Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Loring Arena 165 Fountain St. Framingham, MA 01702 Framingham State Rams hockey website Loring Arena website Year Opened: 1963 Capacity: 2,500 Framingham State Hockey   Loring Arena is a municipal skating facility in Framingham, MA. It opened in 1963 as one of the first public skating rinks in the Boston area. Today the rink serves as home to many area clubs and teams, as well as providing public skating accessibility to the community. A six-million dollar renovation completed in 2018 upgraded the facility and created a dedicated locker room for one of the building’s primary tenants, the Framingham State Rams. The arena is named in honor of Edward F. Loring, who led the Framingham High School hockey team to the state title in 1961. Loring passed away the next year at age 42 due to liver cancer.   Framingham State University is a public university located in the Boston suburb of Framingham. With an enrollment of 4,500 students, the school began its existence in 1839 as the first state-supported Normal School in the country. Today the university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in several majors.   Today the Rams compete in the MASCAC (Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference) along with several other small schools in and around Massachusetts. Framingham State has yet to win a conference title or appear in the NCAA Tournament, but they do claim an ECAC championship in 1979. The school has announced that a women’s hockey team will begin play for the 2024-25 season.   Food & Beverage 2   There is a snack bar in the upstairs lounge area that is accessible to all fans. There’s a basic menu served here, including hot dogs, nachos, pretzels popcorn and assorted candy. Hot and cold beverages are sold, featuring Pepsi products. It’s not the most extensive menu you’ll find, but it will do the trick if you need a snack during the game. The area also overlooks the ice if you’re looking to escape the cold of the rink. Should the snack bar not be open during your visit, there are some vending machines in the area, one of which serves Dippin’ Dots ice cream.   Atmosphere 1   The game day atmosphere at a Framingham State hockey game is as bare bones an experience as any you’re likely to come across in your stadium journeys. While the arena seems to have a decent sound system, it is severely underutilized. There are no PA announcements made during the game, so if you’re looking for game updates, you’ll have to rely on the basic information displayed on the small scoreboard on the far end of the rink. Music is played during play stoppages, but during intermission, someone simply switches on the radio to fill the space with some noise.   Any energy generated during the game is generated by the fans in the stands, who consist primarily of family members. You won’t see much of a turnout from the student body in this off-campus arena.   Neighborhood 4   The city of Framingham is located about 20 miles to the west of Boston. It has a population of over 72,000 residents. As you may imagine, a city of this size will have some decent options for those who wish to eat in the area or look for a place to stay. Bowditch Field , home of Framingham State football, is located about a mile and a half to the north.   There are no dining or lodging options within walking distance of Loring Arena, but there are many choices along both Route 135, which runs near the rink, or Route 30, which runs past the university. Among the excellent dining options near Loring Arena are La Cantina Italiana, Framingham Station Brazilian Steakhouse and Exhibit A Brewing Company. Visitors looking to stay in Framingham will find numerous options along Route 30, including an Aloft, Residence Inn and Hampton Inn. All are just a short drive from Loring Arena.   Of course, if visiting Framingham from out of town, a trip into nearby Boston is most likely on your agenda. Framingham does offer a bit more value than staying downtown, and the Framingham MBTA Station  is located less than a mile away from Loring Arena.   Fans 2   The crowd at a Framingham State hockey game is a “friends and family” type of crowd. Stadium Journey visited Loring Arena on Senior Day on a Saturday night, and the crowd still topped out at about 150 fans. Even though the rink is only two miles from campus, there’s not much of a turnout from the student body. With the majority of the crowd made up of family members, you can be sure that the fans in attendance know their stuff and are very supportive of the players competing down on the ice.   With the compact footprint of the MASCAC conference, it’s also very likely that you’ll see a good turnout from visiting fans at a Rams game.   Access 4   Loring Arena is located in suburban Framingham, about 20 miles west of Boston. The city of Framingham is easily accessed via either Interstate 495 or 90 (the Mass Pike). The Arena is located about two miles south of the FSU campus, near many of the city’s public athletic fields and parks.   Ample parking is available in the lot adjacent to the front entrance of the rink. There is a large, bright lobby that contains the skate shop and an ATM, which may be handy to some fans as all transactions here are cash only. The snack bar is located on the lobby’s upstairs level, which is a popular spot to escape the cold of the rink, as you can watch the action from here. Rest rooms are located on both levels of the lobby. They are large and clean.   Seating consists of plastic bleachers which run along both sides of the rink. Nets run the length of the ice, obstructing views from all seats. There is plenty of standing room available on both sides of the arena atop the seating area. Fans can also stand at the end of the rink to take in the action.   Return on Investment 4   Admission to a Framingham State hockey game will cost you seven dollars. Parking in the adjacent lot is free of charge. Concessions are very reasonably priced, with no item costing more than five dollars. At Loring Arena you’ll be able to catch some quality hockey without spending too much money. Just be aware that all transactions here are cash only, so come prepared. There is an ATM in the lobby if you need to grab some cash.   Extras 1   The old wooden roof that arches over the ice surface harkens back to an earlier time and gives Loring Arena a classic, old-barn look. It’s certainly worth an extra point.   Final Thoughts   In the state of Massachusetts, hockey is a really big deal. Municipally-owned rinks popped up all around the state during the heyday of Bobby Orr and the Big, Bad Bruins. Loring Arena predates that hockey boom and as a result, features a unique design that sets it apart from many of its peers. -----   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Matt Finnigan, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Ball Arena 1000 Chopper Circle Denver, CO 80204 Denver Nuggets website Ball Arena website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 19,250 The NBA at a Mile High The NBA’s Denver Nuggets have had just one home in their 21st Century existence: downtown Denver’s Ball Arena. Since this Millennium started, the Nuggets struggled to find a mix of players to elevate them to one of the Association’s top teams. Who can forget high first-round draft selections like 2002’s Nikoloz Tskitishvili (5th overall) or 2015’s Emmanuel Mudiay (7th overall)? All sarcasm and nostalgia aside, the Nuggets history at Ball Arena has not been a disaster. Far from it. The team enjoyed successful runs after drafting Carmelo Anthony third overall in 2003 and trading for Allen Iverson at the start of the 2006-2007 season. Lately, the Nuggets have emerged as one of the NBA’s top teams. They drafted a little-known Serbian center, Nikola Jokic, in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft (41st overall). “The Joker” became one of the great steals in draft history. He won NBA Most Valuable Player honors in 2021 and 2022, seemingly recording triple-doubles on a nightly basis and passing like a point guard. Jamal Murray, the Nuggets’ seventh pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of the University of Kentucky , has given the Nuggets a second superstar. Jokic and Murray now have a solid supporting cast that includes Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter, Jr., and Bones Hyland. This has the Nuggets positioned for deep postseason runs. Ball Arena befits the quality of play that Head Coach Michael Malone’s Nuggets display on a regular basis. Food & Beverage 4 Ball Arena’s concession stands have just about all of the food groups on the major-level sports venue nutritional pyramid: hot dogs, corn dogs, burgers, pretzels, and nachos can be found throughout the arena. The Wyncoop, a poultry-based pun of a local place-name, has a delicious fried chicken sandwich ($15, with fries) on the lower concourse, just outside the entrance to section 146. The taco stand just outside section 102 slings four different kinds of tacos, including a vegetarian option, for $14. The food’s quality is good. Given that a beverage container company owns the arena’s naming rights, it should come as no surprise that thirsty fans will find a wide selection of beer and cocktails. There are several locations where fans can buy “tall boy” cans of beer that include InBev/Anheuser-Busch and Miller Coors products, along with Cutwater Canned Cocktails and White Claw hard seltzer. Ball Arena has a full bar on the lower concourse where mixed drinks are available ($13.50 for a single, $19.50 for a double). Given that Pepsi previously owned the arena’s naming rights and remains a sponsor of the building’s tenants, it similarly should come as no surprise that thirsty fans will find Pepsi products sold at Ball Arena. Atmosphere 4 NBA games are high-energy and Nuggets home games are no different. The team’s recent success has brought larger and louder crowds. The Skyline Drumline plays outside, greeting fans as they arrive. Ball Arena has two main entrances: one on the building’s southeast side and one on the building’s southwest side. Most fans will then take escalators to their seats on the 100, 200, or 300 levels; those sitting in the 100 level can also access their seats via ground-floor entries. The entrance on the southwest side leads into Ball Arena’s grand atrium. The Altitude Athletics team shop sits just beyond where tickets are checked. Be sure not to miss the 20,000-pound sculpture of athletes playing their sports that hangs from the grand atrium’s ceiling. Ball Arena’s center scoreboard is the gold standard for NBA venues. Installed before the 2013-2014 season, the scoreboard remains one of the best in league arenas. It spans between the tops of the three-point circles at each end, providing highlights, promotions, and live action at 1080p high definition. Despite its size and the fact that it probably sits as a sports dream for many fans who see it, Ball Arena’s scoreboard complements – and does not overwhelm – the live action on the floor below. The in-house audio system is crisp, as are the beats from the team’s DJ. That said, the music can be loud for some people’s tastes. Ball Arena has a place for those wanting a break from the sensory overload that can come from a live NBA game. Ball Arena Scoreboard, Photo by Matt Finnigan, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 5 Ball Arena has as many restaurants, bars, and hotels within walking distance as any NBA arena. Denver’s Lower Downtown, or “LoDo,” is the Mile High City’s oldest neighborhood. It has more than 100 restaurants, clubs, and shops, along with Coors Field , the National Ballpark Museum , and the recently renovated Union Station. Just across Speer Boulevard from Ball Arena is Coohills, one of Denver’s best restaurants (1400 Wewatta Street, Denver, CO, 80202; (303) 623-5700). For something more casual, try the Hopdoddy Burger Bar at Union Station (1747 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO, 80202; (303) 446-2337). If you’re willing to walk a bit farther, walk west on Speer Boulevard across Interstate 25 to the Highlands neighborhood. Linger (2030 West 30th Avenue, Denver, CO, 80211; (303) 993-3120) offers fine dining in a former mortuary that has one of Denver’s best rooftop patios. Afterwards, you can’t miss Sweet Cow Ice Cream next door (2620 16th Street, Denver, CO, 80211; (303) 455-3811) because it resides in a 28 foot-tall milk can. The closest hotel is Springhill Suites by Marriott Denver Downtown , .2 mile walking distance. Fans 4 Denver has always been a great NFL city, with a rabid fan base following the Broncos . People along the Front Range have begun to pay attention to the Nuggets. In the 2022-2023 season, the team has ranked among the NBA’s top 10 franchises in terms of attendance, averaging more than 19,000 fans per home game and filling an average of 97.6 percent of Ball Arena’s capacity. The fans who come are loud and attentive. As Jokic and Murray have matured into NBA stars, the Nuggets’ fans have grown. Unfortunately, a contract dispute between the team-owned regional sports network that carries the Nuggets, Altitude Sports & Entertainment, has been engaged in a contract dispute with Xfinity since August 2019. This has left a significant portion of the fan base unable to watch the Nuggets legally on a regular basis for both of Jokic’s MVP seasons and for the team’s ascent to the top of the NBA’s Western Conference. Access 4 There are more ways to get to Ball Arena than you can shake a miner’s shovel at. Many downtown hotels are within walking distance of Ball Arena. The Rapid Transportation District’s (the “RTD’s”) C, D, E, and F light rail lines all stop at Ball Arena. There’s also an RTD bus stop at Ball Arena, located at the intersection of 9th Street and Auraria Parkway; several bus lines stop there. Denver participates in the ubiquitous scooter and bike share programs, so those are options. With the nearby Platte River and Cherry Creek trails bordering Ball Arena’s property, walking or bicycling to the game is a cost-efficient way to get to Ball Arena, too. There are three sets of bike racks around the arena. If driving, Ball Arena has 10 different parking lots. There are a number of parking lots within walking distance, as well. With a big crowd, Ball Arena’s common areas can get crowded. Long lines for food and drink tend to form, as do lines to enter seating areas. With most of the seats accessible only after taking an escalator or stairs up, large crowds form at the end of games as large numbers of fans funnel into the escalators to return to ground level. A better option is to use the stairs, accessible through doors along the upper and main concourses. The stairs lead to ground level and do not provide the claustrophobia - or agoraphobia-inducing congestion that can occur while moving toward the tops of Ball Arena’s elevators. Return on Investment 4 Even with recent success and the NBA’s best player, a Nuggets game remains a decent bargain. A single-game ticket to a Nuggets game at Ball Arena is, in the words of Seinfeld’s George Costanza, “right in the meaty part of the curve” with respect to average NBA ticket prices. Face value of single-game tickets for a February 2023 home game against the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors ranged from $59 for the arena’s last seat to $599 for a seat behind the Warriors’ bench. A number of promotions provide lower-priced tickets, as well. Participants in the “Buzzer Beater” program receive text messages the night before each home game, with a limited number of tickets available at lower costs. And every Saturday and Sunday are "Family Nights," with tickets loaded with concession value. Food and drink prices align with other Denver sports venues. Prices seem generally tethered to reality: hot dogs ($7), chicken tenders with fries ($15), large pretzels ($7.50), fountain soda ($6.50 for collectible aluminum cup), bottled water ($5.50) and candy ($5) compare favorably with prices at Coors Field and Empower Field at Mile High. Parking in Ball Arena’s lots will cost either $25 or $30, depending on location. Cheaper parking is available within walking distance. There are numerous parking lots where $10 or $15 parking is the norm. A little willingness to walk can save a few bucks. Extras 5 The newly expanded and renovated Altitude Athletics team shop merits a point. Kroenke Sports Enterprises, which owns the Nuggets and Ball Arena’s other two tenants, the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche and the National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth, removed the arena’s ticket office before the Nuggets’ 2022-2023 season. In its place, the team store expanded. This yielded more room for merchandise, better flow for foot traffic, and added point-of-sale locations. Many NBA teams have in-game DJs. The Nuggets are no exception. Theirs is Austin “Paws” Pawleka. He must rank among the league’s best. Paws knows basketball and he also knows how to provide a multi-genre soundtrack for the team he grew up loving. Props to Ball Arena for having two nursing pods: one on the lower concourse, just across from the entrance to section 130, and the other on the upper concourse, just across from the entrance to section 345. Another point to Ball Arena for recognizing that its teams have fans with varying sensory processing needs. To that end, Ball Arena has designated its elevator lobbies outside sections 120, 228, and 340 as “quiet areas.” Additionally, Ball Arena’s guest relations kiosks provide sensory bags at no cost. These bags contain a special badge for guest recognition, noise-canceling headphones, and fidget tools. Finally, a point for Ball Arena’s new concession stand, The CANteen. It’s a grab-and-go vendor that only sells beverages in aluminum containers. It’s part of Ball Arena’s “Play Clean” program to encourage fans to recycle packaging after events. Final Thoughts Jokic alone is worth the cost of a ticket. He fills a box score like Oscar Robertson and passes like Jason Kidd. He and Murray front a team that should contend for an NBA title. Yet the costs of watching the Nuggets at Ball Arena do not require a complex financial transaction. It’s a decent bargain for an exceptional experience.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 A. W. Mumford Stadium 1 Robert Smith Blvd Baton Rouge, LA 70807 Southern Jaguars website A. W. Mumford Stadium website Year Opened: 1928 Capacity: 28,000 The Jaguars Home Since 1938 Southern University was founded in 1890. It was one of the earliest HCBUs in the country and has a student body of 8,200. As a land grant university, the largest major is in the field of agriculture. Other prominent majors are in the fields of Business, Social Sciences, and Nursing. Southern is the only HBCU in the country to offer an engineering major. Southern has had a football program since 1916. The school is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Jaguars football program has a storied history, as they have won nine black college national championships, as well as nineteen SWAC Conference Championships. Two former Southern coaches, Mario Carsem and Ace Mumford, are in the College Football Hall of Fame. More than seventy Jaguar players have gone on to play in the NFL, including Pro Football Hall of Famers Mel Blount, Aeneas Williams, and Harold Carmichael. The home field for the Jaguars is the on-campus Ace W. Mumford Stadium. It opened in 1938 and is named for Southern’s winningest football coach, who served the school for 18 years. The stadium has gone through several renovations over the years, bringing the capacity of the venue to 28,000. The stadium is also unique in that it has a track encircling the football field that is used by Southern’s track and field team. Food & Beverage 2 It is a good thing that Jaguar fans are legendary for their pregame spreads at the tailgates, as the concessions offerings at Mumford Stadium are basic. You can expect the usual (i.e., hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, sodas, and bottled water) stadium standards at the concession stands. The stands also tend to have long lines at the half. Our advice is to eat heartily before the game, then stop off at a stand for bottled water or soda to tide you over in case of a hot and humid night. After the game is head over to Mid-City Beer Garden for a few cold ones. Atmosphere 4 The seating bowl is rather unique at Mumford Stadium. The sideline seating is composed of box seating, while the General Admission seats are on the lower level behind one of the end zones. Suites in the stadium are found at field level down the sidelines and in the upper level behind the end zone at one end. There is a fieldhouse located behind the opposite end zone. The most recent set of renovations at the stadium addressed double decking the press box, the addition of seven more suites, and updating of the home and visitor locker rooms. Every game at Mumford Stadium has a big game atmosphere. The fanbase is very dialed into the game from the opening kickoff to the last whistle. It is Southern (or Southern) football at its finest! Neighborhood 3 Southern University and Ace Mumford Stadium are in a northwest suburb of Baton Rouge known simply as “the Bluff”. This is because the campus sits along Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. It is a beautiful setting, with a very green campus. No matter where your parking space/tailgating area is, you’ll be treated to wonderful natural surroundings. There are several great restaurants nearby that can either prepare a tailgate meal for you or welcome you for a sit-down dinner. These include Empire Wingz and Scenic Seafood. If you are coming in from out of town, the closest lodging is adjacent to the Baton Rouge Airport (BTR), which is less than 4 miles from the campus. Lodging options include The Comfort Inn and Suites Baton Rouge Airport and Springhill Suites by Marriott Baton Rouge Airport. The Southern University campus is eight miles north of downtown Baton Rouge. It is well worth the short drive, Baton Rouge is the Louisiana state capitol, and it has several great museums, shopping, and dining options. The ornate Old State Capitol Building is now a museum, with a wide range of art and historical objects to view. Fans 4 Food plays a major role in the gamedays at Southern University. Jaguar fans are big believers in tailgating, as they never enter Mumford Stadium on an empty stomach. The official tailgating area is behind the east side of the stadium, but you are likely to fans munching something almost everywhere on the Southern campus. Once at their seats, the Jaguar fans are completely focused on the game. They create a din that is comparable to the noise level of that other stadium on the other side of Baton Rouge…. otherwise known as Tiger Stadium. As with most HBCU football team fans, we can’t separate them from their institution’s marching bands. This is especially true, when fans move, sway, and cheer with the sounds provided by the Human Jukebox band and the Dancing Dolls dance team. The stands are at a high level of energy thanks to the beats of the band. The Human Jukebox has performed at the Rose Parade, the Presidential Inauguration Parade, and Six Super Bowls. Access 2 Southern athletic officials advise the public to arrive early for Jaguars games. This is partially because only two routes are taking you in or out of the Southern University campus. Harding Boulevard and Swan Avenue can become parking lots before and after games. Mumford Stadium also is one of the largest stadiums at the FCS level of play. Having a capacity of 28,000 fans also means there is a need to disperse the parking around the very large campus, as one lot cannot carry the load on its own. You should pre-pay for your parking to save time, then check out the www.gojagsports.com website to locate the best route to arrive at your designated parking area. Once in Mumford Stadium, you may want to get your concessions purchases taken care of before the game. The layout of the stadium has the concourses located at the bottom of the seating bowl. During halftime or other breaks in the action, the aisles and the concourses get very congested, and you will find long lines for both the concession stands and the restrooms. Plus, you do not want to miss the terrific halftime shows put on by the Human Jukebox band. Fortunately, fans don’t have a problem with getting on campus early, as it allows them to get their tailgating activities underway sooner. The gates at Mumford Stadium open 2 ½ hours before kickoff, allowing you plenty of time to find your seats, use the restroom, or get something to eat. Directions from Baton Rouge Airport to Mumford Stadium: Depart the airport on Jackie Cochran Drive heading north. Cochran Drive soon became C.E. Woolman Drive. Go straight onto Sally Ride Avenue. Turn left onto Veteran’s Memorial Boulevard. Turn right onto LA -408 (Harding Boulevard) Harding Boulevard will bring you into the Southern University campus. Consult your parking map and prepaid parking pass for directions to your parking area on the campus. Return on Investment 3 Southern University uses a variable pricing formula. That treats each game separately. Marquee games will be higher priced than a game against a non-SWAC opponent. The Southern athletic website will break down which games are considered “marquee”, and which are not. The highest-priced tickets are $40, and the lowest ticket prices in the stadium are $20. Parking is available on campus for $20. Extras 5 The Jaguars play two rivalry games each season. The Boombox Classic against Jackson State University is played on a home-and-home basis, while the Bayou Classic game against Grambling University is played in the Superdome in New Orleans. A highlight of the Bayou Classic is the halftime Battle of the Bands between Grambling’s World-Famous Tiger Marching Band and Southern’s Human Jukebox. Southern University had a live jaguar mascot named Lacumba until it died in 2004. Lacumba’s habitat is still in place at the school as a memorial to its late top cat. The school’s costumed human mascot is also known as Lacumba. Southern University recently received a $1.3 million grant to make Mumford Stadium more energy efficient. This will allow Southern to replace its seriously out-of-date lighting grid. Each season Southern plays a whiteout game, with fans and the team wearing white from head to toe. It is quite an impressive sight. Our last extra must go to the terrific performances of the Human Jukebox. They play nonstop throughout the game, and the halftime shows are always terrific. Final Thoughts Southern University is always in the thick of the race for the SWAC conference title. It is also home to the terrific sounds of the Human Jukebox. Mumford Stadium is also the largest on-campus stadium in the SWAC. This all makes a trip to Baton Rouge for a fall weekend a must-do for any true football fan.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Kino North Stadium 2817 E Ajo Way Tucson, AZ 85713 FC Tucson website Kino North Stadium website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 3,200 Men in Black Making its debut in 2013, the Kino North Stadium was the first expansion of Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, AZ, a multi-purpose sports and cultural events center. The Kino Sports Complex, originally opened in 1998 for spring training games. When the MLB teams announced transferring to Phoenix for spring training, the city turned its focus to soccer and youth sports. The North Stadium is home to the USL-1 FC Tucson soccer, WPSL soccer, as well as the Tucson Sun Cup (preseason spring training for MLS teams) and tournaments. Besides soccer, the North Complex has several fields and grounds used for rugby, softball, and other events. FC Tucson (known as the Men in Black ) began as a soccer club league in 2011 then moved to the USL PDL (Premier Development League) in 2012. The team was quite successful in the PDL, reaching the post season and winning the Western Championship multiple times. FC Tucson transitioned to the USL-1 when that league formed in 2019. The Pima County Stadium District operates the game day events; it provides a pleasant, enjoyable game day experience. Food & Beverage 3 Enough food concessions are for purchase to keep hungry fans happy. One permanent concession stand serving basic stadium food items, one colorful Mexican Peruvian Fusion truck, and one beer/cocktail cart round out the options. The concession stand offers hot dogs, burgers ($4 – $6) and assorted snacks such as cookies, chips, nuts, candy, etc. ($3 – $3.50). The hamburger is surprisingly delicious. The Mexican Peruvian truck has nine different, generous choices; enough for two servings. Cheesesteak, cubano, chicken or carne asada bowls, steak and shrimp, steak fries, and more, all cost $12. The beer/cocktail cart sells adult beverages. Craft beers are not on tap; local Dragoon Brewing beers in cans run a pricey $8.75. The concessions (including a merchandise tent) line an open space when entering the park and just before the stands. Unfortunately, no tables are available to sit and eat the food offerings. Staff at a table near the concessions require showing ID to get a drinking age verified wrist band, certainly not uncommon and a lot smoother than pulling out ID at a drink cart. The table attendees insist on putting the band on the right wrist and a fan must talk with a manager if they want it on the left, which is silly. Atmosphere 3 Two stands are on each side of the spotless green soccer pitch. The west side seating is the main seating area and closest to entrance and above player benches. Both stands have handrails for climbing the steps and ramps for prams and wheelchairs. The seating starts at Row A and go up to Row R (18 rows). The east side gets the setting sun for first part of the game but along with that, the gorgeous orange and purple AZ sunsets. All seating is bleachers without backs except the center section of west side (section 104). Those bleachers have backs and are reserved for season ticket holders. A press box sits above this section. Sunset at Kino North Stadium, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The west side is probably the better side to sit as the setting sun is not in fans’ eyes. As with most soccer games, a formal ceremony takes place with the singing or playing of the national anthem. Music noise is thankfully not played during the game (only at half time) as FC Tucson fans make their own excitement by clapping and stamping their feet on the bleachers. An easily read, dot matrix scoreboard stands on the north side of the pitch and shows team names, time played, goals, and half. The US flag and, on the night of this review, the Canadian flag fly near the scoreboard. FC Tucson provide several theme promotion nights throughout the season such as Pride Night, Women’s Soccer Appreciation, First Responders, Youth Soccer Night, and more. Weather-wise, it’s best to attend games in the early or later part of the season as it can get sweltering in Tucson in July and August. Neighborhood 3 The stadium is on the south end of Tucson with several places to dine or drink within a mile and many more a little farther. For places to eat, Chopstix Asian Diner (cafeteria style), Brooklyn’s Beer and Burgers, and BBQ Rush Restaurant are close by. Several fast food places like In-N-Out, Burger King, McDonald’s, etc. are nearby as well. For local brews a mile or less from North Kino Stadium, try the Hardbottle Brewing Company or the Copper Mine Brewing Co. Tucson has loads of breweries and restaurants so head more towards downtown (about 4 – 5 miles) for other choices. The Pima Air and Space Museum is six miles south and worth a visit. Four miles in the opposite direction is the Reid Park Zoo and the Randolph Dell Urich Golf Course (an 18-hole public golf course). Although not really close at all, the Saguaro National Park is worth a visit for its impressive views and scenery. Value hotels like Motel 6, Days Inn, etc. line the I-10 exits north and south of the stadium exit. For more upscaled lodging, head closer to downtown. Other spectator sports in Tucson during soccer season include the Tucson Sugar Skulls (indoor football), and, towards the end of the soccer season, you may be able to catch a Tucson Roadrunners (hockey) game. Depending on time of year visiting, fans can watch a University of Arizona football or baseball game or any of its other sports. Fans 2 In the inaugural 2019 USL-1 season, average attendance was a little less than 1,000 fans at an FC Tucson match, below average for USL-1 attendance. We won’t count 2020. Stadium Journey attended a match in 2021 when some physical distancing and other measures were still in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic so it’s hard to judge the fan attendance. Families, kids, couples, in a variety of languages are heard cheering on the Men in Black. Stomping feet on the bleachers is often heard during and after exciting plays. The supporter section, cleverly named The Cactus Pricks, make a small appearance in the northwest corner of the pitch. I expect they are more influential when their turnout numbers are larger. Stadium Journey will revisit once the pandemic has ended. Access 4 Getting to Kino North Stadium is quite easy. It is right off I-10, E Ajo exit if arriving by automobile. Plenty of free covered parking is at the venue. Getting out is just as easy as a traffic light at E Ajo helps with moving the exiting vehicles. Sun Tran bus routes 11, 15, and 2 stop at the Sports Complex with route 11 having a stop at the Tucson International Airport. Be sure to check the schedule and return times as the last route may leave before the end of the match. The Tucson Airport is 4 ½ miles south of the venue. One gate is open with the ticket booth to the left. If bringing items into the ground, clear bags are required. Getting through security is painless and fans take a short walk on a wide path to get to the stadium. A wide open space greets fans at the end of the pathway where the concessions are located. Clean rest rooms are underneath the west stands; porta potties are by the east stands. For those in wheelchairs, purchasing seats on the west side is recommended as getting to the east side requires traveling across grass which may be a tad more difficult to cross. Return on Investment 4 Single game tickets run $10 (Supporters Section), $14 (East Stands), $17 (West Stands). Add $1 – $3 if purchased the day of game. These prices are on par and even a little less than other USL-1 teams. The club offers season tickets, 5-game plans, and flex passes which may be more cost effective if planning on attending more than one match a season. Be sure to check the theme promotion nights when t-shirts or other items are given away. The concession prices are reasonable, parking is free. It’s well worth your sports entertainment dollar. Extras 2 Except for the silly wrist band rule, service is excellent from entry into the facility, to ushers, to service via email and over the phone. Kudos to Tucson city for turning the focus of Kino Sports Complex from baseball to soccer and youth sports when the MLB teams announced transferring to Phoenix for spring training. Final Thoughts A high volume of youth soccer programs, women’s teams, preseason MLS, and USL enrich Tucson, AZ’s sports scene. In February, 2021, ownership of the FC Tucson soccer team transferred to an independent private equity firm led by Brett Johnson, original investor of the successful Phoenix Rising FC. The club looks forward to many years of competition and continued growth of the sport in southern Arizona.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Thomas More Field 7950 Freedom Way Florence, KY 41042 Florence Y'alls website Thomas More Stadium website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 4,500 Welcome to Florence Y'all! The Florence Y'alls of the independent Frontier League was known as the Florence Freedom from 2003 to 2019 before new ownership sought a new nickname through an online fan vote - the winner was the Florence Y'alls, but why? Florence is known for its red and white candy-striped water tower that reads “Florence Y'all.” The popular sign has been a fixture since 1974 when it originally read Florence Mall, due to concerns about it being an advertisement for the mall, the town’s mayor simply repainted the M to give the town its popular catchphrase. The phrase is so popular that when Florence hosted the All-Star Game in 2016 it was renamed the Y’All-Star Game. The club plays its home games at the 4,200-seat Thomas More Stadium--formerly known as Champion Window Field-- located off I-71/75 in Florence, Kentucky. The ballpark opened in 2004 during the team's second season (Foundation Field in Hamilton, Ohio, served as the club’s temporary home the year before) and has been offering fans of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area an alternative to Major League Baseball. Florence, Kentucky became the home to minor league baseball for the first time in 2003 when it joined the Frontier League. The next season it debuted at Thomas More Stadium, a 4,200-seat ballpark directly off I-75. The Florence Freedom provided an alternative to baseball in Cincinnati just a short 20-minute drive up the road. The ballpark is within Cincinnati Reds territory and one of the many Frontier League franchises to be within a major league ball club’s foothold. In an area dominated by the Reds, can the Freedom be successful at the gate in one of the country’s more historic baseball cities? Food & Beverage 5 The concession items follow a local flare with several Cincinnati regional favorites predominantly featured on the menu boards. Snappy Tomato Pizza, Gold Star Chili, Montgomery Inn, and Glier’s Goetta are among many of the local brands found inside the facility. Gold Star cheese coneys sell for $3 and are covered with Cincinnati-style chili and mounds of shredded cheddar cheese. There is also Glier’s Goetta sliders that sell for two for $5; goetta is a mixture of meat scraps and oats that is fried and usually served for breakfast in the region--similar to scrapple, but at the ballpark is also served over nachos. Montgomery Inn is known for its barbecue ribs, but fans can choose from pork sliders, a giant pork sandwich, and pulled pork nachos slathered in the restaurant's signature barbecue sauce. You can even enjoy the pulled pork covered over Saratoga chips and queso blanco for $12. The regional feel is also felt with triple play nachos. Fans can pick their chips (Fritos, Doritos, and Tostitos) and have them topped with goetta, taco meat, pulled pork, and Cincinnati-style chili, followed by traditional fixings of lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and jalapenos. The beer also has a local flavor with 16 and 20-ounce drafts of Christian Moerlein varieties from OTR to Strawberry Pig Cream Ale. They even taste better with locally made meat or hot meat for $7.50. However, fans can enjoy typical ballpark food of hot dogs for $3.25, hamburgers for $4.50, ballpark nachos for $4.50, and chicken strips for $5. If you have a sweet tooth, there are funnel cakes, salted caramel pretzels a la mode, and root beer floats. Atmosphere 3 The ballpark features a spacious concourse that does not wrap around the building. The fold-down chair seating is colored red, blue, and yellow (which were the same color combination used at the former home of the Cincinnati Reds Riverfront Stadium) and provides a nice look compared to the normal ballpark seat colors of forest green or navy blue. The souvenir shop is ample and features Freedom caps for $18 (a bargain compared to other teams) and a few creative t-shirts and specialty jerseys. There is also a stage in the left field area that is home to concerts and other events when the club is out of town. The staff for Freedom most likely will bend over backward to appease certain vendors and crowds at the stadium. Another friendly person is Y’All Star who made his debut as the team’s mascot in 2016. The replica of the town’s water tower has been a fixture at the ballpark ever since his first year. The ballpark is set up to be very kid-friendly. Their kid zone could entertain the little ones for hours with a jungle gym, bouncy house ($5 extra), and pitch and strike zones. They even have playground rubber mulch to protect any bumps or bruises. Neighborhood 3 Florence is a suburb of Cincinnati and is surrounded by other small Kentucky towns. The stadium is located off of 1-71/75 and near chain restaurants, the Florence Mall retail outlets, and residential homes. Downtown Cincinnati is located 12 miles to the north and so is Newport on the Levee, where there is a little more action. I enjoy traveling north into Cincinnati and having dinner at BrewRiver GastroPub (2062 Riverside Dr) or the equally delicious Pompilios (600 Washington Ave.) in Newport, Kentucky, for Italian cuisine. Smokin' This and That BBQ was voted the best barbecue in Northern Kentucky. The BBQ spot features pulled pork, brisket, and ribs and adds them to other dishes to create barbecue tacos, sandwiches, loaded hot tots, and parfait. If you want traditional double-decker sandwiches, the Sub Station II across the street from the ballpark in Florence offers up a few tasty combinations. You also may be able to locate many famous area chili parlors with both Gold Star and Skyline located in various locations in the metropolitan area. If you are lucky, you can take in a game at Great American Ballpark , but when in Cincinnati visit Jungle Jim's International Market - the Disneyland of supermarkets; they have everything from imported cheeses, fine cigars, craft beers, bourbons, produce, and food products from hot sauces, candies, and spices from around the world. Other destination points in Cincinnati include the Carew Tower for views of the city, and the Cincinnati Museum at Union Station , and you can even take a self-guided tour where Crosley Field once stood near the museum. Fans 3 The Freedom has been averaging close to 2,500 fans per game during the 2018 season. With the tasty food options, cheap tickets, free parking, and easy access this is a gem of a ballpark experience that residents in the Cincinnati area should be visiting in greater numbers. Access 5 UC Health Stadium is adjacent to I-71/75 and visible from both north and southbound lanes of the interstate. A quick exit and a right turn on Freedom Lane will place you inside the stadium's parking lot. There is no need to pull out your wallet or reach into your purse since parking is free and that is the way it should be across all ballparks. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices range from $9, $12, and $14 for home games in advance; the price goes up to $12, $14, and $16 the day of the game. Freedom also provides a few promotions that include Thirsty Thursdays, Guaranteed Winning Wednesdays (if the team loses, fans can come back for free), Firework Fridays, and Family Fun Sundays. The Freedom does not charge to park for games and concession prices are reasonable for independent baseball. Overall, the return on investment falls in line with other Frontier League cities and ballparks. Extras 4 The team scores extra points for the local beers: Hudy Delight, Christian Moerlein, and Hudepohl Amber, and the local food: Skyline Chili, goetta, Queen City Sausage, and Montgomery Inn barbecue ribs. The team gets another point for the color scheme of the seats which is a nod to the former home of the Cincinnati Reds, Riverfront Stadium. The color pattern adds a distinctive touch to the modern ballpark. The third point is the free parking. A final point is for the stadium to be peanut-free. I know this is sacrilegious to the game of baseball, but some customers--like my nephew--have severe peanut allergies. UC Health Stadium does not serve bagged peanuts to be an allergy-friendly stadium and avoid the peanut dust that can be dangerous to those with peanut allergies. At this time, it is the only known stadium to be peanut-friendly all year round. Final Thoughts Thomas More Stadium is a small stadium that packs in a big punch. It is a simple facility that makes up for it by getting base hits with free parking, local food variety, affordable prices, and a positive attitude. The use of the water tower and the phrase "Florence Y'all" is awesomely fun. If the Reds are not in town, take the short drive and watch the team play. ------ 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: 3.00 Fairfax Field W High Street Shepherdstown, WV 25443 Shephard Rams website Fairfax Field website Opened: 1920 Capacity: 500 Rams Baseball in Shepherdstown Shepherd University competes at the Division II level of the NCAA and is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, in the Eastern Panhandle of the Eastern Panhandle of the state. (This is not a typo. Look at a map.) Fairfax Field is located on the Shepherd campus and was built in the early 1920s to house the school’s football team. However, it was a wholly inadequate facility, and in 1959, the team moved to the newly built Ram Stadium . Fairfax Field was then converted to a baseball field, which It remains to this day. One can still imagine the football field that was once here by noting the unusually deep center field fence. Food & Beverage 2 Limited concessions are served out of a truck behind the first base bleachers. Options include hamburgers (cheese optional), hot dogs, candy, chips, soda, and water. Although the options are limited, the prices are quite reasonable. Atmosphere 3 Fairfax Field is a small stadium, but that just makes it all the more intimate. There are three sections of seats here. The one immediately behind home plate consists of chair backs, while the other two sections are metal bleachers. Some of the chair backs have the names of donors on them, and they are typically allowed to sit there if they come, but other than that, it’s general admission. Note that the chair backs will be in the shade for most of the game, while the bleachers will be in the sun. Which one is preferable depends on the weather. On a brisk day early in the season, fans may want to forgo the chair backs and sit in the sun. As the season goes on into May and the temperature heats up, that shade will seem a lot nicer. The team plays music in between batters and in between innings, but other than that, there isn’t much going on here other than the game itself. It is a baseball purist’s dream, but fans expecting all the bells and whistles they’d get at a professional park will be deeply disappointed. Neighborhood 2 Shepherdstown is a friendly town but is not a particularly large one. There are a few restaurants and such in the immediate vicinity, but ultimately this is a sleepy small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains with not much to do. That being said, there is a lot of natural beauty in the area. Despite the popular John Denver song, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah River are mainly associated with Virginia, not West Virginia, but Jefferson County, where Shepherdstown is located, is the one place in the state you can actually experience them. Civil War buffs can also take a short drive across the Potomac River to visit the historic battlefield at Antietam, Maryland. Fans 4 Although Fairfax Field is a small facility, fans do a good job filling it up. The ones who attend are knowledgeable and passionate, cheering on the Rams loudly through nine innings. They are not afraid to get on the umpires’ case if they feel they made a poor call. Some students show up as well, but do not show the passion you’d expect from students at a bigger school. Additionally, if the game runs long, many of them will leave early to go to other evening activities. Access 3 Shepherdstown can be tough to access and will require at least some travel on local roads. State Route 9 and U.S. Route 340 can get you close, but then you will have to do some driving on back roads to get to campus. Once you’re on campus, there is a small lot right next to the stadium, but that fills up quickly. There are several lots located a short walk away in between the stadium and the Butcher Athletic Center , where the basketball team plays. Note that if you are heading to a weekday game, there will be additional restrictions in effect and you must follow all posted signs. On weekends, parking on campus is unrestricted and permitted in any marked space. Return on Investment 5 Admission is free, parking is free, and concessions are very affordable as well. Although you may have to spend a bit on gas to get here, a trip to a Shepherd baseball game is quite a bargain. Extras 2 There is a banner down the right field line listing Shepherd’s baseball accomplishments on a conference and NCAA level. Free programs are available in a converted mailbox by the bleachers. Although they are very basic, you can’t argue with the price. Final Thoughts Even Division I college baseball isn’t all that popular in this part of the country, and Division II baseball even less so. However, the Shepherd Rams have a small core of fans who are extremely passionate about their team and make the trek to Shepherdstown worthwhile for baseball fans in the area.

Long before major league baseball arrived in Atlanta from Milwaukee in the mid-1960s and moved into the brand – new Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the city had a long and glorious history with baseball. Its team was known as the Atlanta Crackers, and they were the winningest team in Southern League history. The Crackers brought home 17 pennants, more than any other professional baseball other than the New York Yankees. Their home field was known as Ponce de Leon Park, which was ahead of its time in many ways. Built in 1924, it could hold more than 20,000 fans and featured bucket seats attached to a concrete frame, a major improvement over the wooden bleachers found in most minor league parks of the day. However, what set Ponce de Leon Park apart from all other ballparks was “the tree.” The tree was a Southern Magnolia located more than 500 feet from home plate in dead center field…. inside the field of play! This necessitated special ground rules to be established for plays involving the tree. It was decided if a ball was hit into the tree (quite a blast) the ball was still in play. Babe Ruth and Eddie Matthews were the only two players to be awarded home runs for this feat, as their moonshots went into the tree’s branches and never came down. The Magnolia was also very popular with both batters and catchers, as the deep green hue made the ball coming off the mound much more visible in an era where the field lights were somewhat dim at best. The Crackers fans saw the tree in center field as a good luck charm, responsible for the many pennants won by the team. It was also seen as a point of civic pride, as no other ballpark in America could boast of such a unique element in the field of play. In 1947, new ownership took control of the Crackers and Ponce de Leon Park. They saw the tree as a nuisance and announced plans to cut the tree down. This caused outrage amongst the loyal Crackers fans, and a compromise was quickly brokered. The tree would stay, but the outfield wall would be brought in 50 feet, putting the magnolia just behind the outfield fence. It may have lost its official position as a centerfielder, but in the end, it outlasted the ballpark itself. Ponce de Leon Park was demolished in 1966, as baseball moved on to the new Braves stadium south of downtown. Ironically, the owner who had once wanted to have the tree cut down wound up requesting that his ashes be spread at the base of the tree, a request that was honored. Ponce De Leon Park Tree Today Nearly a century later that magnolia tree is still standing above a shopping center erected on the former site of Ponce de Leon Park. It is lovingly tended to by a local arborist at no charge. The tree is located just below the Atlanta Beltline, a hike/bike trail that encircles the city of Atlanta. The arborists have taken small cuttings from the tree and the clone saplings are now growing back at the nursery. The plan is that once they mature, they will be planted along the Beltline to provide a bit of shade for the next generation of Atlantans. Any other teams looking for a tree to play center field?

Photos courtesy of Blaise D'Sylva If you’re a sports fan, more than likely you were a collector of something at some point in your fandom career – maybe it was baseball cards or autographs; maybe it was ticket stubs or jerseys. If you’re a fan, you probably have some merchandise of your favorite team and/or players. Some fans grow out of the collecting hobby, while some, like Blaise D’Sylva, grow into it. D’Sylva has amassed what can only be described as a museum-worthy collection of football helmets that he showcases on his X – formerly known as Twitter – account . At the time of our interview, D’Sylva estimated his collection of mini helmets was probably over 7,000 and spanned every FBS team ever, every NFL team ever, and most CFL and sundry other pro football leagues. It is astounding. I caught up with him recently to ask about how this collection got started, how his professional career has brought him in and around sports, his website, and we naturally talk about his favorite helmets.   EM:  Before we dive in and talk about the helmets, let’s talk about you a little. Looking at your professional background, you have been in and around the sports world for a long time. Can you share a little bit about that? BD:  My career has really been about working in advertising. I started at an advertising agency right out of grad school in Chicago. I was working in the media department where we actually had the money and got to spend it. I worked there for 17 years and then I switched…and worked for All-State Insurance. I did a couple of fun projects that are still around. One is the All-State Sugar Bowl and also when you see All-State in the field goal nets, we started that as well, when I was there. I’m proud to have been part of a team to have put that all together. I then went to ESPN where I sold advertising. Did that for about six years, and then went back to the client side of the business. I worked at Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis…then I was down at the Dr Pepper/Snapple Group [now Keurig/Dr Pepper] in Plano, Texas. Since then I’ve done some different projects out here in Vegas, where I am today. EM:  Would it be fair to say then that you are a bit of a sports fan? BD:  Yeah, definitely. The fact that I’ve been able to marry a personal passion with something I like to do in business has been fantastic. It doesn’t get much bigger than when you’re running all the sports sponsorships at Anheuser-Busch. I’ve been able to touch sports in a lot of different ways in the work that I’ve done. EM:  Let’s talk about the collection now. Right now, do you know how many helmets you’ve got? BD:  That’s a good question. I would say, rough count is probably somewhere between 7,000 and 7,500. Just to give you perspective, there are about 275-300 new college helmets per year. In the NFL, there are 10-15 new helmets this year. The CFL probably half a dozen. Maybe I do the UFL, there will be a few there. There are probably around 350 new helmets a year that get added. My biggest worry is that I’m running out of room. I’ve probably got enough space to get through 2025. After that, I’ll have to figure something out for this space. That and the acrylic cases [I have them in]. Riddell used to make those when they first started making the Pocket Pro Sized Helmets years ago and I used to pick them up from them and they were fairly cheap. They stopped making those 10-15 years ago. I pick them up on eBay every once in a while. EM:  How did this get started? Did it start with one and then just snowball? BD:  When I was a kid, this was back in the 1970s, I collected those gumball helmets that you used to get for $.25 in the gumball machines. I do still have a bunch of gumballs [in my collection]. I had those and forgot about them. Then, with the advent of eBay, you started buying things you never thought you’d see again. For me, it was the combination of two things. It was eBay and second, I went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. It was the weekend before the induction ceremony and there was a bunch of vendors out in the parking lot. One of them was a Riddell booth and they had a set of these Pocket Pro helmets that looked really nice. They had an NFL throwback set, that they would eventually sell, but were for display only at that time. They had a bunch of helmets I’d never seen before. Riddell started making those in mass production in the early 2000s. I met a guy on eBay and bought some Arena helmets from him. He’d taken the Riddell helmets and strip the paint, repaint them and put the vinyl logos on them. He asked me what I’d want, and I said let’s make everything. That’s when it really took off, because that’s how it allowed me to collect every version of every team. He and I have been working together since 2003 and I added a second guy in 2016 when the first one said he was going to stop doing it. He ultimately didn’t stop, which is a good thing, because it has taken so much effort just to get caught up. At the end of the 2022 season, I was finally caught up with all the FBS schools. I’m probably less than 40 helmets away from the 2023 season. It’s a never-ending thing.   EM:  I frequently visit your website, helmethistory.com ; it’s very comprehensive. It seems like you update that very regularly. How much work are you putting into sharing your passion for this unique part of the game of football? BD:  I tell you, I look forward to the offseason because of the amount of work that goes into this. I don’t make the helmets, but the amount of work in doing just the research every week is a lot. By the time I research it, I’ll post it on the website, I’ll tweet it out. It’s a good eight to 10 hours of work a week to do it right. The one thing that I do do, and I’m probably creating more work for myself, is that I’ll record what a team says they’re going to wear, but I’ll always verify what they did wear. You’ll always get one or two teams a week that say they’re going to wear something and not do it. The thing for me is, I’m not breaking any news or selling any ads on my website. I’m doing it because I need to track it so the guys can make the helmet. I think my website is the most comprehensive for what I do. I track all the teams in FBS and 72 teams in FCS and the NFL and CFL. It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun. There is no end game in sight.   EM:  Before I let you go, I wouldn’t think of asking you to pick out a helmet as your favorite, but what would you same are some of your favorite ones? BD: I’m more partial to some, sure. Washington State, for sure, because that’s where I went to school. So, that’s always a favorite for me. I do like teams that I think have cool colors and cool logos. Tulane has always been a favorite of mine with the angry wave. I do like some of the Navy and Army ones that they use when they play each other. Air Force, too. Those are some of my individual favorites. I do like what Oregon does, because they were the original innovators. ---- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Jared Goodman, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 John Paul Jones Arena 295 Massie Rd Charlottesville, VA 22903 Virginia Cavaliers website John Paul Jones Arena website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 14,593 Champions of Design The University of Virginia, established in 1819, has a long and storied history on the basketball court. Since the sport was introduced at the school in 1905, the Cavaliers have made 23 NCAA tournament appearances, claimed 3 ACC Championships, and even won their first-ever National Championship in 2019. During their tenure as one of the most legendary programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Virginia has utilized several venues as their home courts. For 42 seasons, the Cavs were holed up in the 2,500-seat Memorial Gymnasium. A much larger University Hall debuted in 1965, increasing capacity for home games to almost 8,500. But the team outgrew this concrete coliseum too, ultimately landing at the sparkling new John Paul Jones Arena in 2006. The venue, the largest ACC arena located outside a metropolitan area, is able to hold almost twice as many fans as its predecessor – and it often has in recent seasons. Food & Beverage 4 The dining options available at JPJ are numerous and reflect a great variety of tastes, meaning there’s something for everyone. For a main course, try any of the following: taco trios ($9), cheesesteaks ($7), salads ($7), burrito bowls ($9), chicken tenders/wings ($9/$8), footlong corn dogs ($6), Bojangles’ chicken boxes ($9), hamburgers ($7), Papa John’s pizzas ($8), or hot dogs ($4). Snacks and sweets include: Route 11 potato chips ($3), popcorn ($5), pretzels ($5), and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (2 scoops for $6, waffle cone for $7). A few other delectables such as funnel cakes, cotton candy, Dippin’ Dots and kettle corn round out the menu. Wash it all down with a Pepsi-brand soda ($5) or bottled water ($3). Atmosphere 5 This isn’t a big arena, by any means, but as any college basketball fan will tell you, bigger does not mean better. Capacity sits a little under 15,000, but you could easily mistake it for more than 20,000 when the fans get up. Everyone is extremely passionate and loud. JPJ Arena may be one of the most vertical venues I’ve ever been to. Bring your walking stick, because it’s a steep climb up to the second level. This only means fans at that level have a better view of the game. You will never go uninformed at a Virginia game. There are screens everywhere you turn, with live stats for different players, as well as team stats and trends. Accompanying the screens are the numerous banners from the long history of success. Neighborhood 5 If you plug “college town” into a search engine, photos of Charlottesville will fill your screen. The historic city owes almost everything it is today to the incredible University of Virginia. Founded in 1819 by former President Thomas Jefferson, UVA set the bar high in architecture and academics for institutions that followed. Today, the university continues to act as the pulse of Charlottesville – the two are inseparable. Hotspots in the town, for both students and locals alike, include The Corner and the Downtown Mall. The former abuts the university itself and is chock-full of college bars and eateries. The latter, meanwhile, is home to scores of restaurants and shops. Considered to be one of the largest pedestrian malls in the nation, it’s worth paying a visit to this popular district. Just to the south of the downtown area lies the former residence of founding father Thomas Jefferson. Monticello, as he called it, attracts thousands of visitors each year and is a must-see when visiting the Charlottesville region. On the more natural side of things, go for a scenic ride down either Skyline Drive or the Blue Ridge Parkway, which meet just twenty miles west of C-ville at the entrance to Shenandoah National Park. The trip is especially worth it in early autumn, when the trees that line the highway begin to turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red. Fans 4 JPJ has to be one of the loudest venues in the ACC, due to its compact and vertical design. Fans who pack the house each and every game day are both very involved and incredibly loud, the perfect recipe for an electric atmosphere. They rally behind head coach Tony Bennett and his legendary defense, the intensity culminating in a thunderous roar as the seconds tick down and the Cavs force a shot-clock violation. The Hoo Crew student section seems to lead the charge, singing and chanting the songs of school throughout the game. This rowdy group is really the spark that lights the fire underneath the seats of every UVA crowd. And after clinching the National Championship in 2019, they’re fired up now more than ever. Access 3 Charlottesville is nestled in piedmont Virginia off Interstate 64, just east of the Shenandoah Valley and about an hour west of the state capital of Richmond. Unfortunately, Hoo-Ville is not all that easy to get to, as it’s pretty isolated from any major cities. The closest, Washington, D.C., is about 2 hours away. Once in the general vicinity of John Paul Jones Arena, expect some congestion. It’s recommended to arrive about an hour before game time in order to allow for any traffic you may incur. As far as parking is concerned, you have a few options to choose from. Expect to pay around $10 or so to park in one of the signed lots near the arena. Generally, a pre-paid parking pass is needed to use these spaces anyway, so be sure to do your research in advance. Free parking is available at The Park, the Darden School of Business and the Law School; all are about a 15-20-minute walk from JPJ. However, one of your best bets for secure parking is probably the Central Grounds Garage. While hourly rates still apply, and it’s a 15-minute walk down the street to the arena, the structure is both safe and very large. Return on Investment 3 The prices of your tickets will vary greatly, depending on who the Cavaliers are playing. Against some non-conference opponents, or weak ACC teams, seats are going for just a few bucks a pop. But when big names such as Duke or UNC are headed to JPJ, expect to pay top dollar to get in the building. Parking can be free if you’re willing to put in a little effort and don’t mind a short walk. Otherwise, expect to pay between $10-$20. Lastly, anticipate spending at least $20 per person on concessions inside JPJ. All told, a family of four can cheer on the Hoos for as little as $100 (non-conference, free parking) or as much as $300 (popular conference opponent, premium parking.) Extras 3 The arena is the proud home of loads of trophies and titles that UVA has gained throughout its history. These cases and plaques line the concourses of JPJ, showcasing the achievements of both the men’s and women’s programs. Much to the chagrin of UVA fans, the Cavaliers will forever be known as the first team to lose to a #16-seed in the NCAA Tournament. In 2018, they became the answer to a trivia question when they were upset in the Round of 64 by the UMBC Retrievers. The very next season, however, Virginia exacted their revenge in the Tournament and claimed their first-ever National Championship. Today, the center-court floor from that historic 2019 Final Four in Minneapolis is on display at John Paul Jones Arena, a constant reminder to fans of their ultimate comeback success. Finally, the on-campus architecture is just so incredible that it’s deserving of another mention. You simply won’t find another university like it anywhere in the nation. Final Thoughts At times, it may cost you an arm and a leg to pay John Paul Jones Arena a visit. However, it’s definitely worth it in every respect. The home court of the historic University of Virginia should be heralded as one of the best venues in the ACC, if not all of college basketball. Put this place on your bucket list, just below Allen Fieldhouse , The Palestra , and Cameron Indoor .

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 L.R. Hill Sports Complex 4251 Powhatan Avenue Norfolk, VA 23529 Old Dominion Monarchs website L.R. Hill Sports Complex website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 1,500 Old Dominion Field Hockey Located on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, the L.R. Hill Sports Complex is home to the Monarchs' field hockey program as well as the women's lacrosse team. The Complex consists of a 1,500 seat stadium as well as an attached 58,000 square foot facility that houses training and weight rooms and athletic offices. Although the name "L.R. Hill Sports Complex" technically refers to both the stadium and the attached athletic facilities, this review will just focus on the stadium itself, specifically the experience at an ODU field hockey game. Old Dominion is one of the most successful field hockey programs in NCAA history. Their nine national championships rank second only to UNC, although they have not won a title since 2000. Old Dominion primarily competes in the Sun Belt Conference, but since neither the Sun Belt nor ODU's previous home, Conference USA, sponsor field hockey, the Monarchs have competed as an associate member of the Big East for that sport since 2013. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small concession stand located in between the stadium entrance and the bleachers, near the restrooms. The menu here is pretty basic. Nachos, popcorn, peanuts, and assorted candy are all $5, with the peanuts coming in a fairly large bag from Texas Roadhouse. Gatorade is available to drink for $6, while water, soda, and hot chocolate are all $5. Atmosphere 4 L.R. Hill Sports Complex has a beautiful brick architecture in the structures such as the concession stand and the training facility adjacent to the field. The seats themselves are a large set of bleachers without backs, which are pretty close to the field. There is no track or anything else in between, which is always a plus. A large scoreboard to the right of the bleachers in the corner of the field is also capable of showing team stats and video, including a pregame hype video to get the crowd fired up. Overall, the L.R. Hill Sports Complex is one of the nicer college field hockey venues, both architecturally and in terms of the effort they go to to get fans engaged. Neighborhood 3 The L.R. Hill Sports Complex is located along a residential street 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 4 Old Dominion draws a couple hundred fans to a typical field hockey game, which is slightly above average for the sport. The fans who do show up can be quite loud, although many of the fans in attendance when we visited were cheering for the other team. Still, the Monarchs have a good fan base, including a handful of ODU students, despite field hockey not being the biggest college sport. The two decades of Monarch dominance of college field hocky are now almost a quarter century in the past, but they still have a strong fan base. 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, directly adjacent to the stadium. 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. At least one fan parked in the lot when we visited received a ticket for not paying, so consider yourself warned. On weekends, parking is free. Restrooms are available in the stadium around the corner from the concession stand and are of a more than sufficient size for the crowd. Return on Investment 4 Admission to all ODU regular season field hockey games is free. Concessions seem a bit overpriced for what is offered, and the cost to park here on weekdays isn't ideal, but you can visit on a weekend to maximize your value. Extras 3 Look for the posters and banners honoring Old Dominion's nine national field hockey championships. The pregame hype video is also worthy of a star here. That's not something you often see in college field hockey. A third and final star for the marketing table by the entrance with free programs and posters. Final Thoughts Although the glory days of Old Dominion field hockey are long over, the Monarchs still have a strong fan base and a top-notch stadium. While field hockey is still a niche sport, those who follow the game will want to check out the L.R. Hill Sports Complex at Old Dominion.

Photo by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 1.86 South County Sports Complex 8501 Silverbrook Rd Lorton, VA 22079 Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 700 Home of the Braves The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League is a collegiate summer wood bat league consisting of six teams in the Washington, D.C. area, including three in Maryland, two in Virginia, and one in the District of Columbia itself. One of these teams, the FCA Braves, plays its home games in Lorton, Virginia, in Southern Fairfax County. The Braves, which are affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, have had difficulty finding a long-term stadium in recent years. Although they enjoyed great stability for many years playing at Alan McCullock Field in Herndon, the team has now had four home stadiums in the last four years. 2016 was the team’s last stadium playing full time in Herndon, while 2017 saw them split time between Herndon and Oakton High School in Vienna, ten miles to the east. In 2018, they got yet another home venue, Annandale High School, while 2019 saw them move to their current home at South County High School in Lorton. As the name would imply, Lorton is in the southern part of Fairfax County. The baseball stadium at South County High School is part of a sports complex that also includes stadiums in several other sports. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale here. Outside food and beverage is permitted with the exception of alcoholic beverages, so feel free to bring some in. You’ll definitely want to bring bottled water to cope with the heat. There is a water fountain in the adjacent football stadium that trickles out warm water if you’re really desperate, but it’s better to bring your own. Atmosphere 2 There really is not a lot going on here. The team plays music between innings, but that’s about it. No between innings contests, no raffles, nothing to involve the fans. That being said, sometimes less is more and the nice thing about this is you can hear just about everything that goes on in the game. Whether it’s the players chattering with each other, the umpires calling for more balls, or the sound of the players’ cleats on the pavement as they head to refill the water cooler, you’ll be able to hear it. This is a baseball purist’s dream, but for just about anyone else, there isn’t a lot here at all. There are a few sets of metal bleachers with no backs that fans can sit in, with the third base side in the shade for most of the game and the first base side looking directly into the sun for the first half of the game or so. There are no seats directly behind home plate, as that is where the press box is. There is a scoreboard in the outfield which shows a line score, the count, and any score keeping decisions. Neighborhood 2 South County High School is located in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Lorton, so there isn’t much in the immediate vicinity. If you turn right out of the parking lot and head a mile or so down Silverbrook Road, there is a little strip mall with a few restaurants including a gyro shop, a pizza place, and a Burger King. Texas Donuts, which has some of the best doughnuts in Northern Virginia, will be opening in the strip mall soon, but as of the time of writing was not open yet. Other than that, there is not much here. Fans would be better suited to head to Woodbridge or Occoquan, both of which are about a 15-minute drive away and have far better options. Fans 1 The Braves average only a few dozen fans per game, and for the most part, they are dead silent. Although the Cal Ripken League is not known for high attendances, the crowd here is small and quiet even compared to their rivals. The one time we heard a few fans get rowdy all night, it turns out they were cheering for the wrong player. As it turns out, the Braves have two players with exactly the same first and last name who attend the same college during the year, and these fans were there to support the one with the other middle initial. Access 2 South County High School is located a few miles off Interstate 95 via exit 163 (Lorton Road). There is ample parking available in the lot near the stadium, but make sure not to park too close or your car may get hit by a foul ball. Lorton does have a commuter rail station, but the line only runs during commuting hours and it is located several miles away from the stadium, so this is impractical for fans attending evening games. One unique option for fans traveling from far away (or at least one very specific far away destination) is to take Amtrak’s Auto Train from Orlando, Florida to the other terminal in Lorton (at a separate station from the commuter rail one.) Passengers can drive their car onto the train in Florida, then head to their seat or overnight cabin for the journey. Upon arrival at Lorton the next morning, passengers can drive their car off the train to wherever they plan on heading in town. One nice benefit is that you can load up your trunk exactly like you would for a car trip, so no need to worry about hauling all your bags around the station or finding room in the overhead compartment to store them. Although the vast majority of fans will never benefit from this, it is an interesting enough option that it deserves mention. The restroom station here is very bizarre. The men’s room in the adjacent football stadium was open when we visited and contained ample space for everyone. However, the women’s room was locked and inaccessible. The only options for ladies were to use a single port-a-potty beyond the outfield fence that was in an area that was difficult to access, or to use the men’s room while someone stands guard outside to make sure no men get in. Most women chose the latter option. Return on Investment 4 Admission is free, there are no concessions, and you won’t pay for parking. It’s hard to argue with that, but there really isn’t enough here to get it the highest ranking. Extras 2 The stadium opens two hours early so fans can watch batting practice, the earliest gate opening time in the league. There are free programs available under a rock on the bleachers. They don’t have much, but it’s hard to argue with the price. Final Thoughts Most sports fans in the DC area don’t realize the Ripken League exists, and it shows in the league’s attendance numbers. The FCA Braves in particular have poor attendance, perhaps due to their isolated location within the league and the fact that they have changed home venues so many times. The team also does not seem to do as much to publicize themselves as other teams in the league, even though that is a relatively low standard. The team’s website still lists the address in Annandale, and the team’s Twitter account is even worse, referring to the team as the “Herndon Braves.” With this kind of publicity, it is not really any wonder almost nobody shows up despite the free admission.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Community National Bank & Trust Stadium 3701 W. State Highway 22 Corsicana, TX 75110 Heritage Bowl website Community National Bank & Trust Stadium website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 10,001 The Heritage Bowl Founded in 1848 by the legendary Tejano hero of the Texas Revolution, José Antonio Navarro , is the north-central Texas city of Corsicana . It is home to Corsicana Independent School District, the Corsicana High School Tigers and their home, Community National Bank & Trust Stadium, and for the past six seasons, the Fun Town RV Center Heritage Bowl . This annual post-season game is one of four sanctioned bowl games for the NCAA’s Division II. It is unique in the bowl landscape in that it does not hold any conference tie-ins. Until this year’s appearance of the Emporia State Hornets  (who took on the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm ), each year’s matchup was unique, with no team repeating an appearance in the game. The stadium itself, which is also home to the Navarro College Bulldogs , is one of the larger of its kind in the area and is perfectly suited to this type of game. I can say right now that I wasn’t sure what to expect when attending the Heritage Bowl. However, and I hope my review reflects this, I had a great time – read on to learn more.   Food & Beverage   3 The food and drink situation at the Heritage Bowl was truly reflective of the stadium’s regular duties as a high school stadium. During the bowl game, two out of the three concession stands in the stadium are open and available to fans. These stands, one on each side of the stadium, offer up a selection of pretty standard fare – bags of chips, boxes of popcorn, and a wide selection of bottled sodas, water, and sports drinks are available. There are also hot dogs, Frito pie (delicious), and hot cocoa later in the season; this is the perfect beverage on a cold afternoon or evening in December for a football game. One selection that stands out, and one I am thankfully seeing at an increasing number of high school venues, is Chick-fil-A. I am a devoted fan of the chain and am glad to see their sandwiches, chips, and beverages pop up more and more frequently. One caveat for the Heritage Bowl is that no beer or alcohol is sold at the game. However, this is nicely balanced out by the fact that you can feed a whole family of four or five for about $25, depending on what you get. This a refreshing change of pace from most bowl games.   Atmosphere   4 Before delving into this topic in detail, just some background information; Bethany, Oklahoma – home of Southern Nazarene University – is roughly 270 miles from Corsicana, Texas, while Emporia, Kansas, and the eponymous Emporia State University are roughly 500 miles away. Heading to bowl game, these long distances away were something that was on my mind, and I was sure they would impact the attendance – I could not have been more wrong. Pulling into the parking lots were scores of cars from out of state, and people were tailgating everywhere. It was great. The fans – more on them shortly – showed up for their teams and heightened the energy and excitement in the stands to levels I was not expecting. I hope it is this way for every Heritage Bowl. Inside the stadium merchandise tents are selling commemorative Heritage Bowl gear, which fans were buying in droves – there is a merchandise tent near each concessions stand. One other great feature of the stadium is on the home field side, there are a wide array of seatback chairs for fans. This is a great change of pace from the traditional bleacher seating at a lot of high school and small college venues and was much appreciated on the chilly day of this year’s Heritage Bowl.   Neighborhood   3 The nearest big cities to Corsicana are Waco and Dallas; Corsicana is just on the outskirts of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, which gives the city a lot of the amenities of the area without a lot of the hassles, such as the traffic. Corsicana itself is consistently voted one of the most charming small cities in Texas – it does have a unique small-town flare, while at the same time having pretty much everything a more urban city could offer. In terms of attractions, Navarro College is home to the Pearce Museum , which houses a vast collection of art dedicated to the historic and modern American West. The museum is divided into two sections; the Civil War Gallery, which offers an interactive experience “designed to give visitors a humanistic view” of the war, and the Western Art Gallery, home to more than 250 works of art depicting or interpreting life in the West. Another attraction to keep an eye on is Schulman’s Movie Bowl Grille . As its name may imply, it is a movie theater paired up with a bowling alley, restaurant, and arcade. It is one of the most popular spots in town for locals and could be a great way to unwind after a bowl game. In terms of restaurants, I am going to offer up a slice of Texas history. When most folks in this state hear the name “Corsicana,” what almost invariably comes to mind is the Collin Street Bakery . Founded in 1896, Collin Street is renowned for its baked goods, especially its fruit cakes. Now, I know that probably doesn’t sound great, but believe me, one bite and you’ll be a believer. When it comes to lodging, as the stadium is located near the middle and high schools, there aren’t any hotels or motels within immediate walking distance. However, there are still quite a few that are within a short drive – they vary in price, but the closest are the Kingsway Inn  and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Corsicana I-45 . As you might expect, there are plenty of options based on your budget.   Fans   4 In past seasons the Heritage Bowl has drawn anywhere between 3,500 and 4,000 fans per game. For schools at the Division II level that is a pretty good amount, especially as most of the schools who play in the game are not based in Texas. With that said, I can only anecdotally say how impressed I was with the fans at this year’s iteration of the game. I’ve already mentioned the vast number of tailgaters I saw before the game; both parking lots were virtually filled with fans, which made the game feel big. Sitting on the Emporia State side I could tell the fans were engaged and enthusiastic the entire game, while on the Crimson Storm sidelines, the fans would erupt with every big play and were fully into the game until late in the second half when the score got away from them. Regardless of the outcome, the fans were there and that made this game feel big, which is what you want out of any bowl game.   Access   3 As mentioned, Dallas is probably the closest big city to Corsicana, about an hour and a half drive southeast on Interstate 45. That’s not too bad, by Texas standards, but if you want to fly in, Corsicana is an hour and 20 minutes from Dallas Love Field, and an hour and a half from DFW International Airport. There isn’t anything in the way of public transportation in Corsicana, but it is easily drivable once you’re here. At the stadium parking is ample and, best of all, free – this includes anyone there to do any tailgating.   Return on Investment   4 Single-game tickets for the Heritage Bowl are a true bargain at just $10; if you’re sitting on the home team side, this entitles you to take a spot in those seat back chairs I mentioned. While the schools participating may not be household names, this is still some really good football you’re seeing. When you pair the low ticket cost with the low-cost concessions, and the free parking, the Heritage Bowl is one of the best bargains in college football.   Extras   2 There isn’t much in the way of Extras at the Heritage Bowl; Southern Nazarene didn’t travel with their band or dance team, but Emporia State did bring their cheerleaders , along with the Marching Hornet Band and Golden Stingers Dance Team . Both performed during this year’s halftime festivities. What keeps the score from being lower is the trophy presentation at the end of the game. There wasn’t much production, but it was good to see the players and coaches all celebrating along with the fans.   Final Thoughts Again, I was quite unsure what to expect on my first visit to the Heritage Bowl. I’ve been to quite a few of these types of games over the years, and, while each one is unique in its way, there is still one quality that defines a good bowl game. While on the small side, this game brought the excitement big time. I had a great time, it was great to see these schools in action, and Corsicana is a beautiful town. If you’re a college football fan, the Heritage Bowl will be right up your alley. ----   Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos courtesy of Mike Barker If you’re a college football junkie and you’re on either Instagram or the app formerly known as Twitter, you’ve no doubt come across Michael Barker. From August until deep into December, the man behind the College Football Campus Tour handles o n X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram can be seen living every college football fan’s dream. He is on a seemingly endless tour of all the cathedrals of college football, both large and small. Notre Dame Stadium? He’s seen it. Is Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge at night? He’s done that. Bailey Memorial Stadium in Clifton, South Carolina, home of the Presbyterian Blue Hose? Yeah, he’s been there too. During the 2023-24 season, Barker attended a staggering 90 college football games. Let that sink in. Now, marinate on this; for the 2024-25 season, his goal is to attend an astounding 100 games. At the time of this interview, Barker was getting ready to start his most ambitious week of the season, attending seven games in six days. For this conversation, Barker talked about getting started on his tour, his hilarious Obstructed Views posts, and what’s left on the bucket list for him. --- EM: I know you’ve got a pretty packed schedule these days, so I appreciate you making some time for me. Let’s just jump right in. How did this all get started? MB : My pleasure. I started in 2017 when I took a trip to Lake Estes, Colorado. There’s a hotel there called the Stanley Hotel. It’s where Stephen King stayed and inspired the book and the movie The Shining.   Along the way, I made two stops at Colorado and Colorado State . My dad played college football. He played one year at BYU and two years at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. He said one of his best games was at Colorado State, where he had 19 tackles and an interception. So, I stopped and checked out the colleges and the stadiums. Rather than spend two nights at the Stanley, I ended up going into Laramie to see Wyoming and back down to Colorado Springs to see the Air Force . I enjoyed it, and when I got home, I went to see the two Arizona schools and Oregon. I went to games that fall, 13 in 2017, 30 in 2018, 50 in 2019, and after 2021, I accomplished the goal of seeing a game at every FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) school. Since then, I’ve been going back to COVID games and revisiting those. Now, I’m trying to do all of the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) schools. Last year, I set a record of seeing 90 games in one football season. EM: So, what is your ultimate goal, if you have one? MB: I went t o Stephen F. Austin  on [October 5], and that was Division I school number 220 out of 262. That leaves 42, and they’re all FCS schools except Kennesaw State, which just moved up. They pretty much all play on Saturday, so it’s not like you can do 40 in a year. So, last year, I started with 51 and went to 17. So, 17 times three is 51, and that’s the goal. I think I can be done by the end of 2026. The issue is Mercyhurst was added this year. Next year [ UT-Rio Grande Valley ] moves up. Chicago State is talking about [moving up]. So, you keep making progress, but they keep throwing new ones out. I don’t know what the goal is; I’m just going as hard as I can. I’ve already been to 10 new FCS schools this year, and I said I want 17. That’s the goal, to be the only [person] to see games at all 262 Division I schools. EM: Let’s shift gears a little. How did the “Obstructed Views” bit get started? For those who don’t know, you find what is the worst seat in each of these stadiums and take pictures of the action from there. MB: In 2018, I went to Washington State  versus Oregon. It was when College GameDay was there. It was Gardner Minshew and Mike Leach versus Justin Herbert. I put that game on the schedule at the beginning of the year, and as far as I was concerned, it was just going to be Oregon versus Washington State. It wasn’t a big game. When it rolled around, I think both teams were 5-0 or 5-0 and 4-1, and every ticket was going for like $750. I was going by myself, and I found a ticket for $250, so I bought it. When I got there, there was one part of Martin Stadium [with] the light towers, and one of those is inset into the bleachers. My seat happened to be right behind that tower. I took a video of Gardner Minshew throwing a fade in the end zone, and the wide receiver disappeared behind the pole and came out the other side for a touchdown. That was a first-hand experience of being a victim of the “obstructed view.” In Wyoming, they have this place called “the knothole,” which is up at the top. It’s a common thing where they build the press box but leave the seats next to it. So, I put up a photo of that in 2019. It wasn’t until 2022 at Western Michigan . I called it the “makeout seat,” where it was just a two-seat bleacher. I had someone take a photo from behind me, like this first-person view, and that thing went crazy on social media. It’s pretty much become a little bit of a phenomenon. People will take photos and tag me in them. It’s grown my following and opened up doors for me that I didn’t think would ever happen, which is cool. EM: So, you’ve got the goal of 100 games this year. That’s pretty ambitious, to say the least. How do you go about coordinating something like that? MB: So, last year was 90 games, and as soon as I did 90, everyone in the comments asked, ‘Can you do 100?’ I said no. Two things happened, though, first, they added an extra week to the regular season, and the other was the 12-team playoff, which extended the postseason. I found that there could be 100 games to get to. I tell people that the most fun thing I do is going to games, and the second most fun thing to do is planning to see games. What you do is, all the weekday games, you pick those out as soon as they get announced. Once times are announced, I try to pick two games on a Saturday: a day game and a night game. As the season goes on, it gets more challenging because they have the 12-day and the six-day rule, which is where they withhold kick times and try to put the best games in the best TV slot. It’s good for them, but it’s not good for you when you’re trying to plan and book flights on short notice. The game [on Octo ber 3] at Troy star ted a stretch of 52 games in 59 days. I see 77 in the regular season and 24 in the postseason, with the possibility of adding one or two more. If all goes according to plan, knock on wood, I’ll get to 100 games this season. EM: I won’t ask you to pick a favorite stadium because I feel like that’d be asking someone to pick a favorite child. What’s been something on your travels that has surprised you, though? Something you weren’t expecting in a good way. MB: Well, I can just tell you, a couple of weeks ago, I went to the season opener at Grand Valley State. I’d visited that stadium, and I knew that they were a DII power, but that was like Group of 5, Sun Belt vibes. I mean that the crowd was crazy, the student section was full. They had those thunder sticks like back in the California Angels days. There were fireworks, and they just destroyed their opponent. That one blew me away. Also, I just went to see [the Texas A&M Aggies  at] Kyle Field on October 5. This was my second visit. I had gone back in 2018 when they were unranked; they played number one Clemson. It was 28-26, and if they’d gotten a two-point conversion, they would have gone to overtime. I had never seen a crowd just with a team that almost beat the number one team in the nation. I went…to see them play [ Missouri ], and A&M is two-and-a-half-point favorites against a higher-ranked team, and they obliterated them. The crowd had a big impact again. I love that. Two other stadiums I talk about a lot are App State  and Kidd Brewer Stadium. I call it the “field of dreams.” I’ve been there six times, more than any other place. It’s special. My favorite place, though, is [ UTEP and] the Sun Bowl in El Paso. It’s at a 4,000-foot elevation, and I-10 runs behind the stadium, with one side the U.S. and the other side Mexico. The visitor's side and press box are carved into the mountain. It’s almost like Baskin-Robbins, though. What’s your favorite flavor? Do you like the 100,000-seat stadiums? Do you like the Montana Washington Grizzly Stadium going wild? There are all types. Even if I’ve been to all of these places, I hear that well, you haven’t gone on homecoming, you haven’t gone on a rivalry game, you haven’t gone to a playoff game. Even though the individual places, I’ve gotten to most of them, the bucket list is almost endless. ---- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Les Prince Field @ Ron Joyce Stadium Michell Cr Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8 McMaster Marauders football website Ron Joyce Stadium website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 6,000 A (Mc)Master Class in Football McMaster University was founded in Hamilton, Ontario in 1887.  It was named after Senator William McMaster, who left $900,000 for the purposes of founding the university.  It has grown to over 37,000 students over the years.  In 1901, McMaster fielded its first football team and would join the CIAU, precursor to the current USports, in 1906.  The moniker of Marauders was adopted in 1948.  The Marauders have achieved  success on the gridiron since the turn of the millennium, earning eight Yates Cups as OUA Champions, all of which were post-2000. In 2011, the Marauders earned the ultimate achievement, winning a Vanier Cup with an overtime victory over the Laval Rouge et Or.  The Marauders also earned six championships during their brief associations with sub-conferences.  McMaster has also been home to five Hec Crighton winners as national football MVP. The modern Marauders call Les Prince Field @ Ron Joyce Stadium home.  They played at iconic Ivor Wynne Stadium, former home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while the on-campus facility was being built.  The stadium is named after founding partner of Tim Hortons and former CEO, Ron Joyce.  The field is named after Les Prince, who contributed to McMaster for 34 years as a coach, athletic director and Dean of Students. Food & Beverage 3 Inside Ron Joyce Stadium, McMaster Catering Services sets up a temporary concession stand.  Hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches are available along with chips and popcorn.  Coffee, soda, and bottled water are beverages available at this stand.  Inside the adjacent David Braley Centre, there is also a Booster Juice.  Fans who wish an alcoholic beverage, beer sales are past the north endzone and must be consumed in that area as opposed to the grandstand. Atmosphere 3 Ron Joyce Stadium is a single grandstand stadium that sits on the east side of the south-north oriented Les Prince Field.  It is on the campus of McMaster University and surrounded by a number of residence buildings along with the David Braley Athletic Centre to the south.  The field is surrounded by attractive, black, wrought-iron fences that allow fans to see in, as well as to give the stadium a real presence on campus.  Before the game, fans may be interested in popping in to the David Braley Centre and checking out the McMaster Athletics Hall of Fame.  Along with builders Les Prince and Ron Joyce, plaques for other builders Arthur Burridge, David Braley and Ivor Wynne can be found along with McMaster legends Jesse Lumsden, Ben Chapdelaine, Phil Scarfone, Kojo Aidoo, Kyle Quinlan and the venerable Russ Jackson. Ron Joyce Stadium features light brick with maroon accents. There isn’t too much to see in the stadium itself other than a display for the donors to the stadium project.  The stadium features three sections of reserved stadium seating in the centre, flanked by a total of six sections of general admission bleachers.  The incline is steep and the grandstand is raised to give terrific sightlines.  A large box for operations and press sits behind the top row of the grandstand.  Be wary of the last row in front of the pressbox as it provides less legroom than other rows.  One of the first videoboards for Canadian University football, having since been upgraded, sits at the south end.  A large notation of the 2011 Vanier Cup Championship is emblazoned on the facade, south of the pressbox. The gameday atmosphere at McMaster is strong.  Members of the McMaster Marching Band perform the national anthem, marching bands not being that common in Canadian Universities.  It would be beneficial if they could contribute more to the game.  Cheerleaders lead the crowd in cheers and perform acrobatic stunts at field level and DJ Jukebox plays music during breaks in the action.  The use of an eagle screech sound effect is prevalent.  The PA announcer for McMaster is solid, but is hampered by a terrible system which echoes significantly.  The mascot, Mac the Marauder, participates in cheering at field level. Neighbourhood 3 Ron Joyce Stadium is located on the campus of McMaster University in the Westdale neighbourhood, west of Central Hamilton.  There are a few spots for pre or post game food and drink nearby, including Phoenix Craft House, East Meets West Bistro, West End Pub, West End Diner and Dragon Court.  Heading toward Central Hamilton to Hess Village may be a bit more interesting. There are a few other sporting options in Hamilton.  McMaster fields a few other athletic teams, including basketball .  The Hamilton Cardinals , Forge FC  and Toronto Rock  may be other appropriate options.  However, the star attraction of the Steel City is the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats .  Other tourist options in Hamilton include the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Dundurn Castle, and HMCS Haida National Historic Site.  For fans wishing to stay near campus, the Hampton Inn downtown is a good option. Fans 3 USports football attendance is fairly elastic depending on factors including weather and time of year.  Rainy or cold weather will hurt attendance significantly along with a Thanksgiving Weekend scheduled game or one in late August, before students populate the campus.  The Marauders usually attract between 1,000 and 3,000 fans per game.  The game that was reviewed was very well-attended as it was move-in weekend for the first year students, and the evening Marauders game was part of the orientation activities.  Mac fans are not atypical of Ontario fans and are fairly reserved until something big happens.   Access 4 Ron Joyce Stadium is located on the campus of McMaster University, in the Westdale neighbourhood.  It is north of Highway 6, east of Highway 8 and west of Highway 403, on Mitchell Crescent on campus.  Getting to campus isn’t terribly difficult, but will require a bit of city driving.  There is some parking on campus, but the best bet is to use the parking garage under the stadium whose entry is at the north end.  HSR bus stops can be found on campus for those interested in public transit.  Fans should consult the Hamilton Street Railway  website for fares, schedules and maps.  Getting around the stadium is not too difficult and the washrooms are adequate for the facility. Return on Investment 4 USports Football provides great value for the sporting dollar.  Reserved seating is pricey at $39, but General Admission tickets go for $22.  Students and seniors have discounts and McMaster students have a steeper discount.  Concession prices are decent and parking may have a cost, however, sometimes the parking is free, as was the case for the game that was reviewed.  The gameday atmosphere at McMaster is strong and the team is consistently competitive, providing a good product on the field. Extras 3 An extra mark for the McMaster Athletics Hall of Fame. An extra mark for the consistently competitive team that the Marauders field. An extra mark for the McMaster Marching Band. Final Thoughts If fall means football, then a trip to Hamilton for the McMaster Marauders should be in the cards.  A good facility with a competitive team is what fans will get and Les Prince Field @ Ron Joyce Stadium provides comfort and solid sightlines.  In the end, it all works out to a (Mc)Master Class in football. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Albert Park Field 100 Albert Park Ln San Rafael, CA 94901 San Rafael Pacifics website Albert Park Field website Year Opened: 1952 Renovated: 2011 Capacity: 900 Pacifics of San Rafael The baseball team San Rafael Pacifics began their existence in 2012 as members of the now defunct North American League.  The Pacifics have been a successful team since their inception. They played in the Pacific Association from 2013 – 2019, claiming four championships during their tenure in that league.  In 2020, they moved to the Independent Pecos League, but no games were played that year because of the pandemic.  They won the Pecos League championship in 2023 and were the Pacific Division Champions in 2024.   They play their home games at historic Albert Park Field in San Rafael, CA Food & Beverage 3 Albert Park Field has one concession stand beyond the first base side of the grandstand.  It sells fresh-grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, and cheeseburgers ($6 - $8).  It also offers cups of noodles, mac and cheese, chicken bake, and chicken rice bowls ($3 - $7).  Snacks include popcorn, candy, cookies, chips, and beef jerky ($1 - $5).  The concession stand has six different ice cream novelties ($2 - $3).  Non-alcoholic beverages cost $2 - $4 and are a mix of soda cans (primarily Coca-Cola brands), water, Gatorade, and coffee/hot chocolate. A beer cart has an extensive collection of canned beers, including domestic, 805, Pacifico, and many delicious choices from Pond Farm, a local San Rafael brewery and sponsor. It’s not a gourmet meal, but there are some unusual choices, and it is enough to get you by during a game.  Get a Pond Farm beer and a fresh grilled hot dog, and you’ll be set! Atmosphere 3 The San Rafael Pacifics provide an enjoyable evening out for the whole family. Built in 1952, the stadium has an old box-style grandstand with seven rows of original blue wood bleachers with backs.  The seats are surprisingly comfortable. The grandstand steps do not have handrails, making it difficult for fans with mobility difficulties to ascend.  The stadium has a small walkway between the main stand and “box seats.”  The “box seats” are eight sets of two rows, eight patio chairs each.  The seating is shaded, and there is no breeze.  The field is nice and green, though a ball can take bad or strange hops on the infield.  The center field is unique as it is part of the opposite softball field.  The center fielder stands on dirt, not grass. Photo Courtesy of the City of San Rafael A black net protects the fans but is not easy to see through.  The scoreboard and flagpole inhabit right field.  New in 2016, the scoreboard is a dot matrix showing balls, strikes, outs, and the line score.  The right field backdrop is a beautiful hill with green trees and a few houses.  It is pleasing to the eye. Another unusual feature is the dugouts.  The dugouts are two fenced-in areas on the field in front of the stands, with folding chairs for the players.  The music volume level is perfect and the game day operations thankfully do not play ‘noise’ between pitches.  More ball teams should take notice.  The PA announcer’s voice is muffled; you can’t always understand what he’s saying. The organization posts the starting lineups.  That’s not the case at all Pecos League parks.  It’s an excellent feature for those who like to keep score. Plenty of activities occur between innings:  the YMCA dance, hula hoops, musical chairs, kids running the bases, and more.  Neighborhood 3 The ballpark is a few blocks from the downtown area.  For places to eat pre-game, try the Red Rooster Brick Oven (Italian), The Stateroom (gastropub), or Sol Food (Puerto Rican).  Of course, stop at the Pond Farm Brewery for a cold one or visit the Mayflower Pub or the Flatiron (sports bars and pubs).  The Panama Hotel (a boutique hotel) is probably the closest to the Albert Park Field (less than a ½ mile).  An AC Hotel San Rafael Downtown (a Marriott brand hotel) is at about the same distance.  Several lower-budget hotels (Motel 6, Best Western, Travelodge) are off the US 101 a mile or two away. Tourist attractions in San Rafael include the Marin History Museum.  Muir Woods National Park is a 30-minute drive away and is worthy of a visit.  McNears Beach Park is close by and a lovely place for outdoor activities.   Of course, you’re a bridge away from San Francisco and all the attractions that city has to offer. For other sports to see when in town, see if the SF Giants are home; other Pecos League teams nearby include Martinez Sturgeon or Vallejo Seaweed .  Or check on the Sonoma Stompers (summer collegiate baseball). Fans 3 Attendance generally runs a few hundred fans.  Fans can bring their dogs.  Lots of children are in attendance. Visitors will see generations of families sitting in the grandstand. One fan posts Ks near the press box to record the number of strikeouts the Pacifics’ pitchers get. Albert Park Field Ks, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey It’s easy to strike up a conversation with fans sitting near you. Access 3 Depending on where your travels originate, you may hit some of that famous California traffic, so be cognizant of that.  The park is less than ½ mile off US 101.  It is .4 miles from the San Rafael Transit Center, a hub for regional and local buses, and a stop on the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit.  The closest airport is a small regional one, the Sonoma County Airport, having three commercial airlines servicing mostly western cities.  The San Francisco International Airport is about an hour’s drive away.  If driving, I recommend parking at the lot on the corner of Andersen Dr and Lindaro St.  It’s free, easy to exit after the game, and is just across the street from the ballpark. The stadium is not that easy for fans in wheelchairs, though a ramp goes up to the grandstand on the third base side.  I did not see a way for people using wheelchairs to get to the concession stand (but there must be a way, right?). New, clean, big restrooms are on ground level on the third base side and will easily accommodate a wheelchair.  Like many public restrooms in California, they are gender-neutral.  Return on Investment 4 Ten dollars for general admission seats, free parking, reasonably-priced concessions, and a fun time make a Pacifics game at Albert Park well worth the price.  . Extras 3 The city of San Rafael and the Pacifics consistently make alterations and improvements to Albert Park for the betterment of the fans.  Examples include the new scoreboard, upgraded restrooms, and new fencing along the ADA ramp and in front of the dugout.  It’s excellent to see local brews at the beer stand at Albert Park. The configuration of the baseball and softball fields is definitely uncommon and worth an extra mention. Final Thoughts If you find yourself in the Bay Area, take a trip to San Rafael for an affordable, entertaining baseball game.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Hawkins Field 2600 Jess Neely Dr Nashville, TN 37212 Vanderbilt Commodores website Hawkins Field website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 3,802 Hawkins Field – Vanderbilt University Commodores Baseball Tucked in amongst the athletics facilities at Vanderbilt University is Hawkins Field, home of the two-time National Champion Vanderbilt Commodores. Built in 2002, Hawkins Field replaced McGugin Field that sat on the same parcel of land. Vanderbilt had seen limited success prior to the hiring of coach Tim Corbin in 2003, the season after Hawkins Field was completed. The successes Corbin has headed, between College World Series Championships and the amount of high-level major-league talent produced, has helped in creating one of the top-notch game day atmospheres in college baseball. Food & Beverage 4 Concessions offerings include BBQ sandwiches ($11) or BBQ nachos ($10), hot dogs ($5.50), nachos and cheese ($7.50), and flatbread pizza ($15). Beverages include a full line of Pepsi products, along with candy and snacks. Daddy’s Dogs serves a wide variety of grilled dogs starting at $6 for the basic. Outfield seats have access to a concessions tent, along with one of the concessions stands inside of Memorial Gymnasium . Weekend series features local food trucks that are accessible just outside of the stadium in left-center field. Two beer stands offer Bud Light Seltzers, Michelob Ultra, and Bud Light ($9) or craft beers ($12); wine is also available ($10). Vanderbilt offers in-seat ordering to cut down on the wait time of concessions lines. Atmosphere 4 Hawkins Field is squeezed between the intersection of two campus streets, Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium and football’s FirstBank Stadium. The limited space results in a bit of a disjoined continuity to the stadium, where the outfield and infield seats are separated. Infield seats are large with mesh backing, which provides a great deal of comfort – protective netting extends down the entire infield grandstand. This netting does tend to play tricks with your eyes a bit, but seats further back seem to limit the obstruction. Outfield seats are almost entirely aluminum bleachers, with small sections of mesh seats with a drink rail on either side of the batter’s eye. The configuration of Hawkins Field is rather standard – right field 335’, center field 400’, and the power alleys 375’. Because of the way Hawkins Field abuts Memorial Gymnasium , it creates a short porch at 310’ with a curved 35’ wall that can create some awkward ricochets. A large HD scoreboard sits beyond the left-center field wall that provides fans with the current batter and stats, line score, and line up, along with the pitcher’s pitch count and velocities. For fans in the outfield, there are smaller scoreboards on the walls of the grandstand which provide score, inning and count information. In keeping with a college feel to the game, cheerleaders help fill dead time between innings and following scoring plays, as well as lead fans in traditional Vandy cheers. The game presentation is not one of the constant advertisements, sound effects, and scoreboard games, but there is enough to keep fans entertained throughout the game. Neighborhood 5 One of the big draws to Nashville is its vibrant nightlife – the epicenter of the excitement has been dubbed the “Honky Tonk Highway”, and is within 2 miles of Vanderbilt’s campus. Here visitors can take in Nashville’s famed juke-joints and bar scene. The historic Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, is the centerpiece of this downtown neighborhood. If looking to pair a visit to Vanderbilt with other local sporting events, the Nashville Predators are less than 2 miles away at Bridgestone Arena . Both Lipscomb and Belmont Universities are also within a few miles of the Vanderbilt campus, and Nashville SC of the MLS is just on the other side of I-65, at GEODIS Park . The minor league season of the Nashville Sounds should also be starting up just about the time conference baseball play begins. While Nashville’s most popular tourist attractions are a quick rideshare away, Centennial Park and the Greek Parthenon replica are immediately across the street from the Vanderbilt campus. The Hillsboro neighborhood directly bordering Vanderbilt also has many shops and quality restaurants. Fans 4 College baseball might have some of the most passionate fanbases, and even more so in the Southeastern Conference. Even during early season games where the weather might not be ideal for baseball, it does not stop supporters of the Vandy Boys from filling the stands. Vanderbilt typically packs the house for each game; most weekend series are either sellouts or have just limited seating available. Commodores fans recognize good performances from both the home and visiting teams alike. While they are not shy about giving the visiting team the business during games, they equally acknowledge good play. Access 4 Stadiums located in large metropolitan areas frequently come with the traffic headaches associated with big cities. If approaching from the north, south, or west, the best way to get to the stadium would be from I-440, exiting onto 21st Street. This will provide the easiest access to the 25th Street parking garage via Highland Avenue. Fans coming from the east might have more highways to navigate. Hawkins Field has three points of entry, one being to the grandstand, while the outfield seats have two entrances of their own. Return on Investment 3 The overall success the Commodores have had under head coach Tim Corbin has translated into an extremely high level of support. While tickets are available for just about every game, waiting until the last minute will either limit the selection or leave you watching from the top of the nearby parking garage due to tickets being sold out. Vandy baseball has two separate price levels – for weekday games, typically against non-conference opponents, infield seats run $20 while seats in the outfield bleachers run $10. Tickets to weekend series, mostly series against other ranked teams and conference opponents, run $30 for infield reserved tickets and $20 for seats in the bleachers. Free parking is available on the 8th through 10th levels of the 25th Street parking deck. Extras 4 Vanderbilt does a lot to recognize the success of their alumni and program as a whole. Flags with the names of current MLB players from the program fly around the outside stadium; the concourse area also features nameplates of the Commodores 1st round draft picks. Not only are the successes of individual players displayed but so is the lengthy history of success in both the SEC tournament and the College World Series – fans entering through the main gates are immediately welcomed by the 2009 and 2014 National Championship trophies. Saturday conference matchups provide young fans with interactive games, autograph signings, and tailgating games, along with arts and crafts. Vanderbilt also offers a ton of promotions between gate giveaways, discounted tickets, and food specials. Final Thoughts Baseball at the college level is a whole different type of experience than what you might get at the major and minor league levels. From fans and players alike, there is a whole different passion that rides on almost every pitch. When you add in the high level of expectations from a program such as Vanderbilt, it flows over into creating a top-notch, college baseball atmosphere.

Photos by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena 2616 N Pleasant View Rd Middleton, WI 53562 Madison Capitols website Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 2,600 Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton, Wisconsin The Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena is in Middleton, WI approximately 15 minutes northwest from downtown Madison, WI. The Madison Capitols have been in existence since 1984. The Capitols have been a member of the United States Hockey League (USHL) since 1994. In 1994 new ownership, took over (Ryan Suter, defenseman for the Minnesota Wild and Tom Sagissor, a former Wisconsin Badger) as part of the ownership group. The team relocated from the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI to Bob Suter's Capitol Ice Arena starting the 2017–18 season. Reasons cited for the move included a decrease in available dates for hockey at the Alliant Energy Center. The team has not been very successful on the ice making the playoffs two times in their USHL existence. Since joining the USHL there has been eight players who have been drafted by NHL teams. Food & Beverage 2 The food selection is slim here. They have the classic hot dogs for $4.50, a Sondel Dog for $5.50 and a brat for $5. Of course, there are Nachos ($5) and Nachos Supreme ($6). Slices of Pizza are available for $6. A "large" ( 22 oz) fountain soda will set you back $3 and a16 oz costs $2 and Gatorade is $4. Bottle water, ice tea or chocolate milk (interesting choice) is $3. The arena has two interesting items, a cup / bowl of Mac & Cheese for $5 or $6 and $3 beef stick Wisconsin. I did not see a full bar service however a 16 oz domestic beer can craft brews like Spotted Cow (a Wisconsin favorite) and Fantasy Factory are $6. Small bottles of wine, White Claw or Twisted tea cost $6. If coffee is your thing, they have you covered here there since they have Espresso (hot or cold) from $3.50 to $5.50. Iced coffee or Iced Chai Tea range from $4 to $5.50, and Frappuccino from $4.25 to $5.75. In addition, there is Acai, Dragon Fruit that costs $4 to $5. The workers are friendly and provide a good service and are very friendly. I would suggest that you wait until the game starts before you get in line. Atmosphere 2 The facility consists of two hockey rinks separated by the main lobby that is full of commerce from the local high school or club players and the fans from the Capitol game intermingling with one another. Speaking of the lobby, it’s small and cramped. There are two (2) box office windows and a food / beverage stand. The arena features a low-level ceiling, seats on both sides of the ice (the south side has many more seats than the north), and suite seating up above the north side that requires a separate entrance from the main lobby. The seven (7) suites provide a very nice view of the arena and also include food service. On one end of the arena there is a 2,000 square foot beer garden, the Eagles Nest. A video board is located on the opposite end of the Eagles Nest which provides some entertainment during stops in play and at intermission that includes fan interactions, player stats, and pregame videos. An old-time scoreboard which only shows the score, period and penalty minutes/player number hangs over center ice. The Capitols have not been very successful on the ice as there is only one banner honoring the 2021-22 Eastern Conference Champions. D.C. Eagle, an Eagle, is the official mascot of the team that can be seen throughout the building at certain times offering hugs to fans of all ages. There is a small gift shop in the building that has some t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and jerseys. Of course, there is the obligatory chuck-a-puck. Neighborhood 1 Since the arena is located in a business park, there is not much to do in the direct area but there are plenty of places within 15 minutes. Near the Capitol Ice Arena is Monk's Bar and Grill (general bar food-sandwiches, wraps, burgers, chicken, pizza and salads). The burgers here are very good. A bonus is that the Monk’s gives a discount for the food if you show your Madison Capitols ticket. A meal here is about $12 to $18. Food choices within seven miles of the area include: Biaggi’s Italian Ristorante (classic Italian fare-pizzas, pastas, salads, soups and seafood/steaks). A meal here is approximately $18 to $25. Nitty Gritty (general bar food-sandwiches, wraps, burgers, chicken, pizza and salads). A meal here is about $12 to $18. Portillo's (Italian beef, burgers and salads for all you Chicagoland people), and Ancho & Agave (Mexican food). The Capital Brewing is within 10 minutes from the arena and is good places for drinks and a full food menu if you enjoy microbrews. Of course, downtown Madison is near so there are many more options there. There are plenty of major chain hotels that are reasonably priced within 10 minutes of the arena. In addition, the University of Madison is located approximately 15 minutes to the southeast of the arena. So expect to find plenty of college bars and restaurants in the area. Fans 3 The average crowd for a game is a bout 2,000 for the past few years. Like any other game in this level there are many parents with kids. Of course, there are your diehards who are invested in the game. The Capitols definitely appeals to a family crowd however there some promotional nights that are for the adults, i.e., $1 beer night, wine night. On the night I was there the crowd was kinda dead, there didn’t seem to be a lot of excitement. Access 5 The arena is not far off of Route 12 and Route 14 located in an industrial park area. There is plenty of parking at the arena and the surrounding streets. Once inside, one doesn’t have to look too far to find the main rink where the team plays. There are bathrooms inside the arena and also in the lobby. Also, plenty of staff members can be found to answer any questions that may be on your mind. Public transportation is not available to the arena, however Uber and Lyft are readily available Return on Investment 3 Capitols games have three regular price points for tickets: $15, $17, and $19. These are pretty much average prices within the USHL. In addition, All-You-Can-Eat and Drink tickets for kids ($25.25), adults ($36.50(non-alcohol) and $41.50 (alcohol) is available. The concession stands are reasonable as is the team merchandise and the parking is free. . Extras 2 The arena receives an extra point for the Beef Stick. The Capitols get an extra point because the night I was there the Capitols had military themed specialty jerseys with the names of platoons on the back instead of players names. I have not seen this before. Final Thoughts Being close to the University of Wisconsin and they love their hockey there, this is an arena / game that is a good alternative to collegiate hockey. The arena has a nice atmosphere, friendly fans and affordable pricing especially when you can come out and the stars of tomorrow.

Photos by Michael Davis Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 The Depot at Cleburne Station 1906 Brazzell Road Cleburne, TX 76033 Cleburne Railroaders website The Depot at Cleburne Station website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 1,750 All Aboard to The Depot at Cleburne Station The Depot at Cleburne Station is a multi-use facility for the city of Cleburne, Texas. The facility opened on May 18, 2017, for $20.7 million. The opening of the 1,750 fixed-seat ballparks brought professional baseball back to Cleburne after a 95-year absence. Cleburne, Texas was an important hub for the Santa Fe Railway when trains would bring in cattle to push north along the Chisholm Trail to Kansas in the late 1800s. The history of professional baseball here dates back to 1906 when the original Railroaders joined the Texas League. The 1906 Cleburne team won the Texas League Championship with the talent of nine Major Leaguers, including Hall of Famer Tris Speaker. The team folded after the 1906 season. However, Cleburne would return in 1911, again with the Railroaders but this time in the Texas-Oklahoma League. The Railroaders would win their second league championship, but as before would not defend their crown the following season. Cleburne returned to the Texas-Oklahoma League 10 years later as the Cleburne Generals, playing for 2 seasons without a championship and then folding again in 1922 – Cleburne professional baseball then went dormant until the current Railroaders began to play in 2017. The Depot at Cleburne Station is a synthetic field with a dirt pitcher’s mound. The field size is asymmetrical with the left field being 335ft, while the right field is shorter at 320ft. The power alleys are 383ft (left-center) and 375ft (right-center), with the center field being 400ft. The home team occupies the third base dugout and both teams’ bullpens are in right-center hidden behind the kid’s zone. The Depot at Cleburne Station has already added an accolade to its resume – the Depot was voted by fans as their favorite independent baseball ballpark according to Ballpark Digest’s Best of the Ballparks in 2017. Food & Beverage 4 The Depot has two main concession stands, one serving each side of the baselines. The concessions are a surprise for the size of the ballpark – there is plenty of ballpark fare from peanuts, popcorn, and pretzels to candy, nachos, and hot dogs. All prices are under $5, with the items a little more expensive by $1 being the hamburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, and sausage dogs. There are also a couple of specialty carts; one serving Wagyu burgers for $10 and jalapeno cheese sausage for $9, and the other brisket tacos for $8, or a brisket baked potato for $9.50. There are also plenty of sweets inside the ballpark, but a staple treat is the Artic Buzz (Vodka Ice Cream) for $9. Dr. Pepper products are featured at The Depot – fountain drinks prices are $3.50, bottled water is $2.75, and sports drinks are $3.75. In addition, there are plenty of adult beverages at a reasonable price of $5.50 for Coors Light, Bud Light, Shiner Bock, Michelob Ultra, and many more. There are also specialty beers from local breweries Revolver and Houston’s Karbach brewery that improve the beer selection for $1 more than the national domestic beer. Beer is available in both cans and on draft, and Crook and Marker flavors are available for fans who want a different type of alcoholic treat. Finally, there is an alcohol special for fans that attend Saturday night games – this is the Saturday Saturday night special, a $3 16oz can of Natural Light. Atmosphere 3 The Railroaders are on target with providing a great atmosphere for fans. The Depot is set to entertain the smallest fans with the team’s mascot, Spike, or even younger fans with shorter attention spans who can shoot a few basketballs while at the ballpark. There is the expected in-between innings entertainment with race contests as well as a ringing train bell for outs and runs. Every game can be a different perception of the atmosphere for many reasons, however, if you want to have a fun night with a small amount of money then a game at The Depot is one of the best atmospheres around. Neighborhood 2 The Depot at Cleburne Station is located on the northern outskirts of the city, at the intersection of US 67 and Chisolm Trail Parkway. Cleburne is a city with a population of around 30,000; the city is named in honor of Patrick Cleburne, a Confederate general. Cleburne is approximately a 1-hour drive from DFW International Airport, 30 miles south of Fort Worth (45-minute drive), or 75 miles north of Waco. Cleburne’s downtown area features several chain restaurants on W Henderson Street. The best food option in Cleburne is sampling the local flavors, so Tex-Mex at La Cima Mexican Cuisine or a small-town American diner such as Heroes Café would be good choices. The lodging near the ballpark is basic hotel chains such as Holiday Inn & Suites-Cleburne or La Quinta Inn. However, for a more unique recommendation, check out Liberty Hotel in the center of Cleburne. Attractions around Cleburne center on outdoor activities at the 498-acre Cleburne State Park or the 1,550-acre Lake Pat Cleburne. Or, on days when the Texas heat is not safe, the Layland Museum is showing the area’s historical relics, early Texana, comprehensive Indian artifacts dating from pre-Columbian cultures, fossils, and genealogy records. Fans 4 Cleburne went 95 years without professional baseball, so in the inaugural season of the return of Railroaders, it was 100% sold out (1,780) throughout the season. Of course, that season a former Texas Ranger, Rafael Palmiero, was playing alongside his son as the main attraction. The Cleburne baseball fans embraced having professionals back in Cleburne, but last year (2018) the attendance did drop 28% to 1,285 fans per game. But this 2019 season the team averages around 1,531 fans per game despite being the smallest ballpark in the league; the average attendance is now above others in the American Association. Although the crowd at The Depot may not be on par with larger ballparks, the fans are very vocal and engaged throughout the game. The fans at The Depot at Cleburne Station are also very community-oriented, with the locals being either diehard baseball fans or families enjoying the summer at the ballpark. Local fans have waited almost a century for baseball to return to Cleburne, and the strong pride of having baseball return coupled with an already proud connection to the past means professional baseball in Cleburne has a solid path to travel on well into the future. Access 3 Cleburne is about an hour’s drive from the DFW airport, on the Fort Worth side of the Metroplex. Using Interstate 35W south from the DFW area, The Depot at Cleburne Station is located off US HWY 67 at the Nolan River Road exit, or the south end of Chisholm Trail Parkway 27 miles from Fort Worth, Texas. A large parking lot is surrounding the ballpark, as Cleburne Station has yet to be fully constructed to its potential. Fans can enter the ballpark through one of two gates, the largest being the main gate behind home plate. This entrance is the center of The Depot and contains a historic chief engine train, pre-game entertainment, and box offices. Just inside the main entrance are the pro shop and the Cleburne Baseball Museum. The other entrance is a small entrance that connects the parking lot to the first base side of the concourse. The concourse is located above the seating bowl and houses the concessions and restrooms for the ballpark. The seating bowl at The Depot has safety netting that stretches from the right field general seating berm to the third base seating berm. This will most likely be the future of baseball safety and Cleburne is leading the safety-first campaign. The ballpark does have a party view patio and suites overlooking the lower bowl of seats and the concourse, and there is also a picnic patio along the right field line that has more trains. There is also a kid’s zone located beyond the right field fence that can be seen from the general seating areas, but the kid’s zone’s premier attraction is a basketball court. The team’s bullpens are located beyond the kids’ zone. The reason access is ranked as average is the distance of Cleburne from the DFW area, but once at the ballpark access is top-notch from the parking and gates to the concourse and seating areas. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for Cleburne Railroaders games range in price from $8 for berm admission to $12 for baseline reserved seating and $14 for reserved seats around the home plate; there is also the Suites party deck or the Rahr Bar table for $15. The cheapest seating is the picnic tables on the first base side for $6.25. Parking is free in the lots surrounding the ballpark, and concessions are surprisingly reasonably priced for a sports venue, making the overall ROI on a Railroaders game above average, and providing an affordable night out for the family. Extras 4 The Railroaders name connects not only Cleburne’s baseball past but also the history of this small Texas city, and the ballpark theme and future development at Cleburne Station is a great concept in continuing Cleburne’s history. Also, the Cleburne Baseball Museum located inside the main entrance is a great place to read about Cleburne baseball’s past teams. The ballpark itself is small, but is a perfect fit for Cleburne, and will give local baseball fans the enjoyment of watching the game for years to come. Final Thoughts The Depot at Cleburne Station is the headstone of future development around Cleburne, and the brand-new ballpark has the potential to keep professional baseball in Cleburne for many years to come. While Cleburne, Texas may not be a tourist hot spot, what it does have is an immaculate ballpark for any baseball fan. Any sports traveler in the Dallas-Fort Worth area should make a road trip to Cleburne and get aboard the Railroaders train at The Depot at Cleburne Station.

Photos by Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Steven Kee, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Coca-Cola Park 1050 IronPigs Way Allentown, PA 18109 Lehigh Valley IronPigs website Coca-Cola Park website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 10,100 10,000,000 Million Fans Can’t Be Wrong When you think about Triple-A ballparks in some parts of the country, the LeighValley IronPigs come to mind. They have entertained the folks of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton since 2008, when the Philadelphia Phillies placed their top farm club less than 90 minutes away from Citizens Bank Park. The fanbase responded positively, leading all minor league baseball in attendance the last two seasons. Coca-Cola Park cost $50.75 million and has seating for 10,178 people, including a grass berm, 19 suites, numerous VIP sections, and one of the first standing-room-only social areas in baseball. The attention to these areas has made it the hub of excitement in an area without affiliated baseball since 1956. Improvements to the stadium have resulted in a new diamond warning track, a new drainage system, and regrading the infield before last season. Upgrades the year before included expanded clubhouses, male and female locker rooms, training facilities, hydro space, and a new center field entrance. The IronPig name comes from a nickname derived from the term “pig iron” used in manufacturing steel in the Lehigh Valley. There are also nods to the history of baseball on the concourse, with photos and art of past teams and players. All of it adds to a Triple-A ballpark known for its “Hog Wild” fan base. Food & Beverage 5 There are around 38 points of sales for food and beverages at the ballpark, ranging from the simple to the extreme. There is something for everyone to try and much more to enjoy during the baseball season. If you like bacon, this is the ballpark to visit. The club has an array of bacon-theme dishes, including bacon slices, chocolate-covered bacon, candied bacon, sandwiches, and bacon topped on pierogies and brownie sundaes. Traditional hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, chicken tenders, french fries, soft pretzels, brats, and popcorn are also featured. The ballpark also serves bacon mac and cheese, brisket bowls with cornbread in a waffle bowl, pulled pork poutine, and pierogies with caramelized onions.  The sweet treats include churros, funnel cake, brownies, sundaes, deep-fried Oreo cookies, fried cheesecake rolls, funnel cake fries, and several varieties of ice cream.  Highlights include The Pork Racer (bacon-wrapped hot dog topped with pulled pork and candied jalapenos), the Taco Dog (hot dog topped with taco meat, cheese, salsa, sour cream, and shredded lettuce), Coqui Street Dog (chili, sauteed onions, sauerkraut, cheese, and potato sticks), and a pork parfait (bbq pulled pork, layered with mashed potatoes, and caramelized bacon toppings). Atmosphere 5 Coca-Cola Park offers a lot to take in for baseball enthusiasts. AT&T Plaza is a pleasant area for adults and children. It doubles as the social center of the ballpark, and its main entrance is a great place to sit down and enjoy a local act on its entertainment stage. Once inside, the clubhouse store along the right field sells an assortment of team merchandise. The Kidz Zone is behind the picnic patio in the left-field corner and offers games and a playground to keep the little ones entertained. The beer garden is worth visiting for specialty microbrews. The IronPigs wear specialty jerseys on the weekends that include a gold standard on Friday, a Pennsylvania Dutch-inspired jersey on Saturdays, and a Phillies-themed jersey on Sundays that looks like it came from 1979. It does not include other specialty nights throughout the season that include a Mummers-inspired look based on the New Year’s Day parade in Philadelphia. The specialty areas include The Bacon Strip, a lone aisle of seating behind the right field wall, the Pig Pen behind the bullpen in left field, and the Capital Blue Tiki Terrace & Oasis, which is a popular spot to relax and talk with friends and family in left field.  The in-between activities offer t-shirt tossing, slingshot contests, and the “Pork Race.” Chris B. Bacon, Diggety, Barbie Q, Ribbie, and Hambone fight towards the finish line. Speaking of mascots, FeRROUS and FeFe are the primary mascots of the team and entertain fans of all ages throughout the game. Fans 5 The IronPigs were ranked number one in attendance in all of minor league baseball for the second year in a row and have never finished lower than 8th in attendance in their history. There were 32 sellouts this past season, and the team attracted 1,000,000 people home and away. The club will welcome its 10-millionth fan in 2025. The fans proudly wear the IronPig colors and various alternate theme caps and shirts during games. It also helps when you are affiliated with the nearby Philadelphia Phillies, but there are more reasons why people come out to games. The food, promotions, fireworks, and value are many reasons the Pigs rank number one in minor-league baseball. Access 4 Coca-Cola Park is in Allentown, Pennsylvania, accessible from all major interstates and state routes of I-476, I-78, and US-22. It is a 90-minute drive from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City. The parking lots ($5 charge, credit card only) are separated into six different lots, named after Coca-Cola products. Coke Zero, Cherry Coke, and Powerade are closest to the main gates along IronPig Way. Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and Sprite are a little further away, between Long Drive. The parking lots open 2 1/2 hours before game time and close 1 hour after the game's conclusion. The ballpark offers a wraparound concourse with plenty of areas to move around and enjoy the game. The crowd can become dense on certain nights, but traffic flows smoothly before and after the game. Neighborhood  3 Coca-Cola Park is located 3 miles from downtown Allentown in a residential and commercial neighborhood. There is nowhere to walk to before or after the game, and it is recommended to arrive by car. However, The area offers places to visit with the kids during the summertime, including Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, the Crayola Experience in Easton, Grim’s Orchard & Family Farm, and movies in the park. A place to visit is Yocco’s, a hot dog spot that has been in business for 100 years. They have a specialty made frank with a secret chili sauce. Pair them up with deep-fried pierogies and a glass of birch beer. Sports fans can enjoy more baseball at nearby ECTB Stadium  and Limeport Stadium . The ladder was built in 1933 and is home to the Limeport Bulls and Dodgers of the amateur Blue Mountain League. The PPL Center  houses the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League. Return on Investment 5 Tickets start at $9, parking is $5, and the hot dogs are $1 (Tuesdays and Thursdays).  The team shop features several clearance items if you are looking to save a few more dollars. Attending an IronPigs game provides a lot of bang for your buck. The IronPigs offer 32 Giveaway Nights and 7 Special Nights, including appearances, alternative jerseys, fireworks, and community nights. There is Tail Waggin’ Tuesdays, where fans can bring their dogs and enjoy $1 hot dogs. Tacos & Tallboys Wednesdays feature $2 tacos and $5 16-ounce cans. Thursday's Happy Hour is between 5 to 7 PM, with select beers on sale. Extras 5 If you like bacon, this is the ballpark to visit. The club has an array of bacon-theme dishes, including bacon slices, chocolate-covered bacon, candied bacon, sandwiches, and bacon topped on pierogies and brownie sundaes. The titled Coke bottle sits atop the scoreboard that shakes, illuminates, and shoots fireworks after an IronPigs home run. AT&T Plaza is a pleasant area for adults and children. It doubles as the social center of the ballpark, and its main entrance is a great place to sit down and enjoy a local act on its entertainment stage. The IronPigs gift shop has an abundance of merchandise, from caps, shirts, jerseys, and gifts for the children. There are numerous clearance items, alternate-theme jerseys, and caps on sale at times. A highlight of the game is the IronPigs pork racers. Chris B. Bacon, Diggety, Barbie Q, Ribbie, and Hambone fight towards the finish line each game in the famous “Pork Race.”  Final Thoughts Attending a Lehigh Valley IronPigs game at Coca-Cola Park is a joyous experience and continues to shine brightly year after year. The ball club offers fantastic promotions and unique food options while creating a fun experience for everyone who enters the ballpark.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Quinnipiac Baseball Field 275 Mt Carmel Ave Hamden, CT 06518 Quinnipiac Bobcats website Quinnipiac Baseball Field website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 500 In the Shadow of the Sleeping Giant   Many ballparks boast of stunning views beyond their outfield fences. City skylines rise beyond ballparks in Pittsburgh and St. Louis, ocean vistas in Brooklyn and Pensacola attract the eye, and spectacular mountain views can be seen in Ogden. Tiny Quinnipiac Baseball Field boasts its own natural backdrop. Even better, fans don’t have to spend a cent to take in a ballgame with this view.   Located in the shadows of Sleeping Giant Mountain Park, Quinnipiac Baseball Field was built in 1966 by a group of students. For decades it served as home to Bobcat baseball. In preparation for the 2024 season, the entire park was redone. These renovations included the installation of field turf throughout the facility, new fencing and new dugouts. As part of these improvements, the field’s legendary right field berm was removed from the field of play.   Quinnipiac competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference alongside several other schools located primarily in the New York City metro area. The Bobcats have appeared in two NCAA Tournaments, in 2005 and 2019. The team has yet to advance past the Regional round, although they did win one game in the 2019 tournament. One Quinnipiac alumnus, Turk Wendell, has played in the Major Leagues.   Food & Beverage 0    There are no concessions sold at Quinnipiac Baseball Field. Fans are welcome to bring their own snacks to enjoy during the game (just no alcohol, please). If you need to grab something during a Bobcats game, there are vending machines in the nearby (well, maybe not so nearby) Athletic and Recreation Center.   Atmosphere 2   The gameday atmosphere at a Quinnipiac baseball game is typical of other college ballparks in the northeast. The presentation is simple and understated. Frankly, anything more than the basics would feel terribly out of place here.   The ball field is dominated by its backdrop, Sleeping Giant Mountain. In keeping with this most natural of ballpark sites, there’s not a lot of extras to be found. Ballpark noises not produced on the field or by the fans (i.e. music and PA announcements) are provided via a pair of temporary speakers set up behind home plate, where the Quinnipiac game day staff post up. All extraneous noise is kept to a minimum. A simple scoreboard in right field provides count, inning and score.   Neighborhood 3   Right across the street from Quinnipiac Baseball Field is Sleeping Giant State Park, a popular destination for hiking and other outdoor activities. The mountain got its name due to its resemblance to a person laying down. If visiting the area on a nice spring afternoon, the many trails here are worth exploring before a game.   While Hamden is a lovely community, once named as one of America’s “best small cities” by CNN Money, it is hardly a destination location. There are no dining or lodging options within immediate walking distance of campus. Nearby Whitney Street is filled with strip malls, which give visiting fans some options for pre- and postgame dining. Many visiting fans will instead opt to head into New Haven, which has a well-deserved reputation as a foodie hotspot.   Whitney Avenue dissects the two Quinnipiac campuses. As mentioned before, there are plenty of eateries here if you wish to stay local. Eli’s on Whitney is a Bobcats sponsor and a popular choice of Bobcat fans. If you continue south on Whitney Ave. for a few miles you will find yourself in downtown New Haven on the campus of the Bobcats’ chief hockey rival, Yale University. Visiting fans will find plenty of lodging and dining options in this area, including Louis’ Lunch, the birthplace of the hamburger, Frank Pepe’s and Sally’s, the originators of New Haven-style apizza.   Fans 2   Crowds at Quinnipiac baseball games can accurately be described as a “friends and family” type of gathering. Generally numbering between 100-200 fans, most of the people in attendance have a personal connection to the players on the field. As you can imagine, this means that they are knowledgeable about the game and enthusiastic in their support. With the compact geographic footprint of the MAAC conference, it’s not unusual to see strong support by visiting fans.   Access 4   Quinnipiac is located in the New Haven suburb of Hamden. This town of just over 60,000 residents is located just to the north of New Haven. Quinnipiac University is located in the Mount Carmel neighborhood on the northern edge of town.   The university is split into two campuses about a mile from each other on opposite sides of Whitney Avenue. Most of the school’s athletic facilities are located on the older Mount Carmel campus. The newer York Hill campus contains M&T Bank Arena, home of the Bobcat hockey  and basketball teams.   The university is easily reached via Interstate 91, which runs a few miles east of campus. Visiting fans will take exit 10 off I-91 to the Mt. Carmel Connector (Route 40). Travel just over a mile north on Whitney Avenue to Mount Carmel Avenue, and the entrance to the campus will be on your right.   The construction on the ball field, along with the adjoining rugby field and tennis courts, was finished just before the baseball season started. As a result, not everything at Quinnipiac Baseball Field was 100% finished as of Stadium Journey’s visit. Most notably, there is a gigantic mound of dirt in between the parking lot and the field. There are plans to landscape this mound into a viewing hill, which will return some of the facility’s natural charm. For 2024, this area is roped off and inaccessible. Fans must walk around this dirt pile on their way to the field from the parking lot.   The only seating at the ballpark is in the form of a pair of metal bleachers located well beyond first base. Look for some bleachers to return to their familiar spot behind home plate in the future. The field’s signature right field berm, while not in the field of play anymore, is still there beyond the fence. It provides a nice place for fans to sit and bring their own chairs to take in the action. Rest rooms are located in the Athletic and Recreation Center adjacent to the parking lot.   Return on Investment 5   There is no charge for admission to a Quinnipiac baseball game. With free parking in the lot on the other side of the huge dirt mound and no concessions on site, you won’t spend a single cent when watching a Bobcats game.   Extras 1   In 2024 Quinnipiac honored Class of 1970 alumnus, longtime baseball coach and Director of Operations Dan Gooley. Gooley holds the school’s strikeout record and racked up 439 wins during his tenure as the Bobcats’ head coach. His number 15 is posted on the right field wall.   Final Thoughts   While the renovations undertaken at Quinnipiac Baseball Field are undoubtedly great news for the players and for recruiting, it’s taken away much of the charm of this old ball field. Maybe this will change when everything is finished. For now, we’ll give QU Baseball Field an incomplete and look forward to our next visit.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Rodgers Recreation Center 63 Lawrence Ave Newport, RI 02840 Salve Regina Seahawks men's basketball website Rodgers Recreation Center website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 300 Hoops Among the Mansions   Salve Regina University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Newport, RI. In Latin, Salve Regina translates to “Hail Queen,” which makes sense as the school began as a women’s college. Founded in 1934, the school is now coeducational, with an enrollment of 2,800 students in 40 majors. The school is best known today for its outstanding nursing programs. Nestled amongst Newport’s famous Gilded Age mansions, it has been ranked among the nation’s most beautiful colleges by both Architectural Digest and Conde Nast Traveler.   The Salve Regina basketball teams play in the Rodgers Recreation Center, named in honor of Thomas Rodgers Jr., a longtime trustee and benefactor of the University. The building of the recreation center was the cornerstone of the university’s 50th anniversary campaign.   Starting in 2023, Salve Regina competes in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference, a Division Three conference consisting of schools throughout New England. The Seahawks have qualified for two NCAA Tournaments, the most recent in 2011.   Food & Beverage 0    There is no food or beverages sold at Salve basketball games. Fans are welcome to bring in their own snacks to enjoy during the game. You’ll be sure to see many fans enjoying a warm beverage from the local Dunkin’ during a cold Rhode Island winter night.   Atmosphere 2   As you might expect in a small gym like the Rodgers Center, you will not find an elaborate game day presentation at a Seahawks basketball game. A basic scoreboard on the far side of the gym displays game information, while a PA announcer goes about his work in an unobtrusive manner. There’s a cheerleading squad and pep band present, but they are rather muted when compared to many other area gyms. Most of the noise during Seahawk games comes from the families who do a good job of filling the tiny bleachers in the Rodgers Center.   Neighborhood 5   Without a doubt, the biggest strength of the Rodgers Recreation Center is its location. Nestled in between Newport’s Gilded Age mansions and its famous Brick Market, there is plenty to do and see before and after a Seahawks basketball game.   Easton Beach and the famous Cliff Walk are just a stone’s throw from the Rodgers Center. A local’s tip: get to the area early and walk the Cliff Walk , a 3.5-mile path that runs behind many of Newport’s famous mansions atop a 70-foot shoreline cliff. The 40 Steps , one of the highlights of the Cliff Walk, are just two blocks from Salve’s gym. Just to the west of Rodgers Center is the Newport Casino, home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. After the game, head a half mile in the other direction to America’s Cup Avenue, where the Brick Marketplace contains numerous fine restaurants, pubs and shops. The area will be much less crowded during the winter months of the basketball season, but still worth a visit. Also located here is Cardines Field , one of the oldest ballparks still in use in the country.   Other attractions in Newport include Fort Adams State Park, Touro Synagogue (the oldest synagogue in the country) and the Newport Art Museum. Fans visiting the area will have no shortage of choices for dining, shopping or lodging. More complete information can be found at DiscoverNewport.org .   Fans 2   Salve Regina draws between 100-200 fans for most of their home games at the Rodgers Recreation Center. This is typically what we at Stadium Journey call a “Friends and Family” type of crowd. Most of the people in the stands have a personal connection with the players on the court. You’ll see lots of family members in the stands. As a result, the fans are invested in the game and show strong support throughout the game.   There’s a good turnout from the student body at Seahawk basketball game. With many games on Salve’s schedule consisting of local opponents, it’s not unusual to see a good turnout from visiting fans as well. Even though the crowds may be small, they do a good job of filling up the tiny grandstand at Rodgers Recreation Center.   Access 3   Newport is a city of about 25,000 residents located at the southern tip of Aquidneck Island. Best known as a popular summer destination, this seaside town is famous for its Gilded Age mansions and sailing history.   Located 33 miles south of Providence and 74 miles south of Boston, it is not easily accessed by any highways. The closest interstate to Newport is I-195, which runs from Providence to Cape Cod about 20 miles north of Newport. Route 24 runs from Fall River down through the upper half of Aquidneck Island. Once the highway ends visitors will navigate Route 114 into the city.   Rodgers Recreation Center is located in the northern edge of Newport, just behind the Newport Casino and just blocks from the city’s famous Gilded Age mansions. This area is full of historic sites and a popular summer destination. While it may be a bit less crowded during the winter, it’s still not the easiest area to navigate.   There is plenty of parking near the Rodgers Center, either in the facility’s lot or on local streets. Just be sure to pay attention to signs, as many area streets have restrictions. There is some public parking available near the 40 Steps on Narragansett Avenue.   Seating at the Rodgers Center consists of one set of wooden bleachers on the west side of the court. Rest rooms are located right off the lobby. They are small, but plenty large enough for a Salve basketball crowd.   Return on Investment 5   Tickets to a Salve basketball game are sold as General Admission seating for six dollars. Be warned that no cash is accepted here, you must buy your tickets electronically, either in advance or on your phone. The process is quick and easy for you phone novices out there. Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the center or on the nearby city streets.   Extras 2   Salve Regina displays its athletic history throughout the Rodgers Center. The school’s athletic Hall of Fame is located in the lobby. Inside the gym hang banners honoring conference titles, tournament appearances and 1,000-point scorers.   An additional extra point is awarded for the Rodgers Center’s design. It’s shingle-style exterior is meant to be a counterpart to its Gilded Age neighbors while echoing the look of the nearby Newport Casino and Isaac Bell house.   Final Thoughts   Even though a trip to the seaside city of Newport, Rhode Island isn’t on the mind of many basketball fans in the winter months, A trip to the Rodgers Recreation Center is worth your time. If the weather cooperates, a walk on the nearby Cliff Walk and a postgame stop at the Brick Market makes for a great Stadium Journey.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photo courtesy of the City of San Antonio The year 2024 will go down as a monumental one in San Antonio and South Texas, especially in terms of the state of its sports venues. A once-in-a-lifetime confluence of circumstances – both planned and unforeseen – have created a moment in time that is going to impact four (and potentially five) of the city’s venues and three of its major sports teams: the San Antonio Spurs , San Antonio Missions , and UTSA Roadrunners . These factors include a looming deadline from Major League Baseball, the relocation of a university institution, and the accrual of public land all happening at the same time. Officials with the City of San Antonio unveiled a long-rumored master plan in November dubbed “ Project Marvel .” Should it come to fruition, it would create a new entertainment district that would reshape the city’s downtown area. The ultimate goal would be the construction of a new arena for the Spurs on a site currently occupied by UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures at HemisFair Park, a massively renovated Alamodome for the Roadrunners, and the two sites connected by a land bridge rising over the highway that currently divides them, allowing pedestrians access to both venues. The owners of the Missions have their own visions of a downtown stadium as well, and are currently in the middle of negotiations to acquire land parcels needed for the site. The new ballpark would meet MLB’s standards and allow the team to move away from Nelson Wolff Municipal Stadium , and more importantly keep the club in the Alamo City. These are unprecedented times in the city, and it has taken a herculean effort to keep track of all of the moving pieces to these massive projects. Madison Iszler  is a business and real estate reporter for the San Antonio Express-News . She’s done a fantastic job covering these stories and I asked for her help to make sense of all the moving parts in these stories, as well as to share her insight on the forces behind them. I would recommend following her online on X here  for all the latest updates. Photo courtesy of Madison Iszler   EM:  We’ll just jump right in and do a broad overview to start with. What is ‘Project Marvel’ and what can you share about how it affects the sports teams in San Antonio? MI: Project Marvel , I think, should be transformational for all of downtown should all the pieces of it pan out. There are a couple of big facilities involved. There’s the Alamodome . We don’t know a lot about that yet, as far as what it entails and what other events the city would try to attract with that. Also, expansion of the [Henry B. González] Convention Center , which has been expanded before, and then the Spurs [arena] , which I think most folks are most excited about. There are some other minor projects like apartments, restaurants, parking, and the land bridge, which could potentially connect the Alamodome with the rest of downtown. So, there are a bunch of different things with a bunch of different timelines and probably costing a lot of money.   EM: Hypothetically, if there were no obstacles at all in the way, when would some of these plans ideally get started? MI:  The City Manager, Erik Walsh, has said they’re furthest along with the Convention Center piece. They laid out kind of a rough timeframe for everything when this was first unveiled to the City Council. It’ll take a while, but they are being aggressive with certain pieces. So, the Spurs arena , for example, said that construction could start in 2028, which is fairly soon. The Alamodome  would be the last piece of the puzzle, because they said they couldn’t start on [renovations] until the Final Four [which is scheduled to be held at the Alamodome in 2025].   EM:  Obviously, money and how things will be paid for is going to be a pretty major hurdle to overcome for this project. What are some other things that might be in the way that could disrupt Project Marvel? MI:  Yeah, the money is a big one. Where does it come from? What types of mechanisms will be used? Will voters be asked to pay for anything? That’s a big piece. There is also a lot of construction going on downtown right now. The Alamo Visitors Center and Museum , what’s going on at HemisFair . The Final Four is going to be a big deal downtown. There’s a bunch of stuff being built right now. So, I think just in terms of logistics, figuring out how that’s going to work. I was just working this week on a story on parking  and how the infrastructure aspect of Project Marvel will work. I think that’s another roadblock. City officials have said that’s part of all of this. They’re going to look at how they’re going to get people in and out of the area more easily and how much more parking they’re going to need. That is definitely a question I’ve been getting from our readers – “Where the heck am I going to park?”   EM:  One of the unique aspects of this, that I’m not sure many other big cities have to factor in with their major pro sports franchises, is how Bexar County – which San Antonio resides in – will have a say in the new Spurs arena. The Frost Bank Center site, rather infamously some might say, was built using County-owned land. So, the Spurs moving impacts the County greatly. Where are things currently with the County and their involvement in the project? MI:  [Bexar County Judge] Peter Sakai has said that he wants to see a plan for redeveloping the Frost Bank Center before he commits to anything, as far as funding. One of the potential financing sources city officials had raised [when presenting Project Marvel] to the council was maybe a county venue tax. Obviously, they would need the county on board for that. The Spurs lease [at the Frost Bank Center ] runs through 2032, so they could leave earlier than that. If the city is going to start construction in 2028, it’s not going to take that long to build, so the Spurs could definitely leave before 2032. It’s not clear right now if the county is going to be on board and it’s not clear what the plan around the Frost Bank Center would look like.   EM:  Shifting gears, I know there is a lot more that will need to happen before we see developments from Project Marvel, but let’s talk about the Missions . This seems to be a lot closer to getting moving than the other downtown venues. What can you tell me about where things are now? MI:  At this point, it seems that the holdup is a parking lot that [the San Antonio Independent School District] owns. It’s part of the footprint of where the ballpark would go. The owners of the Missions  have indicated that they need that as part of their plans. [The school district] hasn’t decided if they’re going to sell it. There’s been a lot of back and forth over the past couple weeks. The City and the County have signed off on financing for the ballpark. Weston Urban [owners of the Missions ] own the land around the area, but there’s this little, tiny hole that still needs to be filled. The school district came out with a list of demands that are conditions for them to sell. I don’t know what the city and the county and Weston Urban have been willing to budge on or not. It was quite a lengthy list of demands. [EDITOR’S NOTE: On Monday, December 16, all of the parties came together and agreed on a cost for the land in question .]   EM:  The Missions  are really motivated right now by what is essentially a ticking clock  from Major League Baseball. They have an urgency to get things done. What about everyone else involved in this process? MI:  That’s a good question and one that I’d like to get answered myself. Right now, the Missions  aren’t talking. They kept saying, as you referenced, that they’re under a deadline and they wanted to get a deal done so that they could communicate that to MLB. It’s unclear to me if that meant them just sending the most basic of documents and saying here is where we want to put it and the city and the county are okay with it and then MLB saying you’re good to go. Or does MLB want more details, like how are you going to pay for it? Do you have all the parcels of land you’ll need? I just don’t know, and the Missions  have not said. My impression at this point, given that the Missions  haven’t been yanked yet is that they’re fine. They got the city and the county to sign off, but I’m sure if the school district doesn’t sign off, then that’s another story. I don’t know what happens if they don’t approve.   EM:  I could go on and on with you about this for forever, but I’ll wrap up with the big question. I’ve heard some of these ideas and plans for more than a decade. Why now is all of this looking like it has momentum to happen? MI:  The City Manager has said that it’s kind of a mix of factors. He and other tourism folks have said that the city is losing out in terms of conventions. So, that part of Project Marvel is factored into that. UTSA also approached the city about what to do with the Institute of Texan Cultures site, so that’s part of it. Also, the Spurs lease runs out at the Frost Bank Center in 2032. That’s fairly soon. Also, downtown has been in a weird place since the pandemic. It’s been hotel and tourism dominated for a while. People that live in San Antonio don’t really go downtown, and it’s been quite clear for some time that companies don’t want to go there [for office space]. In cities like Dallas and Houston, they have a bunch of corporations in their downtowns, while we don’t have that. Also, the city has a ton of land in their control. It’s a huge footprint to work with. I’m definitely excited to keep writing about this and to see what happens with some of the pieces. ---------- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Dave Cottenie and Patricia Beninato Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 PNC Park 115 Federal St Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Pittsburgh Pirates website PNC Park website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 38,747 The Bucs Play Here The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the oldest franchises in major league baseball, as they were founded in 1881 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. It is unique among the MLB teams in that it has never moved away from its city of origin. The Pirates played in the first World Series in 1903. They lost that one but have gone on to win five World Series and nine National League Championships in the years that have followed.   The home of the Pittsburgh Pirates is PNC Park. It is located on the North Shore section of Pittsburgh, across the Allegheny River from Downtown Pittsburgh and the Golden Triangle. The stadium opened in 2001 and has a capacity of 38,747. It is the fifth home of the franchise since its founding 137 years ago. It replaced the multipurpose Three River Stadium, marking a decided departure from the utilitarian design of its predecessor. PNC Park was designed by HOK, a firm noted for its engineering and architectural skills in sports facilities. It features a stone and steel exterior, reminiscent of ballpark design in the 1930s. Many locals say it reminds them of the old Forbes Field of a bygone era. The field dimensions are 320’ to right field, 410’ to left center and 399’ to dead center. The field features natural turf. Food & Beverage 5 Pittsburgh is known as a foodie town, probably due to the many ethnic groups that make up its population. While it will always offer traditional baseball foods like any MLB stadium, visiting fans will be shortchanging themselves if they do not try out the many local specialties unique to the Steel City. The concessions program at PNC Park proudly features a strong set of dishes that will leave visitors wishing their hometown ballparks would add them to their menus. The centrally located Tastes of Pittsburgh concourse offers the greatest diversity of stadium food. This includes the legendary Primanti Brothers deli sandwiches, Mrs. T’s Pierogies, Quaker Steak and Lube, Augustine’s Pizza, and Manny’s BBQ. Primanti Brothers sandwiches have been a Steel Town favorite since the 1930’s. The mile-high sandwiches feature deli-style meats, cole slaw, and French fries between two specially baked buns. Pierogies are a Polish creation, with a dough dumpling filled with ingredients like potatoes, cheese, and onions. Other foods available in separate areas of the ballpark include Cannonball Burgers, Chicken on the Hill, Deli Dogs, and Coop de Ville. Every Thursday is $1 Hot Dog Night. Pittsburgh is also known as a great beer town, with hundreds of craft brews created locally. Many of these brews are available at the Fat Head’s Bullpen Bar just beyond the centerfield wall. PNC Park also features a wide selection of beers in its convenience store outlets, The Market, scattered throughout the park. PNC Park is one of the few major league ballparks that allows outside food to be brought in. There are size limits in place, and drinks must be in a sealed clear plastic container. No alcohol or sodas can be brought into the park. Atmosphere 5 Coors Field may have the Rocky Mountains and Oracle Park may have San Francisco Bay, but no stadium shows off its hometown better than PNC Park. It offers spectacular views of downtown Pittsburgh over the outfield walls. The ballpark takes everything that could be a negative and turns it into a positive. The riverside location presents some challenges, but the park embraces it. PNC is not a big ballpark as far as capacity. However, this means that it offers a much more intimate feel to the venue, resulting in even the highest seat in the stadium being no more than 88 feet from the field. PNC Park does an excellent job of creating a deep sense of the history of the franchise. There are statues devoted to Pirate icons Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, and Bill Mazeroski outside of the stadium. Additionally, the retired Pirate numbers are featured in a display near the Center Field gate, and large baseballs along the riverwalk salute Pirate players who have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Pirates did not integrate until the rest of the MLB in the late 1950’s. However, Pittsburgh was home to two of the most successful franchises in the Negro Leagues… the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. The Pirates have included a display featuring the history of the two teams at the Left Field entrance gate to PNC Park. Neighborhood 4 PNC Park’s site was chosen to take advantage of Pittsburgh’s many downtown attractions. The immediate area surrounding the park is known as the North Shore, as it is on the north shoreline of the Allegheny River. Visitors to this side of the river have plenty of options for dining, entertainment, exercise, and culture. Attractions within walking distance of PNC Park include the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Science Center, the Riverwalk, and Acrisure Stadium... the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers . Dining and drinking establishments on the North Shore include Burgertory and Mike’s Beer Bar, which carries more than 80 craft beers on tap. Lying just across the Allegheny River from PNC Park is Downtown Pittsburgh and the Golden Triangle. The two sides of the river are linked by the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which becomes a pedestrian-only thoroughfare on gamedays. This makes it extremely easy to visit the downtown area before or after a Pirates game. Downtown attractions within easy walking distance of PNC Park include the Heinz Hall for Performing Arts, the Fort Pitt Museum, and The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center (which offers several exhibits about the history of baseball in the Pittsburgh area). Fans 4 The Pirates have one of the most dedicated fan bases in the MLB. They still turn out in large numbers and support the team despite one of the longest absences from the playoffs in the MLB. The fans understand that the team is in one of the smallest markets in either league and operates with limited financial resources. However, they are proud that their team has made the investment in the ballpark that has it winning accolades from all areas of the country as ‘the best ballpark in the MLB.”   The fans often bring their out-of-town friends to games, as win or lose, the ballpark shows the best their hometown has to offer. The terrific local cuisine served at the park, the many attractions close by, the iconic views of the Pittsburgh skyline over the outfield walls, and even the unique ways of getting to the park make PNC Park a matter of civic pride for the fans as well as the team. Access 5 Unlike many ballparks located in a large urban area, PNC Park offers a variety of options for fans to get to the Pirate games. Persons coming from the north can take I-279 South and take exits 2B or 1B to lots on the North Shore. Other travelers coming south on Rte. 28 South can exit at East Ohio Street to reach the parking lots. PNC Park is also located within a mile of both I-376 and I-579. Fans coming from the south should park in one of several lots in Downtown Pittsburgh. Fans can then cross the Alleghany River via the Andy Warhol Bridge to PNC Park. The Waze App will advise you on the best route to take to the stadium on gameday. The PRT light rail system runs free shuttle service from Downtown Pittsburgh/Golden Triangle stations to the North Side Station located just outside of the Home Plate gate at PNC Park. The Clemente Bridge between Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore is pedestrian-only use on gamedays. The most unique way of traveling to PNC Park is via the Gateway Clipper water shuttles. The shuttles ferry fans from the Station Square Complex on the Monongahela River to PNC Park on the Allegheny River. This journey also includes a short portion of the Ohio River. The cost for the Gateway Clipper option is $15 roundtrip. Gates at PNC Park open 90 minutes before the first pitch for Friday night and weekend games. They open 60 minutes before games on Mondays and Thursdays. Return on Investment 4 The light rail system stations serving the Golden Triangle Stations and the North Side “T” Station provide free rides to and from the park on gamedays. Fans can use the MLB Ballpark app to locate and prepurchase their parking before heading to the games. Parking on the North Shore typically costs $15 -$25. However, fans arriving early may be able to park at the Carnegie Science Center lot for just $10. Parking in downtown Pittsburgh typically goes for $10-$15. The Pirates use a dynamic pricing model for tickets. Weekday tickets start at $25, while Friday night tickets start at $26. Saturday tickets start at $27, and Sunday afternoon games start at $25. Some series will reflect higher beginning prices, especially games involving the Phillies and other division rivals. Standing Room Only tickets are sold for $10 once the seating reaches capacity. PNC operates as a cashless facility. Extras 5 One extra goes to having the backdrop of the Downtown Pittsburgh skyline just beyond the outfield walls. Unlike every other MLB ballpark, the home team dugout at PNC Park is on the third base side of the field. The Pirates get to enjoy the views of the Downtown Pittsburgh skyline. PNC is always looking for ways to improve the ballpark and the gameday experience for the Pirate fans. A new videoboard has been installed recently that is twice the size of its predecessor. It has been erected behind the left field wall, leaving the view of Downtown Pittsburgh unobstructed. In addition, self-ordering kiosks have been installed at PNC Pops Plaza that allows you to place your order from multiple concession stands in one transaction. This speeds up the concession lines, allowing fans to get back to their seats quickly so they do not miss much game action. The Bucco Brigade oversees all in-game entertainment. They coordinate the activities of the team mascot, the Pirate Parrot, as well as T-shirt tosses, hot dog shoots, and baseball quizzes during breaks in the action. They also manage the Pirate Pierogies character race in the middle of the fifth inning. There are several group seating areas within PNC Park. They include the Rooftop underneath the videoboard in left field, the Porch in center field, the Left Field Lounge, and the Azul Lounge on the third base side of the field. There are 69 PNC Luxury Suites around the infield portion of the field. There is an excellent privately managed Roberto Clemente Museum located just across the Clemente Bridge from PNC Park. Visits/tours must be prearranged by contacting the museum at www.robertoclementemuseum.com . Final Thoughts For any fan of baseball, a trip to see the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park is an absolute must. With some improved play on the field this season, hopefully more fans will embrace the experience and flood the park on the banks of the Allegheny.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park 10267 US Hwy 136 Indianapolis, IN 46234 Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park website NASCAR Camping World Truck Series website Year Opened: 1960 Capacity: 30,000 NASCAR Returns to (Smaller) Indy Racing at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, aka Indianapolis Raceway Park or IRP, has long been a staple of NASCAR’s lower divisions. Both the NASCAR Truck Series and Xfinity Series ran there for years while the Cup Series took on the big oval a few miles away. However, a long absence saw the track somewhat forgotten. However, true fans yearned for a return to the short oval and were duly rewarded in 2022 – the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Truck Series made a triumphant return to the speedway this year, showcasing the best in the sport’s rising talent on one of the Midwest’s best short tracks. Food & Beverage 3 The food options here are limited; some local food trucks were in attendance at the track, and the raceway’s concessions stands are small, leading to longer lines. However, the options are solid enough and affordable compared to larger sports stadiums. A beer will cost you $10, but other drinks are less expensive, such as water, Gatorade, sodas ($5), energy drinks ($7), and coffee or hot chocolate ($3). Steak burger combos ($15) and chicken tenders with fries ($10) are the two big items on the menu, with others such as hot dogs ($6), nachos ($6), popcorn ($10), and jumbo pretzels ($6) offered as well. Atmosphere 4 There is just something about Midwest short track racing on a Saturday night – the atmosphere is electric, and with the return of NASCAR you could feel the energy getting more and more palpable. The fans here are hardcore race loyalists, and the facility itself showcases the best of Midwest motorsports. The short track itself is worn, making for good racing. The stands are tight and close to the track, giving you a feeling like you’re right on top of the action. The turn-one viewing berm offers fans with general admission an alternate viewing angle, getting you closer to the cars than most NASCAR facilities. In addition, the backstretch features a picturesque view of farm fields and silos, making for a true feeling of being in the country’s heartland. Neighborhood 3 There isn’t a lot around the track itself. Located west of Speedway, Indiana, you will have to venture into the farmland of outer Indianapolis to find this facility. With that said, you’re not but a few minutes from shopping and dining, as well as hotels to stay at. You have the same options as you would at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, being just a few miles west of the large track. Fans 5 The fans here are without a doubt some of the best in racing – they’re motorsports loyalists, cheering for their favorite drivers with zest. Diehards to the core, many of them have grown up among the tracks of the Midwest, and many more can tell you the history of Indiana’s motorsports triumphs. You will also be treated to the Midwest hospitality Indiana is famous for, which goes a long way in making this a family-friendly facility. Access 4 To get to Lucas Oil Raceway Park you can take either I-74 or I-465 as your main routes, with access via US-136 or the Ronald Reagan Parkway. Parking on-site was free and plentiful for this year’s event. The track is also easy to navigate once you’re inside, and traffic flow leaving the event was similarly hassle-free. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to this race are incredibly affordable; general admission, making up the majority of the lower half of the main grandstands, is $35, with reserved seating, aka the upper half, costing just $45. Coupled with free parking and generally affordable concessions prices, you have a solid return on investment. On top of that, you get two races for the price of one, showcasing the best young talent NASCAR has in its pipeline. Extras 3 The track is also the site of the Lucas Oil drag strip, home to NHRA every year. In addition, while here you have the ability to walk to the viewing mounds at turns 1 and 4, offering a better view up close in the corners. Finally, victory lane takes place on the front stretch, right in front of the fans, giving you a great view of the post-race celebrations. Final Thoughts Look no further than Lucas Oil Raceway Park when looking for a good evening of top-tier racing on a Midwest short track. This track has it all, and you can’t get a better deal for NASCAR Trucks and ARCA action in one night. The facility oozes history, and the fans make sure every event is memorable. There are few places that can match the excitement of this facility, and racing diehards flock to it for good reason.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Welland Stadium 90 Quaker Rd Welland, ON L3C 7K6 Welland Jackfish website Welland Stadium website Year Opened: 1989 Capacity: 3,241 Ripples in the Pond Are they ripples, or are the Welland Jackfish making waves?  A relative newborn in the over 100-year-old Intercounty Baseball League, at a mere five years old the Jackfish are bringing a different approach to the league and showing how successful it can be.  After moving to the Niagara city of Welland from Burlington in 2019, the ownership triad of Ryan Harrison, Dan Pokoradi, and Jason McKay decided to take a page out of Jesse Cole’s Savannah Bananas book and build an IBL team differently.  Using the facility to their advantage, arguably the best in the league, the Jackfish have responded with success on the field (2023 Dominico Cup Champions) and success at the turnstile. The home for the Jackfish is Welland Stadium.  Part of the Welland Sports Complex, Welland Stadium has been home to the affiliated Welland Pirates of the New York-Penn League as well as several independent teams.  Built in 1989, the City of Welland-owned stadium provides a backdrop for baseball that is consistent with what is found in the USA for the lower-tier affiliated Minor League teams.  Nicknamed The Pond, Welland Stadium helps provide the Welland Jackfish with the best atmosphere in the IBL. Food & Beverage 3 The concession options at Welland Stadium are not over the top, but they hit the spot. Ballpark favourites including pizza, hot dogs, burgers, popcorn, and nachos are all found at the lone concession window. Pepsi products are available for soft drinks in bottles. The beer selection is far better than expected with some products from Newark Brewing to go along with OV and Coors The most popular beer, by far, is the Welland Jackfish Pond Water by Newark Brewing, a special product for the team.  New to the 2024 lineup is Slippery Fish Light Lager also by Newark Brewing. Concession lines can be long at times, but additional concession points have helped. Atmosphere 4 Part of the larger Welland Sports Complex, which also houses a few other baseball diamonds,  Welland Stadium has a fairly nondescript exterior.  With a low profile exterior with a light block and green siding roof, Welland Stadium is not intimidating at all and is deceiving as the playing surface is below the parking lot ground level.  The grounds around the building are well maintained with shrubs and flowers, appropriate for a city nicknamed Rose City. After entering the main gate at the southwest side of the stadium, fans enter an exterior concourse to the main stadium.  Completely open, the concourse allows fans to travel in a widened horseshoe and ends with berm seating along both left and right field.  The seating area has seven rows of brand-new plastic stadium seats, followed by four rows of steel bleachers with backs and supports for 2,500 fans.  Bar seating behind third base is an option for larger groups with high-top tables and stools and the new Newark Brewing Barge along the first base side offers a patio-like atmosphere.  The Jackfish make the most of the stadium with plenty of Welland Jackfish markings and banners.  Banners on light standards promoting team players are a unique feature in this league and the slogans “Hooked on Fun” and “Your 9 Inning Vacation” can be found all over the stadium.  The Jackfish also make use of an LED video board beyond the left-centrefield fence, another unique feature in this league.  The highlight for the team is probably the 2023 Dominico Cup Championship banner that hangs in right field honouring the first championship in team history. The Jackfish produce a gameday atmosphere unlike any other in the IBL.  Following the Savannah Banana model, there is constant promotion happening.  From races and contests to the 50/50 to the unique “Kiss The Fish” promotion, each half-inning has something happening.  The mascot, Jacques, is found participating in promotions or interacting with fans.  The PA system at Welland Stadium is good and is used to not only play walk-up music for the home team but for the visiting team as well.  Visitor walk-up songs are comprised of overplayed, maligned tunes as well as silly, kid songs. Overall, the experience in Welland is unlike any other in the league. Neighbourhood 3 Welland Stadium is part of the Welland Sports Complex, a larger baseball facility. It is located on the edge of the city in a fairly residential area. The roofs of people's houses are seen beyond the right field fence. Welland only has a population of 55,000 but also draws from the Greater Niagara area including St. Catharines, Thorold, and Niagara Falls. The Welland Sports Complex, where Welland Stadium is located, has a few other ball diamonds on it and is central to the local community baseball scene. There are a few spots for pre and post-game food and drinks on nearby Niagara Street. Large chain restaurants like Boston Pizza, Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, and Tim Hortons are all within a congregated area. A couple of unique spots fans may want to try include M.T. Bellies and Mr Mike’s Steakhouse. There isn’t much in Welland as far as other sports options go. The Junior B Welland Jr. Canadiens of the GOJHL play in the winter months.  The greater Niagara region also has other options. The Meridian Centre in St. Catharines is home to the Niagara IceDogs  of the OHL and Niagara River Lions of the CEBL. Brock University also fields hockey and basketball  teams. Other attractions include the iconic Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, as well as all of the other tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, and there are plenty of wineries in the region. Fans who wish to stay near the park can hit the Travelodge on Niagara Street or head across the Welland River to the Holiday Inn. Fans 5 The efforts of the Welland Jackfish have been rewarded at the turnstiles.  Steady growth over time has brought the team to the place where they are the only IBL team that reports attendance.  In the 2024 season, the Jackfish averaged over 1,900 fans per game and the game that was reviewed was a sellout.  Anecdotally, this is the best attendance in the league and possibly by a significant margin. Welland fans are also atypical of Southern Ontario and are fairly boisterous and easy to get riled up.  Chants of “Let’s Go Jackfish” are not uncommon and widely supported.   Access 4 Getting to the Welland Sports Complex is not difficult.  A short drive off of Highway 406 will bring fans to the complex with ease.  Welland is not that big to begin with so even getting through the city will not be difficult.  Traffic should not be an issue.  The complex has plenty of free parking, so finding a spot will also not be an issue.  For fans wishing to take public transportation, buses run on nearby Niagara Street.  Fans should check out the Niagara Region Transit  website for fares, maps, and schedules.  Getting around Welland Stadium is not too challenging, although bigger crowds do mean more challenges getting around.  The washrooms are adequate for the facility.  Return on Investment 5 The Welland Jackfish not only provide the best experience in the IBL, but they also provide the best return on investment.  Reserved Seating is an option at Welland Stadium.  Brand-new plastic stadium seats go for $15. Bleacher seats are $13 and lawn seating is also $13.  Berm seating for kids 10 and under is $5.  Walk-ups will cost an extra $1.  The concession prices are very reasonable and the parking is free.  The grand calculus shows an atmosphere that is second to none in the IBL and a top-notch return on investment. Extras 3 An extra mark for the  “Kiss the Fish” promotion where, out of East Coast tradition, one lucky fan must kiss a fish to be officially “hooked”. Truly an original promo. An extra mark for the Jackfish thinking outside the IBL box and changing the face of the league. An extra mark for the Jackfish branding. A Jackfish is a nickname for a pike, which can be found in the local rivers. The colours are bold and bright and plenty of fans are sporting Jackfish merchandise Final Thoughts The Welland Jackfish have taken a different approach to baseball in the IBL and have been rewarded at the turnstile.  Taking advantage of Welland Stadium and having a more active environment for baseball has the other teams in the league taking notice.  Changes could, and should be in the works in the future for the other teams in the league.  Making ripples at the pond, indeed. ---- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Capital Credit Union Park 2231 Holmgren Way Ashwaubenon, WI 54115 Green Bay Rockers website Capital Credit Union Park website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 3,359 Green Bay’s Quirky Home for Baseball The Northwoods League is full of older ballparks that have been heavily renovated and brand-new ballparks built to house multiple sports franchises and other events. The league’s newest ballpark Capital Credit Union Park is easily one of the quirkiest places for baseball during the league’s summer months of June and July. The Green Bay Rockers, formerly the Green Bay Bullfrogs and Booyah, call the $14 million venue home. The ball club shares it with the Green Bay Voyageurs FC of the USL League Two and it would appear that the venue is more suitable for soccer than baseball. The most striking feature is the 282 distance from home plate to right field which would make Yankee Stadium green with envy. However, many other anomalies include permanent soccer lines on the synthetic turf, a 45,000 square foot video board that takes up most of the outfield wall, two trucking containers that are listed as 19 feet, 19 inches (a nod to the founding year of the Green Bay Packers), but it’s 22 feet high, and there is only 19 feet from the backstop to the first row of seats in the grandstand. There is still a smell of paint in the stadium that fills the air, numerous activities for the kids, and there are plenty of regional items at the concession stand. The most distinct is booyah, a chicken stew popular in town that shares its name with the ball club. There is also a 2,000-gallon booyah kettle located at the third base entrance of the stadium. After three seasons, new ownership changed the name of the ball club to the Rockers. The decision to rebrand appeared to be a connection between Boomerang Management, who also owns the ballpark and nearby EPIC Events Center, to create a synergy between the two venues. The new events center houses a lot of concerts and there may be a few performances at the ballpark as well. That could easily be sustainable because Capital Credit Union Park is not your average ballpark. It features a synthetic turf, a short distance to right field, and a small set of seating rows. It is easily adaptable to football games, soccer matches, and a few concerts. It is loved by the casual fan or loathed by the baseball purist. However, let’s find out more about the home of the Green Bay Rockers. Food & Beverage 4 There are two main concession stands located in the stadium offering an array of traditional ballpark food but plenty of regional items and local beers. The cup of booyah is probably the item worth checking out first. It’s homemade by the club’s chef and features chicken, potatoes, and vegetables in a deeply rich broth. It’s also served on the booyah burger and poutine. A more widely known area delicacy is fried cheese curds, brats, and chicken brats. There are also the classics: hot dogs, burgers, and loaded nachos. Fans have the option of paying a small fee to include a drink and fries or chips with any sandwich. Behind home plate is Backstop Barbecue, a portable stand that features pulled chicken and pork sandwiches along with mac and cheese. Fans can enjoy mac and cheese and one of the pulled meats in a baseball helmet. The beer selection includes 16 and 32-ounce domestic beers. Imports and craft beers will fetch $6 for a 16-ounce pint. The two craft beer brands are nearby Badger State Brewing Company and Stillmank Brewing Company. Fans can enjoy Green Chop IPA, Wisco Disco, WI Bien Mexican Lager from Stillmank or BRW-SKI, Buzzy Badger Coffee Ale, and Walloon Witbier from Badger State. Atmosphere 4 The ballpark is full of interesting and distinct features that set it apart from any other facility in the league. The main entrance is located on the third base side where the official team store is located; fans walk up a small set of stairs to the main concourse where there are small portable stands and tabletop seating chairs. The grandstand is only seven rows deep and extends from the right to the left field line. Home plate is 19 feet feet from the first rows of seats and it almost feels like you can get your glove out and call a few pitches. Down the right field line is the Bud Light Bleachers where a few taps or beers are available for the fans. Behind the left field wall are berm seats for 687 fans and a kids' zone with inflatable rides. Two trucking shipment containers are stacked on each other in the right field corner that houses a hand-operated scoreboard and room for advertisements. The containers were selected for both their affordability and resistance to wind. Just to the left of them is the massive video board that broadcasts more advertisements in vivid color and player information. It dominates the stadium’s outfield wall and is the focal point in the yard. The official team store offers a plethora of merchandise from team jerseys, to t-shirts, and caps. Compared to other Northwoods League ballparks, this is pristine with official jerseys only selling for $30–that also includes the club away lumberjack design tops. The stadium also houses a club level above the backstop concourse that has 288 exterior seats and 16-person suites. Food and drink are available for patrons who opt for this ticket pricing point and include at times brisket, mac and cheese, fried fish, and a much smaller kettle of the team’s homemade booyah. Neighborhood 4 Capital Credit Union Park is located in the town of Ashwaubenon on the outskirts of Green Bay on Holmgren Way, just a little over a mile from Lambeau Field. The club does not play at the same time as the Packers, but Lambeau is not a ghost town during the summer. The facility is home to the Packers Hall of Fame, stadium tours, 1919 Grill and Taproom, and one of the largest fan shops in the NFL. Adjacent to the stadium is Titletown, a community development that features places to eat, drink, and play games. The area offers a large grass hill that kids enjoy rolling down on during the summer months and a massive playground and replica football field. The sprawling community is expanding and within a few years will offer residential homes, lodging, and more businesses. Kroll’s West is known for the best burgers and their version of booyah, the Badger State Brewing Company offers a large open green space with games, and the Green Bay Distillery features Wisconsin dishes in a family-friendly environment. If you have the chance, Booyah’s old ballpark is being utilized by the De Dere Dodgers of the Wisconsin State League. Joannes Stadium is located 5 miles away and features $3 ticket prices and $2.50 drafts of local beer. The club will rebrand to its original name the De Dere Blue Ribbons in 2020 and attract around 400-600 people per game. Fans 3 The Booyah attract crowds of 1,467 so far this season which is just below the league average and seventh in the league. The majority of the fans are at the ballpark enjoying the social aspect of the ballpark, getting the kids out for the night, or just checking out the nightly promotion. There is a lot outside the play on the field to keep them entertained and there are a few of them keeping their eye on the ball from their seats. Access 3 The stadium offers one main concourse that does not wrap around but offers enough room to move around to find your areas of need: bathrooms, exits, informational booths, and concession areas. Parking is located in the various business lots for free and usually houses a member of the Booyah staff directing motorists into a parking spot. Return on Investment 4 The cheapest ticket is $8 for the grass berm seating behind the left field wall. The tickets for the grandstand are either $12 or $15 and bleacher seating is $20. The club-level seats sell for $45 and offer a buffet table of food. The parking is free of charge, but the earlier you arrive the closer you will secure a close spot to the stadium. The price of a jersey is only $30 and concession items are reasonable. The beer batter promo offers half off beer during one inning of play. Extras 3 The Booyah receives a point for its interesting dimensions which feature a 22-foot-tall digital video wall, shipping containers, and a backstop that is only 19 feet from the first row of seats. The price of a jersey sells for $30 and that is more than half the price of similar jerseys sold at other league venues in the state. The team shop also houses an array of merchandise and styles. The homemade booyah is tasty and a must if you attend a game. A cup sells for $3 and is a perfect side dish to a sandwich or local craft beer. Final Thoughts Capital Credit Union Park is by far one of the most curious places to watch a baseball game during the summer months. Its design and features best suit a soccer match but it’s full of popular areas and affordable food and concessions items that make it a nice destination for fans in the area. Its colorful blue paint and catchy name should be a welcome destination for anybody looking for a night of baseball with friends or family. However, I am sure a few baseball purists would dissent to such a ballpark design. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Center Parc Stadium 755 Hank Aaron Dr SE Atlanta, GA 30315 Georgia State Panthers website Center Parc Stadium website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 24,333 Panthers Football What came to life in 1996 as the center of the sports world at the Centennial Olympic Games, then would next be transformed into Turner Field and home of the Atlanta Braves for the next 18 years, has found new life in the form of Center Parc Stadium, home of Georgia State Panthers football. Shortly after the Braves announced they were leaving downtown for the northwest suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia State University finalized a deal to purchase the property, with plans to develop the area into the new home of Georgia State football. Simply named “Georgia State Stadium" at first, it would be the third incarnation of the stadium. Since undergoing its most recent remodel, the newly branded Center Parc Stadium has been home to not just Georgia State football, but also the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, the Atlanta Legends of the now defunct American Association of Football, and the Georgia High School Association annual state football championship games. Food & Beverage 3 Food and drink options inside the stadium are much as what would be expected at most any stadium in the country – hot dogs, burgers, pretzels, nachos, pizza, cotton candy, and soda. Alcohol selections include seltzers ($11), premixed canned spirit drinks ($12), wine by the glass ($9) or carafe ($34), and what was termed “Adult Capri Sun” ($14), a large bag of a spiked, fruity concoction. Beer selections include choices from the Budweiser and Yuengling families of beers, ranging from a $6 value beer to $11 for 24 oz domestics. Local brewery Three Taverns also has a handful of kiosks around the stadium that offer some of their craft beers. The most popular food choice at Center Parc Stadium seems to be the rather non-descript, candy striped food truck parked near the main entry plaza, specializing in fried foods: funnel cake, three types of corn dogs, and what appeared to be the most popular option, chicken tenders with tots served with “Magic Sauce”. As it turns out, “Magic Sauce” is a spicy sweet-n-sour sauce. It was decent, but at $18 not necessarily considered a must have. Prices at Center Parc Stadium are consistent with expected prices at most other stadiums. In general they are about twice what you might expect to pay if the offerings were not at the stadium. With numerous concessions stands and standalone food and drink kiosks, lines are commonly short and there is not a lot of wait time. Atmosphere 3 One does not need to look far to find the game-day atmosphere at Center Parc Stadium. Approximately two dozen tents dot the plaza area directly outside the main gates. In one location fraternities have their tents set up with music pumping, beer pong tables set up, and reveling in other similar tailgating activities. Nearby, alumni had their own tents set up with slightly more subdued events. This tailgating area is also the center of the pre-game Panther Walk which leads players into the stadium, while pep-squads lead fans in cheers and the band belts out the school fight song. Inside the gates, the transformation from Turner Field to Center Parc Stadium feels like a swinging pendulum. On one hand Georgia State has created a very cozy 24,000-seat football stadium that puts fans right on top of the action on the field. On the other hand, the rest of the stadium that once sat an additional 30,000 fans is still there, not used. It creates a sense of emptiness, even though what is available for football seating is close to two-thirds full. There are many other reminders of the stadium that once was, and it is difficult not to notice. The most glaring reminder is the empty steel framework that once supported stadium signage. It still does today, but the signs that are there now do not fit the framing and have an awkward look to them. Georgia State does a good job with game presentation – there is a good mix of the traditional sounds of a football game, from the marching band that is intertwined with piped in hype music that gets fans on their feet dancing. The train horn that blares throughout the game: to get the game started, after big plays, and when a stop is needed from the defense, adds nicely to the gameday ambiance. Something that seems to be missing was the lack of game statistics. Other than the score boards at each end of the stadium that give the score and down and distance, the large replay board was never used to show any type of statistics. It’s mostly showing the game that is going on right in front of you. It’s good for replays, but the lack of statistics seems like a missed opportunity for those who are into the analysis of the game. Neighborhood 3 The Summerhill neighborhood that surrounds Center Parc Stadium were all but deserted by the time the Braves left the area. The stadium was mostly surrounded by empty, weed-infested lots and homes which had been long neglected. As new housing started to rise out of what had been parking lots surrounding the stadium, new businesses did as well. Soon, what had once been a desert of pre- and post-game activity now has more choices than one could ever need. Halfway Crooks provides a “micro-gastro-brewery” vibe – their biergarten offers a variety of beer styles and an appetizer/sandwich centered food menu. Other new restaurants have popped up down Georgia Avenue and offer something for all pallets. Hot Dog Pete’s offers a wide variety of regional hot dogs and vegan options, Junior’s gives pizza options, and Woods Chapel has a boutique bar-b-cue feel. While there are many new, quality food options in the areas directly around the stadium, Daddy Dz BBQ Joynt , one of Atlanta’s best BBQ establishments, is just a mile away. From where the neighborhood once was to where it is today, there has been a 180-degree turnaround. There does seem to be a bit of a disconnect between the stadium and the newly established restaurants just outside the main gates, which did not have the feel of fans flocking to these establishments in anticipation of the Panther Walk prior to kick off. A downtown stadium seems to have a tougher time in creating a gameday feel than what one might expect to experience in a more traditional college town. Fans 3 The overall fan interest in Georgia State football seems to be a bit passive, but of the fans who are in attendance, they are actively engaged with the game. Fans crank up the volume when a 3rd -&-short stop is needed, even when not prompted to do so. With an undergraduate enrollment of just shy of 29,000, student attendance takes up of two-and-a-half of the end zone sections. Georgia State is largely a commuter campus with students coming from the surrounding communities for classes, so they don’t have a large on-campus student body given the size of their enrollment. This impacts their student attendance at games, which really goes a long way in creating a gameday atmosphere. Accessibility 4 Getting to Center Parc Stadium is very direct. Located right off Atlanta’s Downtown Connector (I-75/85), it is easily accessible by vehicle. Fans coming from the east or west can just as easily use Interstate 20. Multiple exits funnel to the parking lots just north of the stadium. For those who would rather take public transportation, Atlanta’s subway service MARTA has a Georgia State station which is a 1-mile, direct walk to the stadium. The challenge of getting back on to the highways that surround the stadium after the game is not as daunting as it once was. Just like any other downtown stadium though, the highways often are clogged with city traffic. Return on Investment 4 The basic ticket price is $20, which is one of the most affordable in the Sun Belt Conference. Parking at $15 is a tick higher than I’d consider ideal, but given the affordability of the ticket price it makes the overall cost very reasonable. Food and drink prices are comparable to what you’d expect to pay at most major sporting events. Extras 3 The large team shop is one of the first things that greets fans as they come through the gates into the plaza. It offers anything a fan might expect to find at the game. Pounce Town sits off to the left of the plaza, and provides a football themed activity area to help keep kids entertained, when the game itself might not be enough to sustain their attention. One of the most prominent traditions are the blasts of the train horn that sounds throughout the game. It serves to pump-up the crowd while paying homage to Atlanta history when it was nicknamed “Terminus”, as it was the end of the Western & Atlantic Railroad. Atlanta United FC has a similar historic tie-in to the city’s railroad history with their driving of the golden spike prior to the start of their matches. Final Thoughts What Georgia State is trying to create in a game day atmosphere is difficult for a school in their shoes. Football, more-so than other college sports, tends to thrive on the game day feel in what might be considered college towns, meaning communities where the college or university is THE attraction. Being in downtown Atlanta that feel just isn’t there. The fact that the university made the investment into purchasing the stadium and surrounding area is evident they are willing to invest in the football program, but it lacks a true college football experience. The hardest thing Georgia State faces when it comes to the stadium is that it’s always going to be seen as Turner Field. Even the highway signs leading to the stadium still bare the name. There are just so many baseball memories tied to it Atlantans will always think of it as “The Ted”.

Photos by Google Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Vicarage Road Vicarage Rd Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 0ER Watford FC website Vicarage Road website Year Opened: 1922 Capacity: 20,877 Up Close and Personal at Vicarage Road Vicarage Road is a stadium in the English town of Watford (Hertfordshire) in the greater London area. The nickname of the stadium is ‘The Vic’ and that name has been adopted by most of the Watford FC supporters. Since the completion of the new Sir Elton John Stand in 2014, the stadium offers seating for 20,877 spectators. Since 1922 Vicarage Road has been the home of Watford FC. The first match ever to be played at ‘The Vic’ was on the 30th of August 1922 against Millwall. Between 1997 and 2013 the stadium was shared with the rugby club Saracens. In January 2002 Watford became the owner of the stadium, but due to financial problems they had to sell the property, and the stadium was rented again. Thanks to donations from supporters and former owner Sir Elton John it was Watford FC took over the stadium again in September 2004. Vicarage Road has four different stands. The stadium has been rebuilt stand-by stand in the past three decades. The only two-tiered stand at The Vic is the Graham Taylor Stand, built in 1986, with a capacity of 5,771 seats. Behind the goals, you will find the Vicarage Road Stand (1992, 5,796 seats) and the Rookery Stand (1995, 6,960 seats). The newest stand is the Sir Elton John Stand which was opened in 2014. It is by far the smallest of the four stands with a capacity of just 3,100 seats. Food & Beverage 4 The stadium offers a wide range of food selections that have improved in recent years and you will find your basic everyday football snacks along with some local traditional dishes. The prices are a little bit higher compared to other venues in the league ranging from £4.50 to £7.50 The hot food includes a wide selection of pies from the traditional steak, chicken balti, and butter and bean. There are also vegetarian pies and vegan pasties, sausage rolls, hot dogs, and cheeseburgers; fans can add chili or barbecue chicken toppings to their hot dogs and burgers for an additional price. The variety continues with pie, mash, and gravy along with hot sub rolls, and chicken or beef curry served with rice and naan bread. Southern fried chicken and chips, vegetarian Jackfruit curry, and chips with cheese or chili or barbecue chicken are also available at the concession stands. As with any other venue in the league, fans can pick up a bag of crisps or confectionaries for a small price. The stadium offers is tea, coffee, and hot chocolate for those colder games along with soft drinks and water. All draft pints and red ales are £5 with half-pints fetching £2.80. Carlsberg and Somerby’s bottles sell for £5.20 and the wine sells for £6.20. Fans can also get pre-mix spirits and mixers for £6.20 served in the Vbar only. Atmosphere 4 As you might expect of a ground having one of the smallest seating capacities in the league, the inside of the stadium feels compact. Whilst empty, all seats inside the stadium are in the club colours: red, black, and yellow. There’s very little room beyond the sidelines and behind the goals which gives Vicarage Road an intimate character. The stands (which are almost fully enclosed) are right on top of the field making Watford fans feel like they are truly part of the action. The home fans are housed in the Rookery Stand and are most vocal in this part of the ground. The away supporters are located at the Vicarage Road Stand of the stadium. The Rookery Stand includes both restaurants the View and the Gallery along with matchday offices. The Graham Taylor Stand includes the Sir Elton John suite along with restaurants Horizons, the Grill, and the Carbon. The Sir Elton John Stan is home to a sensory room for fans on the spectrum along with the Hornets Shop team store. The Vicarage Road Stand is home to both the family stand and visitor supporter section. The 100-page program sells for £3.50. Neighborhood 2 Vicarage Road borders residential homes at the Watford General Hospital and does not feature the abundance of watering holes and restaurants that some fans might be abundant accustomed to at other grounds in the league. However, there are few places to grab a pint of a bite to eat before or after the game that is within reasonable distance by foot or near mass transportation stations. O’Neill’s, formerly The Flag, is near the Watford Junction Station and is home to a large outside seating area that is perfect early in the season. They also have a large selection of beer and a great food menu. The Mood Under Water is a casual eatery with small plates and local cuisine. The No. 8 Red Lion is the closest pub to the grounds. The Horn offers live music and an outdoor patio, and The Oddfellows is ideal for a pint or two. The Warner Bros Studio Tour offers tours of actual film sets and learn the special effects tricks used in the Harry Potter films. The Lincolnsfields Children’s Centre is home to the Forties Experience, an exhibit with 1940s artifacts, period decor & music, open to the public one Sunday per month. Fans 4 The nickname of the Watford fans is ‘The Hornets’ and their club mascot is Harry the Hornet. During the 2014-2015 season in the Championship Watford had an average home gate of around 17,500, but will surely sell out every home game in the Premier League. Their rivals are Luton Town, but they are playing in League Two at the moment. The closest Premier League ground to Vicarage Road is White Hart Lane, home of Tottenham Hotspur FC. Access 3 Driving by car to the stadium is easily reached via the M25 ring road London (exit 5 of the junction M1 motorway). Upon entering the town via the city center it will take less than 10 minutes to get to the stadium. There is no parking on the grounds and street parking is restricted for on which residents on match day. Waterford town center does have several car parks including Church Car Park, Gade Car Park, and Sutton Car Park which are all within a 10-minute walk of Vicarage Road. Watford High Street is a 10-minute walk Watford Junction is a 20-minute walk in the metropolitan line of the London Underground and is 10 to 20 minutes and one mile from the stadium. Return on Investment 3 Prices at Vicarage Road vary from £32 for a seat behind one of the goals ends, to £32 for the Sir Elton John Stand and £38 for the Graham Taylor Stand with concessions for O.A.P’s and under 16’s. We find these ticket prices quite expensive for attending a football match in the second-highest league of English football. Extras 3 The club offers stadium tours, but there are many more interesting grounds in the greater London area. The Vicarage Road stadium has also a club shop (which is located inside the Vicarage Road Stand). second-highestoffersMatchday programmes are on sale for every game priced at GBP 3.00. We were fortunate enough to be at the match where fans ran onto the pitch after the team secured their promotion to Premier League status, adding to our particular experience. Final Thoughts Watford fans are great and this is a nice stadium overall The grounds are at near capacity crowds that are up close and personal to the players on the pitch. The cheering echoes throughout the stands and the atmosphere is full of history at the facility that blends both modern and classic styles.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Globe Life Park in Arlington 1000 Ballpark Way Arlington, TX 76011 Texas Rangers website Globe Life Park in Arlington website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 48,114 Globe Life Park’s Final Season Globe Life Park, originally called the Ballpark in Arlington, has been the Texas Rangers’ home since 1994. On April 11 of that year, a sold-out crowd of 49,119 witnessed the Texas Rangers beat the Milwaukee Brewers in their brand-new ballpark. The Ballpark was a welcome sight, replacing the old minor league stadium turned MLB venue, Arlington Stadium. The new ballpark was designed to be retro-style, incorporating features of baseball’s classic ballparks. The right field Home-Run Porch was designed in honor of the old Detroit Tigers Stadium, while the white steel frieze that surrounds the upper deck was from pre-1973 Yankee Stadium . The out of town manual scoreboard was taken from Fenway Park , the non-symmetry was classic Ebbets Field, and arched windows come from the White Sox’ previous field Comiskey Park. The Rangers added their own unique features in Greene’s Hill, a sloped section of grass beyond center field to be used as the batter’s eye and named after former Arlington mayor Richard Greene. The signature office spaces complete the center field corner of the ballpark. The Ballpark has changed over the past 25 years with renovations, but for the most part has remained true to its original state. There have been four name changes over the years, although local fans still use the original name or call it Rangers Ballpark. Globe Life Park has become the home that the Texas Rangers envisioned when it opened in 1994. Since the ballpark opened, the Rangers have won seven division titles and two American League Championships. Four of the five players that have worn the retired Rangers uniforms called Globe Life Park home. There was also an All-Star game here in 1995, Kenny Rodgers’ perfect game, Rafael Palmiero’ s 500th home run, and Adrian Beltre’s 3,000th hit, although arguably the biggest moment ever here was the last out in the American League Championship Series versus the New York Yankees; Neftali Feliz’s strikeout of Alex Rodriquez to send the Rangers to their first World Series in 2010. The Ballpark has hosted numerous events besides Rangers baseball. The Big 12 Baseball Tournament was held inside the ballpark in 2002 and 2004, and other local college baseball teams from the University of Texas-Arlington and Texas Christian University have played regular season games inside the Globe. The 2019 season at Globe Life Park is the Final Season for Texas Rangers baseball here, as the Texas Rangers and their fans will soon move into their newly updated ballpark, Globe Life Field. Globe Life Field will provide the Texas Rangers and their fans with the most updated amenities – the new facility will have a retractable roof for those brutal summer temperatures in North Texas, the field will be turf instead of grass, and the safety netting will extend down the foul lines. In addition, the new Texas Live! will bring outside atmosphere to the new ballpark that was lacking during the warehouse days. Food & Beverage 5 The Texas Rangers and Delaware North Sportservice are pioneers in the improvement of not only Globe Life Park but all sport venue food services, leading the rest of Major League Baseball in upgrading its game menus to be more than just traditional hot dogs and ballpark nachos. Although the nachos staple was introduced to the sports world by the Texas Rangers at the old Arlington Stadium, that same company, Ricos, continues to provide the chips and has a production plant nearby Globe Life Park. Besides nachos, the Texas Rangers in 2015 unleashed the Boomstick – a two-foot-long hot dog slathered in chili and cheese that costs $27. The Rangers have made unveiling new concessions offering an annual tradition; last year the Dilly Dog (a hot dog nestled inside a cored-out dill pickle and fried in corn dog batter) was the headliner for $10, and this final season highlighted a 2-lb chicken strip, vegan offerings including a burger and street tacos, and the visually striking RWB dog – a ballpark frank lined with red and blue relish. Next season, the Rangers and Delaware North Sportservice will continue to be together; this agreement will carry over the menu from Globe Life Park and create new opportunities. The biggest announcement showing that these two identities will continue in creating a better food and beverage atmosphere for fans is from Delaware North general manager Casey Rapp. He mentioned that the upper deck food options at the current Globe Life Park are “pretty generic” – in the new ballpark however, he said the food options will be more diverse. Baseball and food lovers should be prepared for the Globe Life Field food options as being the best in baseball starting in 2020. Although the food menu here is creative and pricey, Globe Life Park has plenty of the normal stadium food fare, with plenty of options on every level of the stadium. There is barbecue, burgers, pizza, garlic fries, and chicken tenders, but visitors who want to visit the Texas State Fare stand can also get deep-fried Oreos and Twinkies among other items; some of these food items are in the $10 to $25 range, and this is where the Dilly Dog was offered to fans. Globe Life Park allowed outside food and drink items, however, rumors have it that this will no longer be in place for Globe Life Field. Overall, Globe Life Park provides the best food options in Major League Baseball – the only problem is that they came needing a Texas-sized wallet. Texas-Sized Food at Globe Life Park, Photo by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Atmosphere 4 There is no doubt that Globe Life Park is a great venue for baseball; the groups of Rangers fans entering through the large red-brick facades and trellises hanging from the rooftop bring memories of the ballparks of old. Also, the large concourses with murals of past Rangers players generally bring a great energy of anticipation, and when there are large crowds the atmosphere is one of the best in sports. The fans that arrive early as the gates open have plenty of things to do – the large pro shop in centerfield is a good place to start, or get a table inside the air-conditioned Rebecca Creek Saloon next door. Or, just outside both the pro shop and restaurant, fans can take photos with a statue of Nolan Ryan. There is also something special in hearing the Rangers PA announcer Chuck Morgan announce, “It’s Baseball Time in Texas”; this is one of the sweetest things to hear in the ballpark. Chuck will continue to be the PA Voice of the Rangers at Globe Life Field. Besides Chuck Morgan, the Rangers employ in-game entertainment with the Texas Six Shooters, a group of young ladies that send t-shirts into the crowd, wave Texas flags after a Rangers score on Greene’s Hill in centerfield, and dance to Cotton Eye Joe on the dugout during the 7th inning stretch. In addition, the team’s mascot, Ranger Captain, a horse in a Rangers uniform, is visible throughout the ballpark and the community; these will continue when the Rangers move to Globe Life Field next year. But overall the atmosphere depends on the fans, and there have been plenty of games where the atmosphere has been the best and then stale later. Nevertheless, the memories at Globe Life Park are second to none for Rangers fans, and that means a better atmosphere than most MLB ballparks. Neighborhood 3 The immediate neighborhood around Globe Life Park is warehouses, office building, and parking lots – anything outside of those was on the outskirts, on the other side of AT&T Stadium on Collins Street. There is no public transportation in the city of Arlington so there is plenty of foot traffic, but no nearby gathering places until last year when Texas Live! opened across the street. Texas Live! is a $250 million world class dining entertainment district which opened in 2018 across from Globe Life Park – this entertainment venue will become an extension for the Rangers’ new home Globe Life Field which is set to open in March 2020. 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. In addition, Loews Hotel opened in August 2019, providing a close luxury hotel besides the Sheraton-Arlington. 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. Globe Life Park is in the Arlington Entertainment District which consists of Six Flags over Texas, Hurricane Harbor, and the Dallas Cowboys’ ATT Stadium. Fans 3 Texas will always be a football state. However, there are plenty of Rangers fans that come out to the ballpark, and just like most baseball fans, to be a constant force for 81 game seasons depends a lot on how the team plays on the field. The cliché that everyone loves a winner is true – the Texas Rangers attendance was the highest the season after the team won back to back American League Championships. Yet, the final season of the Ballpark brought in 16K less per game, and the MLB scheduler didn’t help the Rangers either, scheduling the popular teams like the Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox , and New York Yankees on days that could have brought in the same number of fans, giving the other lower games a higher attendance rate. There are those loyal Rangers fans that have been coming out since Arlington Stadium in the 70s, however, and Globe Life Park is “a cathedral”, a word used by former President and Texas Rangers owner George W Bush. The Texas weather was a mighty deterrent though for fans during those afternoon day games, but for the fans that did show up you see a ton of team apparel – Rangers red, white, and blue being heavily present; Texas Rangers jerseys, shirts, and caps are everywhere. Rangers fans are also vocal and supportive, and become some of the best in baseball – just ask the fans that have experienced Rangers playoff games, or those back-to-back American League Championship years. Access 3 Globe Life Park in Arlington is easily accessible off Interstate 30, and between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is only 15-20 minutes away. The constant killer on access is the lack of public transportation; Arlington, Texas is the largest populated city in the state that does not have good public transportation for its citizens. This leads to ridesharing ($25 Uber ride from DFW), or taxis and rental cars. The good news for drivers, however, is that there is plenty of signage leading up to the park from the highway. Parking is ample around the field, with prices ranging from $10 to $40. For fans staying in the area around the ballpark, however, there is the Arlington Trolley, which makes stops at nearly all the hotels in and around Globe Life Park in Arlington, and shuttles you from attraction to attraction and back again. Return on Investment 5 The 2019 Texas Rangers average ticket was $54, which ranks them in the lower 1/3 of MLB pricing charts. Single game tickets start as low as $17 for upper level seating and can run as high as $300 for the Commissioner boxes near the infield. That said, the secondary market is a great place to look for those non-premier games during the week, where tickets can be found for as low as $10 including fees. The prices are sure to increase next season with the move to Globe Life Field, and the option of bringing your own food and drinks may also change. Globe Life Park is a gorgeous and perfect venue for baseball; the ROI here for the Rangers continues to be the best option when compared to the other sports teams in the DFW area. Extras 5 Arlington’s “Cathedral for Baseball” gave millions of Rangers fans 26 seasons of incredible memories; the ballpark’s infrastructure is one that truly represents the state of Texas and is one of the best in sports. A main concern for the future of Globe Life Park is because of the architectural masterpiece that has been a staple in Arlington for almost 3 decades. The ballpark has been renovated inside many times over the years to provide fans different amenities, and the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame near centerfield was a staple that provided the history of Rangers baseball as well as an educational place for young campers during the summer. The Rangers, the innovator of the original dot on the old Arlington Stadium videoboard, changed to live human dots, Texas Legends, and mini dots. The creation of Texas Live!, the new mixed-use entertainment complex which opened last year, also brought a better atmosphere to Globe Life Park on game days, and will continue into the future at Globe Life Field. Final Thoughts The erection of Globe Life Park revitalized baseball in North Texas. Although, the Texas Rangers were playing two decades prior to Globe Life Park, the Texas Rangers weren’t a national interest in baseball outside of the Dallas – Fort Worth area. There are many die-hard fans that loved Arlington Stadium, but realized that the new ballpark in Arlington would give the Texas Rangers instead credibility, among the other MLB ballparks and fans. For a quarter-century, Globe Life Park did more than just make baseball in North Texas creditable. Globe Life Park became place that represented the very heart of all Texans. Although, many fans will enjoy the new amenities of Globe Life Field, it will always be bittersweet not being in Globe Life Park. Final Opening Day 2019, Photo by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey

Photos by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Taffy Abel Ice Arena 1000 College Dr Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783 Lake Superior State Lakers website Taffy Abel Ice Arena website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 3,880 Hockey by the Lake Lake Superior State University, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, has an enrollment of about 3,000 students. They are one of the smaller schools in Division I hockey, and in 1988, they did the impossible. That Lakers team, led by the goaltending of Bruce Hofford, became the smallest school to win the NCAA hockey championship. Even more remarkably, the school was able to win championships again in 1992 and 1994. Those banners hang proudly in Taffy Abel Arena alongside two NAIA championship banners (1972 and 1974), but the program has lost some of its success in recent years. However, hockey is still very much in the blood of this town and the university’s students. Taffy Abel Arena, named for Sault Ste. Marie native Clarence “Taffy” Abel, is a part of the larger James Norris Physical Education Center. The Center also includes the basketball arena, the Ronald “Bud” Cooper Gymnasium. Food & Beverage 4 If you have ever been to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, then you probably have had a pasty, which is basically personal-sized meat and vegetable pie. The pasty on the menu at Taffy Abel Ice Arena may not be the best you have ever had, but it’s certainly a unique local addition to the menu. Outside of the pasty, it’s a pretty basic menu at Lakers games. Pizza, hot dogs, nachos ($3.50), popcorn ($2), and soft pretzels ($2) are on the menu, just like you’ll find at most arenas. Coca-Cola is the soft drink provider with fountain drinks available ($2), as well as energy drinks ($2.75), water ($2.25) and juice. Coffee, hot chocolate, and hot cider ($1.50) are on hand if you want to warm up. Unlike many college arenas, beer is also available for $3.50, discounted to $3 for each additional beer you order. Atmosphere 3 Your first impression of the seating area may be that it looks a little bit like it was sponsored by IKEA. The bright royal blue and “gold” (which is really yellow) is omnipresent throughout the arena. That impression aside, it really is a comfortable little arena. Fans will find comfortable blue plastic seats with above-averageno-frillsleg room, although there are no cup holders. Because this is a border town with Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario you will hear O Canada and the Star Spangled Banner before every home game, something that makes the experience feel somewhat exotic if you’re not from the area. The team benches are on opposite sides of the ice, something that is fairly common in college hockey. If you want to sit behind the visiting team, then section D will be where you want to aim, or section P to sit behind the home side. A small pep band does its best from one corner of the arena to interject some energy into the game, but they end up being just a little too small to make a real noticeable difference in the atmosphere. The scoreboard is small and basic, with only essential information and no video capabilities. Overall, it is a no frills presentation when you go to a Lake Superior State hockey game. That can either be a huge plus, or a slight drawback depending on how much the hockey purity appeals to you as a fan. Neighborhood 3 With a population of just over 14,000 (2010 census), Sault Ste. Marie is certainly a small town, but there are a few places worth checking out while in downtown, which is about a five minute drive from the LSSU campus. Huge ships pass through the Soo Locks, the busiest canal in the world as far as the weight that passes through it. It is an amazing sight to see a five-minute1,000-foot-long boat pass by the town of mostly two-story buildings. The main downtown drag is Portage Avenue. Soo Brewery is a great spot for travelers who like to sample local beers on their sports trips, with 10 locally made beers on tap ($3.50 a pint). Next door is Maloney’s, where you can find a sandwich, burgers, good fish and chips, or the odd Mexican dish. There are several TVs and a pool table here as well, and 10 beers on tap. Further down the street is The Alpha, a slightly more divey bar, with $2 drafts if you’re merely looking to belly up to the bar before or after a game. The Antlers Restaurant is a local landmark, and any fan of taxidermy should be sure to stop in for a meal and a chance to see more than 200 mounted animals. The Ramada Plaza Hotel Ojibway is located on the same downtown stretch and has reasonable rates of about $100 a night in a perfect location for fans who may be coming in for a weekend of hockey. Fans 3 Lake Superior State averages about 2,000 fans per game at Taffy Abel Arena, ranking them in the bottom third for Division I college hockey. The pep band and student section are both small and disappointing, hurting the overall atmosphere somewhat. Fans no doubt love hockey in this area, and they are a knowledgeable bunch, but they are lacking that extra level which could make this arena a tough place to play. Access 4 Taffy Abel Ice Arena is a part of the larger James Norris Physical Education Building, which houses Cooper Gymnasium where the basketball and volleyball teams of Lake Superior State play. It’s a large building with a very large parking lot. Parking is free, and getting in or out of the arena is no trouble at all, as there is plenty of personnel to guide you to your parking space, and to ease the egress of traffic afterward. Inside the arena, it is a little tricky. A walk around the entire arena will take you up and down as you alternate between walking beneath the stands or around the seats. In some places, the concourse can be rather narrow, and if it is a full house, then the lines for the concessions can obstruct the walkways during intermissions. The restrooms are of adequate size and are clean. Return on Investment 5 Single-game tickets are only $12 for adults or $6 for all of those aged 18 or under. Students and kids under 18 can purchase a full season ticket for $95, while non-student adults will pay $199 for a full slate of games. With few other sports options, I would think that anyone who could afford it would spring for a season ticket, although single games are certainly reasonably priced. Add in parking, a drink, and a pasty, and you’ll still spend less than $20 on a Division I hockey game. It is a great bargain. Extras 3 The chance to sit beneath three championship banners certainly adds to the experience and is worth an extra point. Seamore the Sea Duck, makes his rounds throughout the crowd. He covers a lot of territory during the contest, seemingly giving every fan a chance to interact with this big blue-clad bird. One final extra point for all of the displays of the hockey past of Lake Superior State. There is also a jersey of every former player to have made it to the NHL, a chance for fans to reminisce about former players and dream of current players making their way to the top level of hockey. Final Thoughts Just an hour north of the iconic Mackinac Bridge, Lake Superior State is the most accessible of the Upper Peninsula college hockey venues for hockey fans in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Combine a trip to LSSU with a stop on historic Mackinac Island during the early part of the season (October). For residents of the Upper Peninsula or across the International Bridge to Ontario, you will certainly get your money’s worth if you go to see a game at Taffy Abel Ice Arena.