, but this is still a decent fan base. Access 4 Seton Hall is located on South Orange Ave., which runs through Newark into South Orange itself. A large parking garage is located right next to the stadium, and you should have no trouble parking here. However, you will then need to walk down Seton Drive parallel to the right field line of the baseball stadium to get to the soccer bleachers. This is not a long walk by any means, but it does mean the garage isn't as close as it seems. One small point to note is that although the field is visible from the garage, signs prohibit fans from watching the game from there. The South Orange train station is also located a short walk away from the Seton Hall campus. Restrooms are located behind the first base dugout in the baseball portion of the stadium, so this can be a bit of a walk from the soccer bleachers. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes, but plan accordingly. Since soccer is such a fast-paced game with no real stoppages other than halftime, this walk means you can miss a significant portion of the match while you go. This does cause us to take this ranking down a notch when it would otherwise score even higher. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Seton Hall soccer games is free, except Big East or NCAA Tournament games. Parking in the garage is also free, and while there are no concessions to buy, there is sometimes free food, which improves the value even more. . Extras 3 A marketing table is located by the entrance, offering giveaways. There are banners on the far sideline listing Seton Hall's soccer postseason accomplishments. Look for the retired number poster near the entrance to the bleachers honoring Kelly Smith, a Seton Hall women's soccer player who went on to play professionally in England and the United States, as well as representing England and the Great Britain Olympic team internationally. Final Thoughts Owen T. Carroll Field is a unique place to watch a soccer game. While soccer on a baseball field isn't always the best viewing experience, Seton Hall finds a way to make it work here. For college soccer fans in North Jersey, a Seton Hall soccer game is a fun way to spend a fall day.

Photos courtesy Seton Hall Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Owen T. Carroll Field 400 South Orange Ave South Orange, NJ 07079 Seton Hall Pirates website Owen T. Carroll Field website Year Opened: 1907 Capacity: 1,800 Pirates Baseball in South Orange Owen T. Carroll Field has been the home of the Seton Hall University baseball team since 1907. The field underwent a 6.5 million dollar renovation in 2006. The renovation included the addition of field turf. In June of 2010, the field turf was replaced. Carroll Field is located on the campus of Seton Hall University. The field is named for Owen T. Carroll, who coached the Pirates from 1948-1972. The field is located near the Richie Regan Athletic Center, where the Seton Hall women’s basketball team plays. Food & Beverage 0 There is no concession stand at Owen T. Carroll Field. There are many places to purchase food in the town of South Orange, and a few options on the Seton Hall campus. There is no alcohol allowed since this field is on a college campus. Atmosphere 2 The atmosphere at a Seton Hall baseball game is very subdued. There is a PA announcer who does a solid job at introducing the players and adding some enthusiasm. There is walkup music for each player on the Pirates, as well as between innings. There are 2 large bleacher sections near the dugouts, and a small area behind home plate. There are also bleachers in the outfield. These seats are generally used for the soccer games, as the Seton Hall soccer squad plays on the same field as the baseball team. Some fans also stand on the parking deck along the third baseline to get a different perspective of the game. There are also some giveaways throughout the season. Schedules, player posters, and other giveaways and promotions are seen during the year. Neighborhood 3 Owen T. Carroll Field is on the campus of Seton Hall University. The village of South Orange is relatively safe, even though it borders the city of Newark, which has a reputation as a dangerous place. Fans looking for some dining options can go into the village, which is right down South Orange Ave. There are plenty of dining options and even a movie theater. The village of South Orange is a typical college town. You will see many storefronts that support Seton Hall University athletics. There are many things to do and see in the village, which is a short walk down South Orange Ave. Fans 1 The fans at Seton Hall baseball games are generally family members.Some students come to the games, and there are also family members from the opposing team if Seton Hall is playing a school close by.The fans are quiet except for the cheers from an RBI or a nice defensive play. Access 4 Seton Hall is located on South Orange Ave. which runs through Newark. You can reach Seton Hall from the Garden State Parkway, and is fairly easy to find. Once on the Seton Hall campus, Owen T. Carroll Field is fairly easy to find. Once inside the gates of Seton Hall, you just follow the road and it will be on your left. There are many lots so parking will be easy to find. There is also a train station in the village of South Orange. The campus of Seton Hall is about a 10-15 minute walk from the train station. Return on Investment 3 There is no price to attend a Seton Hall baseball game. Seton Hall does not charge for parking, and there are no concessions sold at the game. The quality of baseball that you will see is well worth the cost of gas to get to the game. Seton Hall is a Division One program, and many great players have come through South Orange. Perhaps the most notable alumnus is 2015 Baseball Hall of Famer Craig Biggio. You will have a great seat no matter where you sit, and you will see some top notch college baseball. . Extras 3 One star is awarded for the programs that are given out at every game. The programs provide information on each Seton Hall player as well as the stats of each team. A second star is awarded for the great scoreboard at Carroll Field. In addition to all your basic information, it also shows a graphic for each player when they come to the plate. A final star is given for the beautiful field and facility that Seton Hall has, as well as the retired numbers which can be seen along the right field fence. Final Thoughts There are very few bells and whistles at Owen T. Carroll Field. What you will see however, is high quality college baseball. This quaint college town of South Orange is a nice place to spend a day, and take in a ballgame while you are there. You may end up seeing a future MLB player, or as many Pirate fans have in the past, a future Hall of Famer.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 ODU Volleyball Center 4500 Parker Avenue Norfolk, VA 23529 Old Dominion Monarchs website ODU Volleyball Center website Year Opened: 2020 Capacity: 900 Monarch Volleyball Located on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, the ODU Volleyball Center is home to the Monarchs' volleyball program, as you might expect from the name. The Volleyball Center is a modern venue opened in 2020, featuring 900 chairback seats, a spacious lobby, and practice facilities. When creating the ODU volleyball program in 2020, the Monarchs elected to build a state-of-the-art new facility, renovating an old athletic administration building, rather than play in the basketball arena or an old practice gym as some other schools do. The move has definitely paid off for them, as this is a high-quality arena. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small concession stand at a window in the lobby of the ODU Volleyball Complex. The menu is pretty simple. Hot dogs are $6, peanuts (in a large bag from Texas Roadhouse) are $5, nachos are $6, chips are $3, candy is $5, and popcorn is $5.50. To drink, bottled water and soda are $5 and Gatorade is $6. Alcohol is available at a cart outside the entrance to the building, but as the alcohol can only be consumed in this outdoor area, it is not very popular at all. Atmosphere 5 Walking into the ODU Volleyball Center will put you in a spacious lobby with several displays honoring Monarchs volleyball. You will buy your tickets at a table located straight ahead, then walk through the doors on your right to enter the arena. All seats are chairbacks, almost all along the sidelines, with an excellent view of the action on the court. As the court was designed for volleyball rather than basketball, which has a much wider playing area, the sideline seats are quite close to the action. A videoboard plays a hype video before the game, then functions as a scoreboard as well as graphic display. It seems to be capable of displaying player stats, but when Stadium Journey visited, it briefly displayed the player stats from the previous game before that functionality went away entirely for the remainder of the match. Before the game, the lights go down as a spotlight shines on the court and the Monarchs are introduced. Then the hype video plays to get the crowd fired up. With the low ceilings, it can get quite loud throughout the game (more on that in the Fans section) and the atmosphere here can be quite spectacular. Neighborhood 3 The ODU Volleyball Center is located in the middle of the Old Dominion campus, in a residential neighborhood, so there isn’t much in the immediate vicinity. However, if you head a few blocks east on 43rd Street to the vicinity of Chartway Arena, there are many options for visitors to enjoy. La Herradura is a popular Mexican restaurant, and Del Vecchios is known for its pizza. If you make the short drive into downtown Norfolk, you will find even more options. Fans 5 The ODU Volleyball Center seats about 900 fans, and while it is not usually completely full, it does come close, drawing 600-700 fans a game, including many locals and students. This is far from a friends and family crowd that you see at some schools. The fans in attendance are quite loud, boosted by the low ceilings and tight walls. Then the Monarchs have a set point, they rise to their feet, cheer, and urge them to finish the task. While ODU certainly doesn't have the largest volleyball crowds in the country, the fan support is just right for the size of the arena. You should still be able to get tickets, no need to worry about it selling out, but you will find an electric fan atmosphere here. Access 4 The city of Norfolk is accessible via many highways, including I-64, I-564, I-264, and I-664. The ODU campus is easily accessible from all of them. However, if coming from points north and west of Norfolk, you will likely need to take one of the bridge-tunnels across either the harbor or the bay. These can have long backups at times, particularly later in the season as summer approaches and people start heading to the beach. Be sure to allow extra time to get across. Once you are on campus, parking is available in Lot 43 as well as in the parking garage at Elkhorn Avenue and 43rd Street. In either location, parking is $2 per hour on weekdays, payable via your mobile phone. Follow the instructions on the posted signs, which will tell you how to pay. Be warned that the campus authorities do ticket cars who don't pay. On weekends, parking is free. Restrooms are available in the lobby and are of a sufficient size for the crowds. Return on Investment 4 Admission to all ODU regular season volleyball games is just $5. Military gets in for $4 with valid ID and ODU students get in for free. Tickets are purchased at the door when you arrive and can't be purchased in advance. This is a good value, but the cost to park brings this down a little. Try to go on a weekend to maximize your value. Extras 4 Free programs are available as you come in. Two stars here for the lion statue in the lobby - a reference to ODU's mascot - and the photos of ODU volleyball players on display. Monarchs volleyball has clearly made this place their home. A fourth and final star for the pregame hype video and player introductions with the spotlight to get the crowd fired up. Final Thoughts The ODU Volleyball Center is a high-quality, modern facility that is just the right fit for the Monarchs volleyball program. It is just the right size for the fan support the Monarchs attract, and the athletic department puts a lot of effort into the fan experience here. It is good to see ODU build a modern volleyball arena for their program rather than simply put up a net in a basketball arena that would be far too large, or stick them in an old practice gym. Volleyball fans in this area of Virginia will definitely want to check out a game at ODU.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Infinity Insurance Park 11491 SW 17th St Miami, FL 33199 Florida International Golden Panthers website Infinity Insurance Park website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 2,000 The Other Miami Baseball Power Without a doubt, FIU baseball has been one of the school’s few steady contenders year after year. However, they get overshadowed by the University of Miami all too frequently. FIU Baseball Stadium’s generally uninteresting exterior also makes it easy to drive right by without paying too much attention to it. Once inside the facility, there isn’t too much optically to blow one’s mind, but the seating and viewing angles are quite good for college baseball. Food & Beverage 3 FIU’s concessions are generally good, but nothing too exciting. Prices are moderately average, with chicken sandwiches and nachos running $6, sausages at $5, pizza, burgers, peanuts, Cracker Jack, hot pretzels, and hot dogs costing $4, and popcorn going for $3 to $5. Assorted candy and snacks run anywhere from $1 to $5 as well, with sodas and water costing $4. The school does offer arepas for $5 and plantain chips for $3, giving you a few staple south Florida options not always available everywhere else. Atmosphere 3 The students do tend to turn out for FIU baseball, with fans packing it in during popular games against bigger teams and rivalry matchups. Sellouts are frequent for in-state rivalry games against Miami, Florida State, Florida Atlantic, and others. However, while those games may have a playoff feel, games against lesser known and district opponents tend to be snooze-fests at times, drawing a smaller crowd than others. The fans here are sport knowledgeable, and know the FIU players well. The students and fans do lack that passion you see at some schools, where those in attendance tend to go all out with face paint, homemade signs, and specialized cheers for specific players or opponents. However, this laid-back atmosphere also makes FIU baseball an ideal place to bring young fans to. Neighborhood 3 FIU Baseball Stadium is on campus, like all of FIU's athletic fields, which makes it convenient to attend. Unlike stadiums in the middle of a city, there is a sense of security on campus, as you are seemingly separated from the rest of the neighborhood around it. However, there still remains the issue of how that surrounding neighborhood looks, and it isn't exactly the best in Miami – Sweetwater is a town known for political corruption and severe street flooding during hurricanes, and not much else. Put a college campus in the middle of it, and you have FIU. The campus itself is growing by the day, with new construction all over the place, and new buildings popping up. FIU Baseball Stadium is on the far west end of the campus, situated in a corner behind US Century Bank Arena (home of FIU basketball) next to FIU Soccer stadium, and across the street from Riccardo Silva Stadium's parking lot. Very few hotels are nearby, making the idea of an overnight trip hard if you wanted to stay close to the action. Fans 3 The fans at FIU Baseball Stadium aren’t exactly rowdy or hardcore into the game, but they aren’t people who have no idea what is going on either. There is a nice mix of students, locals, and alumni who attend, with the occasional celebrity sighting at the games. The laid-back atmosphere makes it great for kids, and younger fans can get engaged during game breaks on days when the staff has giveaways and games for them to take part in. Access 3 Getting to any stadium at FIU isn't too hard, but traffic can sometimes be problematic. As is typical in Miami, traffic backs up right around the exits nearest FIU's campus on a daily basis. If you find yourself hoping to get to a game and rush hour happens to have lasted a little longer on that day, you may be in for a late arrival. FIU’s campus is right off of Florida's Turnpike, and FIU’s softball field is actually visible from the freeway itself. There is free parking available for FIU baseball games across the street from FIU Baseball Stadium. Return on Investment 3 Tickets are not expensive by any means, and with the smaller crowds, you can move around pretty much to any seat you wish to sit in. That said, the moderately low cost of concessions means you aren’t spending a million bucks to go to a college baseball game, which in itself is a pretty great deal. However, with nothing to really set itself apart from anywhere else in college baseball, FIU Baseball Stadium doesn’t offer anything to draw you into their games, other than the prospect of watching D1 baseball. Extras 2 There are free posters given away to fans who come to games, as well as free game programs. The seats are also not assigned, so you can pick from the standard bleacher seats in the upper seating, or the individually-backed chair seats in the first few rows up from the field itself. Final Thoughts Despite its flaws, FIU Baseball Stadium offers close views to the field from all seating areas, and generally low prices for concessions. That said, it feels like a stadium that is missing that special something to make it truly feel worthy of a special visit just to take in a Golden Panthers baseball game.

A few months back Stadium Journey reviewed the CIAA Basketball Tournament held at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, MD. The arena had went through an amazing renovation and technically closed again after the tournament to finalize updates in time for the official grand opening, a April 7, 2023 concert by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. "Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack I went out for a ride and I never went back." Well...you will want to go back... The arena now known as the CFG Bank Arena has a long and storied history. It opened in 1962 as the Baltimore Civic Center. During its time as the Civic Center, the arena hosted legends such as The Beatles, Martin Luther King Jr., and Led Zeppelin, as well as being the home floor of the Baltimore Bullets of the NBA until their move to near Washington, DC in 1973. The indoor soccer team, the Baltimore Blast, as well as various sports teams have also made the venue their home over the years. The venue is also on the site of the Henry Fite House, which became known as "Congress Hall" when it briefly served as the new United States of America's seat of government from 1776–77. The Oak View Group (OVG), which was chosen by the City of Baltimore to manage the venue, closed down the arena in early 2022 to perform a massive renovation on the aging arena. The venue is the seventh arena launched by OVG in 16 months. OVG was formed by Tim Leiweke and his business partner, Irving Azoff. The arena is no longer the outdated dump of arena that is in so many people's memories. Renovations to the arena included new cushioned seats in the bowl and 38 new suites, refurbished concourses and upgraded concessions. The building’s signature spiked roof was preserved. Next-generation touchless and self-serve technologies for food and beverage and merchandise purchases were added, as well as numerous behind the scenes changes. The existing stage area was changed to accommodate the larger size needs of modern events. Stadium Journey attended a recent concert by Lizzo to see how the arena runs as a concert venue. While an occasional sporting event may be held at the arena, it is obvious the changes were largely made for entertainment and not sports. The lack of an updated scoreboard demonstrates this, as sports would want a version better than exists now. It is a bit strange for guests who have been to this venue before as the old 100-level has now been merged into the old 200-level which created a larger "new" 100-level. The concourse above this 100-level has had it's walls removed and a more open concourse was created. They will use large curtains to keep it somewhat separated for concerts where with sporting events they will likely keep it open. The old corner seats that faced away from most of the action has now been changed to be like a more normal corner, curved seating area. The acoustics were very good and on the higher quality end for concerts at a large arena. If you want to see an event in Baltimore, do not let memories of the old Baltimore Arena hold you back. This is a world class venue that will be making history for quite a long time.

Photos by Patricia Beninato, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Highmark Stadium 510 W. Station Square Dr Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC website Highmark Stadium website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 5,000 The Other Pittsburgh Football Team Its stadium is on one of the fabled three rivers, its team colors are black and gold, and its fan base is loyal and intense. No, the team isn’t the Steelers, but Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. The Hounds are the Burgh’s newest team, joining the United Soccer League Championship League in 1999. It took the Hounds a while to establish themselves in Pittsburgh–in fact, it played in suburban high school stadiums for well over a decade before it got its own home in Highmark Stadium, which opened in 2013. Not only does the stadium win the “Best Pittsburgh Skyline View” award among the other Burgh sports venues, but it also fields a pretty good team, with captain Alex Dixon, Dane Kelly, and Kenardo Forbes leading the way under head coach Bob Lilley. Food & Beverage 4 Highmark Stadium’s concessions offer the basics–hot dogs, burgers, nachos, chicken fingers, and Dippin’ Dots ice cream. This being Pittsburgh, though, you’re going to want to try the pierogies. More to the point, the disco pierogies, topped with cheese, onions, and sour cream, a takeoff on neighboring New Jersey’s disco fries. You’ll find the longest lines at the funnel cake stand, where staff fries them as fast as people can eat them. While pandemic protocols were still in place, the stadium created the Tailgate Zone, where any ticket holder can grab stuff from food trucks, enjoy an adult beverage and listen to live music. The trucks vary, but you can check the Riverhounds’ website to see what truck will be there when you’re attending. A hot dog and domestic beer will run you $14. There’s a roomy, well-appointed bar just inside the gates for those who want mixed drinks. If actual tailgating’s your thing, you’ll find a fun, family-friendly scene here. Atmosphere 5 Highmark Stadium holds 5,000 with additional standing room. Most of the seats are on the south and east sides because no one wants to block the absolutely breathtaking view of downtown Pittsburgh. Unlike Heinz Field and PNC Park, Highmark Stadium is located on the south shore of the Monongahela River, so Hounds fans get the best panorama of the city, with the Fort Pitt Bridge on the west side behind the club seating. No matter where you sit, you’ll have a good view of the game, the city, and the river. Don’t expect a lot of extracurriculars, though–people are here to watch soccer, not mascots or cheerleaders. Okay, they might watch the passing boats, particularly the Gateway Clipper, the famous tourist paddleboat that makes regular passes on the Mon during games, or admire the skyline repeatedly. The latter is very hard not to do while you’re here. Neighborhood 4 Highmark Stadium anchors the western end of Station Square, an entertainment complex built around the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad station. You’ll find the Pittsburgh outpost of the Hard Rock Cafe here and chains like Buca di Beppo and Joe’s Crab Shack. If you want to go super-fancy, check out Grand Concourse, located inside the beautifully restored depot. The recently opened Tupelo Honey has already established itself as the place to go for fried chicken in the Burgh. There’s a Sheraton hotel here too. If you’re here on the weekend, make sure to stay until Sunday and get a reservation for Grand Concourse’s legendary Sunday brunch buffet. If you decide to take a cruise on the Gateway Clipper, which docks here, enjoy the views but don’t eat on the boat, not when so many good restaurants are available. Fans 5 For such a small venue, Highmark Stadium attracts fairly full houses on a regular basis. Like soccer stadiums worldwide, fans are happily–and continuously–noisy. If you want the whole Riverhounds fan experience, sit in the bleachers on the stadium’s east side. This is the home of the Steel Army, the flag-waving, name-calling, singing, chanting diehard Hounds fans, so of course, this is where the casual fan will have the most fun. Everyone seems to know how the other USL teams are doing, and while there might be some good-natured ribbing, fans of the opposing team will find the Steel Army pretty welcoming. Access 4 With its convenient location at Station Square, it’s easy to get to Highmark Stadium, with ample signage on Interstate 376/Parkway East and West. If you’re staying in downtown Pittsburgh, you can hop the light rail to the Station Square stop and take a short walk from there. If it’s a nice evening (all home games start at 7 P.M.), you can walk across the Smithfield Street Bridge, which ends at Station Square coming out of downtown. You can also walk across the Fort Pitt Bridge, which comes out on the western side of Station Square by the stadium, but be advised there’s always a lot of traffic on the bridge and it’s pretty noisy. Parking at the stadium is $15, but you’ll find cheaper parking within the Station Square complex. If you’re driving and want to get out quickly after the game, it’s strongly suggested to take the exit west of the stadium, as most of Station Square is east of the stadium with a finicky traffic light that causes semi-major backups. Also, because of the venue’s small size, it can be a little difficult to move around when it’s crowded. Highmark Stadium offers wheelchair-accessible seating. Restrooms are spacious and clean and also wheelchair-accessible. Return on Investment 4 Not only are the Steel Army seats fun, but they’re also cheap at $15.50, and a midfield front row seat will run you maybe $25. Since the games are well-attended, the Riverhounds don’t have to run discounts, but you won’t hear people grumbling about getting gouged like they do at Pirates games. It’s very easy to make a night out of a Riverhounds game without spending too much, so families and those looking for inexpensive entertainment options both love going to Highmark Stadium. Extras 3 There is a Riverhounds team store under the club seating, but it’s small and can get claustrophobically crowded, particularly at halftime. Prices, however, are pretty good, and there are enough little things like magnets and horns to make picking up a few souvenirs for the kids worthwhile. In addition, players are always available after games to pose for pictures and sign autographs so that the souvenirs can be even cheaper. Final Thoughts Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC might be the low team on the Steel City sports totem pole, but Highmark Stadium is a genuine gem. With inexpensive tickets, a prime location, and a winning team, a Riverhounds game is becoming an undercover must-do for Pittsburgh residents and visitors alike. The team is allegedly applying for entry into Major League Soccer, but soccer fans won’t be disappointed by either the action on the field or the venue where it’s housed.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Montgomery Field 322 Grand Lake Rd. Celina, OH 45822 Grand Lake Mariners website Montgomery Field website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 300 Baseball by the Grand Lake The Grand Lake Mariners have been members of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League since 1990 and were named for its connection to the St. Mary’s Grand Lake, which is a few hundred feet away from its home ballpark Montgomery Field. The Mariners have called it home since the 2013 season, but quite a bit has changed over the years. In 2018 a new building was added on the first base line that would serve as the teams’ dugout, Press Box, concession stand, and indoor batting complex. The previous building had been destroyed by a tornado that previous fall resulting in heavy damage to the stadium’s fencing and the destruction of two light poles. The non-profit Celina Baseball Association raised money for the construction of the new building, and plans for a smaller version are planned for the 2023 season on the 3rd base side. The Mariners began with a local fan writing a letter to Commissioner Lou Laslo in 1989 about placing a team in Celina, Ohio. When Laslo visited the town, he agreed, and the following season the club began operations. The ball club’s most successful era was between 1994 and 1998, when they appeared in 5 straight championship games, winning two in 1994 and 1997. The M’s would add another in 2006 and have seen eight players appear in Major League Baseball, including former Cleveland pitcher Paul Shuey serving 11 seasons in the big leagues. Food & Beverage 3 The concession stand has two windows behind the home team dugout that serves hot dogs, brats, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and nachos. The booth also has freshly popped popcorn, an assortment of candy bars, chips, and soda. For dessert, the menu options include ice cream sandwiches and freeze pops. Perhaps the most popular food item is a condiment. Mariner Sauce is a brown, sweet-relish that is used on hot dogs, brats, and burgers. It is a secret homemade recipe with onions, brown sugar, ketchup, and a few other secret ingredients. Beer is served on the opposite side of the dugout area in the beer garden and includes cans of macro and microbreweries. The local beers include varieties from Moeller Brew Barn, Tailspin Brewing Company, Second Crossing Brew Company, and Lake Rat Brewing in Celina. The two tailspin cans are 32-ounce, and fans can purchase a Mariners’ koozie or beer bat. The macro beers are Bud, Bud Light, and Busch Light. Atmosphere 4 Montgomery Field holds 300 fans, and close to 260 were on hand during our visit. It is a rather unusual design facility that has the main entrance from the left field corner of the ballpark. The beer garden, lined with trees and roped off by an orange fence, takes up the space behind the right field fence and is buzzing on a cool summer night by the lake. Once you get around the large press box and batting cage complex, the main grandstands open up with kids running around chasing foul balls, older kids playing catch, and picnic tables set up for fans to enjoy a snack. It is where you will find the concession stand and merchandise table selling quite a bit of t-shirts and caps. Netting protects fans from a foul ball while providing a clear view of the synthetic field. The grandstands are made of aluminum bleachers behind home plate and the 3rd base foul line, but more room extends down the left field corner where fans enjoy the game from a lawn seat or two. There is a pitching and batting cage where young fans take turns with their skill at the plate or on the mound. Neighborhood 3 There are a few things to do in town, including Grand Lake Marys State Park. The 13,500-acre state park offers camping, swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking around the man-made lake that dominates the town. Families can enjoy putt-putt golf at the St. Marys Miniature Golf range and enjoy the Belle of St. Marys Boat Canal. The Bicycle Museum of America is outside of town but worth visiting for its vast collection of two-wheel bikes. The Boardwalk Grill is a fun hang-out spot after the game that overlooks the lake and includes an upstairs patio. The restaurant offers sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, and libations. A few other places include C-Town Wings, CJ’s Highmarks, The Willow, and the Speakeasy Steak & Alehouse. Fans 4 The crowd is near capacity for home games, and many are wearing the Mariners colors of blue and green in the stands. There are a few who have the club’s old interlocking GL logo on worn-out caps. Many will be more than happy to tell you about the team’s history, the special sauce at the concession stand, and how the community supports the ball club. Access 3 The main entrance to the ballpark is off Grand Lake Road, which intersects with US-29. There is parking behind the main grandstand and outside the right field fence. Montgomery Field is not set up like your standard ballpark with the main grandstand and baseline seating, but there are more than enough areas to enjoy the game while in attendance. Return on Investment 4 The price of an adult ticket is $5, concession prices for food are no more than $3 an item, and canned beers range from $ 4 to $5 for 16-ounce cans. Fans can purchase koozies for $1 and a beer bat for $10. A baseball cap and t-shirt cost around $20, while a few game-worn jerseys are a steal at $20. Extras 4 Montgomery Field earns a point for its selection of microbrew beers for a $5 can. A second point is for the secret concoction called Mariner Sauce which is topped on burgers, hot dogs, and brats. A third point is awarded for the giant clubhouse that offers players indoor batting cages, a changing room for umpires, a large press box, and a concession area for food and beer. A final point is the Grand Lake St. Marys which is only a few yards away from the ballpark. Final Thoughts I have to admit that I had low expectations about Montgomery Field, and that’s due to a lack of information about the ballpark and town. It is by no means the most glamorous ballpark, but there is a lot to enjoy from the beer garden, the assortment of food and beverages, and its location in the pretty lakeside town. There is strong community support that adds a wonderful backdrop to any baseball game. This is a ballpark worth checking out when in the area. —— Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel .

Photos by Courtesy of Baseball in Toledo The Toledo Mud Hens name is one of the most iconic brands in minor league baseball. The name has been used in Toledo since 1896, but there was a short 3-year stint where the baseball club went by the Toledo Sox. A very generic name and with no connection to parent clubs in Boston and Chicago – why did this happen? The story begins with the Mud Hens moving to Charleston, West Virginia, and renamed the Senators in the middle of the 1952 season. It was the first switch in American Association league history. Mud Hens owner Danny Medenez bought the franchise a year earlier from the Detroit Tigers and operated it as an independent franchise. Medenez stated that he lost $67,000 while averaging 1,600 patrons at Swayne Field that season. Opening night in Charleston attracted a standing-room crowd of 7,000 people at Watt Powell Park. The team attracted 42,059 fans for the first 9 games, outpacing what the Mud Hens attracted at Swayne Field in Toledo during 24 games. Toledo would be without baseball, but not for too long. The Boston Braves announced they would relocate to Milwaukee in March 1953. It resulted in the minor league Milwaukee Brewers switching operations to Toledo. The city populace pledged $30,000 in advance ticket sales with a season gate goal of 150,000 fans. Naturally, the team would continue the Mud Hens name, but the new ownership wanted to create fan interest and solicit their ideas. Surprisingly, a poll conducted by the Toledo Times resulted in 500 different nicknames from 7,500 entries with “Buckeyes” and “Braves” as favorites.  Only three of the 751 tallies showed interest in retaining the Mud Hens moniker. A total of 55 names were chosen that included the following: Jets, Dons, Lakers, Papooses, Perrys, Padres, Swans, Barons, Owls, Zebras, Matadors, Wasps, Bees, Teals, Ceramics, Arrows, and Nu-Hens. A four-man committee was selected and it picked the Glass Sox as the official name.  “Since Toledo is the glass center of the world and the word “sox” has long been identified with baseball, I believe the name is very appropriate,” said GM Red Smith. The name was submitted by 25 people, with Fred Schultz being declared the winner. He added that his friends gave him a “good rubbing” for his selection. From the start, the name was controversial; petitions flooded the newspapers and radio offices to reconsider and pick a new name. The moniker Chiefs finished in second place and was favored by Toledo Blade editor Joe Knack. Manager Tommy Holmes indicated that he would not have voted for the name.  A few didn’t care about the new name since they would continue referring to them as the Mud Hens. It did have one fan; pitcher Bob Chipman liked it, “They’ll be shouting, here comes the old glass arm of the Glass Sox.”  It might sound odd that the new club decided to drop the Mud Hens name in favor of something new, but it had been done before in town. In 1916, and after a two-year hiatus, former major league and hometown native Roger Bresnahan purchased the club from the Cleveland Indians. Mud Hens won the name-the-team contest back then, but management went another route. Two sportswriters began referring to the club as the Iron Men, leading one newspaper columnist to write, “it would be a shame to let them drop behind the rust during the coming season.” The name stuck around for a few years before the club returned to being identified as the Mud Hens in 1918. Back to the Glass Sox, the city council objected to the commercialization and puns that may arise from the name. There was a proposal to select a committee to consider a change. Former mayor and councilman Ollie Czelusta said, “If the ballclub is satisfied with the name, maybe we ought to let it pass, but I think it stinks.” A week later, Smith agreed with a fan dissident and held a vote at the ballpark to decide whether to change the name. He added that the committee chose the name fair and square, but “if the majority vote is yes, then the stage will be set up to learn what name a majority of what the fans want. Photo from Baseball in Toledo The public spoke, and on March 14, the Toledo Sox was selected as the new name, ending two weeks of the Glass Sox debacle. A statement by the club announced the following on the decision: “The Glass Sox have been amputated, and the future Toledo would be known as the Toledo Sox.”  The Sox would capture the 1953 American Association pennant but transferred to Wichita, Kansas, after the 1955 campaign. A group of Toledo businessmen had plans to purchase Swayne Field and modernize it for the following season. However, the ballpark was sold for $500,000 to Kroger supermarkets and transformed into a shopping center. Photo from Baseball in Toledo   Baseball would be absent in the Toledo area until 1965 when Maumee Downs was converted from a race track and into Ned Skeldon Stadium. This time, management made the sound decision and picked up the Mud Hens name for their club, a name that has blossomed into a minor league merchandise juggernaut. A small footnote to the Glass Sox name. In 1987 the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League was founded with six ball clubs including one named the Toledo Glass Sox. They played under that name until moving across city lines and renaming themselves the Sylvania Sox before playing one season and folding after the 1995 season. In a strange, and ironic way, history repeated itself in Toledo. I guess they didn’t learn the first time. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Edward A LeLacheur 450 Aiken St Lowell, MA 01854 Edward A. LeLacheur Park website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 5,000 Spin Me Right Round Edward A. LeLacheur Park, located on the banks of the Merrimack River and the edge of the UMass Lowell campus, serves as the home of both the Lowell Spinners, class A short season affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks baseball teams. It was named for the State Representative and civic leader who spearheaded the redevelopment of the city of Lowell. Opened in 1998, the ballpark was designed by Populous, the firm responsible for numerous prominent sporting venues worldwide. Since arriving in Lowell from Elmira, New York in 1996, the Spinners have qualified for the playoffs in the New York-Penn League three times, losing in the first round each time. 108 Spinners alumni have made it to the major leagues. Food & Beverage 4 While there seems to be some sort of concession stand tucked into virtually every corner of LeLacheur Park, concessions don’t stray too far from your stadium basics. The Canaligator Cafes located on either side of the ballpark offer your standard fare, with the menu anchored by burgers, hot dogs and pizza slices. Chicken parm sandwiches, steak and cheese subs, and sausage and pepper sandwiches round out the offerings. All the usual sides can be found here, including fries that can be smothered with chili and cheese. Kids meals containing either a burger or chicken tenders, apple slices or chips and a drink are available for the younger fans in attendance. Items can be combined into a combo meal to save a few dollars. Healthy options including grilled chicken salads, wraps, veggie burgers, apple slices and fruit juice are sold at the large stands. Portable stands located all over the concourse add variety to the menu with items including monster dogs, premium burgers and loaded nachos. Thirsty Spinner fans can select from assorted Coca-Cola products. There is a large selection of adult beverages from national beers (Coors Light, Miller Lite, Heineken, Blue Moon, Corona) to local favorites (Sam Adams, Harpoon, Narragansett) sold in both cans and draft. Wine and Sangria are sold at the tiki hut in right field. Fans looking for something a little different should check out the Home Plate BBQ, which features an all you can eat buffet starting 90 minutes before first pitch and lasting until the game starts. For $31.50 fans can enjoy a menu featuring ribs, pulled pork, BBQ chicken, burgers, dogs and more in a private space underneath the concourse. Children 12 and under enjoy a five dollar discount. Atmosphere 4 Whether or not you enjoy the game day experience at LeLacheur Park may depend entirely on your age. One thing is for sure, the Spinners’ staff certainly do try. They try hard, very hard. That may be their biggest problem. The game is almost an afterthought at LeLacheur Park. There are sound effects, video clips, PA announcements, and exhortations for fans to clap their hands and/or stomp their feet all game long. For the many children in the stands these distractions from the action are welcome. The aluminum stands at LeLacheur Park are perfect for jumping up and down and making lots of noise. There is a contest or giveaway between every half inning, including several t-shirt tosses, sing-alongs, and most famously, the rubber chicken toss, during which several rubber chickens are tossed into the stands. For many Spinner fans, this is the highlight of the evening’s shenanigans, and has become synonymous with the Spinners. Located beyond the left field stands is Swamp Land, an area filled with several slides, inflatables, and other attractions for the younger Spinners fans. The Spinners feature an extensive promotional schedule, featuring many giveaways and theme nights. Several bobbleheads are given out every year, featuring Spinners alumni and local residents such as Jack Kerowac, Stephen King, and Jay Leno. Theme nights such as Parrot Head night, Princess night, and Super Hero night are always popular, as are nights honoring the local major league teams. Annual visits from members of the Bruins, Celtics, and Patriots always draw large crowds. There are tables set up all along the concourse for sponsors, magicians and musicians performing throughout the evening, and auctions for team memorabilia. Even the ushers get in on the action, dancing on dugouts or racing each other on the field. The Spinners employ three mascots, Canaligator, Allie Gator and Millie Gator who roam the stands entertaining fans. There is plenty to do and see at LeLacheur Park. Neighborhood 3 LeLacheur Park is located adjacent to several university buildings on the UMass Lowell campus in downtown Lowell, as is the Tsongas Center , home of the UMass Lowell hockey team. As is the case with many industrial cities of the north, the boon that brought prosperity to these cities faded, and with it went many jobs and a great deal of money. During this time, the city of Lowell obtained a reputation as a violent, crime-ridden city, best to be avoided. Recent decades have been kinder to Lowell, and there has been a growth in business, cultural, and educational development in the city. Statistically, Lowell is safer than many other New England cities of similar size but unfortunately, Lowell’s bad reputation lingers to this day. The city of Lowell was a major center for manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution. As a result of this rich history, Lowell contains many buildings of historical significance, several of which have been preserved by the National Park Service and remain in use today as the Lowell National Historical Park. Fans arriving early to LeLacheur Park can walk along the Riverwalk and observe some of the rapids that powered the old mills. Fans of American literature should be sure to check out the memorial for native son Jack Kerowac, located within the park. The area around LeLacheur Park has seen a great deal of development since the opening of the ballpark, but it hasn’t resulted in increased dining or lodging options for visiting fans. Fans looking for a place to gather before or after a game for a bite to eat or (more specifically) a drink will be pleased to find Beer Works located in one of the old mills about a block from LeLacheur Park. Beer Works is known for their impressive lineup of craft beers. It’s a must-try for those fans who enjoy sampling some local flavor along with their sporting journeys. Fans 4 For many seasons early on in the Spinners’ history, the team sold out LeLacheur Park for entire seasons. Unfortunately, attendance in Lowell has been in a steady decline over the past decade. Despite this, the team continues to rank in the top five of the New York-Penn League annually. LeLacheur Park’s proximity to Fenway Park (30 miles separate the two ballparks) guarantees that the fans in attendance will be very knowledgeable about the players on the team. The Red Sox fan base is one of the most dedicated you will find anywhere, and this passion trickles down all the way to the Spinners, the team’s Short Season Single A affiliate. Access 3 While hardly a destination city in its own right, Lowell’s proximity to Boston makes it an easy stop for baseball fans traveling in the area. Lowell is located 25 miles northwest of Boston, served by the Lowell Connector off of Interstate 495, a short drive from both Interstate 95 and Route 3. Parking is plentiful near the ballpark, with a few small surface lots and a decent sized parking garage located nearby. Fans willing to walk a few blocks can find plenty of on-street parking as well. While Lowell is served by both Amtrak and Greyhound, driving is the most efficient and most popular way to arrive at LeLacheur Park. There is a small entry plaza at LeLacheur Park where the ticket booths and team store are located. Fans will climb a set of stairs to arrive on the concourse, which stretches from the right field foul pole to medium left field. Except for an area behind home plate, the field is visible from all points on the concourse. The seating bowl consists mainly of individual green folding plastic stadium seats, except for some bleacher seating in the furthest sections from home which serve as general admission seating. There is a kids’ play area beyond the end of the stands in deep left field. To avoid watching the action through nets, select seats far down either baseline. As is the case with many ballparks in the northeast, crowds at LeLacheur Park move around quite a bit during the course of the game, and the small concourse can get very crowded at times. Two pairs of bathrooms are open for Spinners games, and they are adequate for a typical Lowell crowd. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for Lowell Spinners games are sold in three tiers: Premium Seats for ten dollars, Box Seats for nine dollars and Reserved Bleacher Seating for seven dollars. With the high demand for Spinners tickets, Standing Room seats are offered for six dollars. Waiting for game day to buy your tickets will add $2.50 to your total. Remember to ask for the AAA discount if you are a member. Parking in the garage adjacent to LeLacheur Park, as well as on the streets surrounding the ballpark, will cost you five dollars. Concession prices are comparable to other parks in the area, making a night at the ballpark in Lowell an affordable entertainment option for local sports fans. Extras 3 Extra points are awarded for the Spinners’ strong connection to the nearby parent club in Boston. Features from Fenway Park such as the old Hood Milk Jug in center field, the Red Sox retired numbers hanging on the right field fence and the display of former Spinners to make it to the Major Leagues just reinforce that relationship. Red Sox souvenirs are sold in the team store, and the majority of the fans in the stands wear Sox gear. Another extra point is awarded for the sense of fun and fan first attitude prevalent at LeLacheur Park. It appears as if the staff here really enjoy their jobs, and share their sense of fun with the fans. Final Thoughts The partnership between NY-Penn League teams and NCAA teams has been successful in many other cities (see Joseph Bruno Stadium in Troy, NY and Medlar Field in State College, PA). It’s a natural fit, as the seasons do not overlap, and it increases the amount of dates that a given stadium can be in use. With LeLacheur Field owned and operated by UMass Lowell, having the Spinners and River Hawks share a stadium is a natural fit. The Spinners’ proximity to Boston guarantees great support and a fun atmosphere, and has helped make LeLacheur Park a very popular destination for baseball fans traveling through the northeast. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Jared Goodman and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 AirHogs Stadium 1651 Lone Star Pkwy Grand Prairie, TX 75050 Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 5,445 Taking Flight in Grand Prairie EDITOR'S NOTE: AirHogs Stadium transitioned to a major league cricket ground in 2023. The Texas AirHogs compete in the independent American Association and play their home games at AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas. Both the ballpark and the team itself are inspired by the aviation industry, which has a long history in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Nearby Fort Worth is currently home to the headquarters of both Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Bell Helicopters, while the former operates a Missiles and Fire Control center in Grand Prairie. “AirHogs” is a slang-term used by the military to classify individuals who demand more than their fair share of flying missions. The team, originally the Grand Prairie AirHogs, merged with a franchise from Amarillo in 2016 and split home games between the two cities. During this tenure, the team adopted the Texas moniker; when they returned to Grand Prairie full-time the following season, the name stuck. Food & Beverage 3 There are several concessions located on the main concourse and most of them serve your typical ballpark food. Down the first base side, gourmet cinnamon rolls are available at the Cinnaholic stand. The national chain offers AirHogs fans four different options, including banana, caramel, cream cheese, and berry-flavored cinnamon rolls that cost $7 each. Atmosphere 3 The aviation theme is prevalent throughout the ballpark and tin metal seems to be the predominant décor choice. The suites, along with the large roof, overhang the main seating bowl and provide much-needed shade from the Texas heat. Fans who would like to eat and enjoy the game at the same time can do just that by utilizing one of the park’s many picnic tables. A small artificial grass-covered party area is located behind the bullpen on the third base side and features a few games, including corn hole. However, the area seems to be a magnet for foul balls, so watch out! Kids have two choices of entertainment besides the game. First, there’s the 17,000 square-foot Wide World of Parks Kids Zone on the first base side. This area includes a jungle gym, as well as other playground activities. The second option is a swimming pool in right field that enables folks to cool down during hot summer days. Pay attention though: the pool juts into the outfield, so it’s not uncommon for home runs to land in the pool. Neighborhood 3 Grand Prairie is a few miles south of the DFW airport and is almost equidistant from Dallas and Fort Worth. Dallas, by far, has more things to see and do, including The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Reunion Tower and the George W. Bush Library and Museum. Fort Worth, on the other hand, is home to the world-famous Stockyards, as well as a branch of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Nearby Arlington is jam-packed with entertainment options, from Six Flags Over Texas to taking in a Rangers game at Globe Life Park . AT&T Stadium , home of the NFL’s Cowboys, is also available for tours year-round. Texas-born Whataburger is the closest restaurant to the ballpark and makes for a fantastic pre or post game meal. Whataburger is an institution for Texans and well-worth a stop if you’ve never been. Fans 1 Due in part to their location in an over-saturated market, the AirHogs do not draw real crowds during games. The major league Texas Rangers play just down the road in Arlington, while their Double-A affiliate is located in nearby Frisco. It’s almost a crime that the AirHogs consistently rank near the bottom of American Association attendance charts, as the stadium is by no-means old or shabby. In fact, if the ballpark were home to a minor league team, it could easily be classified as a Double-A caliber facility. The venue is both affordable and has all of the amenities that would enable it to earn that title. Access 5 AirHogs Stadium is located in Lone Star Park just off I-30 on Belt Line Road in Grand Prairie, about 15 miles west of downtown Dallas. Arlington, home of MLB’s Texas Rangers, is just 7 miles away and Fort Worth is 20 miles to the west. There’s ample free parking available both in front of and behind the stadium. Since AirHogs games are not heavily attended, you’ll have no trouble at all moving around the ballpark between your seats, the restrooms, and the concessions. There will also be little to no traffic out on the roads, barring any major events at the nearby horse track or amphitheatre. Return on Investment 3 General admission tickets are $8 and since the stadium never fills up, there’s no reason whatsoever to upgrade to a $12 reserved seat. Parking is free, leaving concessions as the only other game day cost. Overall, a family of four can enjoy a night of baseball in Texas for around $70. Extras 3 One bonus point for the unique hangar and runway design of the exterior. Another bonus point for the ample shade provided, and a final point for the swimming pool behind right-center field. Final Thoughts While it’s unfortunate that AirHogs games aren’t attended by more fans, there’s no denying that the ballpark is top-of-its-class and is undoubtedly a must-visit for sports fans in the Metroplex.

Photos by Ryan Norris, Stadium Journey. Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Papa Murphy’s Park 1600 Exposition Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95815 Sacramento Republic FC website Papa Murphy’s Park website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 11,442 Sacramento’s Republic Sacramento has long been rumored as an expansion possibility for Major League Soccer (MLS). In their brief existence they are making quite the impression both on the field and at the box office. However, recent trends tend to put Sacramento behind other cities like Phoenix, St. Louis, Charlotte, and Indianapolis as possible MLS sites. Sacramento Republic FC was founded in 2012 and began play in the United Soccer League (USL) in 2014, winning the championship that very first year. While the pitch was constructed on the other side of the American River at the Cal Expo, the Republic played their first few home games at Hughes Stadium on the campus of Sacramento City College. Papa Murphy’s Park is located on the Cal Expo which main function is to host the annual California State Fair. Because of this, there are remnants of fairs past throughout the area. Bonney Field was built in 2014 and after just one successful season it was expanded by nearly 4,000 seats to its current capacity of 11,442. Food & Beverage 4 Sticking with the theme of a state fair, much of the food offerings are in that vein. Hot dogs, nachos and other typical stadium foods are available alongside faire staples such as anything deep-fried and greasy. Most popular on hot Sacramento days are the slushie and ice cream stands, where the lines can snake throughout the concourses. The most popular macro beers seem to be Tecate and Coors Light and you can find those throughout the stadium. If you’re looking for craft or local beers, head behind the west sideline stands for the more popular craft selections plus some local offerings from New Helvetia, Knee Deep and Rubicon breweries. I’m not the biggest fan of the fried offerings of fair food so what separates stadium’s offerings for me is the outsourced food trucks that seem to rotate on throughout the season. These local trucks offer anything from salads to crab sandwiches and from tacos to grilled cheese and tater tots. Atmosphere 3 Papa Murphy’s Park is still coming into its own on this front. Ultimately, the stadium maximizes its current capabilities and is impressive in that it was built so quickly and is evolving with the growing needs of the fan base. It is also unique in that it is within Cal Expo, with a working (only during the State Fair) monorail track running throughout the facility and views of the adjacent Raging Waters waterpark. The soccer venue consists of bleachers on three sides plus an end line VIP section. The bleachers include backless and backed seating depending on section. While the backs and sides of the bleacher base are covered with Republic logos and sponsors, fans must walk under the bleachers to reach their seats. In the supporters section, the metal bleachers are often stomped on which creates a minimal amount of noise on the pitch but is excruciatingly loud when walking underneath. There are two large screens that display live game action, the score and the running clock. They seem like they are something in between a large television and a traditional video board. They seem somewhat temporary but serve their purpose well. Neighborhood 4 The immediate neighborhood surrounding Cal Expo is largely residential mixed with strip malls. The area is not terribly walkable because of distance between locales, driving or other forms of transportation is a must. The Arden Fair Mall is directly adjacent to Cal Expo which includes chain restaurants such as Olive Garden, The Cheesecake Factory and In-N-Out Burger. Local options include Taro’s for sushi, Cask & Barrel for southern and Maggiano’s for Italian. For a taste of the local craft beer offerings try Capitol Beer & Taproom where they have draft and bottled offerings from around Northern California and beyond. Twelve Rounds Brewing in East Sacramento is the nearest brewery to Bonney Field. Field House is the nearest sports bar which offers brunch, bar bites and beer. There are a few hotels walking distance to Cal Expo including a Fairfield Inn and a Courtyard Suites. If you’re willing to explore beyond the immediate neighborhood, check out the Midtown and Downtown Sacramento neighborhoods, five to eight miles away. Fans 4 Republic fans have shown up in droves since the very first game, forcing a Papa Murphy’s Park expansion after just one year. Sacramento seems to be an excellent professional soccer market because of its size and demographics plus the fact that there is little competition for the sports dollar outside of the Kings and River Cats . My hope is that the passion for the Republic continues and they eventually make their way to MLS and a natural rivalry is fostered between them and the San Jose Earthquakes . The Tower Bridge Battalion is the supporters group for Republic FC. They are a rambunctious group that stands and chants throughout the match in sections 1 and 2. The Republic fan base, while without much history, is very passionate. In the coming years, I can see a growing passion reminiscent of the love affair Sacramento had with the Kings in the early 2000s. Access 3 Cal Expo and Papa Murphy’s Park is located very near interstates 80 and 50. Interstate 80 is the main thoroughfare that connects the Bay Area to Sacramento and beyond to Reno. The surface streets getting into the parking lot are well-marked and easy to navigate. Unfortunately the way the parking lot is set up and where the entrance to the stadium is located, you’ll be traveling on foot for a while after you park. Though Sacramento has a light rail service, it doesn’t service this part of the city well. City buses are available as well as bicycle parking. Keeping with the state fair theme, restrooms are either housed in temporary buildings or are porta-potties. They are plentiful and relatively clean. The stadium is easy to get around as the concourses behind the stands are plenty wide to move through the crowds. Unfortunately you can’t see any of the action without a view of the field or very many screens showing the live action. You can nearly make a full circle around the venue with the exception of the VIP area. The one bummer is that if you need to get to the team store or craft beer stand on the west side of the stadium and you’re seated on the east side nearest the VIP section, a destination 100 yards away can take 10 or more minutes to get to. Return on Investment 3 The least expensive ticket is in the general admission supporters section for $13. Since the Republic have a fan base that sells out most games, the secondary market can be much higher than that. Parking is easy to access, albeit far from the stadium, and is an affordable $10. Concession prices are in line with the expectation of any other professional venue. Republic games are a no-frills experience but the pricing seems to be in line with an elevated stadium experience. Luckily, the quality of play and the fans counter this a bit. Extras 1 I respect that they put up Papa Murphy’s Park so quickly and made the soccer match the main event at Papa Murphy’s Stadium However, because of the stadium seems somewhat temporary with a strange fair-like vibe to it. While the monorail and waterslides are charming, the Republic don’t have a vast history to pay homage. What’s clear is that the Republic and the city of Sacramento are intent on improving their team and their stadium. I’m excited to see what comes of the game day experience in one, two and ten years. Final Thoughts Sacramento has thrown its hat into the ring as a viable soccer market and perhaps one day the home to an MLS side. However, the soccer-specific venue is highly enjoyable serving as the home of a USL Championship side. The modern venue with its passionate fan base and lively game atmosphere reminds people that soccer is alive and growing here in the United States.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Herr-Baker Field 980 E Division St Fond du Lac, WI 54935 Map It Fond du Lac Dock Spiders website Herr-Baker Field website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 2,000 Dairyland Baseball The Dock Spiders are a hidden gem in the vast Wisconsin sports world. With Milwaukee just an hour south and the racing mecca of Road America  just thirty minutes east, the town of Fond du Lac finds itself nestled on the shores of Lake Winnebago. Here, you can find baseball in the form of the 2018 Northwoods League championship-winning Dock Spiders. With a simple stadium that features clean sightlines and cozy touches, you’re sure to find a great spot for watching America’s pastime.   Food & Beverage   4 There are several options for food and drinks at Dock Spiders games. Home Plate Cantina features nachos ($5-$11.25) and walking tacos ($9), as well as mixed liquor drinks ($5-$10). Above the seats in left field is the Drink Shanty, where you can find beer ($6-$8) and sodas ($3) at affordable prices. Water is also sold at the Drink Shanty for $3.50, along with assorted snacks at $5 each (peanuts and popcorn). The main concession stand is the Festival Foods Grill – here you can find a wide array of options. Pizza ($5), brats ($5.50), hot dogs ($4.50), burgers ($6-$7.50), chicken tender baskets ($11), and pulled pork sandwiches ($7.25) are all on the menu, as are waffle fries ($4), helmet cheese fries ($6.50), cheese curds ($6.50), jumbo pretzels ($4.50), and helmet mac ‘n cheese with BBQ pulled pork ($7.50). Snacks and drinks are also plentiful, including beer served in souvenir bats for $15.   Atmosphere   4 Located next to the campus of Marian University, the stadium itself is simple in design. Reminiscent of some D1 college stadiums and other minor and independent league fields, Herr-Baker Field features five separate seating sections. On top of that, the main concession stand is under a covered area, meaning waiting in line during those hot summer days won’t be a miserable time, since you’re in the shade. There is a sizable team store under the seats in left field, and right field features a respectable kids' play area with inflatables for the youngest fans. The scoreboards feature both video replay and traditional scoring options, but the best view may be from the patio on the Rooftop Picnic Deck, offering elevated views and great seating options.   Neighborhood   4 The area around Fond du Lac is exactly what you would expect to find in rural Wisconsin – rolling hills, farmland, forests, and small towns. While it lacks the variety and quantity of a large city, you could do way worse in your rural travels. The town of Fond du Lac is quintessential Americana, with a traditional Main Street downtown district as well as a large park along Lake Winnebago, which features fishing and boating as well as sports fields and picnic spots. Hotels are plentiful nearby, with Hampton Inn and historic Hotel Retlaw your best bets. If you’re looking for something to eat, the area also has a wide variety of restaurants, from Buffalo Wild Wings (which hosts Dock Spider watch parties for the team’s away games) to McDonald’s. For those looking for something else to see and do, the Kettle-Moraine State Forest is not far from the town, providing some great hiking options. In addition, the Kohler factory is in nearby Sheboygan, and Road America  is just thirty minutes east.   Fans   3 The fans at Dock Spider games are mostly locals; they’ve embraced their team with full hearts. and fill the seats on most nights. While the stadium isn’t that large to begin with, the fans can bring the noise when needed. That said, it is a more relaxed atmosphere than some sports venues you may have visited, so if you’re looking for a loud and rowdy stadium experience, you’ll be a bit let down here. Don’t let that detract from the enjoyment of the game, however, as it also means your fellow fans are kind and courteous, always welcoming, and open to casual conversation.   Access   3 To get to Herr-Baker Field, the best route is along Route 23. Once you enter the east side of Fond du Lac, you can drive south on Prairie Road until you arrive at the front gate for Herr-Baker Field. Parking is plentiful all around the streets of Marian University just outside the stadium, so get there early if you want to walk a shorter distance.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets are incredibly affordable for Dock Spider games, starting at just $12 for bleachers and $14 for box seats, and you can upgrade to patio tables for four at $150 (total), or VIP Suites for $532. All-you-can-eat seats are also available for fans at various games, and giveaway and theme nights are fairly common with the Dock Spiders.   Extras   3 The main entrance features a large display case of baseball history in the Fond du Lac area. Here you can discover the history behind the team and the stadium, as well as some famous players who have come through town. The right field area features a kids play area, while left field features the Rounding Third beer garden. Fans can also sit for a photo in the oversized wood chair outside the main gate, which features the Dock Spiders logo.   Final Thoughts The Dock Spiders are a great option for baseball fans in Wisconsin who want a truly family-friendly atmosphere, with affordable ticket and food options. Located in a beautiful part of the state along Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac is also a quaint town with many options for fans who want to stay the night and explore the area around them.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Cross Insurance Arena 1 Civic Center Square Portland, ME 04012 Maine Mariners website Cross Insurance Arena website Year Opened: 1977 Capacity: 6,200 Turn the Tide The southern Maine city of Portland has long been a year-round minor-league sports town, and was named by Sports Business Journal as the top minor league market of 2024. Through the spring and summer months the city’s sports attention is dominated by the Portland Sea Dogs (MiLB), but a lot of excitement also surrounds the start of professional soccer here in Spring 2024, with the Maine Hearts of Pine in USL One. In addition, from the fall and throughout the winter, fans seek safe harbor from Maine’s brutal winters at the Portland Exposition Building for Maine Celtics  (G League) basketball, as well as across town at Cross Insurance Arena for the Maine Mariners of the ECHL. The original Maine Mariners (AHL) began play in 1977 at the newly built (at the time) Cumberland County Civic Center, quickly capturing the attention of Maine’s largest city. As the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers , the Mariners wasted no time making their mark, winning the Calder Cup in their first two seasons (1977-78 and 1978-79) and adding a third championship in 1983-84. The Flyers sold the Mariners to the New Jersey Devils  the following year, but this partnership was brief, as the team was soon sold to the Boston Bruins , sparking excitement among local fans. However, the franchise moved to Providence  in 1992, leaving Portland without a hockey team for the 1992-93 season. AHL hockey returned to Portland in 1993 with the Portland Pirates – the Pirates, much like the Mariners, achieved instant success, winning the Calder Cup in their inaugural season (1993-94). Over the next 23 seasons, the Pirates cycled through various NHL affiliations. Despite their early success, however, the team struggled with declining attendance and a contentious lease dispute. Ultimately, the franchise was sold and relocated to Springfield, Massachusetts, becoming the Springfield Thunderbirds , leaving behind a storied hockey legacy in Portland. This would mark the end of AHL hockey in Portland, but the absence of professional hockey would last just one season – the void would be filled by a new incarnation of the Maine Mariners to the delight of many locals, who understood the connection with Portland’s hockey history.   Food & Beverage   3 The usual collection pizza slices, hot dogs, popcorn, and pretzels are widely available throughout Cross Insurance Arena. Burgers and fries are also on the menu, as is the carnival favorite, fried dough with powdered sugar. In addition, the “Local Flavah Farmstand” does have a handful of locally sourced items which include a steak and cheese sandwich, honey chipotle bacon burger, and the area’s French-Canadian influenced tater-tot poutine that comes served in a miniature goalie mask. The Maine classic Whoopie pies come in both traditional chocolate and gluten free carrot cake, while beverages available include Gatorade, bottled water, and a full selection of bottled Pepsi products. Craft beer enthusiasts will be treated to an extensive menu of some of Maine’s finest – Portland brewer Lone Pine has created a Maine Mariners branded Sessions Ale. Also featured are crafts from Definitive Brewing, Orono Brewing Company, and Nonesuch River Brewing. Typical national brands are also available, but in large part are ignored. For those who are not fans of beer, there still is a large selection of vodka seltzers, pre-mixed cocktails, wine, and cider choices, as well as even a pair of signature cocktails in the main lobby area. For fans of craft beer, though, Cross Insurance Arena might be one of the top destinations at any level, with no less than thirteen different beers available. Food options are not nearly as impressive, but sufficient for basic arena food needs.   Atmosphere   3 Cross Insurance Arena is a cozy venue for hockey, small enough where just about any seat keep fans on top of the action on the ice, and with seats roomy enough that each fan has plenty of room. The building was built in the 1970s, when suites and luxury boxes were not a consideration, especially at the minor league level. As the arena aged and amenities became more of a necessity than a luxury, however, renovations saw three levels of suites built into the corners at one end of the arena – due to nearby support structures these do seem awkwardly placed. Both ends of the rink also have ice level lounges that add some premium seating options. Seats to be wary of are those along the aisles in the first few rows of the upper tier seating, and the handrails along the stair landings do significantly obstruct views of the ice. A four-sided scoreboard hangs over center ice and serves to stream the game and provide basic game information: time left in the period, shots on goal, score, and time left on power-plays. As has become the norm throughout much of in-game entertainment, an in-game host prompts fans with trivia contests, seat upgrades, and fan cams during stoppages in play. The first intermission is filled with junior hockey players scrimmaging at each end of the ice, while the second intermission features “Chuck-a-Puck”, where fans can purchase pucks to toss on the ice – if they land on the target the thrower can win prizes. Also, in what seemingly has become a de facto sports anthem in New England, fans sing “Sweet Caroline” to kick off the third period.   Neighborhood   5 Cross Insurance Arena is on the Portland peninsula, where the city’s arts district transitions to the Old Port, known for its shops, restaurants, nightlife, and high density of hotels. Portland is also known as one of the most beer friendly cities in the country – while Portland has over 20 breweries, the Old Port is highlighted by Shipyard Brewing and Gritty McDuff’s, both within walking distance. Alternatively, if finding nighttime entertainment following the game is more the goal, the bars of the Old Port are a popular stop. Maine winters definitely impact the overall frivolity of the neighborhood, however, moving much of the entertainment indoors. Though Portland is well known for high end dining , native Portlanders would likely point to better kept secrets for the real local tastes. One of the worst kept secrets in town is the breakfast menu at Becky’s Diner on Hobson’s Wharf, which commonly has lines out the door. In addition, though a bit touristy, DiMillo’s floating restaurant on Long Wharf has been a fixture of seafood dining in this area for nearly five decades. Or, if a quick bite on the go is more the need, Amato’s on India Street is the home of the “Real Italian” sandwich. Portland and the surrounding area are also rich in historic points of interest; within walking distance are Victoria Mansion and the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow House, and across Portland Harbor in nearby Cape Elizabeth is the iconic Portland Headlight, which is the most photographed lighthouse in the world.   Fans   4 Portland is a city that gets behind their teams, and the Mariners’ affiliation with the Boston Bruins  helps draw out a bit more of the local interest and regional enthusiasm and pride. The Mariners typically find themselves in the middle of the pack when it comes to overall attendance, however, ranging from four to five thousand per game. Fans at Cross Insurance Arena are actively and organically engaged in the game, commonly starting up chants of “Let’s Go Mariners!” with no prompting. They are also cognizant of good hockey plays that might go unnoticed by less well-versed fans – big hits, clearing the zone during power plays, or simple hustle plays are commonly, and rightfully, applauded. No conversation of hockey fans in Portland would be complete without mentioning one of its most beloved hockey fans, Raymond “Switchboard” Dudley; anyone familiar with professional hockey in Portland surely has a memory of Switchboard. Dudley’s fandom earned him enshrinement as one of nineteen members of the Portland Pirates’ Hall of Fame, and upon his passing during the 2024 season, Switchboard’s seat was adorned with flowers, cards, and other trinkets in his memory. It is the dedication of fans like Dudley and those who recognize how his presence helps make the experience special, as well as the appreciation this fanbase as a whole has for their hometown team, that makes hockey at Cross Insurance Arena so special.   Access   4 Portland is a fairly easy city to navigate; not much is far away from one point to another. The city also has a serviceable bus system for those coming from areas outside of downtown, and with such a large concentration of hotels in downtown Portland, simply walking to the Cross Insurance Arena certainly could be a possibility for those visiting from out of town. For those driving, there is plenty of parking around the area, the most convenient being Spring Street garage which is practically attached to the arena. There is also a fair amount of street parking nearby; note that meters must be paid Mondays – Saturdays until 6 pm. Cross Insurance Arena has three entry points, one at the corner of Spring and Center Streets, plus a main lobby that is accessible from both Spring and Free Streets, which pass on each side of the arena – the lobby entry is a bit more popular as it provides shelter from the elements. However, once passing through security just inside the lobby, fans do tend to congregate as they wait for others; adding in a handful of promotional tables, as well as beer carts and concessions, the entry does become a bit congested. The concourses here are rather narrow, when considering the normal flow of fans and along with concession lines during pre-game and intermissions. For the most part, though, fans stay in their seats during play, which does help alleviate overly crowded walkways.   Return on Investment   4 Ticket prices do seem reasonable; seats in the far end where the Mariners will be on offense once start at $19, but what ends up being a downer are the Ticketmaster fees that are added on, making a $19 ticket quickly become $37. The secondary market does have a slightly less expensive base price, but there are still fees to consider. On the plus side Saturday night games can be purchased for just $8, and if you are able to get to the box office ahead of time, you can avoid the Ticketmaster fees. Parking in the adjacent garage runs $15, also a bit high, but the availability of street parking for early birds will just run the going meter rates, which currently are not more than $2.50 per hour. Inside the arena, concession prices are subject to typical stadium markups, so the high costs for food and drinks are not much of a surprise. There are opportunities to get into several games with highly discounted tickets, however.   Extras   3 Cross Insurance Arena pays tribute to the accomplishments of the AHL teams that previously played there – banners recognizing the four Calder Cups, three won by the original Mariners (‘78, ‘79, and ‘84) and the last by the Pirates (‘94), are proudly displayed from the rafters. The Mariners obviously consider the overall fan experience that accompanies the game; mascot Beacon, a puffin, makes its way through the stands stopping for photos and interacting with fans during stoppages in play. Also, during the first period players not dressed out sign autographs for fans in the main lobby. Just off the main lobby of Cross Insurance Arena is the Saco & Biddeford Savings Hall of Fame Lounge – this lounge recognizes Portland’s previous professional hockey teams and their division and league championships, along with major events to have come through the then civic center.   Final Thoughts Attempts to build a new arena in Portland in the early 2000s never came to fruition, as city and county officials were never able to come to a consensus on funding; the debate left the city with a facility that was quickly becoming obsolete. By the time the future of Cross Insurance Arena was decided, the only option was to renovate a facility which had limited options for significant expansion. For hockey, Cross Insurance Arena is fine – its limitations do not necessarily take away from the overall experience, so the facility and amenities create a cozy hockey atmosphere. While several arenas around the league might be much more impressive with their size, amenities, and overall awe factor, the atmosphere can easily get lost in a larger venues that might only be half full, even with larger crowds; Cross Insurance Arena’s smaller size helps to create more of an air of excitement, and an environment that easily engages fans.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Providence Park 1844 SW Morrison Portland, OR 97220 Portland Thorns Providence Park Year Opened: 1926 Capacity: 25,218 Onward In Rose City Portland is a soccer city. Without a doubt, the surge in the sport’s popularity in America in the 2010s can partly be attributed to the city and its supporters. The years of success have cultivated a culture in Portland that loves the sport and continues to grow its fan base as the years go on. Part of this success comes in the form of the Portland Thorns. While women’s professional soccer has struggled outside of the USA National Team at times, the Thorns have thrived. The team has two championships, play in the home of the Timbers , pack the stands every night, and now hold the NWSL single-game attendance record, with over 21,000 fans watching women play professional soccer at one time. Food & Beverage 4 Food and drinks at Providence Park are exceptional, but the prices tend to be on the higher end for sports stadiums. There is a wide variety of options, however, something one would expect a sports stadium in Portland to have. Chicken tinga tacos ($10), hot dogs ($6.75), nachos ($7.75), chicken tenders ($14), ice cream ($5), tater tots ($6), BBQ brisket sandwiches ($16), and many more options greet fans in the concourses of Providence Park. Drinks include soda ($6.50), water ($5.25), coffee ($4-$6), beer ($9.50-$12), wine ($13), kombucha ($11.50), and more. Atmosphere 5 During Portland Thorns games, the stadium itself remains almost unchanged from its MLS layout. The grandstands are all open, save for a few upper deck sections covered by small sponsor tarps, but the remainder of the seats, suites, and stands are packed full of fans night in and night out. Every concessions stand and team store booth that is open during a Portland Timbers game is also open during Thorns matches. Fans cheer with every goal, and smoke fills the end zone whenever they score. The facilities are clean, plentiful, and you never have to wait longer than needed. Indeed, for the uninitiated it would be hard to distinguish a Timbers game from a Thorns game save for the team colors and crowd size – the noise is the same, and the experience is almost mirrored to what you see for the men’s squad. This is easily one of the top stadiums in women’s professional soccer in America. Recently, the newly expanded seating on the east side of the stadium expanded the options for fans with three levels of seating. Neighborhood 5 Providence Park is located right in the middle of shopping, dining, and everything Portland. Like the majority of the city, the stadium is within walking distance to anything you want. Situated in the historic Alphabet District, this soccer stadium is perfect for those who also like to enjoy the city in which it is located. Just blocks away from the stadium are Park Lake Suites & Inn and Hotel deLuxe. Blue Star Donuts, Von Ebert Brewing, Multnomah Whiskey Library, TILT, and countless more restaurants are also nearby to satisfy every palate possible. If you are looking for something to do, Portland has it. You are only a few hours away from Mt. Hood and the beautiful national park scenery, as well as the Columbia River Gorge. You are also not far from the International Rose Test Garden and the Pittock Mansion. Fans 5 Anytime a team holds its respective league’s single-game attendance record, you know the fans are loyal. The Thorn faithful turn out in droves every single game; rain or shine, cold or hot, the stadium is sure to be packed. The north end zone is where the fan zone is located. Here, the Rose City Riveters sing, chant, and yell the entire game. Whenever a Portland goal is scored the Riveters erupt, with red smoke filling the air. The rest of the fans in the stadium are also as passionate about the Thorns as possible. Each fan seems to have a favorite player, and they know the team better than anyone else. The stadium is also filled with the youngest fans, as families find Thorns games perfect for bringing the kids for a night out in Oregon. Access 3 The biggest downfall at Providence Park is the lack of on-site parking. The venue does not feature a parking garage or any official parking lots, as it is located literally right in the middle of a commercial and residential neighborhood. However, various parking lots in the area offer their spaces up to fans attending games. The big push here in Portland is the use of public transportation – several bus lines take you right to the stadium’s neighborhood. In addition, many fans choose to make a night of their game visit, spending the afternoon and evening shopping and eating at local restaurants before walking to the game. Getting to the stadium is easy, as signs help direct you to the facility when you exit off I-405. Providence Park itself is located mere blocks from the highway, just off W. Burnside Street. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Portland Thorns games start as low as just $10 and can be purchased for under $30 right next to the pitch. This is extremely low for professional sports, let alone professional soccer, and means you can take the whole family to the game for less than $50 on a regular night. Parking is also generally affordable nearby, with the option of using public transportation taking even more off the top of your game day costs. Extras 4 The Thorns have a ceremony after games, where young fans are chosen to present a rose to each goal scorer on the field. The stadium also has banners for both the Portland Thorns and Timbers hanging in the rafters, helping to honor the team’s history. Some games also feature post-game autograph sessions on the field, offering fans the chance to get up close and meet some of their sports heroes. In addition, the stadium features a fan tailgating area in one of the parking lots nearby, which serves as the perfect place for fans to gather during pre-game and hang out before heading into Providence Park. Final Thoughts Though one may forget about women’s professional soccer when thinking about Portland, it is indeed part of the very sporting fabric of the city. The Portland Thorns squad is a team that has a history of success, is one of the most popular sports franchises in this metropolitan center, and has a bright future. Indeed, going to a Portland Thorns game seems wholly required when visiting the Rose City. If watching what in other cities may seem an obscure sport, in a stadium that fully embraces and celebrates it, isn’t part of what keeps Portland weird, and in the best of ways, then one cannot possibly imagine what else would.