Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Younts Stadium 7801 N Tigerville Rd Tigerville, SC 29688 North Greenville Crusaders website Younts Stadium website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 5,000 On a Crusade in Tigerville Younts Stadium has a modern, clean look with beautiful brickwork and plenty of NGU signage – the logo includes the signature classic broadsword, instantly symbolic of the Medieval crusaders from which the team takes its name. The facility was built in 2005 and currently seats 5,000. The Crusaders football program began in 1994, and the team now participates as a member of the Gulf South Conference in NCAA Division II. Food & Beverage 4 Younts Stadium has concessions stands on both sides of the field, something which is lacking at many similarly-sized stadiums. In addition, while the selection is slightly limited, this is made up for by the very low prices, making for an affordable outing even if you are bringing a large group. Nachos, hot dogs, Papa John’s pizza, popcorn, chips, and candy bars are all available with nothing priced over $4. You can also find bottled water, canned soda, and Gatorade. Younts Stadium Concessions, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Atmosphere 4 If the above doesn’t sound like enough variety, however, there is another great option at Younts Stadium – unique across college and pro football, North Greenville now offers tailgating inside the stadium itself (yes you read that correctly). On the hill above the north end zone, and wrapping around part of the west stands, there are tents sent up which can be rented out for the season. With these seats, fans can drive their trucks and cars into the stadium, and bring their grills and lawn chairs out to watch the game in style. Now, plenty of venues have tailgating outside the stadium, and some even have it set up close enough you can peek in and see the game a little. But this is the first time I have seen people grilling out right around the gridiron itself. Besides the tailgating on the hill, Younts Stadium has two grandstands – the larger one is on the east side and includes the press and president’s box, while the smaller one is on the west side and is mainly used by visitors. The stands on the east side all have the chairback rails, which is a much more comfortable option than you will usually see at a college football game, and since all seats are general admission, you are welcome to sit there instead of on the west side if you choose. You can also bring a lawn chair or blanket and sit and watch from the top of the hill on the west side if you prefer a slightly more elevated view of the action. The only real downside is that there is no video board for instant replays – just a regular static scoreboard – so you won’t be able to re-watch the highlights (unless of course, you brought along your Smartphone). Neighborhood 2 Younts Stadium is located on North Greenville University’s campus, which is in a very rural area of northwest South Carolina not far from the NC border (about half an hour north of Greenville, SC). Surrounded by golf courses, picturesque wedding venues, wilderness areas, and even a covered bridge, there isn’t anything in terms of restaurants and hotels in the immediate vicinity – the closest hotels (Best Western, Hampton, and Swamp Rabbit Inn) are about 15 minutes southwest of campus, toward Greenville. There is a Papa John’s and a Chick-fil-A on campus (the Chick-fil-A in inside the student dining center, however), as well as a restaurant at nearby Cherokee Valley golf course called Core 450 (reservations required), but not much else unless you head closer to Greenville or Spartanburg. Fans 4 Younts Stadium draws a pretty solid crowd, and while it may not be enough to fill every seat, there is a large enough crowd that it will not obvious when some of the seats are empty. This is equally true of both the east and west grandstands, but incidentally, good crowds on the visitor’s side is fairly common at this level of college football – since the conferences in D2 tend to be much tighter geographically than you will see in the FBS, for example, it is not as difficult for fans to travel and see their team on the road. You can also tell that most of the fans are local – while you will see plenty of red or black Crusaders gear (there is an NGU fan shop on the east side as you enter if you need to pick up some swag), you will also see many fans supporting other local college teams, which provides a tight-knit feel and sense of community while you are at the stadium. Access 5 Younts Stadium is easy to get to (right alongside Highway 414), with plenty of space around the facility for parking and to hang out throwing a football or taking in the beautiful mountain scenery. There is a parking lot right next to the venue, in fact (which costs nothing to park in), so you can get in and out of the stadium with ease. Walking around the concourse is also easy, as there is plenty of room, and you are welcome to watch from anywhere once you enter. There are concessions and bathrooms on both sides of the field as well, so you don’t have to walk all the way around like at some facilities if you happen to be sitting on the wrong side. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to North Greenville Crusaders games at Younts Stadium are only $20 for adults and $5 for kids, which is about as low as you will ever see for college football. Add in the free parking and the low-cost concessions, and this makes taking in a football game here about as friendly to your wallet as you could probably hope for. Given how close you are to the action and the fact that you can watch from wherever you want, including from the hill above the field, you can’t find a better bang for your sports buck than this. Extras 3 The Crusaders don’t have a live mascot this year, but their band puts on a pretty good show during games, and they have a DJ in the student section pumping up the jam to get fans moving. You will also see cheerleaders, players coming onto the field through the tunnel, and most of the usual amenities you are used to at football games, including all the classic songs being played over the loudspeaker (Don’t Stop Believing, etc.). But probably the most unique feature here is the fireworks played after the game – I have seen this a lot at minor league baseball games on some nights, but rarely at a college football game. Fireworks after the Game at Younts Stadium, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts Most football fans probably haven’t taken in a D2 football game, since football at this level is perceived to lack some of the pageantries of some of the elite programs. At Younts Stadium this could not be further from the truth – here at North Greenville you will get a great football experience without the high cost and huge crowds of other programs, making it easy to enjoy yourself for a pleasant day or evening out.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 SoFi Stadium 1001 Stadium Dr Inglewood, CA 90301 Los Angeles Chargers website SoFi Stadium website Year Opened: 2020 Capacity: 70,240 The NFL’s newest Jewel SoFi Stadium, home of both the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers and the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams , reportedly cost $5.5 billion to build, almost three times what the previous NFL record holder, Allegiant Stadium , cost.  The stadium has a unique design in being sort of an open-air stadium with a roof, and even has a water feature, but given how much it cost to build, unfortunately disappoints in some areas, namely in terms of its access and pricing.   Food & Beverage   4 SoFi Stadium has a host of concessions options, ranging from pizza and Italian sandwiches to burgers, hot dogs, chicken strips and sandwiches, burritos, nachos, and tacos, as well as snacks and desserts such as cheesecake, churro bites, Italian custard, cookies, and brownies. There are also several full bar areas and plenty of beer, wine, soda, and bottled water, but nothing in the way of a wow factor, such as a unique item you can’t find at any other stadium. The concession stands also look overly uniform – all share the same color scheme, font, and design – making it difficult to find what you are looking for without walking around and reaching each stands’ menu.  The different levels all appear to have the same options. Concessions prices are on the high side, as you might expect from a pro stadium (think $9 for a hot dog with no sides or $6 for a bottle of water). The food is actually quite tasty, however – I recommend the cheeseburger, and the souvenir soda is a good deal at $8, coming in a cool reflective cup you can take home (but no free refills). Note that there are also plenty of street vendors on the grounds around the facility, selling hot dogs, beer, and soda as you walk up to the entrance – I saw plenty of fans partaking of these even after the game was over.   Atmosphere   4 The stadium looks really cool from the outside, but despite how it looks, is actually open a little to the elements, meaning during night games it gets a little cool inside, and I was told it can get hot inside during day games. I also heard that if you sit up in the 400 or 500 level, be careful where you sit, as the sun can get in your eyes if you sit on the wrong side – not something I expected from what looks like an indoor stadium. Unlike the atmosphere during Rams  games, the Chargers offer their fans a slightly more silly atmosphere, as illustrated by such amenities as smiley face logos with lightning bolt eyes, and having a drumline instead of cheerleaders, providing a more fun, bring-the-kids kind of vibe than you’ll find during the other team’s  games. The drumline plays outside from the parking lots before the game, and when you go inside you’ll experience the typical fans contests and giveaways. The Chargers also have sound effects in the form of a Thunder Siren (think hurricane warning or air raid) that goes off before the game and before the second half begins, as well as a cannon which fires before the game and after Chargers scores – but perhaps only after touchdowns, as I don’t recall hearing it after Bolts field goals. The team takes the field amid a haze of smoke and with flags flying, and the huge circular videoboard around the ceiling gives every fan the ability to easily see replays, stats, and the action on the field – the videoboard is close to eye level for those in the 300s, but may prove a distraction for those in the 400s and 500s.   Neighborhood   3 SoFi Stadium is a few miles east of LAX airport, and thus in close proximity to myriad hotels at all different price levels, if you are planning to stay the weekend. However, being mostly surrounded by parking areas, there are not a lot of attractions or restaurants in the area, although there are a few mostly fast-food places a few blocks south of the venue; In-N-Out Burger and Pollo Loco (chicken) are popular chains in California. Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood are about 10 miles north-northeast of the stadium, where you can find most of the amenities the area is best-known for.   Fans   2 The Chargers don’t have as strong a fanbase as do the Los Angeles Rams , perhaps understandable given the latter had a team here decades before, while the Bolts are kind of the new kid in town. That said, you will see a lot of empty seats, and perhaps too many opposing fans during Chargers games. You will see some Bolts jerseys and other team gear being worn, but not as much as at other NFL stadiums for their teams.   Access   4 Getting around the inside of SoFi Stadium is problematic, but getting TO the venue is not that bad; the staff and local police do a great job directing traffic and blocking off roads to make getting in quick and easy, but more importantly, to sweep fans away from the stadium quickly after the contest is over. There is a little traffic in the area, but the location is far enough away from LA city center that there isn’t too much. There are plenty of parking lots nearby; I recommend the Green A lot – it is pricey, but as close to the stadium as you can probably get, and is small enough you can get out after the game really fast. There are cheaper lots a little further away. Getting around the stadium once inside is more of a challenge – SoFi Stadium has 9 different levels, but there aren’t enough ways to move between them. Most fans use the escalators, but there aren’t enough of these and they aren’t together – for example, to get from the “main” 300 level where you enter the stadium to the 100 level, you have to walk partway around the stadium, take one escalator down to the 200 level, and then walk partway around the stadium AGAIN to find another escalator to take you down to the 100 level. You can’t take the stairs, either, as they only have exits on the 300 level – if you walk down them to the 100 or 200 level the door will be locked. There are also not enough elevators, so the wait for them is very long. The seats themselves are all chairbacks, but on some levels are too narrow for the average person – the ones on the 300 level seem a little larger than the ones on the 100 level.   Return on Investment   3 Attending a Chargers game can be pricey – even though many seats will be empty the game will still be sold out, so you’ll likely have to buy tickets on the secondary market anyway. Tickets will get cheaper the closer to the game it gets, as well parking passes, so you might score a deal if you are willing to risk waiting. As mentioned the concessions are on the high side ($25 to $30 per person for a main dish, side, and drink), while parking starts at $60 in the lots furthest from the stadium.   Extras   4 The Chargers do offer some amenities for fans, for example some DJs out in the concourse, tons of logos for fans to take selfies with, the aforementioned drumline and sound effects, and plenty of team gear stands if you want to pick up some Bolts swag – there are so many places selling team gear stands on every level you shouldn’t have to wait in line.   Final Thoughts The NFL’s newest stadium represents a pricey proposition, but certainly comes with a lot of bells and whistles for fans to enjoy. If you plan ahead in terms of seating, parking, and perhaps eat before the game, you can save yourself a little hassle, and perhaps a little green as well.

Photo Courtesy of UW-Green Bay Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Resch Center 1901 S Oneida St Green Bay, WI 54304 Green Bay Phoenix website Resch Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 9,729 Phoenix Rising in Green Bay In 1994, head coach Dick Bennett and his son Tony led the UW-Green Bay Phoenix in an upset of Jason Kidd and the 5th-seeded California Golden Bears in the first round of the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. Any Phoenix fan will tell you that this victory was UW-Green Bay “One Shining Moment”. At that time, the Phoenix played in the 5,000-seat Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena. By 2002, the Brown County Arena was severely outdated. Enter the Resch Center next door, a 10,000-seat, multi-purpose facility that UWGB has called home ever since. Dick Bennett is a coaching legend in Wisconsin, Tony Bennett’s #25 is the only retired number in Phoenix history, and Green Bay basketball continues its struggle to rise up to a position of significance in a football-crazed town. The Resch Center sits approximately nine miles from the UW-Green Bay campus, which appears to affect student attendance, as Green Bay lacks efficient public transportation to get young fans to and from campus Food & Beverage 2 One of the benefits of UW-Green Bay playing basketball off campus at the Resch Center is that a fan can enjoy a beer (or multiple beers) during the game. The Resch Center offers a modest choice of draft beers at its concession stands, but a “Bud Light Night” makes 24-ounce $2.00 Bud Lights the most popular choice among fans. Soft drinks are provided by 7-Up, RC Cola, Dr. Pepper, and Sun Drop and can be purchased in bottles or from the fountain. The food menu at the Resch Center is not spectacular. If you’re in town for the game, plan to take advantage of one of the numerous establishments that surround the Resch Center and Lambeau Field. Relying on what the Resch Center provides (pizza, brats, pretzels, and hot dogs) may leave you unsatisfied. DiGiorno personal pizzas are the signature items and will set you back $7.00. Atmosphere 3 Likely the best atmosphere in the Phoenix season will be a match-up against Wisconsin, Marquette, or UW. Games against conference rivals from the Horizon League are also typically well attended. For marquee games, expect nearly 5,000 to turn out. For weekend games with an 8:00PM tip-off and a promotion like “Bud Light Night,”, locals are encouraged to get out and support their team. The UWGB basketball game has a minor league feel to it. Home games often come along with advertised giveaways such as winter hats, sunglasses, youth jerseys, and trading cards. In addition, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay offers Festival Foods Family Games on a limited schedule where tickets are discounted, parking is free, and sodas and hot dogs are only $1.00. Breaks in the action are typically filled with promotional dance-offs, full court dashes to collect pizza boxes, and slinging rubber chickens into shopping carts. The ability to enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two at the off-campus Resch Center is a nice perk and even on “Bud Light Night,” Phoenix fans appear to enjoy themselves responsibly. Even when the Phoenix host a season-high crowd, the Resch Center sits half full and often sits three-quarters empty, as the official capacity for basketball is listed as 9,729. The student section and the band are deserving of a lot of credit as a spirited group, but even their section will look half full. A few Phoenix alums confided that it’s difficult for students to get to the game, especially since shuttle services from campus were discontinued a few years ago. The Resch Center was obviously built for hockey. As a result, Sections 201, 202, and 203 keep you the furthest distance from the action despite providing the most affordable experience ($11.00 per ticket). $20.00 will provide the best viewing experience in Sections 207-210 and 220-223, alongside the court. The Resch Center website provides a helpful seating chart to illustrate premier seating locations. Neighborhood 4 The Resch Center literally sits in the shadow of Lambeau Field and is in the heart of the Stadium District in Green Bay. Consequently, there is no shortage of pre or postgame options for food and spirits. The D2 Sports Pub (attached to the Midway Best Western Hotel) is the closest establishment (maybe 20 feet) to the Resch Center. Other staples of the Stadium District within walking distance include The Stadium View Bar & Grille, Anduzzi’s Sports Club, The Bar, The Green Bay Distillery, Burkel’s One Block Over, and Badger State Brewing. Parking is abundant and the fee to do so is minimal, as the Lambeau Field parking lot serves as the official lot for the Resch and charges only $5.00. If interested in saving a few bucks, seek out the bars and restaurants around the Resch Center that offer free parking. Fans 3 Phoenix fans are knowledgeable and know when to get loud. During a well attended back-and-forth game against a conference rival, expect the Resch Center to get plenty loud during key defensive moments. UWGB alumni, casual basketball fans, and families enjoying an affordable night out are typically well represented. Students can be hit or miss, especially during the winter break when class is not in session. Regardless of when the game is played, UWGB needs to figure out a way to get more of its student body involved in order for Phoenix games to have that true college basketball atmosphere. Access 4 5,000 basketball fans descending upon the Resch Center compared to 70,000 Packers fans flocking to Lambeau Field are night and day comparisons. Parking near the Resch Center is abundant. The Lambeau Field parking lot is the official lot for Resch Center events and the charge is minimal. Parking at nearby establishments is free; they only hope that you’ll stop in for a beer and burger before or after the game. Fans enter the Resch Center through a lobby on the south side of the arena. Many people purchase tickets on site, which can overcrowd the lobby in a hurry. If you wish to avoid any crowds, purchase tickets ahead of time and head either left or right through the gates upon your arrival. Fans can access their 100 level courtside seats via the arena floor tunnels but most spectators head up a flight of stairs to the main concourse and 200 level sections. The second floor concourse provides adequate space, concession stands, and restrooms. The north end of the concourse is typically not accessible, as Sections 212 through 218 tend to be closed off for basketball games. Return on Investment 3 For local Northeast Wisconsin sports fans, a Green Bay Phoenix basketball game is a solid entertainment choice. The program has been near the top of the Horizon League standings in recent years and the product appeals to all demographics. In the world of mid-major college basketball, UW-Green Bay suffers from not being a destination for many Wisconsin college basketball fans. The Wisconsin Badgers have the state’s attention and affection during most winters, but anyone willing to make the trek to Titletown will have a positive experience. If specifically planning a trip to the Resch Center, look for Wisconsin, Marquette, and/or UW-Milwaukee on the schedule, as these opponents draw the largest crowds. Extras 3 If UW-Green Bay basketball brings you in town for a weekend, it might be worth looking into a women’s basketball game at the on-campus Kress Events Center. Over the past five years, UWGB women’s basketball has the third highest winning percentage in the NCAA. The women play at the 4,018-seat Kress Events Center, which is a seven year-old venue in the middle of the campus. The women average 2,000 fans a game, which fits better in the more intimate Kress Center. Considering its proximity to the Resch Center, Lambeau Field and everything that it offers (food, tours, shopping) is also a great way to spend a day prior to an evening Phoenix tip-off.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex 1921 West Gate City Blvd Greensboro, NC 27403 Greensboro Swarm website Fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 2,100 Basketball Swarms the Gate City The state of North Carolina is known for many things: delicious BBQ, beautiful mountains and beaches, and basketball. The Tar Heel State is home to eighteen Division 1 college programs, including big ACC programs like Duke , North Carolina , NC State , and Wake Forest , and smaller mid-major programs like Davidson , High Point , UNC-Charlotte , and UNC-Greensboro . The state also boasts the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets who in May 2015 decided to own its own NBA Development League team that would play close to the team’s home base in the Queen City. Seven cities were considered in both North and South Carolina before it was officially announced in October that Greensboro was the city selected, and two months later the name Swarm was announced as a homage to the Hornets’ parent brand. Greensboro is a natural fit to house minor league basketball given its history of hosting the ACC Tournament several times over the last few decades at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Fieldhouse, located just steps away and formerly known as The Pavilion, hosted many events over the years, from exhibitions of the annual Central Carolina Fair to many ACC Fan Fests for the Men’s and Women tournaments. In 2016 it was converted to host the Purple and Teal. With locker rooms, a field house-type roof, and permanent seating the building was truly transformed. The team is still in its infancy playing in the NBA Gatorade League, but there is a buzz about the future greats of the NBA playing in a basketball-rich city. Food & Beverage 3 There is nothing spectacular about the cuisine at the Fieldhouse but the prices aren’t outrageous. Bottled water and Pepsi products go for four dollars a bottle. Chips, candy, and popcorn are two, three and four dollars respectively, while french fries, and pretzels, and a jumbo hot dog are four dollars a pop. If you’re feeling hungrier, you can get a chicken tender, or tender sandwich basket (with fries) for eight dollars each, or fifty cents more for a cheeseburger basket. A domestic or specialty beer will set you back eight and nine dollars. Although the food is solid, it might be worth trying one of Greensboro’s great eateries to get the most out of your experience when visiting the Gate City. Atmosphere 4 The NBA Gatorade League started in 2001 with eight teams in just the Southeastern United States, and nearly two decades later currently hosts twenty-eight teams. The League has an eye on future expansion. It is hoped that all 30 NBA teams will own and operate their own affiliate much like the Hornets do with the Swarm. The League has seen a boost in credibility over recent years with the introduction of two-way contracts and it’s becoming a premier place for young players to compete for a coveted NBA roster spot. The Fieldhouse is the perfect place to watch the best of the up and comers. The arena houses 2,118 chair back and bleacher seating on three sides of the court, and since you are no more than twelve rows or so from the hardwood, there is not a single bad seat anywhere in the Fieldhouse. The venue’s concourse is behind the basket closest to the entrance. It features an arcade-style basketball hoop set up for young ones to practice their jump shots, concession stands to grab something to eat or drink, and a table selling a nice selection of Swarm merchandise The buzzer that indicates the end of a period, shot clock, or substitution is very loud, so those with sensitive ears should be aware There’s an appealing simplicity about the Fieldhouse: two electronic scoreboards are found on the walls behind both baskets, but there is no video board or any other bells and whistles at the Fieldhouse. While there are some fun promotions led by Sergeant Swarm, the team’s mascot and the Buzz Brigade promotions squad, the focus is on fast-paced, high-intensity professional basketball. Neighborhood 4 The Fieldhouse is part of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and sits adjacent to the Coliseum on Gate City Boulevard, one of Greensboro’s main drags. There are many places to grab some delicious food. For example, right across the street sits Stamey’s, home to delicious slow-cooked Lexington-Style BBQ for the last eighty years. It’s a wonderful place to get that old-fashioned pork or chicken goodness on a plate or as a sandwich. There is a plethora of delicious side items, including Brunswick Stew, hush puppies, slaw, and collard greens. Drive one street over to Spring Garden, and take in some of the best burgers not just in Greensboro but throughout North Carolina. There are ten different gourmet options including The North Carolinian which is topped with a fried egg, bacon, pimento cheese, lettuce, and a fried green tomato, The Brooklyn and Cuban Cow are also worth trying. They’re modeled after the classic Reuben Sandwich and Cuban Sandwich respectively. There are also numerous starters including my favorites, fried goat cheese and fried crab cake balls. Don’t forget the Wall of Fries, where you can get more than a dozen styles of fries and potato chips including Sweet Thai Chili, Cordon Bleu, or Poutine. Finally, no trip to Greensboro would be complete without a trip to Yum Yum about a mile up Spring Garden Street on the campus of UNC-Greensboro, where you can grab a tasty hot dog and some sweet and creamy house-made ice cream, at a more than a century-old institution. I’d recommend getting your hot dog “all the way” for a North Carolina style that includes mustard, onions, their in-house chili, and slaw, along with a glass bottle of North Carolina’s very own Cheerwine, before treating yourself to a scoop or two of their “better ice cream.” The prices are surprisingly very low, and even with large crowds, there is never a long wait time. The main brewery that locals and visitors both love is Natty Greenes which has locations across the street from the complex as well as downtown. There is always a lot going on in the Gate City. When you’re in North Carolina’s third-largest city and the biggest city in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad Region, you don’t have to go too far to find something to keep you busy for a day or weekend. If shopping is on the top of your list, then the three-story Four Seasons Mall and the outdoor Friendly Center are five and ten minutes away. Those with children should check out the Greensboro Science Center, and the Greensboro Children’s Museum. Both offer hours of entertainment for young ones, with the former boasting a zoo and an aquarium, and the latter offering large climbing structures. History buffs should check out The International Civil Rights Center and Museum in the site of the old Woolworths Department Store, where sixty years ago four North Carolina A&T students sat at a segregated lunch counter to help bring about integration. It is considered one of the most important events of the Civil Rights Movement. Nearly two hundred years earlier one of the most important battles of the American Revolution took place and you can stroll around the more than 200 acres where American and British soldiers fought in what is widely considered the turning point of The Revolutionary War. All of these attractions are located just a fifteen-minute drive from the Fieldhouse, but if you’re wanting something to check out in the complex itself, a few hundred yards away from the home of the Swarm is the ACC Hall of Champions, a shrine to the fifteen Atlantic Coast Conference members, where you can learn about the history of some of the greatest moments in each of these school’s athletic histories and maybe get your picture with your favorite ACC school’s life-size mascot statue. There are many hotels to stay near the complex including a Holiday Inn, Red Roof Inn, Drury Inn & Suites, and a Comfort Suites, all within a five-minute drive, as well as plenty of hotels downtown three miles east if you’re wanting to be more centrally located. Fans 3 The Swarm is only playing in its fourth season, so the team is still trying to define itself. On weekends and other big nights, like its home opener, and the school day game, the Swarm can sell out the Fieldhouse, however on this mid-week affair even against a regional opponent the stands only looked about a third full which for a venue of its size, does mean less than a thousand people are in the seats. That being said, the fans who were present were engaged and knowledgeable and were focused on the game and not just on socializing or looking at their cell phones. The crowd would get loud for big plays, and it still made for an exciting atmosphere to watch some pro hoops. Fan attendance could consistently increase as both the Hornets improve and the Swarm sign some local talent from any of NC’s many great college programs, but the trend of G-League franchises playing in small venues of a few thousand in most cases seems to be an advantage as the league continues to establish itself as basketball’s premier minor league. Take a look at the inside of the Fieldhouse during a game here: Access 4 The Fieldhouse shares a parking lot with the far more massive Greensboro Coliseum and there is an ample amount of parking. Parking is five dollars, but you can often find spots really close to the Fieldhouse’s entrance. For those who are taking public transportation, the number 11 GTA will get you from the Coliseum to the Greensboro Depot downtown for $1.50 one way and can connect you to Greyhound and Amtrak service as well if you’re coming from beyond the Triad. Lines are very short (sometimes nonexistent), and walking around the concourse behind the basket is never too problematic. Return on Investment 5 Going to see the Greensboro Swarm is an incredibly good deal: tickets start at twelve dollars, and with concessions not too unreasonable, and parking very low, watching some potential future NBA stars in an intimate fast-paced setting will only set a person back $25-$30, which is often less than the cost of just a ticket at an NBA game. The quality may not be as high, but these are still some very skilled players, and for those who follow the Hornets it allows an opportunity to see players on the rise in the organization up close. To stretch your dollar further Fieldhouse Fridays offers dollar hot dogs, and two-dollar soda and beer. That, combined with a chance to shoot postgame on the Fieldhouse hardwood, would be the ideal time to catch the Swarm in action. Extras 3 The first point goes to the unique Fieldhouse design and layout. They could have easily made a plain standard gym or arena but instead it has the feel of an airplane hangar. The next point goes to the map on display in the concourse of all of the G-League franchises and where they are located, which not only provides a reference to those who aren’t familiar with the circuit but also helps to showcase the league itself, showing how it has grown nationwide. Finally, a third point for the incredibly friendly staff at the Fieldhouse. Final Thoughts North Carolina has an extremely rich basketball tradition stretching from the mountains to the coast and right in the middle is Greensboro. The Greensboro Coliseum’s Fieldhouse is a unique compact space that hosts high energy, up-tempo basketball one rung down from the NBA. The Swarm is still relatively new on the block, but with the strong partnership of the Hornets, and the Greensboro Coliseum known for hosting some basketball classics next door, the Swarm has found a nest in the Gate City, and as the Hornets improve the buzz around the Swarm will only increase.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Ferrell Center 1900 S University Parks Dr Baylor, TX 76706 Baylor Bears website Ferrell Center website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 10,284 Baylor Bears Basketball’s Ferrell Center Editors Note: Baylor Bears Basketball moved to Foster Pavilion in Jan, 2024. Located in Waco, Texas, Ferrell Center is home to the Baylor Bears basketball and volleyball teams. The first-ever event held in Ferrell Center was a political rally by former President Ronald Reagan on September 22, 1988. The first sporting event here (a Baylor Bears women’s basketball game) took place a couple of months after that, on November 25, followed a few days later by the men’s basketball team versus San Diego State. Ferrell Center, a building with a golden-domed roof, has a seating capacity of 10,284 for basketball and 6,000 for volleyball. The arena is named in memory of Charles Robert Ferrell, who died in 1967 during his sophomore year at Baylor. The actual basketball court is named after Paul J. Meyer Sr., in recognition of his contributions to Baylor University. The height of the facility is 111 feet, and the dome covers 3 acres. Ferrell Center continues to undergo improvements, keeping the arena updated while providing the best possible facility for students and fans. The university recently upgraded the floor and video boards, but the biggest improvement came in 2006 – the construction of the Lieutenant Jack Whetsel Jr. practice facility; this 42,990 square-foot facility includes practice courts, coaching staff offices, and a VIP receiving area. Some of the notable events that have taken place at Ferrell Center include NBA exhibition games and training camps, as well as women’s and men’s postseason NIT games. The highest attendance record in Ferrell Center history is currently at 10,627, with the most recent mark being set on January 7, 2017 versus Oklahoma State. Baylor University announced in May 2019 that a new Baylor Bears basketball pavilion will be built to replace the university’s oldest intercollegiate athletic facility on campus; while it will no longer host basketball, Ferrell Center will undergo a $30 million renovation and become the exclusive home of Baylor’s volleyball and national champion acrobatic and tumbling teams. Food & Beverage 3 Ferrell Center has plenty of concessions stands inside the arena, which means short food lines and little congestion inside the concourse. The food is comprised of basic sports stadium fare with prices typical of other venues. The smokehouse loaded nachos ($9) are at the top of the list as far as pricing, and give you beef fajita meat, shredded lettuce, sour cream, onions, and jalapenos on top of nacho chips. For basic stadium fare at a cost of $5, you can choose between the arena dog, garlic sausage dog, basic nachos, and cotton candy, while other typical selections such as peanuts, popcorn, pretzels, and assorted candy are sold for $4. There are a couple of money saving combos at the concession stands, for example the Bear Pack, which gives you a hot dog, kettle chips, and a small fountain drink for $10, or get two of each for $18, leading to a little more savings. Also, in addition to the basic fare there is Frito pie, which is a mixture of Fritos, chili, cheese, onions, and jalapenos. You can also find two types of chicken wraps, either chicken Caesar or blackened chicken; all three of the latter cost $7. Or, there is also a State Fair concessions stand selling foot-long corn dogs, funnel cakes, or sausage on a stick for $6. Besides the main stands, Ferrell Center also brings in outside vendors such as Pizza Hut and Chick-fil-A. Pizza Hut sells a 9” cheese or pepperoni pizza for $8 a slice, while Chick-fil-A’s prices are higher here than at their regular stores. However, they do offer a chicken basket for $9, which saves you a dollar compared to buying a chicken sandwich and waffle fries separately; you can also add a chocolate chunk cookie for $2. An interesting thing about the concessions here at Ferrell Center is that the calories of all items are shown on the menu boards. If you are looking for a beverage, the soda selection at Ferrell Center includes Dr Pepper, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew; these options come in a small size for $3 or the souvenir 32oz size for $6. Besides soda, you can also find Gatorade, Aquafina bottled water, and coffee priced at $3 each, while fresh-squeezed lemonade and iced tea cost a dollar more. Note that Ferrell Center doesn’t offer any alcohol. Ferrell Center’s food and beverage options will satisfy any hunger during the event, however, Waco has enough to offer in terms of restaurants that eating before or after the game is more strongly recommended. Atmosphere 4 The success of Baylor’s basketball program, coupled with playing in a competitive Big 12 Conference, elevates the atmosphere inside Ferrell Center to a wonderful environment that anyone would enjoy. The atmosphere becomes even louder and more serious when nationally ranked opponents, such as Kansas or their hated Big 12 rivals, the TCU Horned Frogs or Texas Longhorns , invade Waco. The students sit along the baseline in an area nicknamed the “Bear Pit,” which continues all the way back to the upper level; this section is next to the Baylor band. The band, spirit squads, and mascot Bruiser keep the energetic crowd entertained throughout the game. In addition, during timeouts there are fan contests as well as the typical spirit squad entertainment. The video boards above the court and in the upper corners allow for replays to be shown, as well as other graphics that enhance the experience inside the arena. Overall, it is a wonderful college basketball atmosphere. Neighborhood 4 Ferrell Center is located on the Baylor University campus in Waco, Texas, at the corner of University Parks Drive and LaSalle Avenue, next to Baylor Ballpark and the softball facility, Getterman Stadium. Being on the northeast corner of campus, about 1 ½ miles from I-35 and the City of Waco, there isn’t much here but the sports facilities. However, Waco has numerous restaurants and lodging opportunities you can take advantage of while attending a Baylor event. There are several places in Waco that offer Texas BBQ; Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ is a chain throughout Texas and can be found just off I-35 at the Circle Road exit. Rudy’s serves brisket, ribs, and sides in a cafeteria-style setting with indoor picnic tables. Another good option is Coach’s Smoke, located just west of the Baylor campus, in downtown Waco on Austin Avenue. Coach’s Smoke serves excellent BBQ, burgers, and a good selection of draft beer. If you want the best, however, my suggestion is Vitek’s BBQ – this local landmark is on the south side of Baylor’s campus on Speight Avenue. Vitek’s is the home of the Gut Pack, which includes brisket, sausage, Frito chips, and beans. If you decide on this dish you won’t need to eat for the rest of the day, as it is heavy and filling, but delicious. You should plan on being there early, however; Vitek’s serves outside as well as inside, but the wait can be long no matter which one you choose. If you are looking for something besides BBQ, the Tex-Mex scene in Waco is just as popular. Trujillo’s is a great Tex-Mex option, located at the traffic circle on LaSalle Avenue. Trujillo’s is a family-owned restaurant that will surely give you the authentic taste of Mexico. However, if Trujillo’s is crowded, or the game is on a Sunday, then try Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant on South 3rd Street in downtown Waco. George’s Restaurant is also a popular place to meet before, during, or after the game. This restaurant has been serving Waco since 1930, and the crowds are large, so make sure you get there early. Another popular Waco landmark since 1948 is Health Camp on Circle Road; this restaurant is a classic roadside pit stop from the past, serving burgers, hot dogs, and a large selection of shakes, malts, and frozen custard. Although many of these restaurants aren’t exactly close to the arena, they are close enough to enjoy before or after the game. There are plenty of attractions and things to do while in Waco, such as visiting the Dr Pepper Museum. Waco is the home of this popular Texas soft drink, and inside the museum you can see how the soft drink is made, learn the history behind it, and get free Dr Pepper to drink. Or, the latest trending attraction in Waco is Baylor’s very own Chip and Joanna Gaines Magnolia sites, from their Silos Baking Company to their Magnolia Café. Waco’s other attractions include Cameron Park Zoo, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame, all of which are worth a visit. If none of these seem interesting, however, then take a stroll through the beautiful Baylor campus, where you can visit the Bear Habitat, home to Joy and Lady, Baylor’s two live black bear mascots, and learn more about these creatures. Along with numerous choices of restaurants and attractions, lodging in Waco is plentiful. Most of the hotels are located along I-35, where you’ll have choices such as Courtyard by Marriott, Comfort Suites, La Quinta, Holiday Inn, Homewood Suites, Hilton, and Hotel Indigo. Fans 3 No matter the sport, Baylor Nation has a great following across the board. They are energetic, fun, polite, respectful, knowledgeable, and supportive of all Baylor athletics. While attending a basketball game at Ferrell Center, you’ll see lots of Baylor green and gold being worn, hear loud cheers for anything the Baylor team does, and of course, hear jeering at the referees when calls are incorrectly officiated. Access 4 Ferrell Center is located on the far northeastern corner of campus, away from I-35 and the normal Waco traffic. There is free parking for Ferrell Center events near the arena, and the flow of traffic seems to move well before as well as after the event. There are two main entrances into Ferrell Center on the parking lot side, and getting into the arena is easy and fast. Baylor University enforces a clear bag policy at all sport venues including Ferrell Center. As you enter through the main doors, you’ll walk into a spacious circular concourse. The seating areas, restrooms, and concessions are well marked throughout the concourse, and you’ll also see banners supporting both the men’s and women’s basketball teams. As you walk around the venue, Ferrell Center’s unique domed roof and banners hanging from the rafters will grab your attention. The seating consists of green plastic chair backs, but there is plenty of room, and there isn’t a bad view of the court anywhere in the arena. Return on Investment 4 Ferrell Center has free parking, terrific seating, and a wonderful atmosphere to watch a high level of college basketball. There are two levels of seating prices; reserved and general admission. Baylor’s reserved ticket have been sold out for the season thru the Baylor Ticket Office. However, there are plenty of general admission tickets available ranging from $15 (non-conference games) and $20 (Big 12 games) to $45. The Kansas tickets lead to the highest price for a single game ticket, but the third-party market is a good place to check even you want a cheaper GA or reserved seat at Baylor basketball games. The Baylor Bears men’s basketball program continues to be one of the tops in the country. The reasonable price to watch top caliber college basketball, to have an entertaining and fun filled evening, along with free parking, makes it well worth the investment to visit Ferrell Center. Extras 3 Ferrell Center is a well-maintained venue that is over a quarter of a century old, yet continues to provide a friendly environment during Baylor Bears athletic events. The Bear Pit student section and Baylor band bring excitement on the baselines, which provides a homecourt advantage that contributes to Baylor’s recent success. When thinking about Ferrell Center, it is easy to think of the men’s basketball team, however, the women’s program has also been dominant over the last decade. The Lady Bears Final Four appearances, conference championships, and three national championships are celebrated throughout Ferrell Center. Final Thoughts The basketball program under Coach Scott Drew has found success in the last decade. The Baylor Bears men’s team has made the NCAA tournament in seven of the last nine years. Also, in 2013 when the Bears didn’t make the tournament, the team won the NIT, and on January 20, 2020, the Baylor Bears earned their second-ever number one ranking in the AP poll, putting the program in position, not only to return to the NCAA tournament, but possibly to earn a spot in the Final Four. Baylor basketball will be getting a new arena soon, however, until then the program continues to develop future NBA players, which makes Ferrell Center a great place to visit for any sports fan.

Photos by Jason Bartel, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Sun Bowl Stadium Sun Bowl Dr El Paso, TX 79968 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl website Sun Bowl Stadium website Year Opened: 1963 Capacity: 51,500 Sun Bowl The Sun Bowl opened in 1963 with an original capacity of 30,000, but was expanded in 1982 to 52,000. It currently seats 51,500. The 2010 Sun Bowl between Notre Dame and Miami (FL) set the game’s attendance record when 54,021 people came to see the two storied programs. Food & Beverage 3 The Sun Bowl has concession stands all throughout the concourse, which have a very limited selection. As is the case with the basketball arena, Don Haskins Center, they only offer hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, soda and beer. All the food and soda are right around $4-$5, and the beer is $7-$10. UTEP offers Coca-Cola and Budweiser products at their sports facilities. Along the main concourse of the stadium, there are two areas where a variety of vendors have set up tents. There is Mexican food, turkey legs, Chick-fil-A, barbecue and a couple other things. One of the areas is behind the east stands, and the other is in the northwest corner of the stadium. Atmosphere 4 El Paso is definitely very cold on Sun Bowl day, but that doesn’t take away from any of the pregame festivities or the great visuals the Sun Bowl provides for fans. Walking towards the stadium from the parking lots, you pass by all sorts of tailgating. El Paso football fans have definitely figured out ways how to keep warm for the Sun Bowl, and the participating teams’ fans picked up pretty quickly on some of the tricks. The landscape around the Sun Bowl is absolutely incredible. If you look too far to the west and south, you do see Ciudad Juarez, which kind of takes away from everything else around. The stadium itself is built on a hill, with part of the hill butting right up against the stands. The surrounding area on campus also has some extremely nice buildings, adding to the rustic, southwestern feel to the stadium. The field itself is artificial, and obviously gets all the UTEP logos taken off and replaced with the corporate sponsor of the Sun Bowl, as the well as the TV network logos and the logos of the participating teams. All of the logos on the field face the west press box side. The stadium has one main concourse that goes completely around the perimeter, and two upper concourses, one running along each sideline. On the south end, the playing field is easily visible, so fans can choose to stand and watch the game from the south concourse if they so desire. Both scoreboards and the video board are located at the south end, which is good for about 90% of the fans because almost all of the seats face that direction. The unlucky couple of sections towards the south end must rely on a tiny little scoreboard behind the north goal post. The seating is definitely not optimized for fans though. There are no chair backs anywhere in the stadium. It is all benches. They do rent seat cushions that have chair backs at all of the stadium entrances though, and it may be a worthwhile purchase for most people. The bands were not really all that great – not too impressive on the field, anyway, but they were good in the stands, and each band definitely got their faithful pumped up. Neighborhood 4 As long as you stay on the Texas side of the border, you’re good to go. El Paso actually has a pretty good amount of options that are very close to the stadium. Before the game, there is plenty of tailgating going on in the parking lots surrounding the stadium, and on the lawns in front of UTEP buildings. Just a short drive south from the Sun Bowl takes you to downtown El Paso, which offers many museums, theatres, and restaurants, all within walking distance of each other. If you drive northeast on Sun Bowl Drive, it will take you to Mesa St., which has many bars and restaurants to choose from as well. Fans 4 PAC-12 fans generally travel well, plain and simple. In some years ACC fans are up to the challenge though, even though their schools tend to be much further away. Lots of fans show up in jerseys, especially of former players from their respective schools, such as Ronnie Lott, Troy Polamalu, Junior Seau, and Marcus Allen, just to name a few. Last year, the ACC fans were way more into the game than the PAC-12 fans. At the beginning of the year, the PAC-12 participant probably never dreamed that their postseason would be in El Paso, but the lack of their starting QB, and the cold weather, may have led to them not really caring about the game. The ACC team’s band got the wave started before the game, and in the second half, and their fans were definitely all into this game. The players gave them a lot of credit in the postgame press conferences for keeping up with the other team’s fans throughout the game and making their presence felt, especially in the second half. Access 3 The stadium itself is just east of I-10 near the Schuster Avenue exit. Since it is in between a whole bunch of hills, the walk to the stadium is not easy for everyone. There are a lot of steps and/or steep hills no matter which direction you are coming from. None of the general public parking areas are on the same elevation as the stadium. The best parking is the Sun Bowl Parking Garage, which was the permit number PG-1. The general parking was the Glory Road Parking Garage. All the other parking lots are specific tailgating and UTEP permits. The concourse isn’t very wide, so during halftime it was painful to try and get around the bathroom and concession lines. It also makes it inconvenient for people in the stands because there are lines of people that go into the aisles of the seating area. Return on Investment 2 Tickets for the Sun Bowl range anywhere from $20-$60. The less than ideal weather conditions not only affected fan comfort, but the quality of football was not very high either. If you are an ACC or a PAC-12 fan, it may have been better to sit this one out and watch it on TV. However, if you are into the history of college football or bowl games, the Sun Bowl is on the short list of games to go to. It is one of the longest-running bowl games right now, and the stadium is so different from most college football stadiums. Extras 2 The scenery surrounding the stadium makes up the extra points. The UTEP campus looks like an old Spanish Mission, and the hills surrounding the stadium add to the experience, and the noise level. Also, what other stadium can you look out and see another country? Final Thoughts Knowledgeable college football fans probably know the Sun Bowl as the home of a historic bowl game. All in all, El Paso is a nice place to see a college football game.

Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Merkur Spiel Arena Arena-Straße 1 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany Fortuna Dusseldorf website Merkur Spiel Arena website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 54,600 Alles aus Liebe Fashion, finance, and Fortuna are just three reasons people visit Dusseldorf. Add the renowned local Altbier, the picturesque Aldstadt, and some amazing avant-garde architecture, and your 1970s stereotype of Dusseldorf as an industrial relic quickly vanishes. The Esprit-Arena, home of the mighty Fortuna since 2004, encapsulates the transformation. All proper football fans mourn the passing of old grounds; Fortuna supporters will remember the magnificently named Flinger Broich with a smile. It’s now completely redeveloped and still used for second X1 and occasional cup matches. Another old home was the cavernous RheinStadion, which hosted five matches in the 1974 World Cup. However, just as this beautiful city in the North Rhine-Westphalia area of western Germany now sparkles with renewed self-confidence, the city’s beloved football team also has a new ultra-modern, multi-purpose stadium to be proud of. Built between 2002-2004, its capacity of 54,600 makes it one of Germany’s largest stadiums. The design came from JSK Architekten who was also involved in the impressive Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland. From the outside, the Esprit-Arena is distinct due to its square/boxed ‘wrap-around’ which suggests a cinema complex or shopping centre rather than a football stadium. “Concerts, shows, football, and hockey - The Merkur Spiel-Arena is proud to host to a broad range of events” boasts the stadium website, suggesting it is “Dusseldorf’s prime address for large-scale events.” Stadium Journey arrived with eyes only for the football and to glimpse a club whose fans profess ‘Alles aus Liebe’ for their famous team. Food & Beverage 3 It is good to see a different approach to serving refreshments inside the stadium. Firstly, there are numerous kiosks ensuring plenty of options. Secondly, they are ‘free standing’ with curved serving counters. This approach spreads the queues in a far more efficient way than the traditional ‘hole in the wall’ layouts that often cause frustrating blockages in the concourse area. Chips, bratwurst, pretzels, and currywurst are all on the menu as you’d expect. Soft drinks are available, but most will go for the local Altbier. It’s darker than the pilsner beer you often find in Germany with a more distinctive taste. Prices are reasonable, or maybe we’ve all just got used to 4 Euros for a beer and 6-8 Euros for a sausage and chips. My recommendation is always the currywurst, a local favourite which is a sausage covered in curry sauce. Not the easiest to eat standing up if you are on the terrace. It’s also quite spicy so keep that Altbier to hand too. Atmosphere 4 Fortuna topped the second tier of the Bundesliga on the day of our visit in early 2018, which had a positive influence on the atmosphere. It is striking just how joyful Fortuna supporters are, not just inside but also on their way to and from the stadium. The lack of away fans in attendance on the day (just 100 had made their way north from SV Sandhausen) also contributed to an atmosphere that was more ‘party-like’ than cagey or tense. Inside, the retractable roof provides cover from inclement weather, as does a unique heating system installed to ensure a variety of events can be held here. When empty, the speckled, different coloured seats with no discernible pattern differentiate it from the branded colourings most stadiums now have. The match day atmosphere comes in the first instance from the home terrace, but the rest of the ground certainly does its bit too. The scoreboard provides all the usual updates and the tannoy system provides all the key information and encourages the crowd to support their team. The view from the seated areas is excellent as you’d expect; the civilised way to watch football these days. For the less civilised (as I very much count myself) it’s all about the terraces, where it’s less about seeing every moment of the action and more about being part of the action. On our visit the terrace swayed, bounced, cheered, and groaned in unison; a good old-fashioned raucous atmosphere ensued. Neighborhood 4 The Merkur Spiel-Arena is a classic ‘out of town’ stadium. There’s very little to see or do in the immediate vicinity. Most visitors will have some time to explore as well as watch a game so some time in central Dusseldorf is a must. If it’s the fashion you’re after, head to Konigsallee; Gucci, Burberry, Chanel, and all the ‘must-have’ labels are all open for your business. For people watchers, look out for visitors from Saudi with seriously deep pockets who can often be found perusing the upmarket shopping arcades. The Financial area can be found in the Stademitte area of the city. The city leads in the telecommunications sector with many of the big mobile phone companies setting up home here. Business visitors may also be in town to visit one of the numerous trade shows that base themselves in Dusseldorf. For the architecturally minded fans, take a stroll around the MedienHafen district in the south of the city. The harbour area retains its old wharfs and cranes that served the city so well now standing strong and proud in retirement. A tour around the MedienHafen area is available for 12 Euros. The ‘Evangel. G Johanneskirche’ is also a wonderfully bright and striking building nestled in amongst a sea of bars just off the Bolkerstrasse. Dusseldorf sits on the confluence of two rivers, the Dussel and the Rhine, Dussel giving the town its name and ‘Old Father Rhine’ of course one of the longest and most famous rivers in Europe. Areas of the waterfront have been opened up in recent years. This allows locals and visitors to stroll or have a lazy latte as the fast-flowing Rhine heads north and west towards its North Sea end. To see the local Altbier up close and personal there is a special tour available which takes you to five microbreweries across the city. For just 27.50 Euros you can become an expert and of course, try a sample or three along the way . For nightlife you do not need to leave the Aldstadt area of the city; we counted at least 5 Irish bars within a square mile and there are over 200 bars, restaurants, breweries, and cafes in this buzzing district of the city. Of course, Dusseldorf is famous for its ‘longest bar in the world,’ due to the wall-to-wall bars that creep up the Bolkerstrasse. Alternatively, for a slightly more sophisticated evening, the architecturally impressive MedienHafen also boasts a growing number of bars and restaurants. There is a small alley called Schneider-Wibbel-Gasse just off of the Bolkerstraße with some excellent steak houses, tapas, and pizzerias. We went for the ‘Da Primo,’ the food was good and the service was fast and friendly. For even faster food try ‘What’s Beef’ on Immermannstr. 24, 40210 Dusseldorf, it will certainly fill you up. There are accommodation options in good proximity to the stadium; in fact, the Tulip Inn is built into the stadium complex. It’s probably more for business travellers than sporting aficionados but if you want a short commute this one is for you! We’d recommend an apartment as close to the Altstadt as possible giving you access to the river, the shops, the restaurants, and the bars and only a 20-minute ride to the stadium. One recommendation is Tolstov-Aparthotels (Old Town Burgplatz) which is clean, roomy, and just right for the needs of a stadium traveler. The best Twitter account for tourism tips would be the @VisitDusseldorf account and their accompanying tourism website. We will leave the last words of this section to local poet Heinrich Heine, who described his hometown simply as “Very beautiful.” Fans 4 Fortuna (or F95) fans liken themselves to the UK’s Newcastle United, a ‘big’ club often underachieving, a city emerging from its industrial past and famous for a distinctive local dark brew (although the Geordie’s Newcastle Brown is now made in Holland…). The main rivalry for Fortuna fans comes from FC Koln in the south and Duisburg in the north. In the top flight expect Dusseldorf matches to sell out, in Bundesliga 2 the ground will often be less than half full. Average attendance in the past few years has hovered around 25,000. As recent as 2013/14 the average was 33,982 and for derby games and cup matches expect games to be close to sellouts. We stood in the Sudtribune end of the ground right in amongst the Fortuna ultras. Welcomed by the locals we joined in with the best array of songs I’ve heard for a long time. The word Fortuna fits into so many tunes that despite not having great German we could sing along for most of the match. The best songs are simple and our favourite is; “For, for for for for for fooooor… Tu, tu tu tu tu tu Tuuuuu, Na Na Na Na Na Na Naaaa…..Foooortuuuunaaaa” Closely followed by the same words set to an old English Hymn. On occasions, we were also encouraged to stoop down (not easy on a packed terrace) as we whispered a song before rising to our feet as one as the volume rose and again Fortuna! was the loud refrain. The fans sang from beginning to end with both corners also joining in. Despite only 20k in attendance at the game, we saw the noise was still stirring. A great fan Twitter account to touch base with if you heading to Dusseldorf would be @UKFortuna who will happily suggest where to drink and how to get tickets etc. Access 3 At least three airports (Flughafen) serve this industrial corridor in the west of Germany, often described as the ‘engine room’ of Europe. Bundesliga football clubs are abundant in the area and so scheduling more than one match during your stay is a must. Dusseldorf airport should be your plan A; it is one of Germany’s largest. Located just 8 km north of the city, the S-Bahn will whisk you into the centre of Dusseldorf in just 16 minutes. We chose Koln/Bonn airport transferring via the S-Bahn which took just 46 minutes into Dusseldorf Hauptbahnhof. However, it is worth stopping off, as we did, in Koln just to see the magnificent cathedral which was once the tallest building in the world. You can view this splendid structure which took 632 years to build, from the comfort of your seat on the train just after you cross the Rhine. We’d recommend hopping off the train and spending an hour exploring this incredible monolith whilst grabbing a local pastry or a franchise Starbucks for sustenance. The third option is the Dortmund airport, also within range if you are comparing prices. It's only an hour’s train ride south to Dusseldorf (once you have transferred from the airport to the city centre). If you are arriving by car from the south use the A57 / A59. If you arrive from the north use the A 52 / A3 and the arena is well signposted. Parking options are provided on the Merkur Spiel-Arena website. From the centre of Dusseldorf, the Esprit-Arena is located 5 km to the north. Take the U-Bahn (Rheinbahn) line U78. The stadium has a dedicated stop all of its own and is located at the end of the line. The station is called "Merkur Spiel-Arena / Messe-Nord." It’s just a 20-minute ride from either the main Hauptbahnhof or Altstadt. Your match day ticket covers the cost of the transport so you don’t pay for the journey. As there is very little to do near the stadium, you will be joined on your way in and out of the town centre by locals carrying their beer bottles and singing their songs, making for an entertaining if a little squashed journey. Despite the box-style facia of the stadium, the concourse area layout is the same as most bowl-shaped arenas, allowing access to your block from entrances around the perimeter of the pitch. If you have specific accessibility requirements, you can apply for free parking at the stadium. The Esprit-Arena is also barrier-free and lifts are available. Contact the club before you travel if you require more information. Tickets can be purchased from outlets across the city; a map is available on the Fortuna website. Alternatively, there is a ticket hotline you can call or of course buy online, again via the website. Prices for adults start at just 13 Euros, an excellent value for the money. Prices rise to 46 Euros, but there are plenty of mid-point tickets for less than 30 Euros. Return on Investment 4 A visit to the Esprit-Arena is cheaper than its English equivalents. As with many modern stadiums though, expect merchandise and food to be a euro or 2 more than it's worth. For a stadium and city as impressive as Dusseldorf I’d suggest you don’t let cost prevent a visit. With cheap flights into the region, sometimes as low as 20 Euros, trains that allow you to use your football ticket to travel plus a cheap match day programme and you’ll understand the attraction of visiting this area for a match or two. Match day tickets in Bundesliga 2 start from 13 Euros, which is admirable, but expect to pay more for top-flight matches. Buying your beer en route to the stadium rather than paying stadium prices is another way locals save money on the experience. Extras 2 To get a more detailed history of the stadium and see some of the ‘behind-the-scenes areas you can book a tour. Public tours start at noon every Sunday unless there is a match on. You will need to pre-register for the tour via the Merkur Spiel-Arena website. Visit the club shop at the ground or online for an array of F95 products. There’s an LED logo for 20 Euros, a Fortuna Dusseldorf Monopoly set for 30 Euros or a Fortuna seat cushion for just 4.95 Euros. Final Thoughts The impressive cuboid façade, the purpose-built train station beneath one of the stands, the plethora of refreshment stalls, and the ultra-modern retractable roof mark this stadium out as one to add to your list. Upon arrival though, it’s hard to shake the feeling that you could just as well be attending a concert or a show. This isn’t how football is supposed to be. The real transformation is revealed when the supporters arrive. Add flags and choreographed chanting, add the energy of a pulsating, packed terrace, add the on-field action and perhaps an Albier or two, and only then does the stadium come alive. With the bright lights of Dusseldorf calling you back after the game and the possibility of a visit to another nearby cathedral of football like the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen or the RheinenergieStadion in Koln, you will not regret your visit one bit.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Joe Wolfe Stadium 310 State St. North Adams, MA 01247 North Adams Steeplecats website Joe Wolfe Field website Year Opened: 1986 Capacity: 1,800 In the Valley of the Steeples Joe Wolfe Field, built in 1986 and named after North Adams native, semi-pro baseball player, local sports promoter and Little League coach Joe Wolfe, has hosted the North Adams SteepleCats since their inception in 2002. Mr. Wolfe was a driving force behind the repair and renovations of old Noel Field, and passed away shortly before the project’s completion. The field was renamed posthumously in his honor. The team’s name is a reference to the numerous steeples located throughout town, several of which are visible from the ballpark. Joe Wolfe Field holds the record for the largest crowd at an NECBL game, with 6,714 in attendance on July 4, 2006. Food & Beverage 2 There is a large, new concession building on the third base side of the ballpark. There are four windows in this building, one for an ice cream stand, two for concessions, and one for a souvenir stand. The concession stand offers the basics, such as hamburgers ($3.00), hot dogs ($2.00), pizza slices ($2.50), and nachos ($3.00). Assorted snacks are available here, including popcorn ($1.50), cracker jacks, candy bars, sunflower seeds, and potato chips, all for a dollar. Coca-Cola products are sold for $2.50. Ice cream from local business Lickety Splits is sold here as well in several flavors. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere at Joe Wolfe Field is exactly what you would expect from a baseball team located in a sleepy mountain town like North Adams. The fans are laid-back and friendly, and everyone seems to know everyone. The Steeplecats staff provide some entertainment to fill in the gaps between innings with some games and contests for the kids. There is also a mascot here, a furry orange cat named Slider, who roams the concourse shaking hands and posing for pictures. As is the case with most smaller parks, watching kids chase foul balls around is part of the fun. The kids in North Adams don’t disappoint, and are pretty entertaining to watch themselves. Neighborhood 2 North Adams, with its population of just over 13,000, is the smallest incorporated city in Massachusetts. Named in honor of former president and Massachusetts native John Adams, North Adams was a mill city for much of its history. When the mills closed, local leaders converted the old mill spaces to museums, as they could display large items that would not fit in traditional museums in the large, empty buildings. Today, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) is the largest such museum in the nation. North Adams has become in recent years a center for tourism, culture, and recreation. Joe Wolfe Field is located just a couple of miles from downtown North Adams. The downtown area can be described as a typical small-town Main Street. There are several small businesses and a few hotels. Despite the influx of summer tourists, this downtown area cannot be described as “bustling”. Many visitors to the area come for the fantastic nature trails and scenery, and will not usually be found wandering around town. Still, it’s a pleasant, laid-back place to spend a nice summer day. Fans 3 North Adams has averaged between 700-900 fans per game over the past several years, finishing in the upper half of the NECBL in attendance. It seems like everyone here at Joe Wolfe Field knows each other, and the atmosphere is a very friendly and laid back one. Even an out of towner can feel welcome and like one of the locals while taking in a Steeplecats game. Access 2 Joe Wolfe Field is located on Route 8, which is the major north-south artery through town. Just a few minutes from downtown, the ballpark is about a half mile from Route 2, which is the major route to the northwestern corner of the state. Route 2 is also known as the Mohawk Trail, considered one of the most scenic drives in Massachusetts. Located along this road are several gift shops, roadside attractions, and scenic viewpoints. The famous hairpin turn on Route 2 is located in North Adams, about 5 miles from Joe Wolfe Field. There are two free parking lots adjacent to Joe Wolfe Field. Be wary of taking advantage of the closest of spots here, as this is prime foul ball territory. Do yourself a favor and park a little farther away. You will get some exercise, and save your windshield at the same time. The ballpark itself consists of a small covered grandstand made up of aluminum bleachers without seat backs. Some of the seats offer unobstructed views of the action on the field and the incredible mountain scenery beyond. The grandstand is fairly new, and was built to current ADA specifications, and is easily navigated. There is plenty of room on both sides of the field to spread out if you decide that the grandstand is not for you. The first base line features shade trees, benches, and a nicely manicured area to spread out with lawn chairs or blankets. The concession stands are located on the third base line, and there is plenty of room for fans to spread out here as well. There are restrooms located behind the grandstand, which are clean and large enough for a SteepleCats crowd. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for SteepleCats game cost $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, $1 for youths 6-12, and admission is free for children under 6. Family tickets can be purchased for $12, which allow for admission for 2 adults and up to 3 children. It’s a great deal if you are taking the whole family to Wolfe Field. Parking is free in either of two lots adjacent to the ball field. Be warned, these lots are really close to the field, and are in prime foul ball territory. If you choose to park close to the field, you are in real danger of going home with a shattered windshield. Concessions at Joe Wolfe Field are also quite affordable, making a night at a SteepleCats game an affordable night out for the entire family. Extras 2 Like most summer collegiate teams, the SteepleCats hold a 50/50 raffle at every game. For those who have never participated, the winner of a 50/50 raffle takes home half of all the money collected that night. The other half goes towards operating costs. At this level, these funds are crucial for covering costs such as travel to away games and stipends for host families. A surprise find at Joe Wolfe Field is the memorial for baseball Hall of Famer John Chesbro, a native of North Adams. Chesbro played with Pittsburgh, New York, and Boston around the turn of the 20th century, and led both leagues in winning percentage. There is a small granite marker behind the grandstand in his honor. Final Thoughts North Adams is one of the last spots you would expect to find a nice little ballpark like Joe Wolfe Field, but it fits in seamlessly with the rustic surroundings. The ballpark itself may not be the fanciest you will ever come across, but the setting alone is worth a look. Former Major League Commissioner Faye Vincent once commented after witnessing a sunset over the mountains in left field during a SteepleCats game, “it doesn’t get any better than this”. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Meg Minard , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Broadmoor World Arena 3185 Venetucci Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Colorado College Tigers hockey website Broadmoor World Arena website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 7,750 The World Arena Editors Note: The Colorado College Tigers hockey team moved into the brand new Ed Robson Arena in 2021. --- The Colorado College men’s hockey team has a long standing winning tradition which is evident when stepping inside the World Arena. Yes, this arena is called the World Arena. When walking up to the main entrance, the design and logo makes you feel as if you are walking to an arena in a science fiction movie. The Tigers hockey team has won two national titles. They have ten Frozen Four appearances as well as 20 NCAA Tournament appearances. They have produced two Hobey Baker winners as well as a bunch of NHL players. Colorado College plays in the newly formed National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The Colorado College Tigers played their first game in 1938 at the Broadmoor Ice Palace (later called the Broadmoor World Arena). In 1951, Colorado College became one of the original members of the Mid-West Collegiate Hockey League, now known as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association – WCHA, an NCAA Division 1 conference. In 1998, the Tigers moved into the brand new World Arena in Colorado Springs, CO. The Colorado Springs World Arena is a premier sports and entertainment venue in the Pikes Peak region. It holds 7,343 permanent seats for ice hockey. In addition to being the home of the Tigers, it also provides a venue for concerts, musicals, Harlem Globe Trotters, Disney on Ice, and the like. Food & Beverage 5 Although the World Arena counts Colorado College as a main tenant, you can tell that it is a regional arena. One major piece of evidence supporting this is the amount of food and beverage selections here. The arena has two bars: The Arena Bar and the Ice House. It has three separate Food Action Stations’ appropriately numbered 1, 2, and 3. One serves Asian, the second Italian, and the third BBQ (prices range from $5 – $10 depending on whether kid sizes are ordered or if one doubles-up the size). The favorite seems to be #3 BBQ the Smokehouse. Besides that there is the Top Dog (burgers, brats), Habanero’s (southwestern), Bella Forno’s (wood paddle pizza and sandwiches) lining the concourse ranging from $4 to $10, depending on what you order. On this night I had the Broadmoor World Arena brunch burger. This massive burger includes an egg, bacon, avocado, cheddar cheese and sauce for $8 dollars. It was well worth it. Not all burgers come with fries however. There is a grilled cheese station that is a unique touch that isn’t seen at many stadiums. A basic grilled cheese cost five dollars or for two dollars more, fans can have a premium sandwich with toppings. Top it off with a three dollar cup of tomato soup and you leave feeling like you came in from a cold day to warm up. I was surprised to see beer and alcohol offered here but that seems to be the theme for most Colorado venues. There is a big number of different micro brews found along the concourse (many local to Colorado): Bristol Brewing Company (the brewery is just 2 miles from arena), Laughing Dog (Ponderay, ID), New Belgium (Ft Collins, CO) and others. Mainstays such as Bud and Bud Light can be found as well. Atmosphere 4 On the outside of the arena, there are many benches in which to sit and wait for friends or for the gates to open. The unique quality of these benches is they are pieces of art with the artists name displayed on a post next to the bench. They include a Zamboni, hockey pucks, a goaltender, a mountain range, etc. All are built with a different medium (tiles, wood, metal, tubes, etc.). The Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame is located on the concourse. It contains close to 100 plaques honoring individuals and teams who have been from or associated with Colorado who have demonstrated strong community presence and/or outstanding athleticism or coaching. Plaques include the 1980 US Olympic Ice Hockey team, Alan Cockrell (Colorado Springs Sky Sox), Judy Bell (Women’s golf), Pete Susemihl (lead in the effort of getting World Arena built), and many, many more. There are also showcases of the Colorado College Tigers trophies, team photos, and programs from throughout its existence. This is a must see for college hockey fans. I like the programs and trophies dating from the 40’s and 50’s. Once inside the seating area, you will see a bunch of yellow championship banners. The amount of banners hanging is a good nod to the long standing Tiger hockey history. I am impressed by the out of town scoreboards and how fast they update the games. I was following my favorite team online that night and the scoreboard was keeping up. Neighborhood 4 There is a Hampton Inn & Suites across the parking lot, a LaQuinta, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and a Residence Inn all within walking distance (less than 1/2 mile) from the arena. There are plenty of chain restaurants within walking distance of the arena including Chili’s, Fazoli’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Outback, Carrabba’s, etc. There are lots of options for pre or postgame meals. I have learned that you can get a parking pass, leave, and come back and they won’t double charge you. While this may not be convenient, I did it on this night due to the amount of restaurants nearby. Getting a good parking spot and walking to a restaurant is ideal although the lot is fenced in so you have to be paying attention to where the pedestrian exits are. The Bristol Brewing Company is located 2 miles north on I-25 and is a local micro brewery in Colorado Springs. Their facility does not serve food. It has a table-shuffleboard, a bar, several counters with stools for conversing with friends and a few TV’s w/sports events displayed. It was quite crowded two hours before the game I attended at World Arena. The website does state it closes at 9pm so it may be a place to visit pre game. And, there is nothing like driving down and around Colorado Springs and seeing the Rocky Mountains. There is a superb view of Cheyenne Mountain from the stadium entrance. Fans 3 Colorado College is among the college hockey leaders in attendance most years and has averaged over 6,000 fans for the past few seasons. The fans seem into the game and knowledgeable. Lots of standing up and cheering when the team is announced; a certain choreographed display of clapping and pointing the arm celebration after each goal; one section would yell ‘Go’ – across the ice the other section would yell ‘Tigers’ with no prompting from the video board or PA announcer. For the most part, fans are into the game and only leave and return to their seats during stoppage of play (a pleasant surprise). I did find the fans to be somewhat quiet on this night. Maybe it was due to a weak opponent but it didn’t seem like a college hockey atmosphere that I am used to in the Midwest. I would rather see a pep band here playing more so than piped-in music. Loud arena music seemed to hurt any momentum that the fans would have from chanting or cheering. Seemed more like a minor league hockey crowd then a college hockey crowd. Access 5 World Arena is right off the I-25 interstate. There is plenty of parking at the arena itself ($5). Traffic flows nicely and directions to the parking lot are well marked. The arena is located just off of a busy commercial strip but traffic is rarely a problem before or after a game. There are some buses that go to this area as well if you are a fan of mass transit. Return on Investment 4 The food prices here are fair as are the ticket prices. Tickets range from $15-$40 dollars. There doesn’t seem to be many obstructed or bad seats in the building. On this night, I had a first row seat in a corner on the lower level. The view was great and there was plenty of leg room. I sat in the upper deck for half a period and it was a decent view. The seating pitch is high enough where you won’t have any issues seeing over people in front of you. Extras 4 The history displayed inside the arena as well as on the concourses deserves extra points. The amount of places to eat or stay within a block or so of the arena is worth another bonus point. Roster sheets are plentiful and there are plenty of games and entertainment during stoppages. My favorite game is the chuck a puck. For $1, fans could buy a numbered foam puck to throw on the ice. Whoever is closest to the center wins a prize. Final Thoughts Going to the World Arena seems more like a minor league hockey experience rather than a collegiate hockey game. There is nothing wrong with this however as the building, food options, and other attributes here make it a worthy visit.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 GW Softball Field 2100 Foxhall Rd NW Washington, DC 20007 Map It! George Washington Revolutionaries website GW Softball Field website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity : 500 Colonial Softball Note: In June 2023, George Washington University changed its team name from the Colonials to the Revolutionaries. Located on George Washington University’s Mount Vernon Campus, three miles from the main campus in Foggy Bottom, the GW Softball Field is part of the university’s Mount Vernon Athletics Complex. The Complex also includes GW’s soccer field and tennis courts, and the campus itself includes several academic buildings which serve as an auxiliary to the main campus. The Colonials’ softball program has enjoyed success in recent years, capped off by a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2021. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at the GW Softball Field. There is a coffee shop next door in Ames Hall that may or may not be open depending on when you visit, but it is not part of the stadium and keeps its own hours. Fans can bring in outside food or beverage, with the exception of alcohol. Atmosphere 3 The GW Softball Field has a quirky, unusual layout. Instead of the bleachers being located behind home plate, as they are in most venues of this size, they are located on a hill beyond the right field fence. To access them, you will need to walk around the front of Ames Hall, then up a staircase and finally back down the hill to the bleachers. Some fans like to bring chairs and sit at the top of the hill, or just stand along the bottom of the hill off to the side so as not to block the view of the fans in the bleachers. It all comes down to personal preference. A few fans may be able to stand along the deck in front of Ames Hall as well, but this is mostly reserved for video equipment and may not be possible. There is a digital scoreboard built into the fence in left-center field which shows the linescore and count, as well as a smaller scoreboard down the third baseline, although the latter was not working when Stadium Journey visited. Other than the game, there is not much going on here. The team plays soft music over the PA system between innings but not generally between batters. The field is on the flight path into Reagan National Airport, so jets will pass directly overhead throughout the game. The unplanned flyovers during the national anthem seem to be a running joke among GW fans. It’s not quite the same when it’s commercial aircraft instead of military jets, and it’s completely unplanned, but when the timing works out, it’s still impressive to watch. Neighborhood 4 GW Softball Field and the Mount Vernon Campus are located in Northwest Washington off Foxhall Road. Although there are several scenic parks and trails in the vicinity, as well as the German Embassy, your best bet for dining is to head elsewhere in the District. A seafood place and an Italian restaurant are located west of the campus near the Potomac River, and some other places up MacArthur Boulevard, but most of your options will be closer to downtown, not further. The Tenleytown and Georgetown neighborhoods are a short drive or Uber ride away and offer numerous dining and entertainment options. You can also head downtown and visit the many historic sites. monuments, and memorials along the National Mall. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to book in advance. Fans 2 Attendance at GW softball games is mostly limited to friends or family of the players. Most of them are regulars and attend just about every game and are incredibly knowledgeable about the players and team. They can get loud at big moments, but there will seldom be much more than a hundred of them in attendance at any given game. This is pretty typical for college softball in the northeast, where the sport isn’t as big as it is in some other parts of the country. Access 3 Depending on how you are arriving, the Mount Vernon campus can either be significantly easier or significantly harder to get to than the main campus in Foggy Bottom. While it is not Metro-accessible, it is a lot easier to drive to this campus in outer Washington than it is to drive downtown to the main campus. There is a parking garage on campus right across from the stadium. Parking is free all day on weekends or for up to three hours on weekdays. It can get very pricey if staying for more than three hours on a weekday, starting at $16 for up to four hours and going up from there, so try to go on a weekend or time your visit accordingly. Once you manage to park, accessing the stadium is trickier than it needs to be. After exiting the elevator lobby, fans will need to walk across the road towards the outfield fence, then up a staircase to the front of Ames Hall, up another staircase along the side of the building to the top of the hill, then back down the hill (either the hill itself or a staircase on the far side) and up the bleachers to sit down. If you bring your own chair and sit at the top of the hill, it’s slightly easier but your view may be blocked by trees. It’s less complicated than it sounds, but still more complicated than it needs to be. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Colonials games is free, and if you go on a weekend, parking is free as well. If going on a weekday, you will have to time things carefully to avoid paying a ridiculous amount for parking, so we would recommend going on a weekend if possible to maximize value. Extras 1 There are free programs available in a bin by the entrance to the stadium. Final Thoughts GW Softball Field is a typical northeastern college softball venue. The unfortunate reality is that the sport isn’t as popular here as in some parts of the country, and nothing George Washington does will change that. The stadium here has a quirky and unique layout and a small but loyal group of regular fans, but this is still a very basic experience.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Camelback Ranch 10712 W. Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85037 Map It Glendale Desert Dogs website Camelback Ranch website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 13,583 Desert Dogs The Glendale Desert Dogs are members of the Arizona Fall League, a yearly instructional league that features baseball’s top prospects every October and November. The Desert Dogs play their games at Camelback Ranch, built as the spring training home for the LA Dodgers and Chicago White Sox in 2009. During the summer, the rookie league ACL Dodgers and White Sox play at the facility. Camelback is a good-looking ballpark with a 5-acre lake and river system, fantastic landscaping, and easy-to-walk trails to take you around the area. Major league prospects from the White Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals, Phillies, and Reds round out the Desert Dogs roster this 2024 season. The major league affiliates change throughout the years. The Desert Dogs have won six league championships in the past but haven ’t captured one s ince 2008.  Will 2024 be the year? Food & Beverage 2 One concession stand is open, and that’s enough for attendance at a Desert Dog game.  Fans can bring bottled water and small snacks or sandwiches into the stadium. The food choices are limited: A hot dog ($6.75), sausage dog ($9.99), and cheese and pepperoni pizza slices ($7).  Snacks include nachos ( $ 6.25), soft pretzels ($5.75), popcorn ($4.75), candy ($4), chips ($4), and Dippin’ Dots ($8.49). Soft drinks are 20 oz bottled Pepsi products ($5.75), 20 oz bottled water ($4.75), and coffee ($3). Alcohol choices are 16 oz cans of domestic and premium beers of Bud, Bud Light, Michelob, Michelob Ultra, Coors Light, Modelo Chelada, and Hop Knot IPA ($10.25 - $11.25).  Trul y Seltzer is $11.25, and wine costs $9.25.  Atmosphere 4 Seating at Camelback Ranch extends down the baselines. For day games, shade covers the first base side first, while the third base side is in the sun most of the game. The seats are a golden color, which blends in well with the copper-colored support structures and earthtone stonework. They’re comfortably wide and are mostly staggered, so you’re not sitting directly behind another fan’s head. That’s generally not a problem for Desert Dog games because of low attendance. The seating area does not have cup holders. Fans enter at the top of the concourse and then walk down to the seating areas. Plenty of accessible seating is available on the top row of the concourse.  Bring a small towel, in case you need to wipe off the seat. The batter’s eye is pleasantly landscaped with trees surrounding the area. Fans can easily read the scoreboard which shows the line score, the time, and th e batter’s nam e and photo. Balls, strikes, and outs indicators are yellow dots, while the runs per inning are blue. Those colors are a striking and refreshing contrast. The music volume between innings is too loud to converse with your neighbor.  The music person shuts it off during play , with an occasional blast when a Desert Dog executes a good play. Sundays are Fundays this 2024 season at all Fall League venues.  This promotion is geared towards kids, where staff hand o ut baseball cards (to kids) and toss a few t-shirts into the crowd.  Kids get to run the bases after the game. Neighborhood 3 Camelback Ranch is in an expanding residential area. No choices for lunch, dinner, and other entertainment are available within walking distance. Three miles away is the Westgate Entertainment District. It has many restaurants, all of which are very different from each other in price and menu. Numerous shops and boutiques, a movie theater, a pottery painting studio, arcades, and breweries are part of the amenities in the district. Places in the district for a pre-game meal or drink include Yard House, State 48 Funk House Brewery, and Fat Tuesdays. Be sure to check Westgate’s   website  for happy hour specials; some restaurants do not include a happy hour on event days or weekends. First Watch (breakfast/lunch), Manna Korean BBQ, Opa Life (Greek), and Salt Tacos y Tequila are a few other worthwhile places to eat. I always enjoy Yard House , which has a fabulous beer selection and good food; this one has outdoor seating for those comfortable fall Arizona days and evenings. Many chain hotels are in and around the Westgate Entertainment District. The two closest hotels to the ballpark are a Comfort Inn & Suites  and a Holiday Inn . Other nearby sports during the Fall League season include the Arizona Cardinals  (next door to the Westgate Entertainment District). The two other Fall League teams in the West Valley are the Peoria Javelinas  and the Surprise Saguaros . And, if looking to go downtown Phoenix, sports fans can usually catch a Suns  game when in town. Fans 3 Numerous scouts attend Desert Dog games, filling much of the seating area behind home plate.  Other fans in attendance are what one would consider baseball purists  – fans who attend for the game itself and not all the extras that occur in minor and major league parks throughout North America.    However, as the pop ularity of the Arizona Fall League increases, more casual fans (the ones who don’t know baseball etiquette) attend games now. The Desert Dogs average around 300 – 400 fans per game, with weekend and later season games getting higher attendance numbers. This is comparable to other West Valley Fall League teams. Access 3 Getting to the stadium is most conveniently done by vehicle (unless you’re a nearby neighbor and can walk). Valley Metro  does provide bus service. The closest sto p is 1.1 miles from the stadium, so there’s still some walking involved if taking public transportation. The stadium is 2 ½ miles west of the Loop 101 Agua Fria Fwy on Camelback Rd. Only the gate behind home plate is open for Fall League games. Plenty of free parking is available close to that entrance. The stadium of fers benches to sit on and wait for the gates to open or for late-arriving friends. It has a huge, clean, artfully landscaped plaza area outside the home plate entrance where fans can gather. Getting through security is easy.  Clear sports stadium bags (12” x 6” x 12”) are allowed.  A smaller purse or bag is permitted; security will ask you to open it for inspection if it is not clear.    The restrooms are clean and have an extraordinary number of stalls (at least the ladies’ room). Walking around the stadium and concourse is wide open, making it quite an enjoyable place to stroll. Return on Investment 3 As with everything else, ticket and food prices have increased.  Single-game tickets are $13 (seniors 55+ and teens 11 - 17 are $11). Kids 10 and under get in free. If you live in the area or plan on attending 12 or more games, a season pass is a less expensive way to go.  A single admission season pass is $155; a double admission pass is $185 (both are less if you are 55+). Concession prices are at the expected higher stadium amounts.  There’s no charge for parking (none of the Arizona Fall League stadiums charge for parking). Attending a baseball game on a warm fall day or evening for the game is worth the price. Extras 3 A small merchandise stand is just to the right when entering the stadium. Printed starting lineups, rosters, and game notes are available there too. The Arizona Fall League is testing a ‘pitch challenge’ at some of its ballparks, including Camelback Ranch.    The batter, catcher, or pitcher can challenge a ball or a strike (usually by tapping the top of their helmet or cap) immediately after the umpire’s call.  Each team is allowed/permitted three challenges per game, and if the player wins their challenge and the call is overturned, the team maintains their number of challenges. A graphic replay of the pitch is shown on the video board to determine the call.  It all happens within 15 seconds or so and does not delay the game. Pitch Challenge, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The landscaping and exterior features are beautiful.  The structure is made of natural stone and resembles a desert landscape perfectly.   The architects painted the support structures to look rusty and aged.  Though unusual, even the golden-colored seats fit the natural desert design. Final Thoughts Camelback Ranch is the prettiest Fall League stadium in the West Valley.  If you’ve got a few extra hours in the fall and want to see a ballgame, head to Glendale, AZ, catch a Desert Dog game, and enjoy!

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Rickwood Field 1137 2nd Ave W Birmingham, AL 35204 Birmingham Barons website Rickwood Field website Year Opened: 1910 Capacity: 10,800 A Historic Palace for Baseball in Birmingham The Rickwood Classic is played annually in late May at the world’s oldest ballpark Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. It was constructed by owner Rick Woodward for his Barons baseball club in 1910. The team would play until 1961 before returning as a Southern League member in 1964. In 1987 the Barons would play the final season at the historic ballpark and relocate 18 miles south to the suburb of Hoover to a $14 million sleek new ballpark. The $75,000 stadium was modeled after Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field and designed by Southeastern Engineering Company of Birmingham. There were more than 10,000 fans in attendance when it played its first game on August 18, 1910 many businesses were allowed to close early to allow workers to watch the game. When it played its last season in 1987, it was the second oldest ballpark, only six weeks newer than Chicago’s Comiskey Park. The stadium was home to the Black Barons (1925-1930, 1937, 1940-1960) of the Negro Leagues, Alabama Crimson Tide football (1912-1927), and was the spring training site for the Philadelphia Phillies (1911 and 1920) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1919). The major motion pictures Cobb , Soul of the Game , and 42 were filmed here at Rickwood. The majority of why Rickwood Field is still standing is due to the work of the Friends of Rickwood, the volunteer group of baseball purists and historic preservationists who have worked profusely on restoring the stadium to its former glory. At the time of the Barons departure, the stadium required much-needed repairs. The electrical system was on its last legs, water pipes underneath the field were broken, lights would go out during games, and a two-by-four plank held up the ceiling in the cramped manager’s office. Steadily, improvements were made to the grandstands, press box, locker rooms, light, roof, and main entrance. They are responsible for the overall revitalization of the ballpark, including the scheduling, marketing, fundraising, and implementation of the restoration project itself. There are over 200 events held per year at Rickwood, and it’s the home to high school, semi-pro, police, and travel baseball. Miles College plays its home games at the historic stadium. One of these events is the Rickwood Classic which began in 1996. The Barons play annually against another league member, don period uniforms, and play underneath the sun in the afternoon. The proceeds from the game help with the maintenance of the facility. Rickwood Field is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Food & Beverage 3 There is a main concession area underneath the grandstand on the main concourse, and two portable areas are set up down the first and third base lines. The basic ballpark food is here: hot dogs, soda, peanuts, and nachos. The grill down the third base side offers Italian and Polish sausage, chicken fingers and fries, and cold Miller Lite and Yuengling. A Papa John’s pizza cart on the third baseline sells personal pizzas, and a giant grill serves hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats on the first baseline. However, bring cash, since Rickwood Field does not accept credit cards. In case you are light on dollar bills, there are several portable ATMs located outside the stadium on the first base side. Atmosphere 5 Rickwood Classic is a nostalgic trip back to a time when the game was played differently. All the modern comforts at nearby Regions Field are replaced with vintage ads on the outfield walls, a hand-operated scoreboard, large foul territory, and narrow concourses and walkways. They don’t build them like this anymore, and thankfully there is the chance to experience this living museum once a year. “The place looks the same as it did when I played here, but it sure was a lot of fun to play at this stadium, said former Negro League player Russell “Crazy Legs” Patterson, one of the many former players who make the trip annually to take in the game. The players are dressed in retro uniforms, along with umpires, staff members, and fans in attendance who also dress their part for the game. This particular afternoon game harkens back to the mid-1950s when the club was a farm team to the New York Yankees, but other games may have featured the mod styles of the late 1960s or formal designs of the Roaring Twenties. Just in case you wanted to know, you can’t smoke cigarettes or cigars in the stadium. The players seem to relish their time at the old ballpark, many sit on top of the dugout, take practice on opposite ends of the outfield before the game, and pull up their socks to their knees. The game begins with a former major league player throwing out the first pitch; today’s pitch was former All-Star and World Series MVP Bucky Dent. The atmosphere might remind many of the minor league experience during their childhood a few decades past. The concessions are limited, and not varied by today’s standards, and only a small booth sells paraphernalia that includes t-shirts, caps, posters, and balls. There are no promotions on the field between innings, no zealous announcer yelling his head off, and the score is kept by hand by a small staff up above the right-field fence. The seats are covered and wrap around the right field wall, which at one time was segregated seating for Barons games. The main entrance has been restored to its 1940’s era design, and those are the original light towers from 1936 on the roof. Still, watching a game is comfortable from your seat, even though the home plate is much further out from current ballparks. Neighborhood 2 Rickwood is in an old residential neighborhood west of downtown and not within walking distance of restaurants, bars, or retail. You will need to have a car to get to and from the ballpark. The Baron's current home Regions Field is 3.1 miles. The city offers a few places to visit including the Civil Rights Museum, Vulcan Park & Museum, Birmingham Zoo, and Birmingham Museum of Art. Saw’s Barbecue and Eugene Hot Chicken are two local restaurants that are favorites among locals. Dreamland Barbecue is also a popular destination and features numerous locations. El Barrio and Carrigan’s Public House are two other great establishments in town for dining. Good People Brewery, TrimTab Brewing Company, and Ghost Train Brewing Company are three well-established places for craft beer, and each offers an eclectic setting for beers and good times. Good People benefits being located across the street from Regions Field. Fans 3 The annual game draws average crowds between 5,000-7,000 at the stadium. The facility is filled with local Barons faithful and many visitors who are here just for the game itself. Today’s game was threatened with inclement weather, but that did not stop many from waiting in line for the skies to clear. Access 3 Rickwood Field is almost 120 years old and features elements of its days and many that we don’t miss at today’s ballparks. The main concourse is narrow and features a chain link fence separating the lower box seats from the upper box seats; maneuvering them can be tricky since the entrances are limited. The steps to the upper seating area are wide and take some stretching of the feet. The main concourse offers a terrain that features concrete, gravel, grass, and some uphill walking. However, it’s spacious enough to ease through traffic, except if you are at the main concession stand in line for food or a souvenir hat or cap. This section of the ballpark is congested, at times, and wait times can be longer. Return on Investment 5 The price of a ticket to the Rickwood Classic is $10, one heck of a bargain to be able to travel back in time to enjoy a baseball game. Public parking is $5 and is available on a first-come, first-served basis adjacent to the stadium. Space is limited, and fans tend to arrive early. If you want to save money, there is street parking in the neighborhood surrounding the field. Extras 4 One star for the Friends of Rickwood, who through hours of dedication and service, have made the Rickwood Classic possible. There have been over $2 million worth of renovations at the stadium in the past 26 years that have included improvements to the press box, seats, roof, field, and many other areas. A second star is for the hand-operated scoreboard in left field. It is a replica of a version that once stood in the stadium during the 1940s. A third star is for the vintage ads that are painted and weatherproofed on the outfield walls. They include real and past businesses in town and were designed with a 1920s look and feel. There is also hand-painted signage for both the Barons and Black Barons pennants, during their existence at Rickwood Field. A fourth star to the Negro League players who make the annual trip and are accessible to talk to about their experience and Rickwood. These men are accessible, pose for photos, and offer plenty of stories to tell about their days here in Birmingham and beyond. Final Thoughts The word unique gets used a lot in writing, but attending the Rickwood Classic is a one-of-a-kind event that attracts ballpark hunters like myself and legions of fans who appreciate that a minor league game is still held in such a palace. The world’s oldest ballpark looks good and hosts up to 200 events each year. It is a ballpark, a museum, a history lesson, and a trip back in time. Rick Woodard is probably smiling somewhere, knowing his ballpark is still being used for its intended purpose-baseball. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 The Flair Airlines Hangar at the Edmonton Expo Centre 7515 118 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T5B 4M9 Canada Edmonton Stingers website The Flair Airlines Hangar at the Edmonton Expo Centre website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 4,000 Stinging In Edmonton The Edmonton Stingers are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They compete in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and play their home games at the Flair Airlines Hangar at the Edmonton Expo Centre. The Stingers' mascot is Buzz, a hornet, inspired by the CF-18 based in Cold Lake. The team logo has a CF-18 going through a capital E to make the body of the hornet. The Stingers played their first game in 2019 and won league championships in 2020 and 2021. The CEBL began play in 2019. and currently consists of 10 teams from six provinces, with four from Ontario, two from Alberta, and one each from British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec, making the CEBL the largest professional sports league based entirely in Canada. CEBL teams play 20 regular-season games from May to August. The league has stated that they would emphasize offering a "party wrapped around a basketball game" with "a ton of value for the fans" to attract spectators, including outdoor pre-game events, in-arena entertainment, autograph sessions, and other features. In 2020 they started using the Elam Ending under which the game clock is turned off near the end of the fourth quarter, and teams play to a target score to determine the winner. The Edmonton Expo Centre was formerly known as the Northlands AgriCom and is officially the Edmonton Exposition and Conference Centre. It originally opened in 1984 and was expanded and remodeled in 2009. The venue is it is located in Edmonton's Montrose neighborhood, across the street from the now-closed Northlands Coliseum, the former home of the Edmonton Oilers. The center's operations are now operated by the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation Food & Beverage 4 There is a very good amount of food options both in the arena itself and in the food court of the Expo Center. This is one of those venues where you can probably skip a pre-game meal as you know there will be some good options at the venue. It seems like most all options are $7 or less. There are game day specials listed around the venue. The game we attended had $3 hot dogs, $4 pizza slices, and $2 popcorn. Atmosphere 5 The league mentioned that they wanted to make a CEBL game a party. The Stingers have done a good job in this regard. The entrance hall outside the arena itself is filled with activities for kids and adults, with numerous things to do before and during intermissions. Once inside the arena, the game is more lively and more fun than a typical basketball game. The arena itself is a simple affair with a lower bowl and an upper section along each sideline. There is not a bad seat in the medium size arena. The Elam Ending makes the atmosphere at the ending game much more electric than a typical game. Neighborhood 2 The neighborhood near the Edmonton Expo Centre is not that exciting. The hulking shell of the old Northlands Coliseum offers a unique view but offers nothing more for fans attending the Stingers games. There are also many old and abandoned businesses in the area. The closed Northlands Park horse track is also nearby. if you’re looking for some pre- or post-game entertainment or dining, you’ll be much better off heading elsewhere. We would recommend Edmonton’s Little Italy as a good option if you choose to eat before or after the game. Fans 4 The Canadian Elite Basketball League has been a success in Edmonton. The fans pack the venue, arrive early, and stay engaged in the game. As mentioned before, the Elam Ending keeps the fans excited until the end of the game. Access 4 The Edmonton Expo Centre is easy to get to off of Wayne Gretzky Drive NW. It should be easy to get there from different directions such as Yellowhead Highway, Anthony Henday Drive, and Manning Drive NW. There is plenty of parking for Stingers games as the center has plenty of parking. Return on Investment 4 Parking is free, at least at the game we attended near the end of the regular season. We did see it listed as $10 in other publications. Single-game tickets range from $25 to $89, which is a good value for any level of professional basketball. Extras 5 The games and attractions in the entrance hall are a great extra for all fans. One should arrive early and enjoy the experience. Team mascot, Buzz, and the Swarm Hype Team will be on the concourse all game. The team offers free courtside haircuts and shoe shines during the game. After each game, the Stingers players have a 15-minute post-game autograph session. There is a well-stocked team store in the entrance hall, along with smaller, temp stands around d the arena. Final Thoughts The Stingers games offer one of the most fun and fan-friendly atmospheres we have seen in a long time. It might not be for the most serious basketball fan, but it should be experienced if you are in the area.

Photo Courtesy of Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The Chicago White Sox will no longer play at Guaranteed Rate Field but at the newly named Rate Field. The name change was made to coincide with the mortgage company Guaranteed Rate changing its name to Rate Field this past year. The team announced the name change on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday evening. The Southside ballpark had been called Guaranteed Rate Field since November 1, 2016, when the company purchased a 13-year naming deal. The ballpark was known as U.S. Cellular Field (AKA “The Cell”)  from January 2003 until November 2016 and Comiskey Park from 1991 until 2003, like its predecessor that stood across the street from 1910-1990. Meanwhile, the ball club is contemplating a relocation to a proposed new stadium in “The 78” development on the South Loop, a 62-acre parcel of land that offers stunning views of the city skyline and what hopes to be the 78th official community area of Chicago. Stadium Journey has visited the stadium on multiple occasions in the past few years and has provided favorable reviews of the home of the White Sox. The ballpark experience includes a wide selection of regional foods, over 100 craft beers, social areas, and tailgating space before the game. Read more about it here . ------- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Andrew Maurins, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Mackay Stadium 17th St. & E. Stadium Way Reno, NV 89501 Nevada Wolf Pack website Mackay Stadium website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 29,993 The Law of the Jungle The modern era of Nevada Wolf Pack football has had two constants for most of the last fifty years: Chris Ault and Mackay Stadium. From the very first game played there on October 1, 1966, when the young quarterback from San Bernardino guided Nevada to an upset of nationally ranked Santa Barbara, the two have been firmly intertwined. Ault went on to spend 41 years of his life at Nevada as a player, coach and administrator, nearly the entire lifespan of Mackay Stadium itself. In that time, both the stadium and the football program grew from humble beginnings further south on campus. Since moving into the “new” Mackay – named after mining magnate and university benefactor Clarence Mackay – the Pack has played in eight conferences across four divisions, winning eleven conference titles along the way. It’s even borne witness to two “miracles” with the Mackay name: the first in 1991, when Nevada overcame a 35-point deficit against Weber State to complete the biggest second-half comeback in NCAA history; and the second in 2010, when the #19 Wolf Pack came from behind to stun #3 Boise State in overtime. It even saw the birth of Ault’s famous “pistol offense” in 2005. Ault resigned in 2012, and the historic field on North Virginia Street he made his own was named after him the following year. In 2016, Nevada completed a slew of renovations to coincide with the facility’s 50th anniversary. These include a new club area, seven sections of chair back seats, loge boxes, patio areas, more ADA seats, a new video board and a new sound system. Even though the updates to the stadium lowered its capacity to around 26,000, it’s now much more in line with its peers in the Mountain West Conference. Food & Beverage 4 Mackay Stadium’s selection of food and beverages represent a good combination of quantity and quality, and are a few small complaints away from a perfect score. The attendants are friendly, and the stands all accept credit cards, but the lines can sometimes get long. Fixed concession stands in the two end zones have standard stadium fare like hot, jumbo and Polish dogs, nachos, pretzels, peanuts, Cracker Jacks, popcorn and candy ($4-$6), and the north end zone stands also offer a large cheeseburger with a bag of potato chips ($10), tortilla chips with either queso or salsa ($4.75) and a large burrito with your choice of meat ($10). The pop-up stands in the south end zone offer more varied choices, like six-inch sub sandwiches ($7.50), chili cups, loaded baked potatoes, French fries, cheese fries, sweet potato fries, deep-fried pickles, tater tots, potato wedges and potato skins ($6-$9), pulled pork or chicken sandwiches with kettle chips, barbecue nachos, rib tips, rib platters, a full slab of ribs and barbecue sides like coleslaw, beans and spicy mac and cheese ($4-$24). Two more stands in that area also have kid-sized hot dogs, nachos and pretzels ($3-$4), cotton candy ($5.50) and a “healthy choices” menu that includes fruit skewers, red pepper hummus, a chicken Caesar wrap, beef sliders, Asian chicken wings and pork tacos ($5-$8) as well as whole pieces of fruit ($2 each). Our recommendation is the pulled pork sandwich and spicy mac and cheese from the Famous Dave’s barbecue stand ($8). For drinks, the sodas (Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mug Root Beer and Sierra Mist) are primarily served in 20 oz. bottles ($4.50), but are also available in cans ($3) and souvenir cups ($5). Bottled water is sold in 20 oz. ($4) or 1-liter bottles ($6), while alcoholic beverages like beer ($8 for Budweiser and Bud Lite, $8.50 for “premium” drafts like Shock Top, Red Hook and seasonals from Sam Adams and Alaskan) and margaritas ($12) are also available. Atmosphere 3 An outing at Mackay Stadium represents a mostly typical experience for a college football game outside the power conferences. Metal bleachers comprise the majority of the stadium’s seats in four non-symmetrical sections around the field and its accompanying track, pitched at a good enough angle that all but the lowest seats afford a good view. Those bleacher seats can feel cramped for games with bigger crowds or anyone on the taller end of the height spectrum. The newly added sections of padded chair back seats, however, are much roomier, and include their own cup holders. The ones in the club level on the west sideline have their own closed circuit viewing screens and outdoor heaters for cold games. General admission seats in the south end zone and student seating in the north end zone go right up to the field, but the closest sideline seats are separated by the track. Mackay’s 36 foot by 64 foot video board is believed to be the only one in college football with a 12-millimeter display, and it replays all of the action with terrific clarity. In-game promotions are similarly typical for mid-major college football experiences, with t-shirt tosses and several “text to win” drawings among others. The Wolf Pack’s costumed mascots and cheerleaders move around for some of the game, but primarily stick to the end zone sidelines. The Pride of the Sierra marching band plays a nice selection of contemporary and older tunes, and the stadium’s new sound system and PA announcer are both in the Goldilocks “just right” zone, but the referees often have a difficult time being heard. Section D on the west side affords you the “dead center” view of the middle of the field, but usually doesn’t have single game tickets available. If you can afford one, any of the chair back seats are a great way to take in a game, but a seat in the east side’s upper deck offers a more complete view of the whole game day scene at the cost of a bit of stair-climbing. In general, seats on the west side will be in the shade and colder for most games, while every other section – especially the east side – will be in the sun. All areas except the suites and the sliver of east side loge boxes are exposed to the notoriously unpredictable northern Nevada weather. Neighborhood 3 Originally built at a time when there was little else on the north end of campus, Mackay Stadium now sits near the hub of university-related activity. It’s bordered by parking lots to its north, a parking structure and intramural fields to its east and west, and the rest of campus to its south, with Interstate 80 and downtown beyond that. A five-minute stroll from the stadium across Virginia Street will take you to Red’s Little Waldorf Saloon, known as “the Wal” to locals, and catering to the pre and post-game crowd. About a mile south of the stadium on University Terrace is GourMelt, a sandwich joint specializing in upscale grilled cheese creations with a devoted following in town from its days as a food truck. The third floor of the student union next door also has several chain restaurants for a quick bite, while downtown offers a greater variety of cuisines and price ranges. Speaking of that area, the Riverwalk District of the city has enough shops, restaurants and bars to appeal to a wide variety of travelers, along with several nice, green spaces like Wingfield Park. The National Automobile Museum on Lake Street also has an impressive array of more than 200 cars from the personal collection of former casino magnate Bill Harrah. Being a casino town, Reno’s other entertainment options can include concerts and performances that change with the seasons. Broadening out to the greater Truckee Meadows area, day trips up to Lake Tahoe or Virginia City are also fun options. Lodging choices are as varied as your wallet and personal preferences allow, with most of the area’s hotels clustered downtown. The University Inn is across the street from Mackay, and can satisfy a budget traveler, but we suggest saving up more for either the Whitney Peak Hotel next to the famous Reno arch or the Peppermill south of downtown. Fans 3 Mackay Stadium fans are sufficiently passionate and engaged in their team’s fortunes, but would benefit from a string of great seasons in order to really give them a jolt. An average game day on North Virginia Street is in the neighborhood of around 21,000 fans, putting them in the middle third of the Mountain West and slightly below the conference average. The “big ticket” games against UNLV and Boise State tend to draw some of the only crowds that approach sellouts. On that note, the fans are appropriately responsive for big plays, get loud on defensive third downs, fill the air with “Packfetti” after each Nevada touchdown, and finish the PA announcer’s calls of “And that’s another Wolf Pack…” “FIRST DOWN!” One particular segment that needs work are the students, who seem disinterested even though their section of the stadium starts off mostly full. Fans in all areas of the stadium often leave late night games in noticeable numbers, even if the game is still close. Access 4 Getting to Mackay Stadium is not generally a hassle, but once you’re inside, a few problems crop up. A public transit option to consider is the Sierra Spirit bus, which has several stops throughout the downtown and university areas on a round that takes about half hour and charges 25 cents per person, and also has free WiFi on board. Reno-Tahoe International Airport provides commercial flights in and out of the area, and is fifteen minutes away by car. Parking in the surface lots near the stadium requires a permit with an accompanying season donation ranging from $100 to $700. If you don’t mind walking, there are free areas in the Whalen parking structure (our recommendation) and the lots behind Peccole Park and the School of Medicine, as well as the aforementioned bus line, which has stops near a few of downtown’s free parking structures. After games, cars parked north of the stadium get diverted to McCarran Boulevard, and those south of the stadium go down to Interstate 80. Any of Mackay Stadium’s entrances will give you a fairly similar experience getting in: a quick search of small bags for any prohibited items. There are no ticketless entry options at this time, but Nevada’s athletic department informed us they’re hoping this will change in the near future. Moving around the stadium is mostly easy with a few big exceptions. Since the majority of the concession stands are located in the north and south end zones, that’s naturally where fans have the most room to spread out and mingle. It’s at field level on the east and west sidelines that things get dicey, as the new ADA seating (of which there is now much more) has greatly reduced the amount of walk-able space to as little as five feet wide in some places. The upper concourses – now diverted into a parking structure on the west side – are better, but can still get crowded for bigger games. Bathroom lines for most games are reasonable, and ADA parking is easily reached on the first level of the West Stadium garage next door. Return on Investment 4 Even after its recent renovations, tickets to a game at Mackay Stadium are consistent with Nevada’s peers in the Mountain West, and offer a number of options for prospective fans. Single game tickets are typically $19 for the plaza reserved sections (3, 7, 8 and 9), $25 for the south end zone and family areas (section A), $39 for the field reserved sections (G, I, L, 4, 5 and 6), $90 for premium field sections B and F, and $115 for premium field sections J and K. Season tickets in the above areas range from $99 to $550, and do not include a Pack Educational Fund donation for some of the more expensive sections. All of those prices often go up for “big ticket” games like UNLV, Boise State and power conference opponents. Discounts of $9-$10 off per ticket are available for large groups of 20 or more people, military service members, senior citizens (65 and over) and youths (8th grade and under), as well as 3-game mini plans ($51-$105), a “Pup Club” for youths with an adult season ticket holder ($55 for access to all home, regular season football, volleyball, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, baseball and softball games and other perks), university staff members ($20 off per season ticket for up to two tickets), and employees of Washoe County School District, Nevada System of Higher Education and the State of Nevada ($396 for four season tickets in select sections). Lastly, a game program will run you $3. Extras 2 If you’re attending a night game at Mackay, consider getting a seat in the upper deck on the east side. Provided you’re not averse to climbing some stairs, you’ll enjoy a very pleasant view of the downtown Reno skyline to go along with the action on the field. Slightly unusual but nonetheless welcome for a college football stadium is the line of trees in the north end zone. If you’re having trouble finding your way around, there’s a group of volunteers wearing white polo shirts, blue vests and white baseball caps that will happily answer any questions you might have. We also like that there’s a children’s play area with bounce houses in the north end zone free of charge. Final Thoughts Ultimately, Mackay Stadium is a fine place to watch a college football game made better by its recent renovations. What separates it from truly great experiences elsewhere in the country is better fan support and more deeply ingrained traditions of excellence. Right now, it’s something fun to do at a certain time of year, but it’s not what one would call “the place to be” on fall Saturdays just yet. A few consecutive seasons of stellar play from the Wolf Pack would do wonders to increase the number of people at their games and, by extension, enhance the rest of the Mackay Stadium gameday experience.

Photos by Bradlee Ross, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 1.86 Taft Stadium NW 27th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73107 Oklahoma City Energy FC website Taft Stadium website Year Opened: 1934 Capacity: 7,500 Energy FC at Taft Stadium Owned by Oklahoma City Public Schools, Taft Stadium was built in 1934 as part of the New Deals programs introduced by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to combat the Great Depression. Its capacity was around 18,000 up until 2013, when renovations reduced the capacity to around 7,500. In addition to the OKC Energy of the USL (United Soccer League), Taft Stadium also hosts Northwest Classen High School and John Marshall High School teams. It has also played host to various other professional and semi-professional teams in the past, including the Oklahoma City Plainsmen of the Continental Football League in the 1960s. Oklahoma City Public Schools granted a lease on the stadium to Pro Soccer, LLC in 2013, and the Energy began playing there in 2015. Food & Beverage 3 Food options in Taft Stadium are not as varied in larger venues, but there is more offered here than one might suspect at first glance. There are two primary concession stands on each side of the stadium. These stands have the basics along with a few specialties that you will not find anywhere else. The prices here are reasonable, especially for the typical concession stand fare; specialty items cost extra. There are also a couple of food trucks at the north end of the stadium. One sells sno-cones, another Modelo beer. There is also one Mob Grill truck that sells the grilled items you’d find at any sporting event. A popsicle stand and a Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade stand are a fan’s only real options for any kind of dessert. The one food item you cannot miss is the Free Kick Nachos, which consist of BBQ pork, jalapeno, shredded cheese and diced red onion over chips. Pair it off with a beer and you’re good to go. Atmosphere 2 Taft Stadium has one of the most unique atmospheres you’ll find in Oklahoma. While it does appear catered to families, there is a large element of young adults as well. There’s a video screen at one end of the field that is easily seen, though the only scoreboard. The PA system plays some music, but it doesn’t really have any affect. There’s a lot of activity, both toward the action on the field and aside from it, but it is somewhat chaotic. It has the same sort of feel as high school football games do in the area. Neighborhood 1 There’s very little close to Taft Stadium that will get any prospective fan excited. The only food place within walking distance is a Taco Bell, and the neighborhood near Taft is not the safest in the Oklahoma City area (though certainly not the most dangerous either). A few other establishments fairly close by (within a few miles) are a Wendy’s, Patty Wagon Drive-In Restaurant and a public indoor karting place called Pole Position Raceway. For a much better neighborhood experience, make the drive to the Bricktown section of OKC, where you’ll find all kinds of restaurants, museums and further attractions. But to get there, you will have to drive 6 or 7 miles. Fans 2 The fans are made up of mostly young families and young adults. The stadium is usually at least three-quarters full. Most of the crowd is disinterested in the action on the field, but there is a hardcore fan section on one side of the stadium. However, this loudest section (which can be heard from any part of the stadium) is also extremely profane and is not a place where a fan with children will want to be. The rest of the crowd is loud at times, but very inconsistent. There also are many seemingly unaccompanied children running around during the matches. Access 2 The bathrooms are clear and spacious, which may surprise some given that the venue is over 80 years old. It is basically a large high school football stadium with bleacher seating only, no chair backs. The seating is pretty uncomfortable. It is fairly easy to get around, and one can walk under the stands which provides even more space for the crowds. There is also an old concrete track that runs around the field, which fans can walk around on to the other side of the stadium. Parking is extremely tough to find. The closer parking appears to be available for season ticket holders only. Free parking can be found, but be prepared for quite a walk. Return on Investment 2 Tickets to OKC Energy games are not expensive for most fans, and this is the only option for soccer fans in the OKC area. So in that sense, it is a decent return on the price. However, the Energy cannot escape comparison with their rivals to the north, the Tulsa Roughnecks, whose stadium experience outshines them in every way. All in all, going to see the OKC Energy at Taft Stadium provides a mediocre return on the ticket price, even considering the low cost of a ticket. Extras 1 There’s not much at this venue that you can’t find elsewhere. One extra point for the face painting stand at the north end of the stadium.

Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Stade Océane Boulevard de Leningrad 76600 Le Havre, France Le Havre AC website Stade Oceane website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 25,181 The Stadium by the Sea! Stade Océane is a modern multi-purpose arena on the outskirts of Le Harve. It has a capacity of just over 25,000 and is home to Ligue 2 side Le Havre AC. Opened in July 2012 it replaced the aging Stade Jules Deschaseaux’ which is still standing, just across the railway line from its shimmering replacement. By day, the new stadium resembles a petite Allianz Arena. At night, its deep ‘sea’ blue polymer and synthetic shell illuminate its exterior in stunning style…. It is a sight to behold for stadium lovers. Visiting for a 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup match, Le Havre is alive, with locals keen to showcase their port city and futuristic stadium to waves of visiting fans. Stade Oceane is the largest stadium in the Normandy area. As the name indicates it sits close to the Seine River. Head southeast and you can sail to Paris or west to the entrance to the English Channel. Founded in 1517, Le Havre which translates as ‘the port’ or ‘the harbour’ has always been synonymous with the sea. Recent years have seen a renaissance of maritime activity with an enlarged port bringing renewed prosperity to the city. This is the second largest port in France. With a population of less than 200,000, the city however feels compact and accessible. After heavy bombing towards the end of WW2, the rebuilding was thoughtful and innovative, led by architect Auguste Perret. In 2005 the city centre area became a UNESCO World Heritage status. Football in Le Havre is dominated by Le Harve Athletic Club the oldest surviving football team in the whole of France. Their most famous recent player is Paul Pogba who played in the Le Harve youth system before moving across the channel to Manchester United. Food & Beverage 3 Within the footprint of the stadium, there are not too many food outlets to be seen. The immediate area also lacks options. Inside, the concourse kiosks provided the usual football fayre. Your best option is to get your sustenance back in the central area of the city. Numerous outlets can be found in the promenade area, the quartier St Francois, and in and around the iconic the Volcan cultural building. For a quick fix, there is a McDonalds back along the Boulevard de Leningrad by the Hotel Kyriad. Atmosphere 4 The stadium, designed by SCAU and KSS attempts to achieve an ‘English style’ football atmosphere with steep inclines and the fan's closeness to the pitch. This multi-purpose stadium has also hosted rugby matches and music concerts. Three stands have the same size and dimensions with an imposing main stand and curved roof which is the centre piece of this intimate feeling arena. Entrance gates are listed from A-G with away fans entering their section via Gate F. The legroom for all seats is good and as with most modern venues, there are no ‘bad’ seats in the whole place. Neighborhood 5 Within the immediate vicinity of the stadium, there isn’t a great deal to do or see. Lodged between a dual carriageway and train lines almost all visitors will base themselves in the centre of town. If you prefer to stay in the local neighbourhood you could book in at the (quite expensive) 1872 Stadium Hotel’ built into the west stand of the ground. You won’t get closer than that! Aside from watching a game, you could also visit the old Le Havre stadium ‘Stade Jules Deschaseaux’ just across the main road to hear the faint echoes of past glories in this now-decaying ground. The main road that links the centre of the city to the stadium is called the Quai Colbert which becomes the Boulevard de Leningrad. This main road also leads to the railway station, bus station, and ferry port. Once you find this road you have your bearings. Landmarks to see in the town centre itself include the amazing installation called Catane De Containers a colourful sculpture that can be seen from the ferry as you arrive. Le Volcan conceived by Oscar Niemeyer, is an eye-catching library and auditorium which must be seen. Other landmarks to see are the Saint-Joseph’s Church, the city hall, and the hanging gardens. For refreshments, the Au Bureau is a good place to start which can be found on Rue Bernardine de Saint Pierre. Food and a good choice of beers are available at a reasonable price. Outdoor seating is also available for those balmy early or late summer afternoons. A couple of doors up from the Bureau there’s an excellent chocolate shop called Chocolaterie Auzou des Halles, then on the corner of Rue Louise Brindeau finish with ice cream or waffle to die for. You could also visit the Docks shopping centre located just off the Quai Colbert in some refurbished old wharf buildings. As well as various outlet shops you can find food here to suit a variety of tastes. Fans 4 The club has friendly links with the Brits from across the channel owing to its early years. Le Havre AC has English founders who visited from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. The city is also twinned with Southampton. There are at least four separate fan groups who testify of their love and devotion to the club, Havrais Barbarians, HAC Supporters Federation, Kop Ciel et Marine, and Kop Oceane 1872. Fans are well organised and have good influence within the club nicknamed Les Ciel et Marine (sky and Navy) after the club's colours. The average home attendance in the 2018/19 season was 6,161. Previous seasons a 1000 or so more than that. ‘Forever the First ’ is the club anthem which was launched at a derby match v local rivals Caen early in the life of the new stadium and is sung to the tune of the English national anthem. The fans have seen periodic success with Le Havre winning five Ligue 2 titles, the most recent in 2008. They also have one Coupe de France win back in 1959. Access 3 Le Havre is located in Normandy, a picturesque region on the northern coast of France, west of the Parc Naturel Regional des Boucles de la Seine Normande. This busy port city is easily accessible by rail, sea, and road. Paris is just over two hours away from the Intercites train service (from Paris Saint Lazare) to Le Havre railway station. The low-budget travelers’ friend ‘Flixbus’ offers a coach service from Paris taking a similar amount of time. From the UK, Brittany Ferries run a twice-daily service from Portsmouth. The crossing takes 5.5 hours and single passengers on foot can pay as little as £60 for a return ticket. Le Havre and nearby Caen both have local airports, but international travellers should head for Paris and continue from there. From the city centre it is a 5k walk to the stadium. Free shuttles are available by the Havreville – Le Harve Seine metrople. If you are arriving by car, the Stade Oceane sits adjacent to the D6015 (Boulevard de Leningrad), the main route in and out of the port. From here you can join the A29 for roads to the east, west, and down to Paris. Parking is available at the stadium and in the local neighbourhood; check the excellent Stade Oceane website for more details. There are also two parks and rides available. Once at the stadium like most modern venues access is relatively stress-free. Entry is by bar code tickets and inside the concourse areas are flat and easy to traverse. (Although there are steps to get up to the main stadium footprint outside the entrance). Return on Investment 4 £60 for return ferry tickets from Portsmouth, 100 Euros for the hotel, 9 Euros for the match ticket, and 8 Euros for the official program. Add in the food and refreshments and overall this trip represents decent value for money. Accommodation could generally be found cheaper in the future, the FIFA Women’s World Cup coming to town caused inflated charges on this occasion. Extras 3 Largest stadium in the Normandy region. Oldest surviving football club in France. The hotel was built into the side of the stadium. Final Thoughts The Stade Oceane, home of Le Havre AC, is hosting the 2019 Women’s World Cup matches. Take the time to visit this enjoyable city and venue.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field Johns Hill Rd & Kenton Dr Highland Heights, KY 41099 Northern Kentucky Norse website Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 500 Watching Baseball from the Hill A few miles south of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, is Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field on the campus of Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The field is located on campus and is built into a hill that creates a natural grass berm for fans in the outfield. It is currently undergoing renovations that will be completed in two phases. The field is symmetrical left-to-right, with a 320-foot fence down the lines and a 365-foot distance into the center field wall. The infield features a synthetic turf, while the outfield consists of natural grass. The only dirt on the field is on the pitching mound. The second phase of the renovations will increase the seating capacity and improve the dugouts. Food & Beverage 1 There is food served on the weekends for baseball games on top of the hill from local restaurants. However, during weekday games, there is no food or beverages to be found. Fans are allowed to bring in their food products. Many fans who watch games from the hill will bring Subway, Qdoba, or coneys from Skyline or Gold Star to eat during games. Atmosphere 2 When the weather is nice, there can be up to hundreds of people sitting on the hill. The atmosphere is lively, and patrons are known to heckle opposing players and cheer for the home team. The small stands in the back of the home plate may seat up to 50-60 people, and a couple of small aluminum bleachers are located behind the fence on the first baseline. The small row of seats behind the home plate does not feature any seating and could be uncomfortable if you attend without a seat cushion or chair back. Another area of concern is the entrance to the stadium itself; there does not seem to be a main entry or a great way to enter the stadium. The parking is on top of the hill, and fans have to descend the grassy slope or pathway to the main entrance; fortunately, there is a better way to watch the game. The best way to watch an NKU Norse game is to bring out a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the game from the outfield hill overlooking the outfield walls. It is probably the best section at the complex to watch the game and, perhaps, the most fun. There is ample room to house a few hundred spectators, and you are not too far away from the game itself. Some fans park their car on the hill and enjoy the game from the seat of their reminiscent of the old Albuquerque Sports Stadium. It’s the baseball equivalent of a drive-in movie theater. Neighborhood 3 The complex is on campus in the suburbs of Northern Kentucky. Downtown Cincinnati and Newport, Kentucky, are just minutes up I-271. To the south, there are plenty of retail and restaurant options to choose from when leaving the game. A few recommendations are Pompilio’s for home-style Italian food, Hofbrauhaus in Newport, and Buckhead Mountain Grill in Bellevue. The Newport Aquarium is a nice way to spend the afternoon with the family, and there is plenty of nightlife at Newport on the Levee. A nice bonus: fans can cross the Ohio River on the Purple People Bridge. Fans 3 On the weekends, the student population can be heard loudly from on top of the hill. The revelers usually come by the hundreds and give the small baseball complex a much-needed kick of excitement. When there is only a small handful of faithful fans, the crowd tends to be somewhat melancholy but will show signs of life when Northern Kentucky scores or makes a great play on the diamond. Access 3 It is rather simple to attend a game at Foundation Field. A drive is minutes down I-271 from Cincinnati, and the campus is easy to locate once you exit. The parking is free and plentiful during weekend contests but may take a little maneuvering during day games on the weekdays. Return on Investment 3 NKU does not charge a fee to attend a game. This may sound like a great deal. However, seats in the back of the dugout feel a little archaic. Your best bet is to bring your chairs and something to eat to make up for the lack of amenities at the ballpark. . Extras 1 The best part of the complex is being able to watch games from atop the hill, either in your car or on lawn seats. It’s a different and fun way to watch college baseball. Final Thoughts The Hill makes this a great venue for watching baseball. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena 2900 Stadium Dr Fort Worth, TX 76109 TCU Horned Frogs website Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena website Year Opened: 1961 Capacity: 8,500 Riff, Ram, Bah, Zoo … Give ‘Em Hell, TCU! There is no denying that Texas Christian University is a football school. With the 2022 season finding the TCU Horned Frogs in the National Championship game, as of this writing, Fort Worth and the Metroplex are going a little Frog Wild. However, one should not sleep on TCU hoops! Favorite son of TCU and former basketball letterman Jamie Dixon has returned to TCU after a number of successful seasons guiding the Pitt Panthers and the product on the court is getting better and better. Home for the Horned Frogs is Walsh Family Court @ Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena right on the Texas Christian University campus. The Frogs have played basketball since 1908 and have played in Schollmaier Arena since 1961. Texas Christian University is a private university affiliated with the Disciples of Christ church which was established in 1873. There are approximately 12,000 students at TCU. In 2012, the Horned Frogs made a big step up by joining the Big 12 Conference. As for basketball, a massive renovation to the former Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in 2015 gave TCU the current Schollmaier Arena. The arena is named after the lead donors, Ed & Rae Schollmaier and the court is named after the family of oilman and philanthropist, Howard Walsh Food & Beverage 3 The concession options at Schollmaier Arena are fairly routine. Pizza, wings, hot dogs, nachos, pretzels and popcorn are all available. Different concession stands have different specialty items including cheeseburgers, chopped beef sandwiches and brisket nachos. Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice in Schollmaier Arena and there are some alcoholic options. The beer selection includes Miller Lite, Coors Light, Shiner and 817 Blonde. Atmosphere 5 The campus of Texas Christian University is gorgeous and Schollmaier Arena is no exception. Located adjacent to Amon Carter Stadium, Schollmaier Arena has the same light brick that can be found around campus. The building fits right in with all of the others. The main entrance to the arena is on the east side of the building and has a long open plaza for fans to wait at before the doors open. There are bronze statues off to the right of key members of the TCU athletic family. Some bronze statues of interest for basketball fans include former player James Cash and former football coach, basketball coach and athletic director Dutch Meyer. The Horned Frog statue immediately in front of the arena is the perfect photo op for all fans visiting TCU. Upon entering the main gate at the northeast side of the building, fans are immediately struck with the attention to detail found in Schollmaier Arena. Everything is bright and clean and beyond professional looking. The use of purple is a theme throughout the concourses and simple details like finished floors and walls make Schollmaier Arena top notch. There is no exposed concrete at all. On the immediate left is a spot no fan should miss, the June and John Justin Hall of Fame. With large mannequins upon the entry displaying the uniforms for each varsity team to cases filled with trophies and national championships to the enshrined members, this is a spot even fans unaware of TCU’s athletic history will want to spend some time at. Other spots of notice in the circular concourse include the various murals and the framed jerseys of the six retired basketball numbers. Continuing to go the extra mile, TCU gives a brief explanation for the honoured players rather than just hanging their number. Darrell Browder, Dick O’Neal, James Cash, Kurt Thomas and Sandora Irvin and Janice Dziuk are all honored both in the concourse and in the main seating bowl. The main seating bowl is where it is clear that the venue was built long before the entry and concourses. The circular bowl design is common and cozy, yet not the design of choice when new venues are built. It is just as clean inside the seating bowl as out in the concourses. The color scheme remains purple as the dominant accent with purple seats and light colors throughout. The cable supported ceiling gives vibes of Madison Square Garden. The seats are essentially one main level with conference championships and retired numbers enshrined on the back walls. The court runs from southeast to northwest and sitting on the northeast side will give fans the perfect center court picture. The Walsh Family Court features an interesting, reptile skin design and the four-sided videoboard with LED ring is effective and hangs above center court. The gameday production is what one would expect from a college facility. The band sits behind the southeast goal and the cheerleaders have a place as well as flagbearers and the mascot, Superfrog and the TCU Showgirls. Overall, there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of improvement on the atmosphere that TCU could possibly do. Neighborhood 4 The campus of Texas Christian University is located in the southwest portion of the city, also southwest of Downtown Fort Worth. There are a number of establishments in the immediate area that cater to the college crowd that fans may be interested in stopping at for a pre or post game meal or drink. The Purple Frog, Buffalo Bros, and Fat Shack are all worth considering. For other sporting options, Amon Carter Stadium, home of the TCU Horned Frogs football team is right next door to Schollmaier Arena and the baseball team out of Lupton Stadium are quite popular and accomplished. Panther City Lacrosse of the NLL play out of Dickies Arena as well. There are a host of rodeo spots in Fort Worth and even for the novice rodeo attendee, it is worth a trip. The most historic and most consistent is found in the Fort Worth Stockyards area at Cowtown Coliseum. Rodeo runs every Friday and Saturday night, all year round and are worth checking out. The Fort Worth Stockyards is an essential tourist destination and a must for all fans. Outside Fort Worth, keep in mind that Dallas, Arlington and Frisco are nearby and all have plenty of sporting and tourist options. Fans who wish to stay near TCU can find a room at the nearby Hyatt Place Fort Worth. Fans 3 TCU is definitely a football school and years of basketball taking a back seat have taken its toll on the fanbase. The Horned Frogs generally attract less than 6,000 fans per game, which ranks last in the Big 12 Conference. Keep in mind that the venue is one of the smallest for a Power 5 school. TCU fans are generally reserved. The student section, Frog Army, sits near the court near the band on the southeast end. It will be interesting to see what changes to fandom at TCU happen as a result of the expected increase in basketball success to accompany Coach Jamie Dixon. For now, the fan score remains at a strong three with an expectation of an increase in the near future. Access 4 Texas Christian University campus is located in the southwest portion of Fort Worth. It is surrounded by the Chisholm Trail Parkway to the north and west, Interstate 20 to the south and I-35W to the east. Each of these major arteries are a fair distance from campus and some traversing through Fort Worth will be necessary to get to campus. There are a number of parking garages on campus near Schollmaier Arena. The most economic option is the garage on the opposite side of Amon Carter Stadium, which is free. For fans wishing to access public transit, there are buses that traverse University Drive and Berry Street and will require a brief walk through campus to get to the arena. Fans should check out the Trinity Metro website for fares, schedules and maps. Getting around the arena is not too difficult and the washroom facilities are adequate for the number of people in attendance. With security policies in constant flux throughout College Basketball, Stadium Journey highly recommends that before heading to the game, fans consult the TCU Horned Frogs website for the most up to date security and prohibited items information. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for the TCU Horned Frogs can be costly. All conference games start at $50 per ticket and $40 for youth. Tickets can be found for less for non-conference games, as with most college basketball experiences. Parking can be found for for free and concession prices are about what one would expect for a college basketball game. Although Schollmaier Arena is gorgeous, the fans don’t quite bring enough to the table to make this a top tier college basketball experience. Perhaps with more success and excitement, the full experience will warrant the ticket prices. Extras 3 An extra mark for the June and John Justin Hall of Fame. It is truly unique and a must see for TCU and college athletics fans. An extra mark for the Horned Frogs hand signal, which although is not seen as much at basketball as football, it is still a unique bonding item for Frog fans. An extra mark for the TCU branding with one of the most unique team names there is and a purple scheme that is embraced throughout athletics. Final Thoughts The Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena on the campus of Texas Christian University is one of the nicest college basketball facilities there is. The attention to detail is second to none and fans will enjoy the experience of a Horned Frogs game. With the addition of Coach Jamie Dixon and more success on the horizon, Fort Worth will hear a lot more “Riff, Ram, Bah, Zoo … Give ‘Em Hell, TCU!” to go along with the squeak and swish of College Basketball. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Red Auerbach Arena 415 South Street Waltham, MA 02453 Brandeis men's basketball website Red Auerbach Arena website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 2,500 Here Come the Judges   Brandeis University is a private research university located in the Boston suburb of Waltham. Founded in 1948 as a Jewish-sponsored secular institution, it is named after Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish Justice of the Supreme Court. The school has a total enrollment of just under 6,000 students and is best known for its research, neuroscience, and economics programs. Brandeis has numerous notable alumni, including multiple Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winners.   The Judges (an appropriate nickname for the athletic squads considering that the school is named after a Supreme Court Justice) play at Red Auerbach Arena in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. The Boston Celtics used Brandeis as their preseason and practice facility from 1991-1999, and the Auerbach Arena remains a reminder of these days. The larger Gosman Center contains indoor training facilities for many of the school’s athletic teams.   Eight Brandeis men’s basketball teams have qualified for the NCAA Division Three tournament, reaching the Elite Eight in 2008 and 2010. Four women’s teams have also played in the tournament. The program is notable for the fact that three former Boston Celtics (K.C. Jones, Bob Brannum, and Chris Ford) have served as head coaches for the Judges.   Food & Beverage 0   There are no concessions sold at Brandeis basketball games. There are a pair of vending machines in the Gosman Center lobby, but neither one was operational during Stadium Journey’s visit. Fans are welcome to bring in their snacks to enjoy during the games.   Atmosphere 2   The Red Auerbach Arena is located inside the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, which also contains many of Brandeis’ athletic training and fitness facilities. The basketball court is placed in the middle of an indoor track and several tennis courts. Curtains are hung from the ceiling to eliminate the large open spaces beyond the basketball court and to create an arena setting. Despite the comfy enclosure, the court feels empty and cold.   A scoreboard hangs at the center court which displays basic game information. There is no pep band, cheerleading squad, or dance team present at Brandeis games, and a meager turnout from the student body. While there is a good turnout from local fans and family members, any noise created by these fans is swallowed up by the vast emptiness of the facility.   A highlight of a game at Red Auerbach Arena is the presence of the Brandeis mascot, a judge (who kind of looks like Carl from the movie Up), who wanders the court wearing a proper judicial robe and carrying a large gavel, which he uses to bonk the occasional fan on the head. There are portable speakers on the far side of the court that play music during play stoppages. The PA announcer goes about their work unobtrusively, avoiding the over-the-top antics so common today, even in smaller gymnasiums.   Neighborhood 4   Waltham is a suburban city located 13 miles to the west of Boston. It was an early center for the labor movement in America and a focal location for the Industrial Revolution. Today the city has a population of 65,000 residents and is a center for research and higher education. Waltham was ranked as the 13th best place to live in America by Money Magazine.   For visiting fans, nearby Moody Street contains a collection of international shops and restaurants, as well as the Embassy Cinema and Charles Riverwalk. The Waltham Tourism Council  has an extensive listing of nearby food and lodging options. Of course, if visiting from out of town, you may be considering a trip to nearby Boston, where the list of options is nearly endless.   Fans 2   A perusal of the box scores from Brandeis’ 2023-24 season shows the listed attendance at every home game to be exactly 175. Every game. All season. What a coincidence! Seriously, since Brandeis doesn’t charge admission, there’s no reason for an exact head count at their games. A look around the gym during Stadium Journey’s visit showed this number to be a pretty good estimate.   The crowd at Judges games is certainly what we call here at Stadium Journey to be a “friends and family” type of crowd. Most of the fans in attendance seem to have a personal connection with the players on the court and are knowledgeable about the team and enthusiastic in their support. The fans in attendance make up for the lack of support from the student body. Surprisingly, despite the wide geographic footprint of the UAA, there was a big turnout of visiting fans during the day of Stadium Journey’s visit.   Access 4   The Gosman Center is fairly easy to get to, especially by Boston standards. The campus is located in suburban Waltham, 13 miles to the west of downtown Boston. Located near the intersection of Interstates 95 (also known as Route 128) and 90 (the Mass Pike), the Brandeis campus is easy to find whether driving or accessing public transportation.   The Brandeis/Roberts T station is under a half mile from the Gosman Center via the MBTA’s Fitchburg Commuter Rail. The 553 bus has a stop right outside the athletic complex. If visiting Brandeis on a weeknight, be sure to give yourself a little extra time to arrive no matter what your chosen transportation method.   Red Auerbach Arena is located inside the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, located alongside Brandeis’ other athletic facilities on the southeastern edge of campus. Fans will enter into a small, but bright lobby. The basketball court will be located to your right.   Seating is on one side of the basketball court, consisting of molded plastic bleachers. Fans will enter at the top of the bleachers and walk down to their seats. There is some standing room at the top of the bleachers. Restrooms located in the lobby are small but clean.   For fans who are interested in seeing where the Celtics used to practice, the Shapiro Gymnasium is down the hallway behind the bleachers. There are no signs that the Celtics ever played here except for Red Auerbach’s name on the court.   Return on Investment 5   There is no charge for admission to Brandeis basketball games. During conference play, you can watch both the men's and women’s teams compete. That’s two games for the price of none!   Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the Gosman Center, meaning you will not have to reach for your wallet even once when at a Judges basketball game.   Extras 2   Banners hang inside Red Auerbach Arena honoring NCAA tournament appearances from all of Brandeis’ athletic teams. National Championship teams (1976 men’s soccer and 1983 men’s cross country) have their banners hanging over the seating area, along with Brandeis’ first basketball team to qualify for the NCAA tournament, in 1958.   The Brandeis Athletic Hall of Fame is located in the hallway behind Red Auerbach Arena, adjacent to the Shapiro Gymnasium.   The fact that the Boston Celtics used this facility as their practice facility from 1991-1999 and retains the name of NBA legendary coach and general manager Red Auerbach is worth an extra point.   Final Thoughts   Fans visiting Red Auerbach Arena expecting to get a history lesson about the Celtics teams who frequented the facility in the 90s will be disappointed, but it remains a solid, if unspectacular, place to catch some quality Division Three basketball. -----   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey. Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Canlan Ice Sports York 989 Murray Ross Parkway Toronto, ON M3J 3M4 York Lions hockey website Canlan Ice Sports York website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 1,200 The Lion’s (Ice) Den In 1959 York University was established in what was then North York, Ontario. A lot has changed since then. York opened their Keele Campus in 1965, which is now the main campus. The hockey team hit the ice for the first time in 1970 under the moniker York Yeomen. Also since then, York has ballooned to an enrollment of over 55,000 students making it the third largest university in Canada. North York has since been amalgamated to become part of Toronto. The Yeomen, named after the famous British guards the Yeomen Warders, commonly known as Beefeaters, were very successful early on, winning four Queen’s Cups before 2003 as well as three University Cups as National Champions. Changes continued for York. In 1996, York moved to the new Beatrice Ice Gardens on campus. The Ice Gardens replaced the York Ice Palace, which was built in 1968. The Beatrice Ice Gardens have been home to numerous events, including various NHL training camps. In 2003, in an effort to de-gender their sports teams, the era of the York Yeomen and Yeowomen ended and York rebranded all of its athletic programs as the York Lions. The arena was purchased by Canlan Ice Sports in 2007 and renamed Canlan Ice Sports York. The facility houses five NHL sized hockey rinks and an Olympic Sized ice surface where the Lions play. Success for the Lions continued with two more Queen’s Cups after 2003. At a capacity of 1,200, Canlan is the perfect size for an OUA hockey venue and provides a solid experience for university hockey fans. Food & Beverage 4 Supporting six ice surfaces in a busy hockey city like Toronto definitely has its advantages. The concession options at Canlan Ice Sports is much better than many other OUA hockey venues. In the bustling main concourse, there are two main concession areas to go along with a plethora of vending machines. The Pizzaville stand provides a wide variety of pizza options and not just the standard cheese or pepperoni slices. The other main concession stand is a Wild Wing Express stand, which ironically does not serve chicken wings. However, hot dogs, chips, candy and a variety of baked goods are on the menu. Coffee, hot chocolate and a variety of Coca-cola products are available soft drinks. For those that feel disappointment for the lack of chicken wings on the menu, fear not! Upstairs from the main concourse is a full-fledged and fully licensed Wild Wing restaurant. The is the perfect pre- and post- game spot, especially since other spots in the neighbourhood require a drive to get to. The opportunity to see the ice from Wild Wing is also there. Atmosphere 3 Canlan Ice Sports is a huge hockey complex, as one would expect with six ice surfaces. The exterior is definitely out of the eighties with not a terrible amount of consideration to the outside aesthetics. The flat roof, concrete walls and lack of windows give Canlan more of a warehouse look to it than a hockey arena. The main entrance is fairly nondescript and is nothing if not functional. Once inside, patrons will probably notice the bustling nature of a very busy facility. Concession stands, vending machines, pro shop and custom t-shirt stands are all found in the concourses which has that distinct aroma of used hockey equipment. York fans will need to head to the right upon entry to Rink 1 Centre, which is the home ice for the Lions. The York logo medallion and advertising outside the main arena, along with the York painted doors are all helpful to give the arena a little bit of a home feel. Inside the home arena, it is a fairly generic setup. The ice surface is oriented from east to west and the entire grandstand is on the north side. The south side does offer some media risers if need be, but the student-led media production takes place from behind the grandstand. Twelve rows of blue, plastic, stadium-style seats make up the seating area and are more than adequate for a league that does have some pretty uncomfortable venues. The west side wall above the ice surface has the score clock, which is very simple and only offers goals, period, time, penalties and shots. However, unfortunately, the shots are not tracked, which would be welcomed by most fans. To the right of the score clock hangers the retired number 18 of Mark Cross for the Lions. Cross was a member of the York Lions from 2011 to 2016 and went on to continue his hockey career as an assistant coach with the Humboldt Broncos and was killed in the infamous bus crash in Saskatchewan in April of 2018. York retired his number in 2018. Unfortunately, other than Mark Cross’ retired number, there is very little in the arena to scream out home to the Lions. There is some signage, but what is really lacking is any sort of acknowledgement of the six Queen’s Cups and three University Cups York has captured. A program this decorated absolutely must put up some banners at the very least. The gameday production is a simple, student-led affair. Students are at the door past the main doors to welcome fans with a smile and free programs and other promotional items. The Public Address announcer for the 2019-2020 season is female, which is fairly unusual in the hockey world. She does a very good job, but is hampered by the extremely outdated audio system at Canlan as well as the terrible acoustics of the building. There is little in the way of sound absorbing material around the arena and the sound bounces all over the place. Most of the announcements and music are at a volume that is way too loud and therefore everything is difficult to understand and enjoy. Neighbourhood 3 Canlan Ice Sports is located at the north end of the York University Keele Campus. The campus itself is located at the northern border of the City of Toronto. The campus is fairly huge and as a result walkable options for pre and post game meals are few and far between. However, a five to ten minute car ride will produce some rewards. Heading on Steeles Ave east towards Dufferin will produces some decent spots. Montana’s, Max’s and Cora are recognizable chain restaurants around that area. Some more unique spots include La Risata, Cuscatian, Hoops, and Randy’s Sports Bar and Restaurant. The north end of the city is not a terrible spot to be with regards to other entertainment options. Heading just north of Steeles will bring fans to the City of Vaughan. Here Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre can be found with a whole host of shops and restaurants. Also, a little further north will bring fans to Toronto’s premier amusement park, Canada’s Wonderland. Of course, the opportunity to head downtown with all of the options, is, of course, a fantastic idea. Other sporting options on campus include a full complement of athletic teams that is fielded by York. The football Lions play at Alumni Field @ York Stadium and the basketball Lions play at the Tait McKenzie Centre, both of which are within walking distance of Canlan. The Canadian Premier Soccer League has a presence at York Lions Stadium with the York 9. The university also hosts some of Canada’s premier tennis events at the nearby Aviva Centre. Downtown Toronto offers a massive number of sporting options. USports is well represented with the Toronto Varsity Blues (football, basketball, hockey) and Ryerson Rams (basketball, hockey). Of course the most famous Toronto teams are also found downtown. These include the Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Rock, Toronto Argonauts, Toronto FC, Toronto Marlies and Toronto Arrows. Fans looking for a spot to stay near the York campus are also in luck. The Best Western and Staybridge Suites are close by and great options. Fans 3 Although York only attracts a couple hundred fans per game, they have an advantage over many other programs. The small capacity of Canlan makes the building seem far more full than it really is. Games against Ryerson and Toronto have the opportunity to attract more fans, however, York students seem to be more likely to travel downtown to their opponents rather than the opposite. That being said, the odd acoustics for the arena carries over to the crowd, which also sounds larger than it really is. Access 4 Getting to Canlan Ice Sports, for the most part, is not too difficult. Located on the Keele Campus of York University, along with the other sport facilities, Canlan is located close to major streets and major highways. The campus is located near the Black Creek and Jane and Finch neighbourhoods of Toronto, south of highway 407 and east of highway 400. The northern border of the campus is Steeles Ave. Unfortunately, Steeles and highway 400 are among the busiest spots in all of Toronto. Travelling a short distance can take a very long time, especially on a Friday. Coming from out of town may require taking highway 407, which is an expensive toll road, rather than taking highway 401 and 400. The Pioneer Village stop on the TTC subway has been completed and access to the university is much easier than it has been in the past. GO Transit, York Region Transit and Brampton Transit also have presences on campus and may be options depending on the point of origin. Fans should check out the Toronto Transit Commission , GO Transit , York Region Transit and Brampton Transit websites for fares, schedules and maps. For fans that are driving to campus, there is plenty of parking available near the athletic facilities. Lots may be attended, but parking for Canlan Ice Sports should be free of charge. The ticketing area is a temporary table in front of Rink 1 Centre and credit and debit options are available. Getting around Canlan is not too difficult depending on how many other teams and games are at the complex and there are plenty of washroom facilities available for patrons. Return on Investment 4 Canadian University hockey offers a great return for a very small investment. Tickets for Lions hockey run between $7.50 and $10. Seniors, alumni and non-York students receive the discount. Children thirteen and under and York students are free of charge. The gameday production is simple, yet effective and the product on the ice is strong. York can be counted on to provide a good team in most years and the opportunity to really hear the sounds of the game up close are worth the very minimal investment. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Lions honouring of former hockey player and Humboldt Broncos assistant coach, the late Mark Cross. An extra mark for the success that the Yeomen and Lions have found on the ice with 6 Queen’s Cups and 3 University Cup championships. An extra mark for the local rivalries that York has with the Ryerson Rams and University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Final Thoughts Taking in a York Lions hockey game is a great way to get the most out of your sporting dollar. The Canlan Ice Sports York facility is appropriately sized for university hockey and offers a good experience. The bonus of having so many eating options in the facility doesn’t hurt either. Take some time when in the area and check out the Lions’ (Ice) Den. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Bojangles’ Coliseum 2700 E Independence Blvd Charlotte, NC 28205 Charlotte Checkers website Bojangles’ Coliseum website Year Opened: 1955 Capacity: 8,600 Checking out in Charlotte The Bojangles Coliseum opened in 1955 as Charlotte’s first dedicated sports and concert venue. It has gone through various names over the years, including the Charlotte Coliseum, Independence Arena, Cricket Arena, and Bojangles Coliseum. It has operated as Bojangles Coliseum since 2008. When it opened it was the largest unsupported steel dome Coliseum in the world. It has a capacity of 8,600 in its ice hockey configuration. The Bojangles Coliseum was the first sports facility in the Deep South to serve as the home for a professional ice hockey team. The story of hockey in Charlotte is a story of fire and ice. The Baltimore Clippers of the Eastern Hockey League were left without a home rink with several games left in their 1956 season after their home rink burned down. The team moved to Charlotte on an emergency basis to play its last 5 games. Charlotte went wild over this new sport in the South, with 10,000 fans turning out for the initial game and 40,000 fans turning out over the five-game span. The Clippers owner was so impressed that he decided to keep the team in Charlotte permanently. It was an immediate success, as the Charlotte Clippers won the regular season and playoff championships in their first full season in Charlotte. After the first two seasons, a contest was held to rename the team. Maurice “Rocket” Richard was brought in to announce the name change to the Charlotte Checkers. Over the next 20 years, there were several changes in league affiliations with the Eastern Hockey League and the Southern Hockey League both going out of business. Finally, the Checkers would move on to the ECHL and eventually to the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2010. The Bojangles Coliseum hosted professional hockey from 1956-1977 to 1993-2005. The Checkers eventually returned to Bojangles Coliseum permanently in 2015 after several years at the Spectrum Arena in downtown Charlotte. In 2019 the Checkers took home the Calder Cup as the champions of the American Hockey League. The team serves as the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. Food & Beverage 5 Bojangles Coliseum offers a well-rounded set of concession offerings along the concourse level of the facility. Kelly’s East Side Diner offers a Bojangles chicken menu, plus hot dogs, popcorn, and craft beer. The Route 74 Grill serves a roadhouse menu of pizza, hot dogs, nachos, and brats. Charlotte’s Local Tap features a City BBQ menu of pulled pork sandwiches, pork/brisket tacos, and nachos, along with several craft beers. Goalie Guacamole features Latin-influenced street food, including chicken or pork nachos, chips and salsa, and chicken/pork Mexican rice bowls. Beer enthusiasts can head to the Beer Garden to sample more than 16 different craft beers. Each of these vendors features Coca-Cola brand products and operates on a cashless basis. The Red Line Club is a premium dining offering at the ice level of the Coliseum. It is positioned between the Checkers locker room and the rink. This offers patrons the opportunity to high-five the players as they enter and depart the ice between periods. The Red Line Club does accept reservations. Atmosphere 4 Checkers games at the Bojangles Coliseum are very well done. Each game provides some type of promotional giveaway. The stands are usually 70-80% full regularly. Even if you are seated in the balcony area of the arena, you’ll have a great view of the action on the ice. The Coliseum made several improvements in its facilities in preparation for the Checker's return in time for the 2016 season. These included the installation of wider seats in a reconfiguration of the seating bowl surrounding the ice. The electronics package also was enhanced with a new scoreboard, sound system, and sports lighting at the facility.            Neighborhood 3 Unfortunately, the area immediately around the Bojangles Coliseum is very transitional. We encourage you to park only in the arena’s parking lot or to take a ride share to and from a game. There are some spots worth visiting within driving distance of the Coliseum. Vaulted Oak Brewery is a favorite for before and after-the-game drinks. The Mint Museum is highly recommended for any trip to the Queen City. Fans 4 Charlotte has the savviest hockey fans in the southern region of the AHL, as the city and the Coliseum have hosted a hockey team off and on since 1956. This predated the arrival of pro basketball and pro football by three decades. It has allowed the team to build a couple of generations of hockey fans. Bojangles Coliseum and the Checkers have a talented team on hand to keep the fans energized throughout the game. The team includes mascot Chubby, PA announcer TJ Chillot, organist Jason Atkins, aka “Greazy Keys” and the team’s cheer and dance team the CheckMates. The fans can create quite a din on powerplays or after a Checker’s goal. Their cheers are amplified by the Bojangles Coliseum’s tin roof, which tends to reflect the noise down into the seating bowl. Access 4 Bojangles Coliseum is easy to get to, as it lies along one of Charlotte’s main thoroughfares on Independence Boulevard (Highway 74). The parking lot is adjacent to the Coliseum, and it opens two hours before puck drop. The parking is built into your ticket price, which makes the parking process go much faster. Recent renovations have added additional entry points into the arena, and the doors open one hour before the puck drops, giving you plenty of time to find your seats. There are three main entrances to Bojangles Coliseum. The doors open one hour before the puck drops. This leaves you plenty of time to find your seat, get something to eat, or watch warmups. This helps keep lines from growing too long and the flow into the arena runs very smoothly. The concourse runs 360 degrees around the ice and is wide enough to handle the typical Checkers crowd without significant bottlenecks. The most recent renovations at Bojangles increased the number of restrooms by 33%, a much-needed improvement over the long lines, especially between the periods. Return on Investment 3 You will need to pull out your checkbook when purchasing tickets to a Checkers game, as they are quite pricey. There are five different levels of tickets in the seating bowl. The cheapest seats are known as balcony seats. They cost $25 and are located on the sides above the concourse. Attack seats ($28) are in the corners above the concourse. Gold seats ($35) are located on the sides just below the concourse. Platinum seats ($45) are in the lower levels on the sides of the rink. The two highest-priced ticket levels are Rinkside ($55) and Glass ($150). Glass seats are the first row of seats adjacent to the glass, while Rinkside seats are the rows immediately behind the glass seats. The parking fees are covered in the ticket price. Concession prices are well priced. Extras 3 Over the years the Charlotte Checkers have won several championships in the leagues they have played in. These include the 1956 Eastern Hockey League titles in 1956, 1971, and 1972, as well as the 1975 and 1976 titles in the Southern Hockey League and the ECHL title in 1996. In 2019 the Checkers were crowned as the Calder Cup champions of the AHL. The Checkers played their first regular-season outdoor game in January 2024. The Checkers Outdoor Classic was held at Truist Park, the home of the Charlotte Knights minor league baseball team. The banners from the various championships the Checkers have won over the years ring the perimeter of the seating bowl. Final Thoughts The original home of the Charlotte Checkers is still going strong nearly 70 years later. Bojangles Coliseum has undergone numerous renovations over the years to remain a viable home for one of the first southern ice hockey posts in the country.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium Gold Coast Rd and Shark Street Brookville, NY 11568 LIU Sharks website Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 6,000 The New Shark Tank Long Island University has two campuses: one in Brooklyn, and the other in Brookville, which is known as LIU Post. Up until this year, each school had their own athletic program, with the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds playing in Division I, while the LIU Post Pioneers were in Division II. This past summer, however, the university combined the two programs, and rebranded as the Sharks. With the unification, all programs would now be Division I, including football. This made the Sharks the newest members of the Football Conference Subdivision (FCS), and they became the fifth Division I gridiron team in the greater NYC area, along with Columbia, Wagner, Fordham, and Stony Brook. As such, in order to maintain Stadium Journey’s complete list of Division I football venues, we paid a visit to their gridiron, Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. Food & Beverage 2 There is a single fixed concession stand offering basic items such as hot dogs, nachos, and pretzels, each for $3. Candy and chips are $2, the same price as bottles of soda (only Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite). Coffee, hot chocolate, and tea are also $2, while Powerade is $3. There are also vending machines inside the Pratt Recreation Center with a larger variety of drink (Coke Zero for example) that is also 25 cents cheaper. During homecoming, food trucks are located outside the stadium where you can get something a bit more substantial such as grilled cheese sandwiches. There is no evidence that these trucks would be at every home game. Alcohol is not available inside the stadium. Atmosphere 3 Outside the stadium, there is an active tailgate scene as well as a small amusement park with 3 or 4 rides. Again, I believe this was a special occasion for the homecoming game, but it did add to the festivities. You walk through a small gate to get to the stadium itself. There are two seating stands, but only one was in use, specifically the one behind the Sharks bench, which is somewhat protected from the sun. There is no covering on either stand, so if it is raining, you will need a poncho or umbrella. The middle three sections are chair backs, while the rest of the seating area is general admission. Rosalie Nuti Memorial Park at the north end of the field has several tables and chairs for fans who want to relax away from the crowd, and is a good place for kids to expend some energy. You can also stand near the end zone here if you prefer that vantage point. There is a dance team at one end, and cheerleaders at the other, which makes the GA sections a bit livelier. There were a few promotions such as a potato sack race for kids, but as this was an FCS game not on television, very little dead time. On a beautiful autumn day, this is a great place to spend a few hours watching football. Neighborhood 2 The stadium is located on the campus of LIU Post, which is in the town of Brookville on Long Island, about 25 miles east of New York City. The Steinberg Art Museum is on campus and is open from 11-3 on Saturdays up until Columbus Day. The closest hub is next to the Greenvale Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Station, which is about 3 miles west. Here you can find a few pubs and eateries such as the Barefoot Peddler. Another mile west is the Nassau County Museum of Art, which has a nice outdoor sculpture garden that is ideal on a sunny afternoon. There are no hotels close to campus and you would be best advised to find lodging that suits your other reasons for visiting New York. In general, there is nothing within walking distance of the campus, so a car is necessary if you want to explore the area. Fans 3 The game I attended was only the Sharks second home game in Division I, but there was a crowd of nearly 5,000 on hand to celebrate homecoming. This was double the showing for their first game. Fans were knowledgeable and respectful and having a good time despite their team getting blown out. It will take some time to see if they can maintain this level of support as the team will struggle for their first few seasons in FCS. Access 3 Getting here in a car from NYC is fairly straightforward, as you will take the Long Island Expressway to Glen Cove Road, go north to Northern Boulevard, and then east to the campus. It’s only 25 miles but it will take at least 45 minutes on a Saturday morning. There will be staff on hand to guide you to the parking lots, which are free. Get there 3 hours early if you wish to tailgate. If you are limited to transit, the Nassau County NICE bus is your only option. The N20h bus from Hicksville or Great Neck LIRR stations is the one to catch, but with limited runs on weekends, you will need to plan your trip in advance. It is possible to walk the 3 miles from Greenvale, but this is not recommended. Uber or Lyft do pick up on campus and a ride to Hicksville is about $15. Once inside, there is no problem moving about the stadium, or waiting for concessions or restrooms. Return on Investment 4 General admission tickets are $10, with the chair backs going for an extra $5. Coupled with the cheap eats and free parking, this is a very affordable afternoon for Division I football and a great way to escape the city for a while. Extras 2 The Pratt Recreation Center is to the west of the stadium and includes several display cases with trophies, including some commemorating national titles in Division II women’s lacrosse. Another point for the hard ticket, which shows the two helmets atop a background of shark fins, along with the date and a unique number. Every school should endeavor to provide similar souvenirs to their fans. Final Thoughts The unification of LIU’s athletic programs was a welcome surprise as it resulted in another Division I football program in the area. Few sports fans visiting NYC will bother to make the trip to Brookville, but that is their loss as the experience is well worth the trip. As the team gets better, expect the overall game day presentation to improve as well, making a game at the Shark Tank a Saturday afternoon to remember.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Kia Center 400 W Church St Orlando, FL 32801 Orlando Magic website Kia Center website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 18,500 Quietly Impressive in Orlando Take an NBA team, plant it in a beautiful vibrant growing city, and build them a beautiful facility with modern touches that never seem to go out of style, and you have yourself Kia Center, home of the Orlando Magic. Chock-full of quality concessions, comfortable seating, great restaurants and bars nearby, and friendly patrons, you would be hard-pressed to find a venue as enjoyable and inviting for a game of professional basketball. While many may think of Orlando as a city meant for tourists, it is quietly becoming a central hub for sports. Food & Beverage 5 The concessions at Kia Center are impressive. The home of the Magic combines standard stadium concessions and local favorites with known brands from around the country. Among the popular spots are PDQ Chicken ($15.99-$19.99 for chicken tenders, $15.99 for chicken sandwiches) and Pappa Johns ($10.99-$11.99 per personal pizza). Local favorites come in the form of 4 Rivers BBQ ($15.99 for BBQ Chicken Nachos, Pulled Pork Nachos, or Carved Turkey Sandwiches) and Gringos Locos Tacos ($12.99-$15.99 for nachos, $6.99 for tacos). Stadium favorites like popcorn ($6.99), jumbo pretzels ($4.99), hot dogs (9.99), and even Brazilian meat bowls and burritos ($14.99) are available. Drinks include soda ($6.49-$7.99) and beer ($11.99-$13.99). Smaller food vendor carts are also scattered around the arena, including coffee stands and Dippin’ Dots ice cream. Perhaps the coolest thing about the concessions at Kia Center, though, is the Ultra Club bar, an outdoor location which overlooks the downtown skyline, while also providing a beautiful gathering space for some fresh air, good drinks, and TVs that show the action inside. Another great spot is the Big Storm Brewing location on the event level near the main entrance – this bar and restaurant is open from 11am to 7pm on weekends as well as during Kia Center events, and features its own entrance to the arena for fans with tickets. Atmosphere 4 Kia Center is stunning; from the vibrant and colorful concourse lighting that extends to the main entrance lobby, to the unique arrangement of the court’s flooring – everything here is visually beautiful. The arena looks like it is a new facility, not one that has been open for over seven years. The acoustics are also great, making the crowd roars loud and noticeable. Orlando Magic’s seats are routinely full when it comes to ticket sales, meaning you always have the feel of a big game. But perhaps the best thing is that Magic games feel like they are a family affair; there are young fans at every game, and the team works to engage with younger fans like few others. The family-friendly atmosphere penetrates everything you see and do at Kia Center, making it a draw for anyone looking to take in a night of professional basketball that everyone can enjoy. Neighborhood 5 What can you say about downtown Orlando? Kia Center is steps away from Church Street, the hub of Orlando’s rebirth as a foodie and entertainment destination. The City of Orlando has become a sports-thirsty destination over the last few years; with the explosion in popularity of Orlando City SC and a renewed interest in the Orlando Magic, the City Beautiful loves sports. The immediate area around Kia Center includes suburbs to the west and the downtown city center to the east. There are tons of hotels nearby, and since the arena sits next to I-4, getting to other resorts and hotels in the greater Orlando area is not hard to do either. Fans can easily stay at the Crowne Plaza Orlando-Downtown, Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, or the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Downtown, and still walk to the arena with ease. For local restaurants, AC Sky Bar is one of the most popular sports bars in the Church Street area. Fans also visit Aku Aku Tiki Bar, World of Beer, and Tin & Taco. And if you want to see the sights, Lake Eola Park is just a few blocks away; this park is an Orlando landmark that is also home to a weekly farmer’s market on Saturday mornings. Being in Orlando, you are also just a short drive from Walt Disney World, Sea World, and the Universal Studios theme parks. Fans 4 The fans at Kia Center are loyal and known to pack the house, regardless of the Magic’s record or opponent. From the first game of the year to the final game of the season, an admirably full house can be found for matchups against all teams in the standings. Another one of the positives is the friendliness of the fans at Orlando Magic games; everyone is there to have fun, and that is reflected in the attitude of the fans. The only downside may be Orlando’s hub as a tourist destination – while the team has marketed itself in some ways as a tourist attraction in and of itself, advertising with billboards that say “come see an NBA game in Orlando” make it seem more like a visiting show than a regular occurrence for loyal local fans. This approach, as well as Orlando’s natural tourist appeal, has made it a popular stop for visiting fans that can sometimes fill up a large part of the arena. Access 5 How much easier can an arena be to get to? Driving on I-4 you pass within a few yards of Kia Center itself, so not finding the venue is quite arguably an impossibility. But if you do somehow get lost, signs all around downtown point the way to the facility, and both the South Street exit and the South Street Express Lanes exit drop you off right next to the arena. Also, when leaving there is an I-4 express lanes entrance on South Street on well. Once you get to Kia Center the Geico Garage is your best option for parking, and the best part is that the garage connects to the arena through a sky bridge across the street. There are also numerous other parking options nearby in parking lots and garages in the area; the only downside of late is the continuing construction in and around the I-4 corridor throughout the greater Orlando area. Return on Investment 5 Taking in an Orlando Magic game can be a great event, and while some seats are pricier depending on the seating level, seats in the upper deck start at just $25. With what you get for the price you pay, Kia Center gives lots of entertainment value and a quality, comfortable experience – an Orlando Magic game is a definite option for someone looking to see professional sports in Central Florida. Extras 4 The Ozone bar located at the top of the upper level (behind one of the backboards) gives you a bird’s-eye view of the action, while also offering a great place to hang out and watch the action. Fans can also enjoy the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame and other team memorabilia on the main concourse – these displays pay tribute to some of Orlando’s sporting heritage, community connections, and their best players of years past. Finally, Kia Center has also partnered with Disney, meaning there are various displays and nods to the Orlando theme park throughout the facility, including large painted Mickey statues in the main lobby and an entire suite inside sponsored by the theme parks. Final Thoughts Kia Center remains one of the best basketball experiences around the league. The facility is stunning, clean, and always comfortable; the surrounding neighborhood means you have plenty to see and do before and after the game; and getting to the arena is a breeze. Kia Center should not be missed by any sports fan, be they casual visitors or hardcore sports enthusiasts.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Milton Wheeler Field 432 County Dr Hattiesburg, MS 39401 William Carey Crusaders website Milton Wheeler Field website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 498 Welcome to Baseburg, Mississippi Baseburg is a fitting nickname for the baseball-loving city of Hattiesburg – the Hub City has won more Dixie Youth World Series than any other city in the country, and in 2023 will host the Dixie Youth World Series. Additionally, year in and year out the Southern Miss Golden Eagles are one of the top teams in the country. Playing in front of packed houses at beautiful Pete Taylor Park , it's easy to see why this is one of the top baseball programs in the country; with a trip to Omaha in 2009 and countless regional appearances, most people think the Golden Eagles rule the roost in the Hub City. But there is a 'little brother' about 3 miles down the road, that also has an impressive list of accomplishments, that being William Carey University. Nicknamed the Crusaders, the small, private Baptist school has competed in the Southern State Athletic Conference of NAIA since the 2010-11 school year, after competing in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference since 1981. Since the start of the Carey baseball team in 1955 the Crusaders have become a national powerhouse in baseball every year – as of 2023 the Crusaders have won 20 conference championships, advanced to NAIA Regionals 26 times, played in 4 NAIA College World Series, and won a national championship in 1969. The college originally moved to Hattiesburg from Poplarville, MS as a women's college, in 1906. The school became co-ed in 1954 and changed its name to William Carey College, named after the Christian missionary. Despite the small school nature of the college, it is quite large compared to most of the schools in the conference, with an enrollment of 3,200 and spread out over 120 acres in a neighborhood in south Hattiesburg. Food & Beverage 2 There is one small concession stand at the main entrance; the basics are sold here, with prices about average. Hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, peanuts, and candy round out the menu, with bottled Coke products as the soft drinks provided. The one plus is the fact that they have a grill set up behind the concession stand, cooking the hot dogs and hamburgers fresh. Atmosphere 4 The Crusaders play on campus at Milton Wheeler Field, which opened in 2006, replacing a smaller field located on the property. The beautiful ballpark is a part of the Larry W. Kennedy Sports Complex, which also includes the Joseph and Nancy Fail Softball Complex and a beach volleyball court. Named after a long-time President of the University, the sports complex was dedicated in 2007. The Crusaders play at one of the finest facilities in all of NAIA – when you enter the grounds you walk right under a large brick archway that has the name of the sports complex, with the ticket office located underneath. For weekend games they have a tent set up at the main entrance selling William Carey merch. As you enter you walk up a paved sidewalk with the softball field to the right and Milton Wheeler Field to the left. When the softball field and baseball field were built, they were built as mirror images of each other, so they look exactly alike. A large brick building that houses the press box, one suite, and the concessions looms over the baseball field. A small plaque with all the members of the 1969 National Championship team hangs on the brick press box as you walk up, as well as a plaque dedicated to Milton Wheeler, a long-time professor at the University. The field is sunken into the ground, so when you walk up on the concourse you then walk down to your seat. The field faces southeast, and behind home plate is a nice little grandstand that extends down the first and third base lines; the grandstand has 318 red chairback seats and 180 metal bleacher seats. The concourse on the first baseline features three picnic tables with umbrellas, from which you can view the action on the field. Milton Wheeler Field also has a small-town feel to it, as along the outfield are wall signs for all the local Hattiesburg businesses, while the view beyond the outfield is hundreds of tall virgin pine trees, found throughout south Mississippi. Neighborhood 3 The William Carey campus is located in a residential neighborhood right down Highway 49 – there is one small bar called Shenanigans located the highway about a mile away, but other than that, there is nothing within walking distance of the college, so you'll have to go into town to see anything. Hattiesburg is a typical large college town, with plenty to do for all ages; there is a zoo nearby, a mall with plenty of shopping, and plenty of restaurants spread out throughout the city. If you are into the outdoors, the Okatoma River provides an excellent place for canoeing, while the Long Leaf Trace is a popular 44-mile trail that runs through the city. For places to stay there are a ton of hotels located closer to the interstate, and Paul B. Johnson State Park and the Elks Campground nearby remain popular spots for camping if you are coming to town for a weekend in the spring. Fans 4 Many of the Carey students live on campus, or the apartments right off campus. The Crusaders are also very competitive in baseball year in and year out, with the Crusaders constantly ranked in the NAIA Top 25 every year – the 2023 team ended up finishing the regular season ranked #12 in the country and advanced to the 2023 NAIA World Series in Idaho. This works out great for William Cary, as many of the students live nearby, and winning brings fans to games. It also helps that 'The Milt' is one of the nicest facilities at the conference, and could easily rival a small D1 college's facilities. It is hard to get an official attendance count, but I would say each game averages about 300-500 people. However, even though almost every game reaches the seating capacity, you should have no problem grabbing a seat in the chairbacks, as many people are scattered about the complex; you can even find many people standing on the concourse, particularly near the picnic tables. You can also find a good number of fans sitting down along the first and third base lines. For a small school, fans turn out and stay from start to finish – if you didn't know any better, you wouldn't know you were at an NAIA baseball game. Access 3 Hattiesburg is conveniently located less than an hour and a half from New Orleans, the Gulf Coast, Mobile, and Jackson, so getting here should be no problem. William Carey University is located right off Highway 49 about 3 miles south of the Southern Miss campus; the small campus is located in a neighborhood east of the main highway. You should have no problem finding a parking spot on campus, as there are plenty of parking lots available. Return on Investment 3 A lot of times they will not even charge for admission to baseball games. Unfortunately, though, at some games, they do charge for tickets, and it is hit or miss which games they will charge for. For most Saturday games they tend to charge, as well as on nights when the softball team is also playing at the same time. Regardless, ticket prices are reasonable, costing only $7 and you are free to sit wherever you want. Attending a game here is also a perfect experience for the baseball purist – it has a small-town, neighborhood feel where everyone knows everyone at the ballpark, and you are also getting to see some of the best small college baseball in the country. Extras 3 In over 60 years of baseball, William Carey has had 30 players drafted into MLB, with one player making it to ‘The Show’; in 1963 catcher John Stephenson wrapped up a four-year career at Carey, then went undrafted by the Mets in the 1963 Draft. By 1964 he had made the Met's opening day roster and was in the lineup for the first-ever game at Shea Stadium. Stephenson had a 10-year career in the big leagues for the Mets , Cubs , Giants , and Angels . On Sept 11, 1966, Stephenson was the starting catcher and batting mate for a rookie pitcher making his big league debut – that pitcher's name was Nolan Ryan. Stephenson would later coach the Crusaders from 1974-1985, and then Southeastern Louisiana from 1985-1990. The Crusaders are now coached by the legendary Bobby Halford, entering his 38th season as of 2023. Halford coached 8 seasons under John Stephenson before succeeding him in 1986. Halford holds a 61% win rate in over 2,000 games coached, and he also played at William Carey in the early 1970s. At the main entrance to the stadium, a small rock with his name inscribed sits with a makeshift garden constructed around it – this is a nice tribute to the legendary head coach. The small college would face its biggest test in the early morning of January 21, 2017, when an F-3 tornado ripped through South Hattiesburg and went right through the Carey campus. There were multiple injuries on campus, with all 59 buildings on campus receiving some sort of damage, including 6 that were destroyed. Milton Wheeler Field escaped with minimal damage other than some destroyed lights, forcing the Crusaders to play their first two months of games on the road and at various junior college ballparks. The Crusaders would have their second-best season ever that year, advancing to the NAIA College World Series and finishing third in the country that season. If you have time to walk around the campus before the game, you will see the campus buildings look new despite the college being over 100 years old – that is because many of the buildings have been renovated following the tornado; almost every building received a new roof after the tornado damage.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Memorial Field 4 Crosby St Hanover, NH 03755 Dartmouth Big Green football website Memorial Field website Year Opened: 1923 Capacity: 11,000 The Hill Wind Knows Their Name Football has been played at Dartmouth College on the site of Memorial Field since 1893. The current concrete-and-brick grandstand on Crosby Street was constructed in 1923 as a memorial to students and alumni who perished in World War I (that’s not a typo, World War ONE). Over the years the stadium has seen many changes, including the addition of permanent stands on the east side of the field and a complete demolition of the main grandstand and press box while keeping the grandstand’s historic outer shell intact. The Field Turf playing surface, the 8-lane Tartan Track surface, and the adjoining Leverone Field House and Floren Varsity House are all of more recent vintage than the stadium’s classic ivy-covered façade. The Dartmouth Big Green compete in the Ivy League and boast a storied tradition that includes a National Championship in 1925, a record 19 Ivy League championships and 11 alumni inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. 43 Dartmouth alumni have played in the National Football League. Food & Beverage 2 There are a pair of concessions stands operated by Dartmouth Dining as pop-up tents in opposite corners of the facility. A basic menu is served, comprising of hot dogs, burgers, sausage and pepper sandwiches and assorted snacks. Coca-Cola products are featured at Memorial Field. Alcohol is not sold at this facility. On the plus side, the quality of concessions is good, and no item costs more than five dollars. Atmosphere 3 There’s something special about going to a game far from the bright lights of big-time college football. The atmosphere is laid-back, the pressure is minimal, the fans are friendly, and everyone seems to be having more fun. This is true at Dartmouth, where, while the stuff happening around the game may seem silly, the students certainly seem to be enjoying themselves. During play stoppages students come onto the field to kick field goals, participate in trivia contests and race across the field while putting on a football uniform. The small band performs before the game and at halftime, complete with a repertoire of really bad jokes and choreography designed to show just how wacky and anti-establishment these Ivy League students are. For those fans looking for a more traditional game day presentation, there is a video scoreboard in the south end zone which is put to good use with game information, promotions and entertainment during play stoppages. There is a cheerleading squad which performs throughout the game and participates in the entertainment with t-shirt tosses and pizza giveaways. Hawkers roam the stands selling programs. Neighborhood 5 The campus of Dartmouth College dominates the landscape of the small town of Hanover. The small-town feel is straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, particularly if you visit later in the fall while the leaves are changing color. The small downtown, with its public Green as the focal point, is perfect for exploring before or after the game. On a typical fall Saturday you’ll find no shortage of people walking around the downtown enjoying the weather before settling in for a long New Hampshire winter. Main Street bustles with a wide variety of places to eat. Check out Murphy’s on the Green or Lou’s Restaurant and Bakery for a true taste of Hanover. If you’re looking to stay in town, the Hanover Inn has rooms that overlook the Green. Memorial Field is located on the southeast corner of the Dartmouth campus, alongside other athletic venues including Thompson Arena , Red Rolfe Field , Leede Arena , and Scully-Fahey Field . It’s a short walk to both the Green and Main Street. Fans 3 Attendance at Big Green football games can fluctuate wildly, depending on the opponent. Typically, the Big Green average around 6,000 per game, which places them just under the overall Ivy League average. Considering that Dartmouth is the smallest school in the Ivy League, along with having the smallest stadium and the smallest area population base, these figures are not too shabby. Your typical Big Green crowd is laid-back and friendly. You’re not going to see rabid, drunken fans here in Hanover, and that’s how it should be at a facility like this. Locals, alumni and students combine to make the atmosphere at Memorial Field almost scholarly, as one might expect at a stadium covered in brick and ivy. There doesn’t seem to be a large turnout by the student body, which may hold back the overall noise level. Ivy League fans traditionally travel well, so it’s not unusual to see a significant number of visiting fans in the stands on any given Saturday. Access 4 The town of Hanover, New Hampshire is located in New England’s Upper Valley on the shores of the Connecticut River and the New Hampshire-Vermont border. Although the area may be off the beaten path, it’s easy to get to. Interstates 89 and 91 meet a short distance from Dartmouth, making the trip here an easy one. Busses run from nearby Manchester, an hour to the southeast, and to Logan Airport in Boston, a two-hour drive away. There is a train station on the other side of the Connecticut River in White River Junction, Vermont. The town of Hanover boasts a population of just under 12,000 residents, which swells when the 7,000 or so Dartmouth students show up. The small town is easily navigated, with numerous parking lots and ample on-street parking in the area on game days. All parking lots are a short walk to the stadium, with shuttles available for those parked a bit further away. Memorial Stadium is the smallest football venue in the Ivy League, as recent renovations reduced capacity to 11,000. These renovations improved the safety and comfort of the old grandstand, allowing for more room and accessibility. Unfortunately, the track which runs around the football field pushes the grandstands back a bit, but all seats feature good views of the action. The new rest rooms are clean and large enough to accommodate a Big Green crowd. Lines to concessions and rest rooms are minimal. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for Big Green football games are priced at $15 for adults and $10 for youths. Parking is free in the parking lots within walking distance of the stadium, and there is ample on-street parking in the neighborhood. Even if you have to feed the meter for a while, it won’t cost more than three dollars for your spot. Concessions are moderately priced, with no item costing more than five dollars. Extras 3 The stadium was built as a memorial to the 3,407 Dartmouth students who served in World War I, including 112 who lost their lives. The memorial was subsequently expanded to include students who fought in the Korean War, Civil War, and World War II. There are several plaques honoring their sacrifice near the main entrance. Dartmouth honors their football history with banners commemorating their league championships lining the front of the stands and with flags flying across the top of the old Crosby Street grandstand. Another extra point is awarded for the major renovations to the stadium that managed to keep the historic flavor of the venue (most notably the Crosby Street façade) while upgrading the facility to modern standards. Final Thoughts If you were to imagine what an Ivy League football stadium would look like, you would probably imagine features like an old-timey looking brick façade with ivy vines climbing it, a main-street full of small shops and eateries, a walkable campus with interesting architecture, and a stadium full of laid back, but invested fans. In tiny Hanover, NH, you have all these things. They add up to a Stadium Journey that may be far off the beaten path, but one well worth taking. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 GCS Credit Union Ballpark 2301 Grizzlie Bear Blvd Sauget, IL 62206 Gateway Grizzlies website GCS Credit Union Ballpark website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 6,000 Having Fun at GCS Ballpark Grizzlies Ballpark is the home of the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League The ballpark is in Sauget, Illinois, where the population is 156. It might be the smallest town in baseball to house a professional team, but game day crowds increase the population to close to 95% on game day. The Grizzlies began operations in 2001 and moved into the new ballpark the following year which features reserved box seating, outfield lawn seating, party suites, and two hot tubs. There is also an abundance of food options featuring Baseball’s Best Burger. It is a bacon cheeseburger served in between a glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut in place of the bun. The ballpark is located in the St. Louis metropolitan area, providing fans with additional opportunities to enjoy baseball. The organization has done a more than admirable job of entertaining its guests for the past two decades at a comfortable park that kept up quite well in its appearance. GCS Credit Union and the Grizzlies announced that GCS Credit Union will be ending its naming rights agreement with the Gateway Grizzlies on April 16, 2023. Food & Beverage 5 The food options are at the end of each baseline. The Country Bob’s Grill House is a giant shed in the right-field corner, and the Baseball’s Best stand is near the left-field corner. Beer options are available in the middle of the concourse of the stadium. It is easy to go for Baseball’s Best Burger, but there are much more options to choose from if you feel a little adventurous. The ballpark also features Baseball’s Best Nachos, which are topped with steak, cheese, grilled onions, and peppers. They are big enough to share for two little fans, but dinner for a much older fan. The nachos are delicious, and the grilled toppings are hard to beat at many ballparks in the nation. The savory mix of toppings instead of neon cheese and jalapenos is a nice change of pace. The burger is quite unusual, but don't be fooled by its doughnut bun. It is a sweet and salty taste that works quite well together. The crispy bacon, the glaze on the fried doughnut, and the sharp cheddar cheese are a welcome trio of flavors. Baseball’s Best Hot Dog is topped with three slices of bacon and pulled pork. Bob’s Chicken Sandwich has two slices of bacon, cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, and a pork fritter sandwich. If you like nachos and fries, fans can top it off with pulled pork, cheesesteak, or Buffalo chicken. The ballpark also offers the classics of hot dogs, nachos, burgers, brats, and pizza slices. You can wash it down with Pepsi products or national or local beers. Desert options include frozen custard and frozen bananas. Atmosphere 3 Grizzlies Ballpark is sculptured in a manner where the playing field sits below the main grandstand providing an open view form no matter where you are in the building. Fans get a view of the nearby interstate and the SIHF Healthcare building behind the left-field wall. There is only one entrance into the venue on the third-base side near the box office and team shop. The shop has an array of merchandise that includes a build-a-bear station for anyone who wants a stuffed grizzly bear. The scoreboard is on top of the lawn seating area in the right field. Fans get to enjoy the game from a nicely sloped strip of grass and are up close and personal with the right fielder. The visiting outfield played catch with a young fan standing on the grass near the wall. The right-field flagpole is also home to the two hot tub suites, which were closed during our visit to the ballpark. Adjacent to the suites is the Country Bob’s Grill House, a giant shed serving almost everything the stadium has to offer to eat. There is a kid's play area located on the opposite foul line of the ballpark that offers two spaces where kids can play. Fans will also find table stool chairs behind the backstop with ledges for their food and drink. All draught beer is sold through the bottom-up method, and the staff does the Macarena after the 8th inning on the dugouts. Izzy and Lizzy Grizzlie are the official mascots that make their way through the stadium. Neighborhood 3 There is nothing of note around the ballpark, even with the St. Louis skyline within distance from the massive parking lot. It may appear you are in the middle of nowhere, but Busch Stadium is less than 4 miles away, closer than CHS Field to Target Field in the Twin Cities. St. Louis will be your destination for entertainment that includes everything from award-winning barbecue, free museums, beer tours, and historic neighborhoods. Of course, you can check out a Cardinals game or visit their Hall of Fame in the Ballpark Village for starters. The city is known for its great museums which include the City Museum, St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, National Blues Museum, and the National Museum of Transportation. There are also a few oddities that include the World Chess Hall of Fame and the Moto Museum. If you are interested in brewery tours and want to do something outside the Budweiser Brewery Experience, check out Schlafly Brewing, 4 Hands Brewing, or Urban Chestnut Brewing Company. If you are hungry, Pappy’s Smokehouse has award-winning Memphis-style barbecue, but get there early since it sells out. The Soulard Farmers Market is the oldest operated market dating back to 1779. The Soulard neighborhood is worth checking out for its diverse architecture, churches, and small restaurants and bars. The same could be said for Laclede’s Landing along the river which is made up of cobblestone streets with restaurants and bars. Fans 4 Grizzlies fans have been coming out to support their team for two decades and were an FL organization to attract 200,000 fans on the season. There is a dedicated audience that wears its pride on its sleeves when voicing its opinions toward the umpire. There are many out for a good time, but there is quite a bit of keeping score and hoping for a Grizzlies victory. Access 4 The ballpark is directly off the interstate, the parking lot is vast, and getting around inside is not a hassle at all at most games. The wide-open concourse that wraps almost around the ballpark provides more than enough room for fans of all ages. Return on Investment 4 It depends on the night you are at the game since ticket prices vary from time to time. Field Reserve Box Seats are $14, Bleacher Seats are $9, and General Admission Lawn Seats are $8 the day of the game. If they are bought in advance, there is a dollar discount. Still, these are not bad prices for tickets. There are two price points under ten bucks, and the parking is free for all cars. However, there are Super Show Nights where the team offers fireworks, guest appearances, and other promotions. Ticket prices for all three options increase by $4 apiece. That means the most expensive ticket is $18, while a lawn seat is $12. There are 5 Super Show Nights during the season, two of them around Independence Day. Extras 3 The Grizzlies earn a point for Baseball's Best food options that have pushed the boundaries of what can be served at a ballpark. The club also earns a second point for the lawn seating behind the right field and for offering fans free parking for all home games. Final Thoughts It is a marvelous, little ballpark that has become one of the better ones in independent baseball. The ticket prices are affordable, the food is creative and fun, and promotional nights should attract fans to the stadium. When in St. Louis, there is more than one option for a baseball game. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Ben Alkaly, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Swinney Recreation Center 5030 Holmes Street Kansas City, MO 64110 Kansas City Roos website Swinney Recreation Center website Year Opened: 1941 Capacity: 1,600 Roo-Roo-Roo(t) for the Home Team You have to love a team that’s comfortable in its own skin. The Kansas City Chiefs are omnipresent in the City of Fountains, and had a noon home game the day I visited University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) for a 1 p.m. men’s basketball tipoff. Confused as to why the athletic department would want to go head-to-head with the defending NFL champs, it quickly became apparent that the Roos march (punch?) to the beat of their own drummer.   And why shouldn’t they? Opened in 1933 as the University of Kansas City, the local university predates the local NFL team by 27 years. The Kangaroo became its mascot in 1937, a nod to the Kansas City Zoo's acquisition of two baby kangaroos. In 2019 – prior to the school’s sports team moving from the WAC to the Summit League – that name was shortened to Roos (no apostrophe) and the athletics department rebranded to Kansas City Athletics.   The PA announcer at my late December game even leaned into the Roos’ friendly rivalry with other area sportsmen, introducing them as “Kansas City’s tallest team!”   1954 was the first year of men’s basketball in these parts, competing at the NAIA level before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1987. The Roos have hopped around to a number of Kansas City home courts over their six decades, including Municipal Auditorium, Kemper Arena, Hale Arena, and the Independence Events Center before a move back to the on-campus Swinney Recreation Center in 2019-20 as part of the aforementioned brand refresh. Opened in 1941, the venue has undergone numerous renovations and now accommodates up to 1,600 fans. What fans will immediately notice upon entering Swinney is the yellow court with dramatic blue silhouette of the KC skyline along the south sideline. Looking up, no real estate is wasted as two large videoboards flank the baskets at both ends. Swinney Recreation Center Full Court, Photo by Ben Alkaly, Stadium Journey A true multi-purpose facility, under one roof Swinney Recreation Center holds weight rooms, five multipurpose courts (one visible behind the west stands), racquetball and squash courts, three fitness studios, and a 25-yard indoor lap pool. An indoor track “runs” above the court, within touching distance of the top of the east stands. Food & Beverage 3 The concessions at Swinney are impossible to miss, located on the left wall of the venue’s entry lobby; there are no other entrance points. Menu offerings are fairly robust for an arena of this size, including hot dogs ($6.25), hamburgers ($6.25 or $6.75 with cheese), nachos ($6.25), Dippin’ Dots ($5.25), assorted chips and candy ($3.25 each), and popcorn ($3.75), or an option to upgrade to something called Velvet Crème Popcorn in a variety of flavors ($6). On the beverage side there’s bottled water ($3.25), Coca-Cola soft drinks and iced tea ($3.50), domestic beers ($6.75), local offerings from Boulevard Beers and Quirk Seltzer ($7.75 each), and red or white wine ($6.25). Atmosphere 3 You know you’re at a college basketball game the moment you step foot inside Swinney, with floor-to-ceiling window panels separating the lobby from the court just beyond. In front of the glass is where you can find the spirit table – where a friendly staffer was handing out free gameday posters – and a merchandise area featuring several types of Roos-branded scarves, a nod to Kansas City’s recent prowess in college soccer.   The Athletic Department really packs a lot into this relatively small lobby, including a blue wall with “Kansas City Athletics Points of Pride,” a coloring and crafts station for kids, and another with bios of the three head coaches currently prowling the sidelines in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and women’s volleyball.   To get to their seats, fans either head right for the east grandstand or left for the west. A hard left from the west entrance leads you to the restrooms, which are in a unique configuration; the men’s room has two doors, one at each end of a “U” configuration, and since the women’s restroom doors are immediately next to those, I have to assume they form an even wider, surrounding “U.”   Fans moved freely pregame and at halftime, although with just two doors leading to seats, I could see this getting bottlenecked a bit if approaching capacity.   One facility enhancement suggestion is to curtain off the small windows that run above the length of the east bleachers. Being a day game, I found the light pouring in from them to be a distraction while sitting on the west side. Neighborhood 4 UMKC is located just to the east of Country Club Plaza, designed in the 1920s as the first planned suburban shopping center designed for automobile access. The area certainly feels historic, with European-style apartment buildings interspersed with businesses, fountains, and waterways.   In the Plaza you’ll find a branch of the legendary Jack Stack Barbeque , while other famous names in KC BBQ include Arthur Bryant’s , Gates , and Joe’s . That said, don’t overlook modern, craft barbeque establishments like Q39  or Wolfepack which serve mean cocktails as well as burnt ends.   Just southeast of campus, along Troost Ave., are a couple spots that work well for a pregame bite and beverage: Tiki Taco  and Gaels Public House & Sports . Combine a Roos' game with a visit to   The College Basketball Experience , located inside downtown Kansas City's T-Mobile Center arena. The top floor is chock-full of interactive hoops stations where you can work up a sweat, while downstairs hosts the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for children. Fans 3 Given its intimate confines, there is no bad seat in Swinney, with the top row being just 12 rows above the court. And despite going head-to-head with the beloved Chiefs, and Roo students being on holiday break, the stands filled in respectably. Only a few red-and-gold shirts with the trademark arrowhead logo and/or faces buried in phones were spotted among the Roo faithful.   The designated Rowdy Roo student section is in the corner of the east stands, but was indistinguishable from other seating areas on my visit due to the university break. The furry KC Roo mascot makes the rounds and tries to hype up the crowd on the court, as do cheer and dance teams. Access 4 Swinney Recreation Center is located less than 10 minutes south of Kansas City’s downtown core, and about 30 minutes south of MCI airport, which recently opened a gleaming new central terminal. Take I-25 south until it becomes U.S. 71, then exit at Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard and hang a left. Another left at Rockhill Road will lead you onto campus. Swinney Recreation Center is atop the hill next to the Student Success Center. Free parking is available on levels 5 and 6 of the Cherry Street Parking Garage (50th and Cherry Street, just off Rockhill). With my game falling on a Saturday and Roo students on a holiday break, parking was also free in the lot facing the Student Success Center. Public transportation aficionados should check RideKC or Google Maps, for optimal routes to campus. Swinney’s ticket booth is just to the left of the entrance doors, and there is no security screening to pass through. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices at Swinney Recreation Center are as follows: Sideline reserved seats: $17 Courtside seats: $50 (includes access to the Boulevard Courtside Club  which includes two drink tickets, a pregame buffet and chalk talk with an assistant coach, and halftime snacks, located in an area of tables behind the west bleachers.) Free Parking in the Cherry Street Garage – with closer options in lots 38 and 4 for $6 – coupled with fairly reasonable ticket and concession prices means a visit to Swinney won’t break the bank. . Extras 3 Swinney Recreation Center is named after a Kansas City banker who raised $250,000 to build a recreational facility for students.   Flocks of Canadian Geese can be found on campus during the winter, especially near the intersection of Locust and Cherry Streets. UMKC Geese, Photo by Ben Alkaly, Stadium Journey Combine a Roos’ game with a fun, educational experience; the highly-rated National Museum of Toys and Miniatures  is located in the southwest corner of the UMKC campus, accessible from Oak Street. Final Thoughts Limited to a 1,600-seat arena embedded within a larger recreational facility, the Kansas City Roos certainly “do more with less” when it comes to the gameday basketball experience. From the efficient use of lobby space with respectable concessions to the unique blue and yellow court design with large screens flanking the basket to the VIP experience available for just $50, there’s a definite fan-first approach. After all, the Roos are competing for butts-in-seats with the sports behemoth in town. Swinney Recreation Center Court Graphics, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall 701 N Pine St Florence, AL 35632 North Alabama Lions website CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall website Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 2,233 CB&S Bank Arena One of the newer additions to NCAA Division I, the University of North Alabama Lions joined the ASUN Conference in 2018. The jump from Division II has come with several renovations to the nearly 50-year-old Flowers Hall, with maybe the biggest change being the addition of CB&S Bank Arena to the building’s name. Some of the upgrades have included replacing the wooden seating, the addition of large video boards, a new donor’s suite, and many behind-the-scenes upgrades that are unseen by most fans. Food & Beverage 3 The only concessions stand in the arena is in the main lobby, and it serves typical concession stand items. Hot dogs and nachos are the primary concessions, to which cheese and chili can be added for an additional $1.50 each. Hot dog combos are available for an extra $4.50. There is also a wide choice of candy and snacks such as chips, popcorn, and pretzels. Beverages include bottled Coke products, Powerade, and Monster energy drinks. Alcoholic beverages are not available for purchase at the concessions stand. Lines tend to get backed up at half time, so try to grab a bite during a timeout or just before the end of the half. Atmosphere 3 CB&S Arena has a rather retro appearance. It has a refreshing simplicity to it that is a throwback to pit gymnasiums where most of the fans sit above the benches, looking down onto the court. Upon entering the arena, fans with floor seats can enter up either of the ramps on the lobby level, whereas ticketed general admission seats will need to use the stairs on either side. If getting court level seats behind the bench, try to sit toward the back of the section, as players on the bench tend to obstruct the view of the game. There is no overhead scoreboard – rather there are several smaller scoreboards around the arena. Court level scoreboards give basic time and score, along with running player point totals and fouls, while a larger scoreboard with added team and player foul information hangs at each end. Two large video boards hang on either side of the basket at the home end of the court. Both boards are mostly used to show the video feed of the game, which seems a bit redundant. So while there are plenty of scoreboards around the arena, it would be nice to have more specific individual and team stats on one of the video boards. The in-game promotions and entertainment does a lot to highlight the spirit of college basketball. Most of the pre-game music is from the in-house DJ, but in-game stoppages in play are primarily run by the pep band and cheer squads. All-in-all, UNA does a good job at providing a well-balanced mix of modern and more traditional in game entertainment. Neighborhood 3 Located on the southern side of Florence, not far from the Tennessee River, the University of North Alabama and CB&S Arena are less than a mile from the city center. There, visitors can find a wide variety of shopping and dining options. One of the highly recommended establishments in this part of town is Willwood Tavern, known for its specialty hot dogs and vast menu. Not far from downtown Florence is Wilson Dam; this area offers hiking, camping, and some of the best smallmouth bass fishing around. Nearby is the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa, which is also home to the 360 Grille, Alabama’s only revolving restaurant. The 300-foot-tall tower resembles Seattle’s Space Needle and provides views of Wilson Dam and the surrounding area. Just across the Tennessee River from Florence are the towns of Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. Fans of classic rock might recognize the former from the Lynyrd Skynyrd song, “Sweet Home Alabama.” It was here Skynyrd recorded his first demo and sang of “Swampers” from Muscle Shoals, the local studio band that has provided studio backup for some of the largest names in music through the 70s and 80s. The studio has since been converted into a museum to recognize the role 3614 Jackson Highway played in music history. Fans 4 The University of North Alabama fans do a very good job at creating an extremely fun basketball atmosphere. Students show up early, hand out pom-poms, and get their whiteboards ready with ever changing messages to support their Lions. Their intensity hardly wavers throughout the game, and seemingly wills the team into defensive stops and important baskets at the most opportune times. While weekday games tend to have smaller crowds, conference weekend games are very well attended. Accessibility 2 There is no easy way to get to Florence, as it is located well off any of the major interstates that run through northern Alabama, southern Tennessee, or eastern Mississippi. If coming from out of the area, most fans will take I-65 to any of the various US highways or state roads that feed into Florence. Parking is available in the lots adjacent to the practice fields, where the UNA Athletics sign is, or in the lot behind Flowers Hall off Circular Drive. Return on Investment 3 Reserved court level seats start at $18, while general admission tickets run $12. An initial look at ticket prices might seem to be a bit on the higher side, but considering there is no fee for parking and that concessions are pretty affordable, the overall price is consistent with the rest of the conference. Extras 3 North Alabama has done well in utilizing the dead-space behind their endline bleachers – UNA has turned the area into the Treehouse Kids Zone, where kids run, jump, and play on inflatables during the game. The main lobby area gives a rather extensive look at the successes of UNA athletics. Featured are the several National Championships and other awards the school has won, along with a corner dedicated to All-Americans who have played at North Alabama. Final Thoughts What the University of North Alabama is trying to do by updating a 50-year-old arena is no easy feat. Many of the upgrades that have been made have worked well to fill a need, but have come at the expense of convenience in some areas. Overall, however, the upgrades have modernized and provided amenities that are useful when considering a jump from Division II to Division I. Even though Florence and North Alabama might not be a destination location for most, it is a basketball environment that the average fan should enjoy. Between the game presentation and the atmosphere created by the fans, pep band, and cheer squads, it has just about everything that is right about college basketball.

Photos by Cameron Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Dayton Raceway 3100 Needmore Rd Dayton, OH 45414 Dayton Raceway website Year Opened: 1934 Horses Fly Too Dayton Raceway in Dayton, Ohio features a horse racing track attached to a casino. The track features live harness racing from September to December, and includes a slew of food and dining options at the facility. The track itself is sparsely attended, but on the plus side you can get very close to the action. Food & Beverage 4 There are multiple restaurants and snack stands on the premises – the Sportsbook restaurant is only open to those 21+, but Skybox Sports Bar is open to all, and have tables next to the window so you can watch the racing action while you eat. The menu at the sports bar is limited, but there are a couple of other snack stands on the same floor if you are looking for a little variety. There are also a couple of snack stands next to the track itself, but not all of them are open on certain race days. Atmosphere 1 The big draw of course at Dayton Raceway, or most horse tracks for that matters, is the gambling. Dayton Raceway only has one live attendant on the clubhouse level, at the far end of the floor, but there are plenty of betting machines, and a slew of TVs all around where you can watch simulcast racing from other tracks. If you head down to the track you can watch the action from the rail, and even get a photo of the winning horse in the winner’s circle. Neighborhood 3 There are a few restaurants near Dayton Raceway, which is located north of downtown – Old Dayton Pizza is probably the closest one that is not on the casino’s property. There are also plenty of hotels to the north, closer to I-70. If you are interested in college or high school football, the horse racing and football season overlap, so you may be able to take in a game at nearby Welcome Stadium , home of the FCS Dayton Flyers as well as multiple high school teams who share the stadium. By far the most popular attraction in the city, however, is the Air Force museum at nearby Wright-Patterson Field, a large museum with multiple hangers showcasing planes and other aviation history. There are also additional sites in town you can visit which honor Wilbur, Orville, and their work. Fans 1 Not very many fans watch the racing at Dayton Raceway – the facility is pretty empty, although there are plenty of different seating options all over the place. On the first floor, only 40-50 feet from the track railing, you can sit indoors and watch the action from comfy couch-like chairs, or from regular wooden chairs set up in rows. You can also watch from one of the aforementioned restaurants while you eat, or from the railing itself if you don’t mind being outdoors. Note that the first post time is at 4 pm, so be aware you will be watching night racing, and it can be a little chilly outdoors then, in the fall and winter in Ohio. Access 4 There is free parking right next to the facility – the customer service is not the best in terms of giving directions, but just walk around the back of the casino and you will see the track; the clubhouse is right next to the track, and you can get up to the club level via the elevator or the stairs. Moving around the facility is very easy given the small crowd. The only challenge might be the traffic in downtown Dayton, especially if you are going racing on a weekday – since the first post time is at 4 pm, you may end up getting stuck in rush hour traffic. Return on Investment 2 There is no cost to attend the races at Dayton Raceway, but there are also no real amenities to speak of unless you there for the gambling. The restaurant food is also a little on the high side – otherwise I would recommend watching the races from the Skybox Sports Bar, so you don’t have to sit or stand outside. Extras 2 The casino next door is a plus if you are into that sort of thing, and being able to see harness racing is a unique feature, as most horse racing tracks have flat racing. Harness racing seems to be more common up north. Final thoughts If you have never seen horse racing or harness racing I would recommend trying it at least once. Dayton Raceway doesn’t have anything in the way of amenities, however, so is not the most fun experience. However, it is very easy to move around, and won’t cost anything either (except for your wagers, of course).