Photos by Jared Goodman, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum 500 Howard Baker Jr. Ave. Knoxville, TN 37915 Knoxville Ice Bears website Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum website Year Opened: 1961 Capacity: 6,500 Good ‘Ole Hockey Top When one mentions Knoxville, Tennessee, the first thing that comes to their mind probably isn’t hockey. Football, the Volunteer brand more likely than not, is what’s usually at the front of everyone’s brains. But hockey has a decent following in the region nonetheless, perhaps fueled by the success of the nearby Nashville Predators of the NHL. Two hours east of Music City, fans are coming out in droves to see the independent Knoxville Ice Bears tear through their league each night at the Civic Coliseum. The Ice Bears were founded in 2002 as one of the charter members of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. They spent just one season before moving to the South East Hockey League for the 2003-04 campaign. After another single-season stint in the SEHL, the Ice Bears finally joined their present circuit, the Southern Professional Hockey League, in 2004. During their tenure in the SPHL, Knoxville has become the league’s winningest team, securing four President’s Cups and an equal number of regular-season titles. For the entirety of their existence throughout three leagues, the Ice Bears have called the Knoxville Civic Coliseum their home, ripping through opponents here on a nightly basis. The multi-purpose arena was built in 1961 and has a capacity of 6,500. The building has hosted hockey since its opening from the Knoxville Knights (1961-1968), and Knoxville Cherokees (1988-1997), and since 1992 has been the partial home to the Tennessee Vols hockey club. Before the 2019-2020 season, the coliseum went through $11 million in renovations that included the replacement of the original ice floor, the installation of a center-hung scoreboard, remodeled restrooms, the LED sports lighting has been updated to reduce glare and shadows on the rink. Food & Beverage 5 There’s an unprecedented amount of variety present among the concessions at the Civic Coliseum, so you don’t ever have to worry about going hungry during Ice Bears games. Some of the main dishes available include cheesesteaks, ultimate nachos, chicken or beef tacos, barbecue sandwiches, Polish sausages, pizzas, and hot dogs, which no venue is considered well-rounded without. There are still other items from flatbread pizzas, smoked sausages, taco salads, grille chicken salads, taco salads in a tortilla bowl, and chicken tender baskets with fries. Snacks are also served at most of the counters, from peanuts and popcorn to pretzels and potato chips. Dippin’ Dots has a cart in the arena too, as does a local coffee shop called Pedal Java. The Hockey Top Sundae is a brownie topped with ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and peanuts. Alcohol is also prevalent throughout the building and includes beers, cocktails, and bottled beers from brands like Yuengling, Budweiser, Michelob, Miller Lite, Shock Top and Blue Moon are on tap for anywhere from $5-$15. Pepsi-branded sodas are $4.50 and bottled water is $4. Atmosphere 5 The Knoxville Civic Coliseum, while itself a dated venue, is a genuine old-timey barn that’s fantastic for hockey. Built-in 1961, the Coliseum had seen three franchises take the ice before the arrival of the Ice Bears in 2002. In general, the venue was already accustomed to the sport when the team made its debut. Entering the arena, you’ll be funneled into what’s called “Exhibition Hall.” This part of the building is non-ticketed, so you’ll need to get your hand stamped if you enter the seating bowl and wish to get back to the main lobby. There are a few concession options in Exhibition Hall, but there are also plenty of options in the two concourses located behind the sidelines. The Coliseum’s seating bowl consists of folding wooden seats, with enough space to hold 6,500 spectators. However, an entire end zone (sections FF through KK) has a partially obstructed view of the ice. Any fans sitting in these areas are unable to see part of the surface behind the goal line. Also, underneath this end zone is where you’ll find the venue’s restrooms. Wooden Seats at Civic Coliseum, Photo by Jared Goodman, Stadium Journey Whatever the Civic Coliseum lacks in flair, the Ice Bears have made up for in the area of the fan experience. The team has nailed their game day presentation, from the pre-game festivities to the in-game effects. One of the coolest bits comes during the ceremonial puck drop when orange lights flood the ice and Rocky Top is blasted over the sound system. This hit is instantly recognized by Tennessee Volunteers fans, as it’s popularly played at all Vols sporting events. It’s pretty great that the Ice Bears have adopted this tradition as well. During the game itself, the PA announcer and the sound effects work in tandem to create an amusing and fun atmosphere for everyone. One example where this is executed perfectly is when a fight breaks out on the ice: the PA guy declares the scuffle a “minor disturbance,” and the Beastie Boys’ Fight for Your Right to Party starts playing immediately. Neighborhood 4 The Civic Auditorium and Coliseum are located just east of downtown Knoxville off of the James White Parkway, a stone’s throw from Volunteer Landing on the Tennessee River. It’s a quick 3 or 4-block walk to Gay Street, the site of most of Knoxville’s happenings. Here, you’ll find the famous Tennessee Theatre, the popular shopping and dining spots of Market Square, and the retro excitement of the Sunsphere. A remnant leftover from the 1982 World’s Fair when it was held in the region, the Sunsphere is today the most recognizable structure on the Knoxville skyline. It’s worth the short elevator ride to the top to take in the commanding views of the downtown area. Additionally, sports fans must take the opportunity to visit the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame when in Knoxville. The Hall of Fame is the only facility of its kind dedicated solely to women’s basketball, and that’s thanks in part to legendary Lady Vols’ coach Pat Summit. This informative museum is also home to the world’s largest basketball, a fiberglass monstrosity that weighs approximately 10 tons. Fans 3 Although the crowd, in general, is pretty mellow, there are a few groups of fans that are die-hard Ice Bears fans. One particularly loud devotee chants “ICE. BEARS.” when the pre-game skate begins. The PA announcer, seemingly aware of his presence, gives pause to let the guy do his thing. A small group, cleverly named “Knocksville", is also parked behind the away team’s bench. During the game, they yell in chorus about how much the visiting team “sucks.” One fan even occasionally bangs on a drum to get the team, and the crowd, involved in the action. There’s never a dull moment during Ice Bears games, thanks to these supporters who never say die. Access 4 Knoxville is the heart of eastern Tennessee and is situated at the intersection of three major interstates. I-40, which runs west-east, provides access to Nashville and Asheville. I-75 goes to Kentucky in the north and Chattanooga in the south, while I-81 terminates just east of the city and winds in a northeasterly direction toward Virginia. The James White Parkway provides direct access to the Civic Coliseum from I-40, so the quick flow of traffic means getting to the game couldn’t be easier. Once you’re within spitting distance, you’ll find ample parking available at the venue’s lots and garages. The cost is $5, and only cash is accepted. Return on Investment 2 Ticket pricing is broken into four tiers: Silver, Gold, VIP, and Box for adults, seniors, and youths. Adult tickets range from $18-$36, seniors are $16-$36, and youth prices are $10-$36. Depending on your price points the choice is yours as to how much you want to pay for a ticket but with your prices as low as $10, it makes for an inexpensive night for a family of four. Parking is $5. Once at the game, you’ll find the food options to be fairly priced as far as sports venues go. Extras 2 The Knoxville Civic Coliseum earns a point for being able to maintain an old-timey feel while still offering modern amenities. The coliseum earns points for having just created a new mobile app, showing that the Ice Bears are committed to staying current and retaining relevance with their fan base. Final Thoughts Whatever the Civic Coliseum lacks in flair, the Ice Bears have made up for in the area of the fan experience. The team has nailed their game day presentation, from the pre-game festivities to the in-game effects. While it’s not the most glamorous hockey barn out there the Bears still offer a rewarding game day experience for fans of all ages. Anyone who enjoys the sport should find a way to get to a game on “good ‘ole Hockey Top.”

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 TD Garden 100 Legends Way Boston, MA 02114 Boston Celtics website TD Garden website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 19,156 The Gahden The Boston Celtics are the most successful franchise in NBA history, having won 17 championships, 21 conference titles and 22 division championships during their time in the league. The team has qualified for the playoffs 57 times. 40 individuals associated with the team have been enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. The TD Garden is the home of both the Celtics and the NHL’s Boston Bruins . When the facility was under construction in the mid-1990s, plans stated the arena would be located “just north” of the Boston Garden. “Just north” ended up being nine inches away. The privately financed facility was built for $160 million in 1995. Food & Beverage 4 Concessions at TD Garden have never been at the forefront of the Celtics gameday experience. Over the years, the concessions have improved here in both variety and quality. Along with the physical renovations to the TD Garden, visiting fans will notice improvements to the food and beverages available for the 2019-20 season. Stands at the TD Garden are organized by their menus, so hungry fans may have to do some searching to find what they want. All the expected arena staples can be found at the many stands that line the concourse. Vegetarian, vegan, kosher and gluten free items are available throughout TD Garden. For your best value, try a super slice at Sal’s Pizza. Hub Hot Dogs offers a family-friendly menu without alcohol sales. For some of the more unique items on the menu, head to the Test Kitchen stand on Level 4. Coca-Cola products are featured at TD Garden. A more in-depth description of the menu, including a map of all concessions, can be found here . Fans looking for an adult beverage will have no problem finding what they want at TD Garden. In addition to draught and bottled beers available at both permanent and portable concession stands, there are several spots dedicated solely to adult refreshments. The Coors Light Hub Bar and Sam Adams Brew House, located on Level 4, as well as the Bud Light Blue Zone and Craft Beer Garden on Level 7, offer a wide selection of national brands and local craft brews for thirsty Bruins fans. New social areas for the 2019-20 season include The Rafters Club on Level 9 and the Back Row Bar at the top of the Balcony seating area. Be warned that concession prices at TD Garden are among the highest in the NBA. Atmosphere 5 Somewhere, Red Auerbach must be rolling over in his grave. The old Celtics philosophy of just opening up the gates and rolling out the basketballs is a distant memory. Watching an NBA game today is an all-out assault on the senses, and taking in a Celtics game at the TD Garden is no different. The game-day presentation at a Celtics game is a non-stop mix of music and visuals designed to appeal to the casual basketball fan. The Celtics put on as good a show as anyone in the NBA. All the usual features are here, including a scantily-clad dance team, a cheerleading squad (kudos to having a mixed-gender squad who perform some nice stunts), and to many old-timers’ dismay, a mascot. However, the Celtics do not employ your standard furry creature, but an actual human dressed in leprechaun gear. “Lucky” takes part in stunts and routines, and has some good moves of his own. A significant portion of the in-game presentation is directed towards younger fans, with play stoppages filled with fan cams on the jumbotron, t-shirt tosses, performances by Li’l Phunk, the team’s youth dance troupe, face painting booths, and more. Youth teams can even take the court to play before the game. The TD Garden is a family-friendly venue. Parents can feel very comfortable bringing the entire family to a Celtics game. Neighborhood 5 The TD Garden is located in Boston’s historic North End, the city’s version of “Little Italy.” Among the many outstanding restaurants along these narrow, crowded streets is Bruin legend Ray Bourque’s restaurant, Tresca. Be sure to grab a couple of cannolis from Mike’s Pastry while here, or head to Regina’s Pizzeria, one of the top places to get a slice of pizza in the country. Many visiting fans enjoy walking down Hanover Street, taking in the sights and smells. There are no shortage of options for Celtic fans looking for a spot to eat near the Garden before or after a game. Halftime King of Pizza, right across Causeway Street, is always loaded with fans grabbing a quick slice. The Four’s was named the best sports bar in the United States by Sports Illustrated in 2005. Boston Beer Works is popular for their wide selection of craft brews, including the Bunker Hill Blueberry Ale. Fans flock from all over Greater Boston to The Harp, The Greatest Bar, Sports Grille Boston, Hurricane O’Reilly’s, and many other fine dining establishments in the immediate area. Walk a few blocks further south, and you will arrive at Faneuil Hall, a collection of restaurants, shops and clubs that is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Be sure to check out Union Oyster House, Boston’s oldest restaurant and home of the city’s best clam chowder. Statues of Celtics legends Red Auerbach and Bill Russell can be found here among all the historic sites. Fans looking to explore Boston’s rich history can follow the Freedom Trail, which passes only a few blocks from the Garden. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile-long brick-lined route that connects 16 of Boston’s most significant historic sites. This walking tour winds throughout the city and is one of the best ways to explore Boston. Several points of interest are located near the Garden, including the Old North Church, Faneuil Hall and Copp’s Burial Ground. Fans 5 The Celtics are averaging over 19,000 fans per game during the 2019-20 season, more than 100 percent of capacity. This figure easily places the Celtics in the top ten in the NBA attendance rankings. Celtics fans are known around the league as some of the most passionate, dedicated fans in the league. The give the Celtics one of the greatest home-court advantages in the NBA, and the TD Garden can be one of the loudest buildings when the Celtics get rolling. The crowd at the Garden is a mix of longtime fans who can still recall the Celtics glory days of Cousy and Russell, fans from the original Big Three (Bird-McHale-Parish) era, and younger fans who came aboard with the new Big Three (Pierce-Garnett-Allen). Games at the Garden today are family friendly, and the crowd is filled with the next generation of Celtics fans. Access 2 Boston is certainly not an easy city for visitors to navigate. City streets, which date all the way back to colonial times, are laid out in seemingly random directions. Traffic jams and never-ending construction projects are the norm here. While the Garden is located adjacent to Interstate 93, even the most direct route off the highway (Exit 26-Storrow Drive) requires several twists and turns to reach the arena. The best way to get to TD Garden is to take public transportation, known in Boston as the “T.” The arena is located directly on top of the North Station MBTA commuter rail station, bringing in fans from all parts of suburban Boston. For fans taking the subway, both the green and orange lines stop at North Station, right across the street from TD Garden. The $2.75 one-way fare makes the “T” Stadium Journey’s recommendation for avoiding the hassle of driving. Although there are many options for parking in the area around the Garden it can be quite expensive to park here. There is a 5-level garage located directly underneath the Garden which charges $52 for event parking. There are several surface lots and garages in the immediate area which range from $30-$50 on game night. Despite the Garden’s downtown location, there is little on-street parking to be found. The big news over the summer of 2019 was the completion of the renovations that have been in progress over the past several years . In addition to the new entrance and atrium that debuted last season, additional parking was added to the North Station garage. Concourse space was increased by twenty percent, additional bathrooms were added, and new seating areas and concessions points were added in the balcony level. Gone are the old yellow seats, replaced by sleek new, ergonomically advanced seats throughout the facility. Yet somehow fan comfort took a major hit despite these “improvements.” The seats that were installed featured increased seat and back padding, a new armrest design and higher seat backs that made them feel significantly smaller than their predecessors. Many fans can no longer fit comfortably in the new seats, ether due to decreased legroom or seat width. The Garden’s initial reaction, “it takes time to get used to such major changes,” didn’t help with fan backlash. Even though the facility backed off from these statements and will be replacing these torturous seats over the summer, there’s nothing that can be done until after the Bruins and Celtics wrap up their seasons. Return on Investment 3 The Celtics utilize variable pricing for their home games, dividing their schedule into several tiers. Tickets start as low as $39 for the least expensive seats, with the average ticket costing about $145. Check out the Celtics website for more details on ticket pricing and availability. There is an active secondary market for Celtics tickets with bargains to be found. Inflating the price of attending a Celtics game is above average concession prices and parking prices that are among the highest in the league. Parking in the garage beneath the TD Garden costs $52, with surface lots and garages a short distance from the arena priced between $35-50. Fans looking to avoid the exorbitant parking prices, not to mention the always present Boston traffic can take the “T” to the game, which drops fans off at North Station, right across the street from the Garden on both the Green and Orange lines. Fares from most spots in and around the city cost only $2.75. Extras 5 History -A trio of extra points is awarded for the sense of history that permeates all corners of the TD Garden. There is a statue of Red Auerbach smoking one of his legendary victory cigars in Fanueil Hall, and a statue of Bill Russell in the nearby City Hall Plaza, the site of so many Celtics’ championship rallies. A statue of Larry Bird can be found inside the Garden, in the Boston Sports Museum. No other team in the NBA can match the Celtics’ 17 championship banners, all of which hang proudly from the rafters of the Garden. There is no room for mere division title banners or even conference title flags here. It’s an NBA title or bust here in Boston. Also joining the championship banners are three banners honoring Celtic retired numbers from throughout their storied history. In all, 23 former Celtics have been honored by having their jersey numbers retired. There are so many retired numbers here, in fact, that the honored players do not have their own unique banner. All the numbers are simply laid out on a trio of grids. No names, no frills, just three banners full of the numbers of some of basketball’s all-time greats. Kevin Garnett’s number 5 will join the legendary lineup in the 2020-21 season. The signature floor at the TD Garden, properly named the Red Auerbach Court, has been linked to the Celtics and the Garden since 1952. Built during World War II when lumber was prohibitively scarce and costly, this floor actually pre-dates the Celtics, and was originally used at nearby Matthews Arena. Legend has it that the Celtics knew which way the ball would bounce on certain parts of the floor, and would defend their opponents accordingly. Although the floor was rebuilt in 1999, pieces of the original floor were incorporated into the new floor, which accurately recreated the oft-imitated look of the original court. The Sports Museum -Perhaps the greatest hidden sporting gem in Boston, it’s a must see for any sports fan visiting Boston. Located on levels 5 and 6 of the Garden, The Sports Museum features items celebrating the city of Boston’s long and storied sports history. Exhibits include the penalty box from the Boston Garden and an open theater with original Garden seats. Items from local high schools share space with Boston’s many professional teams. Gino Time -If you are lucky enough to attend a game in which the Celtics are assured of victory, you will get to experience Gino Time. In a nod to Red Auerbach’s tradition of lighting a victory cigar near the end of certain Celtics victories, the team shows a video of an old American Bandstand clip from 1977 intertwined with shots of people in the crowd dancing. The clip, played to the Bee Gee’s “You Should Be Dancing”, has achieved cult status in major part due to a dancer with a legendary 1970’s perm and a tight shirt emblazoned with “Gino” on it. Kevin Garnett even admitted to being a big fan of Gino Time during his time with the team. Final Thoughts Boston may not be thought of as a basketball hotbed in some circles, but the combination of a team contending for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a rabid fanbase, an outstanding gameday atmosphere, unmatched history and tradition makes “The Gahden” one of the must-see venues in the league. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Byrne Field at Maxfield Sports Complex 120 Lesle Dr White River Junction, VT 05001 Upper Valley Nighthawks website Maxfield Sports Complex website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 1,500 Nighthawks of the Upper Valley The Upper Valley Nighthawks are the newest team in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, one of the premier summer leagues in the country. Run by former Laconia Muskrats General Manager Noah Crane, the team plays their games at Byrne Field at the Maxfield Sports Complex in Hartford, Vermont. The Maxfield Sports Complex is a community recreation center containing regulation baseball and softball fields, four little league fields, a multi-purpose baseball/softball field, tennis courts, basketball courts, a walking/jogging trail and several multi-purpose fields. The baseball field at Maxfield Sports Complex is named for Jack and Dorothy Byrne, local residents and philanthropists who have donated millions of dollars to agencies throughout the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont. Food and Beverage 2 There is no permanent concession stand at Maxfield Sports Complex. For Nighthawk games, some local food trucks are brought in to feed hungry baseball fans. Local favorite Wicked Awesome BBQ is the centerpiece here, offering pulled chicken and pork sandwiches along with sausage and pepper sandwiches. The sandwiches are very popular, selling out on the night this writer visited. If BBQ doesn’t do it for you, there is a hot dog cart here selling Kayam franks, and a snack cart selling cotton candy and kettle corn flavored with local maple syrup. Cans of Coca-Cola products along with bottled water and Gatorade are sold here. A popular item with the younger fans was the chocolate milk sold at the popcorn stand. There are no alcoholic beverages sold at Maxfield Sports Complex. Atmosphere 3 Veteran fans of the NECBL will find the game night atmosphere in the Upper Valley very familiar. It’s a low-key, laid-back atmosphere, with the game serving as the center of all attention. Much of the extraneous noise found at minor league ballparks is missing here. For the Nighthawks’ arrival in 2016, many improvements were made to the facility, including lights, bleacher seating and a pressbox. Most fans will seek out the bleachers behind home plate, with many fans choosing the unobstructed views further down the right field line. The team does hold some between innings contests for the younger fans, including the very popular race against the mascot. The team also holds a nightly 50/50 raffle, proceeds from which go towards the operation of the team. Neighborhood 2 Maxfield Sports Complex is located on Route 5, just two miles from the intersection of Interstates 89 and 91 and downtown White River Junction. As you might expect at the junction of two interstates, there are several hotels in this area. There are several places to eat in the area, both in White River Junction and across the Connecticut River in Hanover, New Hampshire. Many visitors to the area choose to head a little further north to Dartmouth College, where the downtown area of Hanover has numerous fine dining options. Fans 3 The Nighthawks are averaging just under 400 fans per game in their inaugural season in the Upper Valley, good for the middle of the pack in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. As is the case in most summer leagues, the crowd at a Nighthawks game is mostly made up of locals, many of whom have a strong rooting interest due to their connection with the team. It’s not unusual to find yourself sitting next to a house parent or team sponsor. Access 3 Maxfield Sports Complex is located in the small town of Hartford, Vermont. Hartford is located in the Upper Valley region of New England, at the junction of the White and Connecticut Rivers. Interstates 89 and 91 meet here, and the sports complex is just a couple of miles from I-91. There is parking at the complex for 215 cars in either of two lots. One lot is located near the entrance, with the larger lot located a short walk from Byrne Field. Beware the spots right near the field, as they are prime foul ball (and smashed windshield) territory. The grounds are nicely manicured, with paved sidewalks accessing the areas between the various fields. Seating at Byrne Field is in the form of several differently shaped metal bleachers scattered around the ball field. There is room for fans to bring their own chairs to set up and watch the action, and fans can circle the entire field if they desire. There is plenty of room for children to roam and chase foul balls. With another field located adjacent to Byrne Field, many children choose to organize their own game here rather than watch the big boys play. There is a small building next to the field containing a pair of new, clean restrooms. Return on Investment 3 Admission to a Nighthawks game costs five dollars, with free parking in either of the two lots near the field. With reasonable food prices, a night at Maxfield Sports Complex will definitely not break the bank. Extras 2 On the night this writer visited White River Junction, there was a live band set up next to the field that played in between some innings. I am not sure if this is a common occurrence at Nighthawks games, but it’s definitely worth an extra point. It’s something a lot of teams should consider doing rather than the same old piped-in music. An extra point for the lovely Green Mountain backdrop to the ballpark. Final Thoughts Veteran fans of the NECBL will find Maxfield Sports Complex a very comfortable, familiar place to watch some quality baseball. With the Green Mountains providing a picturesque backdrop, it’s a great place to spend a summer evening. Just hope that the wind is not blowing in from the sheep farm next door… Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by David Hegler, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Kaiser Permanente Arena 140 Front St Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Map It Santa Crus Warriors website Kaiser Permanente Arena website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 2,505 Sea Dubs Right down Highway 17 and near the Pacific Ocean in Santa Cruz, California resides an unassuming-looking metal barn. But don’t judge something by its outward appearance. Once you step inside, KP Arena (Kaiser Permanente Arena) is anything but unassuming.  Amazingly, it was built in just 78 days between September and December of 2012 for just $3.5 million, opening just two days before Christmas 2012 with a Santa Cruz Warriors win over the Bakersfield Jam. The arena proved to be an instant draw, cashing in on 39 sellouts in its first 53 games. The arena is used for much more than the Santa Cruz Warriors (who are locally known as the “Sea Dubs”). It also serves as the home arena for the UC Santa Cruz men’s and women’s basketball, has hosted team USA’s FIBA World Cup games and, due to the coronavirus causing wide ranging restrictions in Santa Clara County, was home to Stanford University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams for several games during the 2020-2021 season. Speaking of COVID-19, it even served as a vaccination hub in early 2021.  Still, what most endears fans to this simple arena is the Sea Dubs. To date, the Golden State Warriors G-League affiliate has just one championship under its belt, in 2015, but what it lacks in championships it makes up for in heart and community. Night after night, throngs of supporters pack KP Arena to capacity and applaud as their beloved Sea Dubs battle for supremacy while trying to prove themselves to the rest of the NBA. After all, every game is an audition for bigger and better things for each of these young men.  Food & Beverage 3 The arena serves all of the usuals as well as locally brewed craft beer. They ingeniously neglect to label the prices for the food mart, rightfully thinking that once a customer seizes the item and brings it to the cashier that their minds will have already been made up (or maybe that’s just the case for this particular writer!).  The food is pretty standard arena fare with warm pretzels and nachos. Interestingly, despite it being so close to the Pacific Ocean, none of their food is inspired by the sea. Atmosphere 3 From the outside, KP Arena looks like a metal barn. Inside is a different story as it’s filled with activity and vibrancy. Hired rooters romp, stomp and cajole the crowd to cheer louder and louder. It’s a special feeling knowing that you contributed to the outcome of a game just by stomping your feet on the bleachers. Three of the four sections that surround the court are plastic-covered bleachers (which is much better than unforgiving metal) with a smattering of fold-down seats in front. There is a good-sized video board that features each squad’s starting lineup. Interestingly, there are two disco balls that hang on either end of the court. Perhaps the operators of the facility want to be prepared for any schools that want to hold dances there? Neighborhood 3 While it can get crowded, this part of Santa Cruz is safe, friendly and scrumptious, with several well-regarded restaurants scattered throughout town. Just a little over a mile north of KP Arena and across the San Lorenzo River on 1020 Ocean Street is Marianne’s Ice Cream , long regarded as one of the best ice cream shops in Santa Cruz County and quite possibly all of Silicon Valley.   Marianne's Ice Cream, Photo by David Hegler, Stadium Journey Marianne’s is far from the only well-regarded restaurant in town. Just down Front Street from the arena is Pizza My Heart and Oswald Restaurant. If you’re in the mood for a quick tour of a museum, then the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (also on Front Street, just past Oswald Restaurant) just might be for you.  There are numerous hotels throughout the city, including two right on nearby Cowell Beach, the Sea & Sand Inn and the Dream Inn, each boasting a three-star rating. They are both within walking distance of the famed Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk . Fans 3 The arena is about 90% capacity on most nights, with the majority of fans sitting in their seats the whole game. All through the contest, hired rooters liven up the crowd, implying the fans to cheer louder and louder. It truly gives the arena an electricity that all teams hope for. Access 3 At $2 an hour, parking is very cheap near KP Arena. Most of the parking garages and parking lots roll with that price and are within half a mile from the arena. There are bus stops all along Front Street, including one right in front of the arena. There is a bag check and metal detector at the entrance. The concourse can get pretty crowded at halftime as the food is good enough to draw quite a crowd. There are handrails at the ready for those that need assistance getting to the top of their section. While the bathrooms are small, they are well lit, clean and all essentials are in good shape. Return on Investment 3 The bleachers behind the basket are just $35 and while they are not padded, the plastic covering is certainly better than the unforgiving metal that often greets guests at other venues. The most expensive seats in the arena come with armrests and they usually go for around $60. As they say, you get what you pay for and whether it’s $35 or $60, the overall experience pays for itself. With the Sea Dubs’ mascot, a giant turtle named Mav’Rik, roaming around the arena taking selfies with fans and riling up the crowd along with the hired rooters, it certainly feels like a family-friendly atmosphere. Extras 1 At the game of this review, there were not a lot of extras, but after the game, the organization allowed fans to stick around and attempt free throws. I’m not sure if this is a regular occurrence, but the lines were quite long, so obviously this was a popular extra. Final Thoughts All in all, this is a very good environment to watch a basketball game. With NBA tickets being so very expensive these days, the G-League offers an excellent source of excitement in the sport as each player on both squads gives their all to reach the bigger league.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium 2-3-1 Minami Kaniya Minami-ku, Hiroshima, Japan Hiroshima Toyo Carp website Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium website Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 56,000 Zoom Zoom Over to Mazda Stadium The Hiroshima Carp are the first team in my time in Japan to build an entirely new stadium to replace an existing one. The previous incarnation was an old-style ballpark right across the street from the Atomic Bomb Dome, and many locals were outraged that it would be replaced. But the new ballpark should silence all but the most strident objectors, as Mazda Stadium is the best baseball stadium in the country, a fitting result as Hiroshima is one of Japan’s best cities too. The official name is Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium Hiroshima but this is usually abbreviated to just Mazda Stadium, thankfully. It was opened in 2009 to rave reviews and has been called an “American-style” ballpark. This is true to a point, at least as much as possible in rigid Japan. Food & Beverage 5 The food options here are exceptionally varied and it is worth trying as many as possible. I considered the Philly Cheese Steak until I saw the cheese they were using, which was of the melted processed variety and consequently not that appealing. I sampled a number of light options over the three days I spent here and particularly enjoyed the Carp Udon (noodles) for 500 yen. There are tables nearby the concession stand as it is difficult to eat noodles while holding the bowl; one poor lady dropped hers all over the floor and to add insult to injury, her cell phone fell into the pile of noodles as she bent down to clean up the mess. The concourse is rife with different concession stands, each one offering something unique. Definitely take the time to look around beforehand before choosing as you will be surprised at the variety. If you want to bring food in, there are small street vendors selling food items right next to the stadium, including draft beer that you can take inside. It’s half the price you’ll pay once you’ve entered, so well worth it if you plan to imbibe. Atmosphere 3 The cheering sections are separated from the rest of the seating bowl which is a unique layout in Japan and one that I personally prefer, but it might hurt the overall atmosphere for a first-time visitor. I also found the stadium to be extremely hot during day games with little opportunity to cool off. A minor quibble as Hiroshima is a very hot place at the end of August, but I found it tiring. Still, it was packed with great fans for all three games and there is a good local flavor here that is difficult to find in any of the larger cities ballparks. Wear red if you want to fit in. Neighborhood 4 There is little in the immediate vicinity of Mazda Stadium, but within a few minutes’ walk are a number of small eateries that might make for good post-game choices, if you can get a seat. Hiroshima Station is not that far away, but even then, it is not the typical downtown that you see elsewhere in Japan. There’s little nightlife around the station and not much worth seeing. Still, most of Hiroshima’s interesting points are not that far from the ballpark when taking the tram. Do take the time to view the underground shopping area right next to the station though, as there are many Carp-related posters, including some on the poles which shows how crazy this town is about their team. Fans 5 Carp fans are my favorite. They have the most energetic cheer, which involves their fans alternating standing up and sitting down while chanting. Keep in mind that about half stand while the other half sit, then they quickly reverse roles. It is quite an eye-catching act and given that the Carp haven’t made the playoffs in nearly 20 years, they get full points for maintaining good spirits in the face of adversity. Access 3 Mazda Stadium is a 10-minute walk from Hiroshima Station and well-signed in English. Or you can just follow everybody else; there are plenty of red-clad fans making the trek even two hours before game time. As you draw near, you’ll walk up a bridge that leads to the main entrance. However, you’ll need a ticket if you choose this approach as there is no box office here. If you need to buy a ticket, stay to the right of the bridge and walk over to the ticket window, which is not immediately obvious and requires you to cross a couple of streets. Although the gates open 4 hours before game time on the weekend, the reserved seating areas down below are closed off until 2 hours before, which is rather silly. That is a long time to spend walking around, so most fans sit in the shade and wait patiently for the aisles to be opened. When they do, it creates a funny scene as hundreds of fans make their way down the aisles at the same time. The infield concourse is not that wide, particularly when the crowds are meandering before the game. There are other minor annoyances as well. To get to your seat, you have to enter the exact aisle that is printed on your ticket. But they don’t have ticket checkers at every aisle, so they’ve added some fencing and created one entrance for every 3 aisles. This pushes the standing areas back quite a bit and reduces the amount of available space for standing as the pillars now block the view in many spots. As well, once you are in the main bowl, you can’t move from section to section as there is no walkway. So taking pictures in a variety of areas can be difficult once fans are in their seats. Oh, and don’t bother trying to get into a section for which you have no ticket, even well before the game. This is Japan and rules are rules. Restrooms are plentiful and there were no waits at any time, despite a nearly full house. Return on Investment 4 As I was walking back to my hotel before the Friday night game, I chanced upon a kinken shop. These are stores that offer a variety of tickets that involve discounts on items such as shinkansen trips, movies, or drinks. They also have sports tickets on occasion so I decided to see if anything was available. Surprisingly, they had one seat in a section called the Royal Box for 5,000 yen. These tickets are usually not available to the general public, so I was intrigued, but the saleslady wouldn’t show me the ticket itself, which I found peculiar. She pointed out the approximate location on a stadium map, and it seemed to be behind home plate in the first few rows, so I chanced it and forked over the money. Turned out to be a fortunate decision as the seat was three rows behind the plate. The only problem is that the first two rows are those that are shown on TV, so most of the evening I was surrounded by idiots who would come down, get on their cell phone, and then wave as the pitch was tossed. Then, having been spotted by their friend on the other end of the call, they’d leave satisfied with their fleeting fame. Morons. But still a great price for a great seat. Of course, there are plenty of other seating options, 17 in all, which I won’t list here. Some of them are very interesting though; the Coca-Cola Terrace seats are sold in sets of 5 for 20,000 yen and allow you a table to enjoy your food while the Nesoberia Seats are large cushions in the outfield that are sold in pairs only for 7,000 yen. The Carp are a big draw here and most sections are sold out on game day, so if you want to sit in a certain section, make sure to buy tickets well in advance. Otherwise the best bet is the infield unreserved seats at 1,600 yen. These are in the second deck but if you get there early you can pick your spot and sit in the shade for the whole game, and it’s not that far from the field. The cheering groups each have their own special section called Carp Performance and Visitor Performance, which sit as entirely separate areas from the other sections. Brilliant idea that opens the outfield seats to fans that prefer to sit there without the music blaring and also allows for a wider variety of seating options in general. This gets them a bonus point in this section. The unreserved seats in the second deck are open at the same time as the gates since fans want to get there early to save their favorite spot. At this time, you must have a ticket to go upstairs but once the rest of the seating area is open, you can go up to take pictures. There is no upper concourse in the second deck, there’s just a small walkway for getting between the sections. Again you need to know which aisle to use as you can’t walk between sections. Since these are unreserved seats, make a note of your seat number and aisle and leave something on top of it should you wish to go touring. You get a nice view of the surrounding hills and can see the trains going by beyond the left field fence, and it is a bit cooler here too. Extras 4 One of the features I like here is that the scoreboard highlights the baserunners in green so you know who is on what base. Just a little thing but something I’ve not seen elsewhere. In the outfield concourse there are a couple of statues of Soichiro Amaya making great catches, complete with a fake fence. These aren’t related to the two incredible plays that happened during the 2010 season, but just an interesting coincidence. They’ve set it up so that you can pose on this side of the fence and act surprised. There’s even a popcorn tub spilling its load or a soda pop with the contents in the air to complete the illusion. Very cool. After the 5th inning, fans sing a song while doing a silly dance, led by their mascot Slyly. What I found interesting is that all the beer vendors have to do the dance too. Each one goes to the bottom of the aisle, removes his keg, and then dances and sings. We all know that selling beer is the noblest profession and these fine individuals shouldn’t be forced to perform such humiliating antics. One point penalty for that. Final Thoughts Overall, this is a great place to watch a game. A beautiful setting, close to transit, excellent sightlines that aren’t ruined by protective netting, plenty of good eats, and a wide variety of seating options. Yeah, it’d be better if you had more freedom to explore before the game, but what can you do. Mazda Stadium definitely makes Hiroshima a key sports destination in Japan; let’s hope that it begins a trend towards fan-friendly facilities around the country.

Photos by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Munn Ice Arena 509 Birch Rd. East Lansing, MI 48824 Michigan State Spartans men’s hockey website Munn Ice Arena website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 6,470 The Funn of Munn Munn Ice Arena, opened in 1974, provides the perfect home for Michigan State Spartans hockey. The exterior of the building is rather nondescript and would be easy to miss if it’s your first time in East Lansing. The arena is named after former football coach and athletic director, Clarence “Biggie” Munn. It is great for MSU to have a facility dedicated only to ice hockey, but it was built in a way that many remarks that it resembles a bomb shelter. Even with the unremarkable exterior, however, the modest capacity of 6,470, combined with outstanding sightlines and a festive atmosphere inside make a trip to Munn Ice Arena a must for fans of college hockey. Food & Beverage 3 There are four large concession areas located in each corner of the concourse above the seating area. It's a rather uninspired menu, with just the standard arena basics available. The quality is probably a little better than expected with Kowalski hot dogs being a good bet. Fans will also find Johnsonville brats, slices of pizza, soft pretzels, and standard nachos Drink choices include Pepsi products. Combo meals are available and will save you $1 compared to items purchased individually. For example, the hot dog combo includes a hot dog, 32-ounce pop, and a box of popcorn. Atmosphere 4 The bottom line is that Munn Ice Arena is a fantastic place to watch a hockey game. Fans enter at the concourse level and all of the seats (except the suites above) are below you. Ten sections of green plastic seats line each straightaway. The majority of these seats were installed in the summer of 2015, providing much better comfort for fans, Legroom here is about average, and unfortunately, there are no cupholders with the seats. The seating areas at the ends of Munn Ice Arena consist of five rows of the same plastic seats, and then 13 rows of metal bleachers. There is a bit more legroom here and a fantastic pitch between the rows. However, with no backs to the bleachers, they can get a bit uncomfortable as the game progresses. If this is an issue for you, consider purchasing a seat in Row 18 (the back row) so you can have a little support. The sightlines are terrific, so this should be your target if you end up in the bleachers. A new video board was installed over center ice in December 2014. The video screens are mainly used to show live-action, replays, hype videos, and advertisements. Standard game stats are shown on digital scoreboards in each corner. More advanced stats are included in the ribbon boards along the fascia of the luxury suites and press box. Neighborhood 4 Munn Ice Arena is nestled within the heart of the sports complexes at Michigan State. Nearby you will find Spartan Stadium , McLane Baseball Stadium, DeMartin Soccer Stadium, and the Breslin Center, among other athletic facilities. Your go-to spot when in East Lansing is the Harrison Roadhouse, located just a little over a ½ mile from Munn Ice Arena. They have wonderful burgers and a good beer selection, along with TVs to keep up with the games. It's an easy walk if the weather isn't too bad, but this is Michigan, and it can be frigid on the right day. The main drag in East Lansing is along East Grand River Avenue, where you can find several familiar restaurants and bars. Try Dublin Square, which is just off Grand River on Abbot. They are a fairly typical Irish-style pub, as the name suggests, and offer really good sandwiches, and a decent selection of local and Irish beers. Fans 3 The Michigan State Spartan hockey program has struggled somewhat under the tenure of coach Tom Anastos, with their last appearance in the NCAA tournament coming in 2012. However, the fans continue to fill the majority of seats in the arena and cheer on their team. This includes a solid student section and the always entertaining Michigan State pep band. However, attendance has been dropping, and there is a little less buzz inside Munn Ice Arena than there was when Michigan State was competing for conference championships and NCAA tournament bids. Access 4 It is easy to get to Munn Ice Arena, as it is just northeast of I-495, and just south of Michigan Avenue. Being so close to the football stadium offers ample parking available for game time. Parking is $5 at Spartan Stadium. Inside the arena, moving around is no problem at all, and the washroom facilities are just fine. Return on Investment 4 The green plastic seats found along the sides of the area, as well as the first five rows of the corners, cost $22. If you sit in the corners on the metal bleachers, then the cost is just $20. Sections P, O, and N are the "family" section, with seats going for just $10. The Spartans shoot just once on this end, but otherwise, the seats are just as good in terms of the view of the game. Keep in mind entrances to the arena are behind each end section, so if you sit in the back rows, you'll likely want to have your jacket on for the whole contest as cold winter air blows into the seating section. Combined with $5 parking and typically-priced arena concessions, everything comes out to be just about the right price for the entertainment value as compared to other similar Division I hockey experiences. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Spartan band adds a richness to the game that makes it different from your average hockey game. A good pep band helps to make college hockey special. An extra mark for the vast history on display at Munn. There are large murals commemorating Spartans who have played in the Olympics and National Championship winning goals, and National Champion team pictures. The two Hobey Baker Awards awarded to Ryan Miller and Kip Miller are on display. There is a huge collage of pictures of MSU championship teams and a collage of Spartans in the NHL. There are also two memorial displays for former athletic director "Biggie" Munn, and former hockey coach, and the winningest coach in the NCAA, Ron Mason. The Spartans have won three National Championships in hockey (1966, 1986, and 2007), which adds some mystique to the building and game day experience. Final Thoughts Munn Ice Arena is a great place to see a college hockey game. The sight lines are fantastic, the pep band is energetic, and the program has a great deal of history on display. If the Spartans can get back to their winning ways, Munn Ice Arena will once again be rocking.

Photo Courtesy of Katie Gimore Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Bill Snyder Family Stadium 1800 College Ave Manhattan, KS 66502 Kansas State Wildcats website Bill Snyder Family Stadium website Year Opened: 1968 Capacity: 52,200 Putting the Wild in Wildcats Bill Snyder Family Stadium, home to the Kansas State Wildcats opened in 1968 and has become one of the loudest football places on the plains. The seating capacity here is 50,000, and most of that noise stays inside the stadium making it a big home-field advantage for the Wildcats. Over the past 25 years, the Wildcats have enjoyed a near .800 winning percentage at home. The facility has had many upgrades over the years since being constructed for a mere $1.6 million. These upgrades include a new press box, a playing surface, and upgraded seating areas. The major renovations before the 2013 season are just the second in a five-phase master plan that is expected to be completed in 2025. The Wildcats have not sat idly while the rest of the college football teams race to build the most significant and fanciest facilities. Future phases of their plan could include a new strength gym, retail and condo space, seating additions, sound and video upgrades, a recruiting lounge; everything but a literal football factory that spits out more gritty underdog players to continue the Snyder legacy of teams that surprise the nation’s collective football conscience. Food & Beverage 4 There are many options inside the stadium to have a nice meal while enjoying a Wildcats football game. Standard stadium fare such as hot dogs, burgers, nachos, and pizza is sold throughout the stadium. Prices are on par with most other big-time college football venues. The south end of the stadium offers a wider variety of items such as BBQ, ice cream, kettle corn, turkey legs, and vegetarian options. The BBQ sandwich here is quite tasty, and for $8, you get your choice of three styles of meats with the option of fixings. Pepsi products are sold here for the typical stadium prices. A souvenir cup is worthwhile so you can wet your whistle while cheering loudly with the K-State faithful. Concession stands are abundant throughout the facility and wait times are minimal, even at peak times. Atmosphere 5 The atmosphere here at Bill Snyder Family Stadium is something to be seen live rather than on television. Nicknamed the “Little Apple,” the entire town of Manhattan is decked out in grey and purple on game days. The population of Manhattan, Kansas, is around 56,000, but that doubles on game days. Traffic is heavy going in with fans arriving super early to tailgate. Outside the stadium on all sides, tailgating can be seen as far as the eye can see. The smells and sights are as good as you will see in the Big 12. Inside the stadium, heavy metal music plays over the loudspeaker at key times to get the fans cheering loudly. A song, such as “Crazy Train” before a kickoff is enough to pump any football fan up. On this day, a hundred or so motorcycles rode around the perimeter of the football field before the game for the once-a-year Harley Day at the stadium. Willie the Wildcat is the official mascot and does an admirable job with fans at the game. After each Kansas State score, he will do as many pushups as K-State has points followed by a pose and chant. This can get quite entertaining during high-scoring games. The biggest tradition of them all here at Kansas State is the Wabash Cannonball. This song gets fans bobbing back and forth in unison. This may seem silly but when 50,000 people all do it at once, it’s a sight to see. Neighborhood 3 The stadium is not quite on campus, which makes for more tailgating room, but less college culture. Fraternity houses, which can always be counted on to contribute some debauchery, are much too far from the stadium for people to enjoy their antics. Instead, the area surrounding Bill Snyder Family Stadium is a lot like the rest of Kansas; expansive and flat. Fortunately, the next three phases of the master plan promise to bring vast improvements to the neighborhood immediately surrounding the venue. A neighborhood that needs no improvements is Aggieville, the downtown district diagonally across from the main campus gates. This place has everything you’d expect in a college town: local boutiques, fun restaurants, numerous bars, and plenty of people milling around. If coming to town for a morning game, stop at Varsity Donuts and bring a dozen to your tailgate. Their unique and various treats are sure to please everyone. Fans 4 Kansas State football fans suffered through some historically bad years, yet have always been supportive. The Bill Snyder years have been a reward for fans' persistence. Fans are into the game from the opening kick until the end of each game. It is a loud venue and enjoyable yet nothing over the top towards opposing fans. The Wabash Cannonball is one of those fan traditions that you must see live once. Fans also take part in a first-down chant when the Wildcats earn a first down. Access 3 The only bad part of attending a game is the commute. Manhattan sits about five miles off I-70, and on game days, the side highway from the interstate to town is clogged with traffic. Although lots surround the stadium, most of them are reserved, so expect to pay a bundle for parking within a few blocks of the stadium, or wear comfortable shoes for a long walk from the car. Free parking can be had in residential areas around the stadium but watch signs carefully. Some streets do not permit street parking without a residential permit. I was able to find a spot by the soccer stadium for free while the church across the lawn was charging $30. Renovated bathrooms and concessions mean short lines, but the line to get out of town after the game will make you forget how much you enjoyed the stadium experience. Bill Snyder Highway (really, K-177 is named after the coach) could use the same expansion that the stadium has gotten. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for most games are reasonable and on par with most power five conference schools. The games against Texas or Oklahoma will be a little pricier than a random mid-September game vs a non-conference opponent. Parking seems a bit high ($20-$30), but the ability to tailgate can make it worth it. Inside the stadium, food and beverage prices are on par with normal stadium prices at any division one football game. Extras 3 The west side of the stadium is a beautiful sight on its own, but if you climb to the highest levels of the stands and look out beyond the field and north end zone, you get a fantastic view of the Kansas landscape. A grain elevator stands guard over a golden pasture, and in the near distance, hills of flint rock meet baby blue skies chock full of puffy clouds. Anyone who naively says Kansas isn’t scenic or beautiful doesn’t know what they’re missing. The pregame presentation by the Wildcats band is a good one and worth a couple of bonus points. Final Thoughts The experience at Bill Snyder Family Stadium is pleasant and unassuming unless you see it in person. It truly is electric and even the most hardened traditionalist will find themselves having a superb time here.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Climate Pledge Arena 334 1st Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 Seattle Storm website Climate Pledge Arena website Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 13,500 Storm Season Hits the Climate Pledge Arena The Climate Pledge Arena is a brand new building, not quite. The $1.5 billion redevelopment has transformed it into a state-of-the-art and one of the most highly sustainable sports facilities in the nation. The changes to the infrastructure have made attending a Seattle Storm game quite an experience in the WNBA. The arena opened in 1962 as part of the World’s Fair and featured a distinctive tent-like roof that is still prominently displayed today. The building would be known as the Seattle Civic Coliseum (1964-1994), and after the first major renovations, the Key Arena (1995-2018). The Storm would debut in 2000 and adopt the colors of their former NBA tenant, the Seattle Super Sonics of green and gold. Sadly, the Sonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008, and the ladies have been the only source of professional basketball in town but have captured four WNBA championships. Also, having legendary players Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird helped promote the Storm brand; both have their numbers retired in the rafters. Food & Beverage 5 The food and beverage options at Climate Pledge Arena up the ante on the typical stadium food and combine local flavors from a series of Seattle-area restaurants. The combination offers fans a unique look at items such as pizza, burgers, and corndogs. All of the food and beverage options are located on the main concourse, and many of them are easily visible by signage in space. Fans can enjoy crispy chicken sandwiches on brioche buns that feature various sauces, 1st Avenue nachos serve up chili lime carnitas and ancho chicken along with a ton of other vegetables to pour on your nachos, and the Uptown Market provides all beef hot dogs, chicken tenders and fries, and the local Seattle hot dog. The Din Tai Fung Market is a popular location specializing in Asian cuisine. You will find sweet and sour spare ribs with rice, popcorn chicken, pork and vegetable buns, chicken fried rice, and spicy chicken wontons. A few of the items come in portable boxes that make transportation of it to your seat a little more effective than the standard hot dog and chicken tender and fry basket. Just Poke offers Hawaiian ahi poke bowls and spam musubi. Molly D Burger Grill cooks mouth-watering burgers and homemade peanut butter and jelly corn dogs. The Impossible Burger is for vegetarians and vegans and serves burgers and Korean bowls, and Sound Pizza has pillowy focaccia-like square slices with garlic and parmesan fries. The arena also offers a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Besides Pepsi brands, fans can enjoy plant-based energy tea, sparkling water, and Aquafina in non-plastic containers. If you're looking for a beer or something a bit stronger, various grab-and-go locations have Pacific Northwest breweries. They include variances: Black Raven, Georgetown, Fremont, Pike, and Hop Valley. If you're looking for a macro brew, grab a course, Corona or Modelo. Atmosphere 3 Climate Pledge Arena is a venue where fans enter at the top and then make their way down to the main concourse. Don’t be fooled by the lack of atmosphere at the top of the building; it gets lively on the bottom floor. It is where fans will find various spots for food, beverages, trendy sections, and a living wall. The building’s goal is to be the most progressive, responsible, and sustainable arena in the world. It includes the absence of fossil fuel consumption for daily use, solar panels on the arena’s atrium, waterless urinals, a 15,000-gallon cistern to convert rainwater to ice at the hockey rink, and a 95 percent diversion rate on waste and recyclable materials. The Living Wall is worth viewing when at a game. It measures 1,700 square feet and boasts 25 to 30 different species of plants from the Pacific Northwest. It stretches 200 feet and is 14 feet tall. It is a popular photo op for fans and is watered through recycled plastic bottles and rainwater. The lower seating bowl is open for WNBA games, featuring the distinctive dual-suspended scoreboards that provide digital content. Its design is unique to the building and connects fans to the opposite sides of the seating bowl. They’re also banners of the Storm’s retired numbers and championship titles. Neighborhood 5 The Climate Pledge Arena is in the Seattle Center, the arts, educational, tourism, and entertainment center in town. It is on the site of the 1962 World’s Fair and is within a few yards of the Space Needle and other places to visit while in town. The International Fountain, also built for the World’s Fair, runs all year long; the Artists at Play playground is ideal for kids, along with the Seattle Children’s Museum and Pacific Science Center. The Museum of Pop Culture is home to pop culture experiences that include iconic TV moments, rock n roll music, science fiction, and much more. The Armory Food & Event Hall houses a Seattle Kraken team store plus places to dine: Blue Water Taco, Kabab, Cool Guys Fry Bar, Wing Dome, and Premier Pies. The Fishers Pavillion is home to summer concerts and music festivals. During our visit, several artists sponsored by radio station KXEP performed on stage. Samples of drinks, food, and merchandise were available. Memorial Stadium is also located in Seattle Center and is home to the Seattle Cascades of the AUDL. The Seattle Monorail provides patrons a short trip to downtown Seattle and drops fans off at the Westlake Station, providing access to the Seattle Market and piers, along with the light rail link to T-Moible Park and Lumen Field for a Seattle Mariners and Seahawks game, respectively. Fans 4 Attendance figures are down from the previous year, but the Storm are still averaging well above the league average of 5,646. They are currently welcoming 8,000 plus fans to home games that include only lower-bowl seating. The support is strong, with a tradition of everyone standing until the first basket is scored by the home team. Many cheer passionately and jeer when the Storm turn the ball over. Access 5 Climate Pledge Arena offers free public transit to all county buses and water taxis, Sound Transit buses and light-rail trains, the Seattle streetcar, and monorail to all events, including Storm games. The free passes are available two hours before and after the event; fans will have to link their Ticketmaster account to the Climate Pledge Arena app. The Seattle Monorail connects fans to the arena from downtown at the Westlake Center Mall light-rail stop. The Westlake stop is also accessible to city buses and a few blocks from the City Market. If driving to the event, the arena offers 1,110 spaces in the Underground Arena, 5th Avenue, and 1st Avenue North garages for parking. The price can range from as low as $20 to $50 within reasonable walking distance. The Skyway Luggage Employee Lot 2500 Elliot Avenue can be as low as $5. All tickets should be purchased before the event to secure a spot. If parking downtown and using the monorail, the price tag could be closer to $10. Return on Investment 4 The price of a ticket changes per game and, depending on who is in town, could be in the $30 range; however, closer to game time and select nights, a ticket could fall to $11. It is based on the website TickPick , which I use and never charges additional fees (Stadium Journey is also not endorsed by the website). Fans can upgrade their tickets to either the Symetria or WaFd Bank Club for an additional $25. The private, premium club space provides locale Seattle craft beer offerings. Food prices are on the higher side, with a Hop Valley Kraken Stash IPA selling for $16.99 a can. Their food is of first-class quality with many items locally sourced and made fresh on the spot. The price of public transportation is free to and from all games, but concession prices are high in price. The food is of high quality and varies from traditional to local cuisine. Perhaps it provides a fan to splurge due to savings on tickets and transportation fees. Extras 4 An evening at a Seattle Storm game at the Climate Pledge Arena is advantageous for free public transportation, touring the living wall along the main concourse, and visiting Seattle Center stores. The area offers restaurants, museums, a children's playground, and the Space Needle, among the options before or after a basketball game. Final Thoughts Climate Pledge Arena is a building that stands out among the rest of the WNBA and the nation. The interaction with fans and the team provides an ideal atmosphere for a first-time visitor, and the neighborhood is worth spending a few hours at before or after the game. When you add free mass transportation to the game, visiting the building is a must in Seattle. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Alex Box Stadium at Skip Bertman Field 3277 Gourrier Ave Baton Rouge, LA 70820 LSU Tigers website Alex Box Stadium at Skip Bertman Field website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 10,326 Tigers in the Box Alex Box Stadium at Skip Bertman Field is located on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge. Alex Box Stadium has been the home stadium of the LSU Tigers baseball team since 1938. However, the current ballpark was constructed in 2009 and lies 400 yards south from the original site. Alex Box Stadium is named for Simeon Alex Box, an LSU letterman on the 1942 team, who was killed in North Africa during World War II. Alex Box earned the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross during his service. Skip Bertman Field was added to the stadium’s official title on May 17, 2013, prior to a game against Ole Miss. Skip Bertman was a former LSU head baseball coach and athletic director. Alex Box Stadium has a natural grass playing surface featuring a seating capacity of 10,326. There is artificial turf in the foul territories. The field size is 330 ft down the lines with a 365 ft power alley, and a 405 ft center field with a 10-foot fence. Alex Box Stadium continues to lead college baseball in attendance, as it has for 23 consecutive years. The Box has hosted 25 NCAA regional tournaments, 10 NCAA regional series, and 4 SEC tournaments. The largest paid attendance according to LSU is 12,844 against Notre Dame, although there is a statement by LSU that the largest actual attendance figure is 11,401 on June 8, 2013 vs Oklahoma in a Super Regional matchup. Food & Beverage 4 There are numerous concessions stands available throughout the stadium. There are permanent concession stands on both sides of the baselines on the lower level concourse and the main concourse above the first level seating area. These concessions have your ballpark favorites, as well as a few regional items. Entree items include the Tiger burger ($7), hot dogs ($4), sausage po-boys ($8), and chicken tender baskets ($10), with the regional item being the Cajun Jambalaya ($8). The rest of the menu consists of snacks and sides, such as nachos ($5), chili cheese fries ($6), French fries ($4), popcorn ($5), and peanuts ($4.50). In addition, for the frugal person a bottomless popcorn for $8 is a great way to snack during the game. The options besides the main concessions are located on the lower level with a Chick-fil-A stand selling $7 chicken sandwiches and $3 waffle fries. BurgerSmith’s food truck is also on the lower level (third base side) and serves great burgers ($9), fried okra ($5) and alligator sausage ($9). LSU concessions serves Coca-Cola products – a 22oz soda costs $4.50, but for $7 you can receive a 32oz souvenir cup with a free refill. There are two choices of Dasani bottled water; a 1-liter bottle is available for $5.50 while the 1/2-liter costs $3. There are plenty of water fountains to refill bottles, so the smaller bottle would be frugal. Other beverages sold are frozen lemonade, Powerade, and both coffee and hot chocolate; these beverages range around $5 in cost. There’s no alcohol sold inside Alex Box Stadium, but overall, the food and beverages here are above standard, and provide fans with enough options while inside The Box. Atmosphere 5 From the moment you arrive at Alex Box Stadium the atmosphere begins. The main entrance gives fans an opportunity to visit Gerry Lane Championship Plaza, which pays homage to the LSU baseball national championship teams. The next item for fans is a large Mike the Tiger statue and the Wally Pontiff Jr. Baseball Hall of Fame. As you enter the stadium, you can either walk the outer concourse along a fence that has a baseball design, or make your way up to the main concourse between the lower and upper tiers behind home plate. As you look out over the stadium’s ballfield, you see the Intimidator billboard in right field, LSU’s Tiger Stadium in center, and the new updated video-scoreboard over the left field landing. In addition, if you walk down to the lower level concourse, at each end in the outfield you’ll find a large playground. LSU fans that arrive when the gates open also collaborate near the Tigers pitching mound in right field; this area has plenty of players warming up and they are available for photos. The LSU game day crew keep fans engaged between innings with low-key on-field events and piped in music, but during the game it is all about the LSU faithful. The LSU fans energy and spirit are very well in tune with what the Tigers are doing on the playing field – there are plenty of L-S-U or Geaux Tigers chants throughout the game. The large active crowd inside a beautiful college ballpark that could outdo some professional ballparks creates an atmosphere that is simply the best in college baseball. Neighborhood 4 Alex Box Stadium is on the LSU campus, a few miles south from downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The campus enrollment is close to 31,000 and consists of more than 250 buildings constructed in the style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio; the campus occupies a 650-acre plateau on the east banks of the Mississippi River. The area just off the interstate isn’t much to see, but on the north end of campus off Highland Road is Chimes Street – Chimes Street is a good place to find many local bars and restaurants to enjoy yourself. There are plenty of food options available with Chinese food, sushi, BBQ joints, southern cuisine, and sports bars where you can watch other games. The closest spot for a pre-game or post-game meal near The Box is Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar on Burbank Drive. Walk-On’s is a great spot for food and drinks, but others nearby on Burbank Drive are Mellow Mushroom for pizza, or if you’re looking for buffalo wings, there is Plucker’s off Nicolson Drive. For fans who enjoy local breweries, try visiting Tin Roof Brewing Company. No matter where you are in Baton Rouge, you will be able to find food and beverage to your liking within a short drive. Baton Rouge has plenty of lodging, but there are a couple of places within walking distance from campus. Near Walk-On’s and down Nicholson Drive from the stadium is a 3-star hotel, Staybridge Suites Baton Rouge, while on the east side of campus is the Cook Hotel and Conference Center at LSU. There are plenty of attractions near the Louisiana State University campus – the first attraction is inside Alex Box Stadium in the form of the Wally Pontiff Jr. Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is a place that provides fans the history of LSU baseball. However, a trip to LSU wouldn’t be complete unless you take a visit to Mike’s habitat to see Mike the Tiger. Mike the Tiger is a famed live Bengal Tiger residing between Tiger Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. There are also plenty of options off campus, such as the Magnolia Mound Plantation, a wonderful tourist spot to visit between the LSU campus and downtown Baton Rouge. Downtown Baton Rouge also has both the old and new capitol buildings, the latter being one of the tallest buildings in Baton Rouge, and there is also the L’Auberge casino, Baton Rouge Zoo, and much more to see in Baton Rouge besides the game. However, one of my favorite tourist spots is the USS Kidd, a Fletcher-class destroyer from WWII, now a National Historic Landmark/museum ship berthed on the Mississippi River. Fans 5 The LSU Tigers fan base is one of the loudest and most dedicated, and possibly the best fan base in college sports, across the board. Tigers fans are loyal baseball fans that consistently fill The Box for home games – LSU has dominated NCAA baseball attendance, leading the nation in average home crowd since 1998. In fact, the back side of the Intimidator sign states, Baseball at The Box: College Baseball’s Greatest Fans. The fans are always involved in the game from clapping in support of the pitcher when the batter has two strikes, or the Geaux Tigers chants throughout the game, and the fans energy just continues beyond that. LSU fight songs are also piped in, including “Fight For LSU” and “Hey Fighting Tiger.” There are very few college baseball fans that match the fan participation at LSU’s Alex Box Stadium. Access 4 Alex Box Stadium is located on the southwest side of the LSU campus. Nicholson Drive is the main route to the stadium and can be directly accessed from I-10. The lots directly around Alex Box Stadium are reserved primarily for season ticket holders and can only be purchased as a full-season pass; otherwise the parking cost is $10 per vehicle if space is available. There is free parking available in Gourrier South, The Hayfield, or Levee South to the west of the stadium, and there are two ways to reach these parking lots; drive on Gourrier Ave past the stadium’s reserved lots and the parking lots will be towards River Road and the Rec fields. Or, to avoid congested traffic at the stadium reserved lots, take Skip Bertman Drive to River Road, then turn onto Gourrier from the west heading east. No matter which direction you decide to take the free parking is a short walk to the stadium. Alternatively, the “Old Front Nine” grass lot at the corner of Nicholson Drive and Burbank Drive across from The Box also provides free parking, and this a great spot to utilize for accessing both Walk-On’s sports pub and Alex Box Stadium. The main entrance to Alex Box Stadium is located directly behind home plate via the Gerry Lane Championship Plaza. The Wally Pontiff Jr. Hall of Fame and LSU ticket windows will be located to your left (third base side). There are entrance gates down both first and third baselines, but these entrances are on the lower concourse and show no view of the ballfield. The upper concourse, though, is above the seating levels and has a view the game as you walk around. There are plenty of restroom facilities throughout the ballpark and lines are non-existent. An elevator is available behind home plate for the club suites. In addition, despite the stadium being close to capacity daily, there is plenty of room to navigate. Note that LSU’s security measures follow the Geaux Clear policy, meaning nothing is allowed in except clear totes (plastic, vinyl, or PVC) no larger than 12”X 6”X 12”, 1-gallon clear zip top bags, or small clutch purses no larger than 4½” X 6½”, and seat cushions with no pockets and not larger than 16” (see www.LSUsports.net/GeauxClear). Overall, the access is easy for the number of fans that attend Tigers baseball. Return on Investment 5 There are a couple of ways to look at the return on investment at Alex Box Stadium. For as low as $12, you can have a ticket to one of the premier college baseball venues in the country, and if you are lucky enough to obtain a bleacher or reserved seat, the cost will be $18. There is also plenty of free parking near the ballpark. The concessions costs are reasonable but not overly cheap, however the atmosphere for attending a Tigers baseball game at The Box is unmatched in college baseball. Extras 5 The LSU baseball experience is unheard of in college baseball – the whole LSU baseball experience is an extra that only a couple of other baseball programs could possibly match. The LSU fans dominate in attendance over the last two decades and the atmosphere is simply amazing. In addition, the Wally Pontiff Jr. LSU Baseball Hall of Fame is a wonderful museum for fans to learn about the Tigers baseball program. The museum is open throughout the game for fans to visit, however, Tigers fans are loyal, so you won’t see many fans walking around the stadium during the game action. One of the first things you’ll notice when entering The Box is the “Intimidator” billboard in right field. The image of a growling tiger and the six National Championship years listed is like walking into Boston’s Fenway Park and seeing the iconic Green Monster. There are also multiple large playground areas for families attending the game, as well as the availability to buy LSU apparel around the stadium with two LSU SportShops. Another plus is the honor that LSU has for the country’s military – the Chair of Honor on the concourse is an unoccupied seat in honor of those who are still Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing In Action (MIA), and symbolizes there will always be a place in the stadium awaiting their return. Final Thoughts The atmosphere at Alex Box Stadium is impeccable – all the great things that sports fans hear about watching a game at LSU’s Alex Box Stadium don’t match the reality. The reality of a game at The Box is much better. A trip to LSU’s Alex Box Stadium should be on every college baseball fan’s list, as it is one of the best stadium experiences in all of sports.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Arrowhead Stadium 1 Arrowhead Dr Kansas City, MO 64129 Kansas City Chiefs website Arrowhead Stadium website Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 77,000 KC Masterpiece The Kansas City Chiefs were one of the original members of the AFL, although they spent the first two years of their existence as the Dallas Texans. They moved to Kansas City in 1963 and were one of the most successful franchises in the AFL, playing in both Super Bowls I and IV, winning their one and only Super Bowl on their second attempt. The original home of the Chiefs in Kansas City was the old Municipal Stadium, where they spent their first nine seasons. In 1972, they moved into the brand new Arrowhead Stadium located in the Truman Sports Complex alongside the Kansas City Royals’ Kauffman Stadium. Its seating capacity of 77,000 makes it the largest sports facility in the state, based on capacity. Food & Beverage 4 Like most NFL stadiums, Arrowhead serves up your typical sports fare of hot dogs, nachos, hamburgers and popcorn. But this is Kansas City, so let’s focus on what the city is known for… barbeque! The Chiefs have created BBQ Alley featuring food from KC’s top BBQ restaurants. Smoke Brewing offers up its deep-fried burnt ends; Plowboys BBQ presents its pulled pork sandwich and The Little Pig features its BBQ Sundae (BBQ beans topped with coleslaw, pulled pork and a pickle wedge). Finally, Dickey’s Barbeque Pit serves up chopped brisket, half pound of rack ribs and Frito Pie. On the beverage front, Arrowhead serves Coca-Cola brand sodas. Adult beverages are available at the Craft Corners or Kansas City Cocktail Company locations located throughout the stadium. Atmosphere 4 Arrowhead Stadium has one of the best game day atmospheres in NFL football. The team has done a great job in keeping the stadium as competitive as possible with the newer stadiums in the league. A $400 million renovation in 2010 added many of the extras today’s fans have come to expect as a part of their game day experience. A number of luxury seating areas were created, and the electronics package was upgraded with LED message ribbons and football shaped HD video boards at each end of the stadium. The Chiefs play in the wide open Western Division of the AFC and have done very well under Coach Andy Reid in recent seasons. As a result, the stands are full every Sunday in the fall. Several legendary NFL athletes had their career years while playing in Arrowhead Stadium. They include Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Derrick Thomas, Nick Lowery, Tony Gonzalez, Priest Holmes, Alex Smith and Emmitt Thomas. Hall of Fame coaches Marv Levy and Hank Stram also paced its sidelines. All of these individuals are immortalized in the Chiefs Hall of Honor found on the concourse level. The Hall is an interactive space recalling the greatest plays and players in Chiefs history and is well worth a visit. Neighborhood 4 Arrowhead Stadium is located in a suburb of Kansas City and does not offer much in the way of dining options or attractions in the immediate area of the stadium. Downtown Kansas City is just 15 minutes away and offers a wide variety of restaurants and tourist attractions. Kansas City offers some of the finest restaurants in the Midwest. Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque has been around for decades and is known as the best… in a town known for its BBQ. Boulevard Brewing Company is an outstanding choice for sampling the craft beers of the region. One of the real treasures located in Kansas City is the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. It provides a fascinating look at the teams, players and leagues that existed before Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier. Cross Country Plaza offers just about everything a visitor could ask for in Kansas City… great architecture, more than 180 shops, galleries, restaurants and nightlife. If you are in town for a game after Thanksgiving the nightly Holiday Lights are spectacular. There are two hotels, the Four Points Sheraton-KC Sports Complex and the Drury Inn and Suites-Stadiums, located within walking distance of both Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium. Fans 5 Simply stated… the Chief fans are the most loyal and the loudest fans in the AFC. They never give up, no matter how many times their hearts have been broken by a playoff loss or how brutal the late November and early January weather is. They are certifiably loud, as the Guinness Book of World Records ranked Arrowhead Stadium as the loudest stadium in the world at an ear shattering 142.2 decibels. The fans start to charge their energy levels at the Ford Fan Experience. This area provides pre-game entertainment, the Bud Light Beer Garden, a performance by the Chiefs cheerleaders and appearances by Warpaint the Pony and KC Wolf. If that is not enough, the tailgating scene in Kansas City is top rate due to the city’s love affair with its own style of barbeque. The Chief fans crank it up early, as they react to the drumbeat from a Chiefs icon calling them to war. During the National anthem, they change the last words of the refrain to the “land of the CHIEFS!!!” They do not let up after that as they follow the lead of the Chiefs cheerleaders and the team mascot, K.C. Wolf. The attire of a Chiefs fan is nearly as loud as the volume, as the stands are a sea of red and gold. Access 3 When the Chiefs ownership was scouting a place to build their stadium, no land met their needs within the Kansas City limits. Land was identified in suburban Jackson County near the I-70/I-435 interchange that offered enough room for both the baseball and football stadiums. Being close to this interchange offers two major routes to get to the game. There is plenty of parking surrounding the stadiums, but it comes at a steep price. For those who want to avoid the high cost of parking at the stadium, the Kansas City Area Transit Authority offers bus service directly to Arrowhead Stadium. Take Route #47 (Broadway Line) to the stadium. For schedule information go to www.ridekc.org . Once at the stadium accessibility is excellent. There are seven major entry gates at Arrowhead and gates open two hours prior to the game. The concourses at the stadium were widened as a part of the 2010 renovations and the number of restrooms and concessions areas were increased at the same time. Return on Investment 3 The success of the Chiefs franchise comes at a high cost, as the face value of tickets is $35-$200. However, once the season is in full swing the tickets escalate to $500 or more due to high demand. Parking at the Truman Sports Complex is $35 for a pre-paid space, or $60 cash if purchased on game day. Extras 3 One credit must go to the fans in Kansas City for holding the title of loudest stadium. Arrowhead Stadium is one of only four stadiums in the NFL that does not have a corporate name. In addition to the Chiefs games, Arrowhead Stadium has played host to five Big XII Championship games, the annual Border Showdown game (Kansas Jayhawks/Missouri Tigers) and MLS Soccer from 1996-2007. Final Thoughts Despite being one of the oldest stadiums in the NFL, Arrowhead Stadium has stood the test of time well. It keeps reinventing itself by adding such amenities as the Hall of Honor, premium seating locations and a concessions menu featuring BBQ from some of Kansas City’s finest restaurants. They also have one of the most loyal, and officially the loudest, fan base in the NFL, if not the world.

Photos by Marc Viquez Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Franklin Field 7035 S. Ballpark Dr. Franklin, WI 53132 Milwaukee Milkmen website Franklin Field website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 4,000 Milk & Baseball in Milwaukee Franklin Field opened in 2019 on the site of the former Crystal Ridge Landfill in Franklin, Wisconsin, in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. It is home to the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association. Known as Routine Field during its inaugural season, but after a legal dispute about naming rights left the baseball stadium with a temporary moniker of Milkmen Stadium before settling on Franklin Field in 2020. The stadium blends in well inside The Ballpark Commons, a mixed-use development, home to live, work, and play areas that will include a beer garden, taco restaurant, brew pub, apartments, senior living housing, a hotel, an indoor sports complex, and a performance and wellness village. The Rock Sports Complex features six baseball fields and is home to 2,000 baseball games annually inside the Ballpark Commons. The stadium adds its name to big, bold, and distinctive facilities to the American Association and Wisconsin Brewing Company Park  in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and Impact Field  about an hour south in Rosemont, Illinois. All ballparks are spacious, detailed for large social areas, and are alternatives to major league baseball in the metropolitan area. Food & Beverage 3 A main area for food and drink is behind the backstop which offers an array of options for the customers at the game. The food stand is called the Burger Company and sells burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken tenders, brats, nachos, fries, and cheese curds. The unique options are truffle parmesan fries, milkshakes, and milk and cookies. The Barcadi Bar offers alcoholic beverages from beers, hard seltzer, vodka, whiskey, tequila, and brandy. A few of the can and draft varieties include products from MillerCoors, Vizzy, High Noon, Happy Thursday, Terrapin, and Angry Orchard. The ballparks offer additional portable stands throughout the concourse that sell popcorn, grilled corn, and cupcakes. A Mexican food truck is set up near the main entrance. A few more stands are visible but were closed during our visit. Atmosphere 3 The 4,000-seat ballpark offers areas of seating for fans on the wraparound concourse. The Leinenkugel Hop Yard is an impressive two-level area on the third base side of the venue that incorporates repurposed shipping containers, and the semi-private cabana seats behind the seating bowl of the concourse offer lounge seating and service. Visitors enter Franklin Field from the outfield entrance in the left-field corner. They’re welcomed by the Leinenkugel Hop Yard area and the team’s official gift shop as they make their way to the main concourse. Visitors can buy an all-you-can-eat-and-drink ticket to the Hop Yard and choose from an array of local beers and food while enjoying the game from various viewpoints of the enclosed area. The colors of black and white are evident throughout the building, which also extends to the advertisements on the outfield walls. The game day staff members are dressed as milkmen with black bow ties, offering services at portable stands and the main concession area behind the backstop. The seating bowl offers plastic theater-style chairs in the colors of gray and yellow that add a welcome change in look not commonly found at other professional ballparks. On the top of the concourse is private cabana-style seating for groups. A video scoreboard is above the grass berm seating in left field, known as the pasture. The words “popcorn” can be heard over the sound system whenever there's a foul ball. The club offers a free bag of popcorn with every foul ball returned. There is still more grass seating down the first baseline that also features trees that add to the natural beauty of the surrounding area of the neighborhood. In the distance behind the left field wall is a large grassy hill that blends in with the large open areas in the outfield of the stadium. There are plenty of promotions: cow racing, cookie tossing, dizzy bat race, and frozen t-shirt contests. Bo-Vine is the team’s official mascot and can be seen during many of these promotions and in the stands during the game. Neighborhood 3 Franklin Field is inside the Ballpark Commons, a mixed-use development that will be home to live, work, and play areas that will include a beer garden, taco restaurant, brew pub, apartments, senior living housing, a hotel, an indoor sports complex, and a performance and wellness village. Luxe Golf Bays rises above the ballpark down the left field line and is connected to the Dog Haus and Brick Pizzeria & Ristorante. The Dog Haus offers burgers, hot dogs, and sausages with a variety of toppings, along with an impressive menu of draft beers. Brick features Neapolitan pizza and calzones baked in wood-fired ovens. There is also an open-air plaza that is perfect for families to eat and play. Across the street is Coffee Blend Cocktails that will satisfy your sweet tooth. However, a trip up north to Milwaukee is where you will find more attractions, including tours of the Fiserv Forum , the Milwaukee Arts Museum, the Harley-Davidson Museum, and the Miller and Pabst Breweries. The Milwaukee Waterfront is also worth visiting on a nice summer day. The Historic Third Ward is home to restaurants with sidewalk tables, scenic river walks, the Milwaukee Public Market, shops, and the National Bobblehead Museum and Hall of Fame. There is also a collection of local breweries in town: Good City Brewing, MobCraft Beer Brewery, Third Space Brewery, Lakefront Brewery, Sprecher Brewery, and Great Lakes Distillery. Fans 3 There is a good showing of fans who are there for an affordable night out at the ballpark and a few taking a curiosity in the new independent club in town. Fans are keeping score from their seats, many are mingling with friends, and folks are enjoying the new car smell of the ballpark. Access 4 Franklin Field is located 15 miles south of downtown Milwaukee off of S.R. 36 and near the interstates of 94 and 43. General Mitchell International Airport is less than 10 minutes to the east. The best option is by car to a Milkmen's game. The stadium is wide open, and the concourse wraps around the seating bowl. It can become a little congested near the concession stands, but the rest of the stadium offers plenty of room to move around and vantage points for photos from visitors. Return on Investment 4 The Milkmen tickets start at $11 for their version of grass berm seats dubbed “The Pastures” and bleacher and terrace seating sell for $14. Other ticket prices include the Dugout Seats for $18 and Scout seats for $20. The Leinenkugel Hop Yard includes an All-You-Can-Eat area until the 7th inning. Merchandise ranges from shirts for $22 to ball caps for $30, concession items are as low as $4 for a locally made hot dog to $8 for a fried chicken sandwich, and the parking is free of charge. There are daily themes at the games: Thirsty Thursdays, where beer is a buck, Buy-One-Get-One-Free ticket nights, Freinds & Family Deals, and Mexican Fiesta, where the Milkmen become the Lecheros de Milwaukee and wear specialty jerseys. It is incorporated with additional tables, stands, and in-between innings of entertainment. Extras 3 The Milkmen earn a few extra points for creating an atmosphere that blends well with is "America's Dairyland" theme. The team and ballpark's colors of black and white are distinctive throughout the venue. The Ballpark Commons is an active area with restaurants, stores, and golf bays that can create full-day activities for fans at the game. The stadium earns a final point for free parking. Final Thoughts Franklin Field is not your ordinary baseball stadium. It blends in well with the neighborhood, and it will only be challenged by the imagination of its architects. The enthusiasm by the game day staff dressed as milkmen, and the numerous dairyland themes make for an alternative to watching professional baseball in Milwaukee. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Mercedes-Benz Stadium 1 AMB Dr Atlanta, GA 30313 Atlanta Falcons website Mercedes-Benz Stadium website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 71,000 The Mercedes-Benz of Pro Football Stadiums Mercedes-Benz Stadium has served as the Falcon’s home nest since 2017. It replaced the Georgia Dome, which was located right next to the new stadium before it was imploded. It has been seen as the stadium of the future due to its unique design and the many high-tech features it includes. The current stadium has a capacity of 71,000, including 193 luxury suites. It offers a wide variety of advanced technology to enhance the fan experience on Sunday game days. Food & Beverage 5 The food and beverage program introduced when the stadium opened in 2017 has truly been a game changer, and it has inspired the other NFL stadiums to follow suit. The main element of the concessions program is its fans-first pricing structure for the most popular items. The low prices for items including sodas, hot dogs, and popcorn make it possible for a family of four to be fed at a game without taking a bank loan. The results have been very impressive, as sales volume makes up for the revenue lost by selling items at a lower cost. The concessions innovations also include the streamlining of the order process so that fans do not miss any of the action on the field when they go to the concession stand. Items are priced at whole dollar levels and the sales are on a cashless basis. This means that there is no need to make changes for the customer. Numerous ATM devices at the stadium can convert cash into a debit card for gameday purchases. Drink orders for sodas and water require that the concessions workers simply hand the customer a cup, which the customer can fill at a dispensing station located away from the stand, which reduces the backups that sometimes occur. An added perk for the fans is that refills are free. The food and beverage program at Falcons home games is also fan-friendly due to the wide variety of food categories offered at the stadium. The generic stadium foods are found at the stands known as Atlanta FanFare. The remaining vendors are made up of a wide variety of Atlanta-based restaurants. Examples of these vendors include local favorites Farm Burger, J.R. Crickets, Molly B’s Restaurant, and Williamson Brothers BBQ. The concessions program also offers food for persons with certain dietary restrictions, such as vegetarian or gluten-free dishes. The drink selections at Mercedes-Benz reflect the definite loyalty to a certain local bottler whose world headquarters is right down the street from the stadium. Yes, Coca-Cola products are featured at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Beer is sold at stands reflecting the various brands sold in the stadium. Budweiser is sold at the Budweiser Beer Garden, at Bud and Burger stands, and at the Bud Light Neighborhood Bar. There are similar stands for the other beer brands Atmosphere 4 Mercedes-Benz Stadium has received excellent reviews from visiting teams, their fans, and the press. It is truly a next-generation facility, as it features some of the newest innovations in stadium design. The halo board is one of a kind, as it provides fans with information about the game on the field, as well as out-of-town scores and any upcoming events at the stadium. It is hard to ignore, as it is 58 feet tall and measures 1,100 linear feet around. This makes it the largest non-transparent video display in the world. The stadium also has a feature that allows for the roof to be open or closed depending on the weather. The position of the retractable roof also helps to determine how much crowd noise is contained within the stadium. Neighborhood 4 The home of the Falcons is in downtown Atlanta, near some of the city’s top tourist attractions. These attractions include Centennial Olympic Park, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. In 2024, the new Signia by Hilton Hotel opened adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, adding a convenient place for visiting fans to stay on football weekends. Other lodging options in the area are the Embassy Suites at Olympic Centennial Park and the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Downtown Atlanta. Restaurants in the area include the Hudson Grille and Der Biergarten. Fans 3 Falcons fans are fired up for the 2024 season, as the team has a new coaching staff and has added two new quality QBs in Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix. The Falcons play in the Southern Division of the NFC Conference, which no longer has a dominant team. The Falcon faithful get especially fired up for their annual pair of games against their hated rival, the New Orleans Saints. Longtime Falcon fans will want to head up to the 300-level concourse. This area has a wide selection of food stands as well as the “100 Yard Club. The concourse floor has the appearance of a football field, with yard markings and yard lines. The pillars throughout this area feature the likeness and stats of some of the team’s greatest players. The team’s Hall of Fame is known as the Ring of Honor and there is a display that features each Ring member’s stats and their photo. Both team owner Arthur Blank and former QB Matt Ryan were initiated into the Ring of Honor in 2024. Access 3 Atlanta traffic, especially on weekends, can be tough. However, with a little planning, and some great resources, fans can be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in plenty of time for the opening kickoff. Parking at the stadium opens 4.5 hours before the game and there’s usually a good showing of fans getting ready to tailgate even at that early hour. Hopefully, you pre-purchased your parking space ahead of gameday and you are all set. Let’s say you got a late start. You are stuck in traffic. What do you do? The Falcons partner with the traffic app WAZE, so you check the app and get real-time info on any trouble on the road ahead and it also suggests alternative routes to get to Mercedes-Benz. Cutting it a little close, but you get there. Let’s say you are from out of town and know very little about the streets in downtown Atlanta. You are staying in the suburbs; the front desk tells you about a MARTA light rail station nearby. MARTA is Atlanta’s rapid transit system with both a north/south line and an east/west line. The fare is a flat fee of $2.50 per ride, regardless of the distance. MARTA has two light rail stations (Vine City and GWCC/Phillips Arena/CNN Center) Both are within a block of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. You use Uber/Lyft or other rideshare services back home. Choose the ride service you refer to and leave the driving to them. The rideshare services have two drop-off and pickup areas near Mercedes-Benz Stadium (one is on Northside Drive on the western side of the stadium, and the second is along the eastern side of the stadium along Centennial Park Drive) Now that you’re at Mercedes-Benz Stadium you can relax somewhat. There are four main gates with multiple lines available at each gate. The gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. Simply have your phone ready with the ticket showing, and the ticket reader will quickly let you into the stadium. Congratulations! Return on Investment 3 Your return on investment at Falcons football game can be greatly enhanced by making some simple choices. Parking in one of the stadium lots can cost you more than $40. Taking the MARTA light rail system to the stadium will cost you $5.00 roundtrip, no matter how far you’ve ridden the system. Choosing items listed on the Family’s First menu costs a family of four less than $40. A concession next door might charge you $15-$20 for just one entrée. Ticket prices start at $40 for upper-level (300-level) seats. Seats on the 100 and 200 level can cost upwards of $150. Frankly, the view from almost anywhere in Mercedes-Benz Stadium is pretty good, plus you have the multiple-story Halo Board showing replays of important plays on a huge screen that is larger than one in a movie theater. You can also save money by attending a game where the opposing team is not a member of the Falcons division or conference. Games against New Orleans and other Division opponents are always more expensive, as the visitor’s fanbase has a relatively easy drive to attend a game. Extras 4 Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts a wide variety of sports events in addition to serving as the home field/ pitch for the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United. There are several NCAA football games on the venue’s calendar, including the Chik-Fil-A Kickoff Classic, the SEC Football Championship Game, the Chik-Fil-A Peach Bowl, and the Celebration Bowl, which pairs the top HBCU team from the MEAC against the top SWAC team. In 2025, the NCAA National Football Championship Game will also be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In 2026 the facility will host several soccer matches during the World Cup competition. The home of the Falcons has also been recognized for its efforts to minimize its carbon footprint and be friendly to the environment. It is the first LEED-certified facility in the NFL. Its efforts to trap rainwater, recycling of materials, and use of composting of leftover food make sure that 90% of waste never makes it to a landfill. Mercedes-Benz Stadium has an above-average collection of art both outside and inside of the venue. The gate closest to State Farm Arena has a four-story steel Falcon sculpture just before you go inside. His wingspan is 64 feet, making him the largest bird sculpture in the world. A second art installation is located near the gate closest to the Home Depot Backyard pregame area. It is a large soccer ball with several mirrored surfaces. It is known as Telstar, and it salutes Atlanta United, the other main tenant at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Once inside you’ll notice paintings, photography, and mixed media along each of the concourses. There are several fan participation activities available both inside and outside of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Home Depot Backyard hosts a pregame pep rally, trivia contests, and various sports skills contests on the north side of the stadium. Once inside the stadium, head to the 100-level concourse where you can take part in the run, pass, and kicking activities. There is also a photo opportunity at section 221 with the AT&T fan cam. You can have your photo taken with projected images of Freddie the Falcon, or one of your favorite Falcon players. Final Thoughts Mercedes–Benz Stadium is continually looking for ways it can serve its community while tweaking its game day procedures to improve the fan experience. It has a strong record in this regard, as it annually hosts the SEC Championship game, is in the rotation for the College Football National Championship game, and hosts a Peach Bowl Game on New Year’s Day, it is a serious contender to host one or more World Cup games in 2026.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 E.S. Rose Park 1000 Edgehill Ave Nashville, TN 37203 Belmont Bruins website E.S. Rose Park website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 500 It’s Bruin Time Baseball was first played at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee starting with the 1953 season. The then Belmont Rebels would begin intercollegiate baseball as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) program, spending time in the Volunteer State Athletic Conference for 30+ seasons before heading to the Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference for just over a decade, prior to joining the ranks of independent programs for the 1996 and 1997 seasons. Following their jump from NAIA to Division I, Belmont would change their name from the Rebels to the more alliterative Belmont Bruins. The Bruins would spend four years as a D1 independent before joining the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) in 2002. After 11 seasons in the ASUN, Belmont would jump to the Ohio Valley Conference where they would play until 2022, before finally moving to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The E.S. Rose Park athletic complex was built in partnership with the City of Nashville; Belmont University contributed $9 million to the construction and upgrade of the athletic facilities at the city owned park, which the school leases. While not actually on the Belmont campus, the park is just blocks away.   Food & Beverage   3 Outside of the grandstand seating and located between the softball and soccer fields and track, the concession stand here is built into a brick and aluminum structure along the left field side of the stadium. The building also houses restrooms and other park facilities. Concessions at E.S. Rose Park take care of the staples, with hot dogs, candy, chips, and canned soft drinks from the Pepsi family of beverages, as well as Gatorade and bottled water. The menu does go a bit beyond with hamburgers and cheeseburgers as extra entrée, while snacks also include whole pickles and granola. Since E.S. Rose Park is a public city facility, alcoholic beverages are not available.    Atmosphere   3 E.S. Rose Park is made up of three individual brick seating areas – the two sections on either side of home plate are made up of rows of aluminum benches with back supports, and individual chairback seats in the small section behind home plate. A relatively large scoreboard sits next to the visiting team’s bullpen in left field, which gives fans basic line score and ball-strike-out information, but the accompanying videoboard above is not operational. Even though not part of the stadium, a covered picnic area sits upon a grassy berm in left field, and might be one of the best places to watch the game from, as it is the only location that provides a significant amount of shade and protection from the elements. Given the amount of tree growth beyond the berm, the grandstand’s skyline view of downtown Nashville is a bit obstructed, however, a short walk up the right field line does highlight what has come to be known as the iconic “Batman Building” that dominates the Nashville skyline. Other than mid-inning ad reads there is not a lot to distract from the game. There are not a lot of audio drops between pitches or following outs; doing such would appear forced and not add a lot to the game experience, and also doesn’t seem like it would elicit much of a reaction from fans. There really is not a bad seat when it comes to baseball at E.S. Rose Park, but the seats along the home side of the field do have the best views of downtown Nashville, even if this view is a bit blocked by trees. If the need for shade is necessary, the picnic area in left field does have tables that sit higher than the fence line, so it does provide a decent vantage point for the game.   Neighborhood   4 E.S. Rose Park is in the heart of Nashville’s Edgehill neighborhood. Its location on Kirkpatrick Hill, one of Nashville’s highest points, provides fans with amazing views in every direction. The Belmont campus is visible behind home plate, Vanderbilt’s West End Tower rises above the landscape along the third base side, downtown Nashville is not far off in the distance beyond the left field fence, and the gatehouse to the historic 8th Avenue Reservoir is visible beyond the first base side of the field. The area is adorned with both signs and statues of polar bears, which at first impression might just seem like a fun, artistic addition to the area, but actually holds historic relevance to the neighborhood – dating back to the 1930s, polar bear statues were created to advertise Polar Bear Frozen Custard  shops. Two of the four bears currently sit on the corner of Edgehill and 12th Avenue, just outside of the park’s northwest corner. The Edgehill area is no stranger to baseball, being the one-time home of the Nashville Sounds ; Hershel Greer Stadium once stood just across I-65 adjacent to the Civil War-era Fort Nagley. Despite being torn down in 2019, the outline of the infield is still visible. While the immediate area surrounding E.S. Rose Park might be a bit light on locations of interest, there is a bit of everything for everyone within 5 miles of the ballpark. Within a mile are Music Row  (the historic focus of country music), the trendy Gulch district, and Vanderbilt University. Broadway, the heart of Nashville’s entertainment district, and the 12 South neighborhood, with its several boutique shops and restaurants, are both just under 2 miles away from the stadium. Also, visitors wanting to keep up a baseball theme might venture downtown to First Horizon Park , to catch the Nashville Sounds.   Fans   2 Belmont baseball typically draws 100 to 200 fans per game, with the lesser number being typical for early season game before the weather takes a turn for the better. In a bit of an oddity for baseball, there does not seem to be a lot of kids in the crowd. An interesting dynamic is created by the field being in a public park, and there is no fee charged to access the stadium. The game attracts passersby who might just want to sit and watch the game for an inning or so before carrying on with their day. There also doesn’t seem to be a large student contingent of regular supporters, primarily just family and friends of players.   Access   4 The City of Nashville has a highly developed sense of both public transportation and bicycle accessibility. Multiple bus stops can be found along the streets that form the perimeter of the park on Edgehill Avenue and 9th and 12th Streets. Dedicated bicycle lanes make E.S. Rose Park easily accessible for those coming via any type of transportation. The Edgehill neighborhood is just off the junction of I-65 and I-40, so the ballpark is also easily accessible for those arriving from outside Nashville. The main challenge is contending with Nashville traffic, which even on weekends can be considerably backed up. Once at E.S. Rose Park, two smallish parking lots can be found along either side of the adjacent recreation facility. Despite being more convenient, the lot closest to the stadium does presents a bit of foul ball danger, and there also needs to be consideration given to the fact that the park is heavily used by community members, so is a popular place on sunny weekend days, making finding a parking spot for late arrivers a bit more challenging. While the grandstand seating is easily accessible, the sections on either side of home plate are closed-ended. While this is a minor inconvenience, trying to sit near the ends of these sections can create some awkward situations, by making others get up so you can sit past them – the burden this puts on those sitting on the aisle, who constantly have to get up so people can move past them, in essence eliminates sitting on the aisle as a seating option.   Return on Investment   5 With no charge for parking or admittance, the only charge is for whatever concessions might be desired. Like most concession menus, prices are hit or miss when it comes to what seems to be reasonable ballpark prices. There does not seem to be any restriction on bringing outside food or drink, however, so concession prices are only as prohibitive as fans  allow them to be.   Extras   4 A display on the exterior of the seating recognizes the 100th anniversary of Negro League Baseball; the plaque there honors Nashvillians who either played or owned a team in the Negro Leagues. Only a handful of other college baseball stadiums can provide a backdrop that is comparable to that of E.S. Rose Park, though it is a bit unfortunate that as winter turns to spring, the foliage of the trees that border the park block the view of the Nashville skyline. Banners are hung recognizing Belmont regular season and tournament championships, as well as their 2011 and 2012 NCAA regional appearances. Also, the retired number 21 hangs in honor of former coach Dave Whitten, who led Belmont for 29 seasons and to 663 wins. Given the ballpark’s location within the park, there are several other activities to help keep younger fans entertained if the game might not be enough – a playground, basketball court, track, and softball field all surround the outside of the E.S. Rose Park.   Final Thoughts Belmont baseball is a very basic experience that is not going to wow spectators, but what it does is highlight the nature of college baseball and what is beautiful about the game; the chirping and chattering is on full display, and is complemented by the ping of the bat. E.S. Rose Park is probably not a ballpark that visitors will flock to, but given Nashville’s position as a tourist destination, stopping here to complement a visit to Music City is definitely a consideration to make, if looking for an outdoor activity to fill an opening in a weekend schedule.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Kapco Park 12800 N Lake Shore Dr. Mequon, WI 53097 Lakshore Chinooks website Kapco Park website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 3,000 Watching Baseball by the Lake The Lakeshore Chinooks were a trendsetter in the Northwoods League, becoming the first franchise to play in a major metropolitan area and the first to share a modern venue with a university. Kapco Park is located on the campus of Concordia University of Wisconsin, just 20 miles north of downtown Milwaukee. Almost a decade later, the club has not looked back. Kapco is a 3,000 seat facility that hits all the right notes from fan experience, game day promotions, concessions, and social areas that give the ballpark positive word of mouth from visitors in the area. Its location within a few yards of Lake Michigan is also a nice touch and provides either a cool breeze or a chance to put on a light jacket. The Chinooks have a Milwaukee connection that consists of former Brewer and Hall of Famer Robin Young, Brewers announcer Bob Eucker, and former Bucks GM John Hammond making up a quarter of the twelve investors of the club. The Chinooks is a joint venture between the college, private businesses, and community-minded individuals. The outfield dimensions also add a nice little nod to Brewers greats jersey numbers–left field is 317 for Jim Ganter, center field is 344 for Hank Aaron, and right field is for Young at 319. The club has dedicated the 2019 season as the Summer of Yount with several promotions for the all-time great including bobble heads and several games where the club will play as the Rockin’ Robins. When the Brewers are on the road, do yourself a favor and make the trip up north for a Chinooks game, it’s baseball that offers quite a bit of fun and affordable pricing. Food & Beverage 5 There is quite a selection of food and beverage at the ballpark that includes a collection of food trucks that make their way to each game. There is a main concession stand directly underneath the main grandstand near the entrance that has almost everything imaginable. The stand offers hot dogs, burghers, jalapeño cheddar brats, grilled chicken breast and spicy chicken sandwiches, a chicken BLT sandwich and a few local delicacies – foot long cod and smoked salmon sandwiches. The price points are $3.50 to $10 for each sandwich. There are also boneless wings ($7-$10) that fans can top with one of numerous local Larry Legends’ wing sauces, including spicy bacon barbecue, garlic parmesan, honey barbecue, and scary Larry. I tried them all and the garlic parmesan was something unusual but very tasty. Snacks include fried cheese curds, fried pickles, and jalapeño poppers and the ballpark offers German nachos that are pretzel balls topped with cheese, brat slices, and sauerkraut. Pepsi products are available at the ballpark. The food carts feature the Bullpen BBQ that has sandwiches and platters of brisket, pulled chicken, and pulled pork. They also have loaded mac and cheese and a half-pound angus burger. Next door is a food truck that offers quite the opposite, the impossible burger and vegan bites. Then there is the Italian truck that creates personal pizzas with 9 different toppings, meatball subs, and sausage sandwiches. Beer sells for $5.50 for both domestic and craft varieties; the craft selection offers varieties from Broken Bat Brewing Company: Chinooks 19 IPA, Straight Ahead Apricot Pale Ale, Corre Corre Mexican Lager, and Golden Sombrero American Pilsner. Atmosphere 4 Kapco Park has an atmosphere that reminds me of minor league ballparks from 25-years-ago. The stadium does not offer a wraparound concourse or sunken seating and you would not be able to find any private suites above the seating bowl, but what you will find is a wonderful selection of affordable concessions, prize wheel games, a children’s play area, and the popular Fishin’ Hole bar down the third baseline. There are 3,000 seats in the stadium that are separated by a middle concourse that features table seating with full wait service. Each table also has specialized condiments that includes mustard from Luxembourg. There are also two private group decks for parties of 40-50 along with the Robin’s Nest and Backyard Patio behind the right field fence that are $30-$35 per person and offers an All-You-Can-Eat menu. Fishin’ Hole area is down the third base corner. It is accessible to all fans and offers a bar area with flowers, lights, and table top seating. It is an ideal place to enjoy the game with friends and other baseball fans in a very well decorated area of the stadium. The bar is fully stocked with both domestic and craft beer cans. The rest of the seating in the ballpark provides great views and there are a lot of in-between promotions that take place with tire races, t-shirt tosses, mascot races, and many other gimmicks. If seating in the upper portion of the ballpark you can get a view of Lake Michigan and at times, a nice breeze during hot summer games. However, some nights can get cold enough where you might need to bring a jacket. Kapco Park Lake Michigan, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Other features of the ballpark include inflatable rides for kids down the right field line that also includes open grass space for kids to run around or toss a baseball to one another. The bathrooms are also kept very clean and even feature potted plants in the men’s room–I assume there are flowers in the ladies room. Visitors can even play a few carnival games to win prizes that include ring tossing on bobbleheads. The only complaint might be the team’s official team store located underneath the first base grandstand. It is a nice size area but it feels that there could be more items sold, including powder blue t-shirts and navy blue caps featuring the Rockin’ Robins logo. Neighborhood 3 Kapco Park is located on Concordia University just off I-43 and 30 minutes north of downtown Milwaukee. The ballpark is near the Grafton Commons shopping mall where a collection of regional and nationwide restaurants exist. Charcoal Grill, Water Street Brewery, Flipside Cafe & Grill, and Juice’s Ghost Town are a few places to grab a bite to eat or drink when in the area. The stadium is within walking distance of the lake offering plenty of views of Lake Michigan. A few miles north and south by car are areas to hike along the body of water including Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve and Virmond Park. Being 18 miles north of downtown Milwaukee, there are more sports options that include taking in a Milwaukee Brewers game at Miller Park , checking out a Milwaukee Milkmen baseball game at Routine Field , or taking tours of the Milwaukee Bucks new home Fiserv Forum . Since you are in the Sud City, there are various beer tours that include Miller, Pabst, Lakefront, and Specher breweries. Fans 4 Attendance for Chinooks game rank in the top half of the league attendance numbers and the crowd is vibrant during the game, despite poor play in the field by the home club. Many in attendance enjoy the in-between promotions by the club and socialization of being at the game with friends and family. Access 4 Kapco Park is located off of I-43 on the campus of Concordia University Wisconsin. There is signage that leads motorists to the parking lot and then up to the ballpark itself. There are shuttle service rides to and from the game and once inside the stadium, all your concession and information is presented on the outer concourse of the stadium. Return on Investment 4 The price of a general admission ticket in advance is $8, a grandstand ticket is $11, and box seats are $14. All ticket prices go up $1 the day of the game. There is a large parking lot near the ballpark that is free and there is a shuttle service to and from the game for people who have trouble walking. Concession prices are extremely reasonable and a tall boy can of locally crafted beer is only $5.50. Most of the concession stands do take credit cards and there is an ATM in the team store. Extras 4 Kapco Park’s earns an extra point for its Fishin’ Hole area down the third base corner. It is accessible to all fans and offers a bar area with flowers, lights, and table top seating. It is an ideal place to enjoy the game. Kapco earns a second point for the variety of food that is offered at home games from pizza, barbecue, and eight varieties of wing sauces. The basics are all here along with local favorites brats and fried cheese curds. You can also wash it down with a Chinooks 19 IPA or a glass of wine from Luxembourg. Kapco earns another point for its mascot Gil who is one of the better ones in the business. He is active, funny and even holds a “small” grudge against Rocky Robin who makes an appearance one day a year when the club plays as the Rockin’ Robins. Gil also has the ability to speak, but perhaps can only be understood by other chinooks swimming in Lake Michigan. Kapco earns a final point for plants in the men’s bathroom near the entrance. They are also freshly cleaned. If this is the case for the men’s room, I hope the same can be said for the ladies room. Final Thoughts I was told recently by several people from Milwaukee about how great Kapco Park is for a baseball game. It is not a fancy facility that offers a wraparound concourse or sunken bowl seating, but it offers great concessions and an atmosphere that reminds me why I enjoy traveling around the country visiting ballparks. The ballpark had been on my list for about 5 years and I am glad the wait was worth it, a fine ballpark experience.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 College Park Center 600 South Center St Arlington, TX 76019 Dallas Wings website College Park Center website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 7,000 Winging It In Dallas The College Park Center is a part of the University of Texas at Arlington. It was built in 2012. It is primarily used as the home for the University of Texas-Arlington Mavericks men’s and women’s basketball teams and the volleyball team. The building is LEED Gold Certified as it is environmentally friendly in all phases of its use. The Center holds 7,000 fans in its basketball configuration. The Center's average attendance for Wings games is 3,788. It has served as the home court for the Dallas Wings since 2016. After stops in Detroit and Tulsa, the Dallas Wings arrived in 2016. The Wings play in the Western Conference of the WNBA. The team has had some of the top players in women’s pro basketball don the Wing’s colors. These players include Deanna Nolan, Glory Johnson, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Liz Cambridge, and Odyssey Sims. The team has gone to the playoffs four times since moving to Dallas. Food & Beverage 3 The University of Texas-Arlington contracts with local caterer Ted E’s for its concession stand programs. There are four concession stands located around the seating bowl of the College Park Center. There are two Ted E’s Kitchens, along with one Ted E’s Grill and one Ted E’s BBQ. Ted E’s Kitchen features chicken fingers, fried fish sandwiches, 13 different types of burgers, as well as French fries. Ted E’s menu includes cheesesteaks, chicken fried steak sandwiches, and grilled Chicken Wraps. Ted E’s BBQ stand features brisket nachos, pulled pork nachos, brisket fries, and pulled pork fries. Atmosphere 4 The College Park Center provides an excellent home court experience for the Wings and their fans. The seating bowl at the arena allows fans a close-up view of the game action no matter where they are seated. The seats are very comfortable and provide drink holders. The College Park Center also features an excellent electronics package with very a clear sound system and a center-hung videoboard. Even though the College Park Center is primarily used by the University of Texas at Arlington, there is little evidence of that at Wings games. The court fully features the Wings color pallet and the team’s logo at midcourt. The team store also carries only Wings merchandise during WNBA contests. The fans seem to love the antics of Lightning, the winged equine mascot for the Wings. They also enjoy the playlist of the team’s DJ during breaks in the action. Neighborhood 3 The College Park Center is located on the University of Texas Arlington Campus. So, most of the neighborhoods surrounding the arena are college classroom buildings. One on-campus building worth a visit is the UTA Planetarium. It offers several special programs on Saturdays that are free and open to the public. We did find a few non-fast-food options that are unique to the area. The Twisted Root Burger Company offers a wide variety of burgers, with several special seasonings to choose from. Pie Five Pizza is just a block from the College Park Center and cooks up a delicious variety of pizzas to fill any Wings fans’ pie desires. Afterwards, head over to the La Tapatia Ice Cream and Fruteria for a cool treat to finish your day. Fans 3 The Wings have one of the more enthusiastic fan bases in the WNBA. They show up early and cheer the team on even during the pregame warmups. Most of them are wearing the blue and neon green colors of the team. The pregame introductions give the fans another opportunity to energize the Wings players. The Wings have several 3-point sharpshooters, and there is a definite celebration when a basket goes in from long range. The team markets itself heavily to families and children. This is very evident at games, as many of the promotions during breaks are aimed at children. The Wings frequently offer matinee games on weekdays at noon during the summer months of the WNBA season when school is out for the summer. They also hold a Summer Camp Day at a Wings game to give the camp counselors a break from outdoor activities in the hot Texas sun. The Wings have an average attendance of 3,788, placing them near the middle of the WNBA in attendance. Access 4 Getting to a Wings game is relatively easy, as it can be accessed by either I-20 or I-30. Directions from I-20: Exit I-20 onto Cooper Street (FM157) and head north. Go 4 miles until you reach UTA Boulevard. Turn right onto UTA Boulevard. Turn right onto South Center Street. The parking deck is on the north side of the College Park Center. Directions from I-30: Exit I-30 onto Center Street and head south. Go 2 miles. End at 600 South Center Street. The parking deck is on the north side of the College Park Center. There are four entrance gates at the College Park Center. Doors open one hour prior to the tipoff. This allows you plenty of time to get something to eat or to find your seat location. The concourse is located at the top of the lower level of the venue. Concession stands are at this level, with the concourse open to the action on the court. Return on Investment 3 The College Park Center uses the AXS ticketing system. All tickets are electronic. There are five price points for Dallas Wings games. These are $45 (center court), $37 (side of the court), $28 (corners of the court), $25 (ends of the court), and $22 (seats in the 200 level if needed). Parking at the College Park Center is $18 if repurchased or $20 for day of the event purchases. The food at the College Park Center is reasonably priced. Extras 2 The College Park Center holds a variety of events throughout the year. This includes concerts, wrestling matches, and graduation ceremonies for both the UT-Arlington and area high schools. AT&T Stadium (Home of the Dallas Cowboys) and Globe Life Field (Home of the Texas Rangers) are also located in Arlington and are very close to the College Park Center. This makes it possible for you to get a two-sport doubleheader if there is an overlap in their home schedules. Final Thoughts The Wings home at the College Park Center is easy to get to from almost anywhere in the Dallas metroplex. It provides the team with an arena that is right-sized for the average WNBA crowd. There is little or no evidence that the arena primarily serves as a college sports venue, as the team’s blue and green color scheme is carried throughout the facility for their home games.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Beirne Stadium 1150 Douglas Pike Smithfield, RI 02917 Bryant Bulldogs website Beirne Stadium website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 4,400 Feel the Beirne Built in 1999 as Bulldog Stadium to coincide with the debut of the school’s football team, the David M. ’85 and Terry Beirne Stadium was dedicated in honor of the Bryant University trustee and his wife, who are among the largest benefactors of the University. The facility serves as home to Bryant’s football and lacrosse teams. In 2023 it will also serve as home to the new Rhode Island FC club in the USL Championship league. Football has been played at Bryant University since 1999. The school originally competed in Division II, moving up to the FCS level for the 2008 season. After over a decade of competition in the Northeast Conference, the school announced they were moving to the America East Conference starting in fall 2022. This left several teams, including football, without a home, as America East did not support competition in those sports. Bryant football became a football-only member of the Big South Conference, which had just previously announced an alliance with the Ohio Valley Conference. After only two seasons in the Big South/Ohio Valley Association, Bryant will become a football-only member of CAA Football for the 2024 season. The Bulldogs have yet to qualify for the FCS postseason tournament. One Bryant alumnus, Tom Kennedy, has played in the National Football League. Food & Beverage 3 Beirne Stadium has a small concession stand on the south edge of the grandstand. The menu has been upgraded a bit in recent years. In addition to hot dogs and burgers, fans can pick up pulled pork and grilled chicken sandwiches along with sausage and peppers sandwiches and nachos. Prices are a bit on the high side for some items ($8 for a hot dog), but the quality looked good if you need a bite to eat. A selection of snacks and Coca-Cola products are available at the snack bar. Fans looking for an adult beverage can head to the beer garden in the north end zone, where a selection of beer and wine are sold. Atmosphere 3 If you haven’t visited Beirne Stadium in a while, this is where you will see the biggest difference in the game day experience. The parking lots adjacent to the stadium open four hours before kickoff, and the fans start showing up early. The tailgating scene is quite impressive, especially for a stadium that doesn’t even seat 5,000 fans. Once inside Beirne Stadium you’ll experience your typical small-school football game day. The pep band plays, the cheerleaders and dance squad perform, and the fans do their thing cheering on the home team. The PA announcer goes about his work in an unobtrusive manner and a small video board in the north end zone provides game info, graphics and the occasional highlight. This is a laid-back, friendly place to take in some quality football. Visiting fans and those with children can feel comfortable here. There’s a good turnout by the student body, but there’s no rowdy student section to create a lot of noise. Neighborhood 3 Bryant University is located in Smithfield, RI, about a twenty-minute drive from Providence. Although Smithfield is a very nice place to live, it’s certainly not a destination location, and there is not a great deal to see or do near the Bryant campus. There are a few dining options right near the Bryant campus on Route 7. Parente’s Restaurant, Blackies, and Laura’s Bar and Grill are a few of the better options. Stadium Journey recommends J’s Deli for their impressive variety of great grinders (that’s what we call sub sandwiches here in Rhode Island). Several national chain restaurants and shopping options are located about a 10-minute drive away on Route 44. Fans visiting from out of town may opt to take the 20-minute drive to Providence, which has no shortage of top-notch restaurants and lodging options. Speaking of lodging options, the story here is similar if visiting Bryant. There is a Holiday Inn Express, a Hampton Inn and Suites and a SureStay Plus right near campus, but visitors may opt to stay in nearby Providence or even Boston, only an hour’s drive to the north. Twin Rivers Casino is in nearby Lincoln just a few minutes from Bryant. If spending time in a casino is on your agenda, the twin resorts of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are located an hour away just over the Connecticut state line. Fans 4 Beirne Stadium is a smaller facility, but it feels like it’s the right size for this program. The team generally draws between 3,000-4,000 fans for most games. If you plan to visit Smithfield on Parents Weekend, get here early, as Beirne Stadium’s parking lots are packed. You may find yourself parking in a distant overflow lot if you arrive late. There is a good turnout by the student section for Bulldog football games. Unfortunately, many of them do not stick around for the entire game, and there is no organized student section to speak of. The crowd at Beirne Stadium is a good mix of students, locals, diehard football fanatics and families. It’s also not usual to see several four-legged fans present at a Bulldog game. Overall the crowd here is laid-back, enjoying a nice fall afternoon at the game rather than making spectacles of themselves. Bryant’s inclusion in the Big South Conference for the past couple of seasons has meant that you don’t see the number of visiting fans you used to see at Beirne Stadium. Bryant’s move to CAA football is a better geographic fit, meaning you should see an increase in visitors for Bulldog football games. Access 4 Bryant University is located in suburban Smithfield, Rhode Island, 13 miles from Providence. The campus is most easily accessed by car. Visitors to Bryant will simply take exit 15B off Interstate 295. The campus is just over a mile away from I-295 on Route 7. Fans using public transportation will find a Rhode Island Public Transportation (RIPTA) bus station on the Bryant campus, offering service every 40 minutes to downtown Providence. For much of its early history Bryant was a commuter school, so ample parking remains adjacent to Beirne Stadium. This is also an ideal setup for pregame tailgating. Many Bulldog fans take advantage of these lots to arrive early and enjoy a beautiful fall Rhode Island Saturday at the game. The parking lots fill up early, meaning latecomers will park in more distant lots which can be a good walk from the Stadium. The days of arriving 15 minutes before kickoff and getting a spot just steps from the front gate are long gone. Beirne Stadium consists of two sets of stands highlighted by a 3,200-seat structure on the home (east) side, which houses the press box, locker rooms, and restrooms. Seating consists of metal bleachers without backs, with three hundred individual bucket seats located in between the 40-yard lines. There is a walkway along the front edge of the grandstand, so choose seats a row or two up from the bottom. There is plenty of handicapped seating available, and fans are able to easily walk around the field. Standing room is available in the north end zone and the west side of the field. The small restrooms underneath the grandstand are clean and large enough for a typical Bulldog football crowd. Lines do form here and at the concession stand at halftime, so plan your trips wisely. Return on Investment 3 Premium seating at Beirne Stadium (Bucket seats between the 40-yard lines) costs $25, while all other seating costs $15. Parking in the lots adjacent to Beirne Stadium costs an additional $20. Concessions are comparably priced with other venues in the area. Prices have risen significantly for both tickets and parking in recent years. A visit to Bryant’s website makes the actual prices unclear. While it is advertised on Bryant’s website that it is required to purchase parking passes, Stadium Journey did not have to pay to park for their recent visit. We hope to clarify this situation for our readers ASAP. Extras 2 Twin bulldog statues guard both entrances to the facility and make a great spot for a photo opp. A second extra point is awarded for the consistent improvements being made to the facility, both obvious and subtle. From the construction of the Beirne training complex in the south end zone to the installation of permanent lighting to the planting of fir trees on the west side of the stadium, Beirne Stadium now looks like a complete football stadium and less like a set of bleachers plopped into an open space where the Patriots used to hold their training camp. Final Thoughts Bryant University is a small school with big ambitions when it comes to intercollegiate sports. They continue to grow and improve the game day experience for visiting fans, to the point where this may be the premier football experience in all of Rhode Island. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Sinsheimer Stadium 900 Southwood Dr San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 San Luis Obispo Blues website Sinsheimer Stadium website Year Opened: 1968 Capacity: 2,000 Hot Sauce! San Luis Obispo Blues is a member of the California Collegiate League, a summer wood-bat baseball league in which top college ball players participate.  The league began in 1993 and currently has 13 teams.  The San Luis Obispo Blues began in 1946 as the Merchants but the name was changed to the Blues within a few weeks of operation, because of the colors on the uniforms.  Originally, WWII veterans played on the team.  The Blues h ad some ups and downs throughout the years and eventually  changed to a college summer team.   The Blues play at Sinsheimer Stadium, a part of city-owned and operated Sinsheimer Park .  Besides the stadium, the park has many other fun-filled activities like disc golf, a swimming pool, hiking trails, volleyball and tennis courts, an impressive playground, trails, and a BBQ area.  Residents of San Luis Obispo (SLO) immensely enjoy the park as well a s the baseball team. Food & Beverage 3 Mouthwatering ‘Old SLO BBQ’ provides most of the food choices at the stadium.  Smash burgers run $6.95 – $11.95.  Gluten-free choices include chicken tenders, fries, and garden salad ($4 - $12.95).  The BBQ options include tri-tip sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken tenders, fries, and five varieties of hot dogs ($5.95 - $15.95).  Sodas cost $2.85 and water is $4.45.  They even place items purchased in a brown bag with handles to make it easier to carry to your seat.  Sweet!  Snacks include peanuts, chips, seeds, Cracker Jack, cotton candy, ice cream, etc., and generally run $3 - $4.50.  A kiosk on the first base side sells beer. You won’t go hungry or thirsty at this baseball venue.  Fans can bring in sealed bottled water. Atmosphere 4 The field itself is sunk down a hill.  Five rows of faded plastic stadium fold-down seats run from dugout to dugout.  The seats, albeit old, are comfortable and have decent legroom.  A m iddle-thickness net extends from dugout to dugout, protecting the fans from foul balls.  The grounds are not suitable for those uneasy on their feet.  The venue has a small, paved  walkway with a few steps to get down to the seating area and on top of the hill.  I did not see a ramp down to the seating area.   The venue has plenty of uneven grassy berms where fans spread their blankets and watch the game.   If the ground is wet, I suspect it gets messy.  Many fans bring their lawn chairs and perch on the cement path at the top of the hill to watch the game.  For those with mobility concerns, I’d recommend getting to the stadium early and parking in this area with your wheelchairs or lawn chairs. The announcer does a decent job.  He’s not too loud, has a clear voice, and is very conversational. He even convinced me to buy one of the programs.  He introduces and recognizes the bat boy.  He misses some calls, but I’m probably the only one who notices.  Plenty of activities occur besides the ball game:  Baseball bingo (more baseball stadiums should have this), dizzy bat race, player-involved prizes, e.g., a catcher throws to a cardboard figure on second base, or a player tees off on a golf game.  Depending on the outcome, a fan wins a prize.  When an opposing batter has two strikes, fans start shouting ‘hot sauce!’  If the player strikes out, one lucky fan wins a bottle of hot sauce.  Be sure to buy a program ($3); each program has a lucky number that can win you prizes! Some ‘noise’ is played b etween some, but not all, pitches.  It would get tiresome if they did that.  The music person plays the tunes loud but is not quite obtrusive.  Sometimes the music is too noisy and played over the announcer, so fans can’t hear what the announcer is saying. The scoreboard, located in center field, is a basic dot matrix with the line score.  A picturesque mountain view is beyond right field. Once the sun sets, it can get chilly.  Remember to bring a sweatshirt or jacket. It is a fun, enjoyable evening out. Neighborhood 4 Downtown San Luis Obispo is two+ miles from the park, with plenty of shops, dining, breweries, and wineries.  Click here for a list of all the fascinating choices. Pick up a sandwich at High Street Deli & Market, or some Chinese from Mee Heng Low Noodle House. Bang the Drum Brewery is less than a mile from the stadium.  Or visit Beda's Biergarten for some yummy German food and beer.  The downtown area has several fashionable hotels, but they are not for those on a budget.  I stayed at the Avenue Inn Downtown (just on the outskirts of the city).  It is nothing fancy, but it is clean and comfortable, and more affordable.  For other things to see and do in the area, visit Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa or the San Luis Obispo Children's Museum.  For something different and icky, visit Bubblegum Alley .  Feel free to contribute to its ‘art.’ For outdoor activities, the Pismo and Avila beaches are 10 – 15 minutes away.  Or take a hike in the Irish Hills Natural Reserve or Reservoir Canyon.  San Luis Obispo is quite a lovely area of California. Fans 4 It’s a big community party at a Blues game.  Families, multiple generations, companies, and friends all come out and watch and cheer on the Blues.  Several fans keep score.  The stands were full the night of this review, with more than 1,000 folks in attendance. Access 3 San Luis Obispo is about halfway between San Jose and Los Angeles.  It is off the U.S. 101 highway.  The swim center and the ballpark share the parking lot.  It’s very congested, with only one way in and out.  Parking is free. Pine trees give the exterior plenty of shade, and the park has benches and picnic tables to wait for your late-arriving friends. A small regional airport (SBP) with limited service (Alaska Air, United, American Airlines) to a few western cities is two and a half miles from Sinsheimer Stadium.  The city has a bus service with route 1A stopping at Laurel and Southwood, about a ½ mile from the stadium.  Be sure to check late-night and weekend schedules.  The ground is uneven.  I recommend staying on the cement path if you are prone to tripping, though the path does get crowded.  The venue has restrooms and port-a-potties.  Return on Investment 5 The San Luis Obispo Blues provide an outstanding value for your sports entertainment dollar.  Seats are general admission - first come, first served.  Tickets are $10.  Students, military, and senior tickets are $5; children 12 and under get in free. The admission doubles on fireworks and special events nights. The program is $3, and the parking is free.   Food and drink prices are decent. The game day ambiance is spectacular, and you’re bound to have a fantastic time. You really can’t beat the price of attending a Blues game. . Extras 3 San Luis Obispo Blues has several other items worth noting. First, a very cool-looking logo. Second, the team, organization, and game day are a community event with plenty of local business and individual sponsorships and donors.  Kudos to the whole city and its residents for supporting the team. Last, the program.  It has news articles, a scorecard, the schedule, and local sponsor advertisements.  Plus, a lucky number! Final Thoughts San Luis Obispo is a small but vibrant, entertaining town to visit and well worth a stop for any traveller.  Attending a game at Sinsheimer Stadium provides an excellent baseball experience in  a community that supports it well.

Photos by Brian Helberg , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium 4601 Ontario St Vancouver, BC V5V 3H4 Canada Vancouver Canadians website Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium website Year Opened: 1951 Capacity: 5,132 Baseball Done Right North of the Border at The Nat Referred to locally as The Nat , Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium has been home to baseball fans in Vancouver, British Columbia since 1951. Originally named Capilano Stadium, the historic facility was rebranded following the death of Vancouver icon, Nat Bailey, in 1978. Bailey was a part owner of the former Vancouver Mounties baseball team, and was beloved in British Columbia for founding the White Spot restaurant chain. Scotiabank Field was added to the lengthy name in 2007. The Vancouver Canadians are the Short Season Single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play in the Northwest League, and the C’s won the league for three consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2013. Vancouver was awarded with the prestigious John H. Johnson’s President’s Trophy in 2013. The award is handed out annually to the top Minor League franchise in baseball. The C’s were busy expanding Nat Bailey Stadium in the offseason prior to the 2015 season. They added nearly 1,000 seats to raise their capacity to 6,013. The Hey Y’all Porch in left field is brand new, as are the seats lining the left field baseline. You will not find a 64 year-old stadium in better shape than The Nat. Food & Beverage 5 Nat Bailey Stadium has a solid collection of food choices, sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. The main eating area is located in the concourse behind home plate. Food stands line both sides of the wide walkway. The Canadians do a great job on the classic baseball cuisine. Hot dogs and hamburgers are aplenty, and they are tasty too. The C’s also have a wider array of food available, including sushi and pizza. The ‘Nooner’ burger is perfect for day games, as it is topped with egg, bacon, cheese and the patty. If you have a sweet tooth, make sure you stop by the mini donut stand. It is the last hut on the back wall as you head towards the first baseline on your way back to the grandstand. The tiny treats are topped with cinnamon and brown sugar. They may not be the fanciest donuts you will ever see, but they are undeniably delicious. The donuts are a favorite among Vancouverites, and are doled out generously by the friendly vendors. It’s hard to miss the Hey Y’all Porch in left field, and that’s lucky, because you are going to want to try their famous fried chicken and iced tea. The whole area is a new addition to the stadium, and is a hub of activity for fans looking to mingle during the game. If you are attending the game in a group of 30 or more, the Hard Rock Casino Barbeque Picnic in the Park is the perfect place to take in Canadians baseball. Fans get a seat at a table under an umbrella down the right field line, plus all you can eat barbeque for just $40 a person. The Vancouver area is home to many delectable craft beers, and naturally The Nat offers the best of the best. Named after the famed ski resort, the Whistler Brewing Company highlights the assortment of adult beverages. If the more traditional brews are more to your liking, you can find all the typical beers throughout the ballpark as well. Atmosphere 5 The atmosphere at The Nat is truly special. Fun is the goal, and the C’s have succeeded in this department. It is a beautiful stadium, highlighted by a view of the regal Queen Elizabeth Park. There is a wide range of ages working at the stadium, and everyone is extremely helpful and nice. It is very family friendly at the park. There are special sections designated as alcohol free that might be good for families with small children. There are always kids baseball teams in attendance, and thus the stands are filled with young people. A pair of kids sang the National anthems (and rather well I might add) the most recent night I was there. Also, the club let a few youngsters throw out the ceremonial first pitches. There are a few different kinds of seats. The grandstand area features wooden bleachers. The seats in the lower section behind home plate and the seats down the left field line are both made with a combination of plastic and metal. The C’s have a number of special events in between innings designed to entertain fans of all ages. At the end of the 4th inning is the sushi race. Every game, four sushi mascots race down the right field line, competing for pride and for mini donuts. The grounds crew is famous for their work on the diamond, and for their dance moves. At the end of the 5th inning, the crew trots out onto the field and dances along to a (usually embarrassing) song. The night I was there, the grounds crew left it all on the field dancing along to the New Kids on the Block hit, “Step by Step.” At the end of the 6th, the fans get a little exercise by doing the chicken dance. The Canadians’ DJ puts the chicken dance song on blast, and the whole crowd dances along in unison. Neighborhood 4 Nat Bailey Stadium is located in central Vancouver, essentially sandwiched in between Cambie St. and Main St. It is largely residential in the immediate proximity to the park. However, Cambie and Main are just a few blocks away, and both streets boast impressive lineups of restaurants and bars. While the walkability of the neighborhood may not be on the Major League level, it is more than adequate for a Single-A stadium. Queen Elizabeth Park is considered by many to be one of the most picturesque green spaces in the city. There is a lush floral conservatory, and plenty of walking trails. Seasons in the Park is a first class restaurant featuring breathtaking views and Northwest cuisine. Fans 5 The Canadians have dominated the Northwest League in recent seasons, and their fans have grown accustomed to winning. They are very knowledgeable and take great pride in their team. Even if the C’s go down big early, the crowd never loses their enthusiasm. There is a very balanced cross section of fans at Nat Bailey Stadium. There are equal numbers of families, young people, retirees and hardcore fans. There is a laid back feel for the most part, and rowdy spectators are not a concern. Fun is the reason most of these fans show up, and winning is just a bonus. Access 3 If you are a native Vancouverite, you will likely have little trouble getting yourself to Nat Bailey Stadium. If you are a visiting fan from out of town, you may find the area more difficult to navigate. If you are coming by car, prepare for plenty of traffic. Vancouver is famous for its congestion, and driving through the heart of the city during rush hour can lead to some white-knuckle moments. However, signs leading you to the stadium are easily spotted on Cambie and Main Street. Parking is reasonably priced at $7, and there are ample spots. The main lots are located behind home plate and in the outfield behind the right field fence. The stadium is just one level, and there is a chance your vehicle could take a direct hit if you park behind home plate. There are no stands in right field, and a home run ball could find your windshield if you choose to park in the outfield. Being that Nat Bailey Stadium is located in a residential neighborhood, street parking is extremely limited, so choose one of the lots, but don’t go too close to the stadium when choosing your spot. SkyTrain presents an intriguing option for fans. The SkyTrain is essentially a monorail system that runs through Vancouver. It may not be the most attractive transportation system, but it is a very efficient way to get around. The nearest SkyTrain station (King Edward) is located just over a kilometer away from the stadium. Another public transportation option is the bus. You can get to within 3 blocks if you take the buses that run along Main St. Taking the SkyTrain or bus will cost you between $2.75 and $5.50 depending on the time of day and distance you are traveling. Return on Investment 5 The C’s do an amazing job providing fans with bang for their buck. Tickets are very economical, ranging between $14 and $25. You can find great seats in the grandstand behind home plate for $14, or you can sit in box seats closer to the action for $18. Sitting in the WestJet Diamond Club will run you $25, but they are considered the best seats in the house. Seniors (55+) can sit in the grandstand area for $11, and disabled seating can be found along the left field line for $11. Food is a good deal for fans as well. You can pick up a hot dog for $5, and a foot long for $7. Burger’s cost $6.25, and pizza is reasonable at $6 for a large slice. Pretzels won’t break the bank at $5. Sugary treats are affordable, with mini donuts listed at $5 and ice cream at $4.50. Sushi is priced between $8 and $10 depending on the kind you want. Craft beer is currently $7.50 a glass. All told, you can take in a Canadians’ game for a fraction of the cost of attending one of the other major sports games in Vancouver. In fact, you can watch a professional baseball game in a very enjoyable setting for roughly the same price as going to the movies. It is hard to beat the C’s return on investment. Extras 5 The Canadians offer many promotions throughout the regular season. Every Sunday is an A&W Family Fun Sunday. Kids can take home anything from a batting helmet to a jersey on Sundays. There are also bobblehead giveaways featuring some of the more prominent players who have recently donned a Canadians uniform. The C’s occasionally provide fans with opportunities to meet some of their favorite ballplayers from the past. The 2015 season will feature appearances from Tommy John, Devon White, Pat Hentgen and Tony Fernandez. The highlight of the promotion schedule has to be the fireworks extravaganzas. The Canadians entertain fans with special post game fireworks after most Saturday night home games. In 2015 there are nine dates, and you don’t want to miss them. There are multiple places to buy C’s gear at Nat Bailey Stadium. The first hut is located outside the stadium by the main entrance, where you can purchase hats and tees. Inside you will find a larger team store area near the end of the concourse on the third baseline. You can buy the same merchandise as outside, but there are a few additional items (jerseys, memorabilia, etc.) up for sale too. There is a manually operated scoreboard in left-center field, and a giant video screen in center field shows replays. There is a storied history with the C’s in Vancouver, and the organization does a fantastic job educating the public inside the ballpark. Murals and showcases discussing the history of the club and the famous names that have made stops in Vancouver line the main concourse. You get a great sense of how the franchise got its start, and how they have evolved into the one of the top Minor League organizations today. There is a large kids play area in the left field corner that features an inflatable slide. The C’s offer fans the opportunity to sit in non-alcoholic sections. Most teams have these types of sections, but these particular seats are in prime locations behind home plate. Inebriated fans are not much of an issue at The Nat, but these seats would be perfect for families with young children. Perhaps my favorite extra is the special Canadians car that delivers pitchers into the game from the bullpen in left field. The car itself is a golf cart type of vehicle wearing a C’s hat for a roof. It drives the incoming hurler to the edge of the infield before heading back to the ‘pen. Final Thoughts While the actual baseball being played on the field may not be Major League quality, Nat Bailey Stadium offers a first class experience for fans of all ages. It is an enjoyable and affordable way to spend an evening in Vancouver. The people who work at the stadium are very polite and helpful. The fun factor cannot be beaten, and wandering around the stadium gives spectators a sense of childlike joy. I highly recommend you take in a game at The Nat if you are ever lucky enough to be in Vancouver, BC.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Kidera Gymnasium 4245 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14618 Nazareth Golden Flyers men’s basketball website Kidera Gymnasium website Year Opened: 1976 Capacity: 1.200 Hoops of Nazareth Nazareth College was founded in 1924 as Nazareth College of Rochester. From its beginnings as an all-women’s college affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, it has grown to its present size of just under 3,000 students offering classes in 60 undergraduate and more than two dozen graduate programs. The school, having gone co-ed in the 1970s, is known for its emphasis on community engagement. Nazareth’s athletic teams are named the Golden Flyers, and compete in the Empire 8 Athletic conference of Division Three. The school has enjoyed much athletic success over the years, as the men’s lacrosse teams have won three national championships and have finished as runners up an additional three times. In addition, the men’s volleyball team won the national championship in 2011. The Golden Flyers basketball teams play in the Robert A. Kidera Gymnasium. Mr. Kidera was the college president from 1976-1984 and a charter member of the school’s athletic Hall of Fame. He was instrumental in making athletics an important part of campus life. The 6th president of the college, Kidera was the first male president at Nazareth. Over their history, the Golden Eagles have qualified for 9 NCAA Division Three tournaments. Their most famous basketball alumnus is Jeff Van Gundy. Food & Beverage 1 There are no concessions at Nazareth basketball games. Stadium Journey visited the college during the 2022 D-3 basketball tournament. The cafeteria located next door to the gym in the Shults Center was serving pizza, chicken wings and snacks, but this was a special event held in conjunction with the tournament. There is a vending machine in the lobby for anyone needing a drink during the game. Fans are allowed to bring their own snacks into the Kidera Gym. Atmosphere 3 The game day atmosphere at Kidera Gymnasium is typical of other small college facilities across the country. These gyms just lack the resources to put on a big-time show. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to enjoy your time at Nazareth. There’s just not a lot going on to distract from the action down on the court. There are a pair of scoreboards on either end of the gym that show basic game information. A highlight at some games are performances from the Nazareth Dance Squad, recently ranked as the top team in all of New York State. Staffers toss t-shirts into the game during breaks in the action. The students do their best to keep the energy level up thoughout the game. Nazaerth’s biggest rival is St. John Fisher College, located just a mile to the north. When the two teams match up, locals dub the game “The Battle of the Beaks.” If visiting for this game, expect a little more robust atmosphere. Neighborhood 3 Nazareth College is a self-contained campus located in the Rochester suburb of Pittsford, a bedroom community with a population of about 30,000 residents. As you may expect with Nazareth’s suburban location, there’s not a whole lot to see or do within walking distance of the campus. Out of town visitors are likely to head to downtown Rochester, located just a few miles from Nazareth. For fans looking for options that are closer, Route 31 (Monroe Avenue) runs just a couple of miles south of the campus. Visitors will find plenty of dining, lodging and shopping options here. Among the chain restaurants lining this drag is the Black & Blue Steak and Crab Restaurant, an upscale American steakhouse with locations around upstate New York. Among the favorite spots to eat in Rochester are Nick Tahou’s Hots, birthplace of the “Garbage Plate” (it’s not what it sounds like), and the local outpost of Dinosaur BBQ, located right by the Blue Cross Arena on the Genesee River. Fans 3 Official reports list average attendance at Golden Flyers games at between 500-600 fans per game. In checking box scores from throughout the season, it would appear that there is a wide variation in the size of crowds that visit the Kidera Gymnasium, from a typical “friends and family” type of crowd to a nearly packed house for games against local rivals and tournament games. With several Empire 8 teams located a short distance from Nazareth, it’s not unusual to see a solid turnout from the visiting schools. The student section at Kidera Gymnasium is located under the north basket. When the section is packed, the students are into the game and add a lot of noise to the gym. The rest of the crowd consists of families, alumni and some local hoop fanatics. Access 3 Nazareth is located in the suburban town of Pittsford, New York, just seven miles from downtown Rochester. Located less than two miles from Interstate 490, it is easily accessed by visiting fans driving to the area. Kidera Gymnasium is situated in the Otto A. Shults Community Center at the center of campus. Also in the Shults Center is an Olympic-sized pool, a chapel, lecture hall, conference rooms, reading lounge, pub, campus store and game room. Parking is available a short walk from the gym in several on-campus lots. There are two small rest rooms just off the front lobby that are clean, if somewhat cramped. Fans entering the Shults Center from the main entrance on the western side will find the entrance to the gym directly in front of them. Seating consists of plastic bleachers on three sides of the court. With the small size of Kidera Gymnasium, all seats have excellent views of the action, if not excellent views of the scoreboards. Return on Investment 5 Stadium Journey visited Nazareth during the NCAA Tournament, so tickets to the game cost $15. It should be noted that during the tournament, prices are set by the NCAA, not the schools. We were unable to find the regular ticket prices for Golden Flyers games, but I would be shocked if it were more than $5. Parking is free in the lots near the Shults Center. An evening at a Nazareth basketball game is a most affordable entertainment option for local hoop fans. Extras 2 Banners hang throughout the Kidera Gymnasium honoring championship teams that have represented the college. Holding a special place of honor are banners commemorating Nazareth’s three lacrosse national titles and their volleyball national championship. Not content to hold a typical t-shirt toss during basketball games, the basketball staff and school mascot, Swoop, toss small stuffed eagles into the stands during play stoppages. Final Thoughts While not the flashiest of facilities, you can’t go wrong with a small gym like Kidera Gymnasium. A combination of affordable prices, an intimate setting and quality talent on the field makes a visit to suburban Rochester a worthy Stadium Journey. Don’t sleep on Division Three sports! Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Scott Stadium Alderman Rd & Whitehead Rd Charlottesville, VA 22903 Virginia Cavaliers website Scott Stadium website Year Opened: 1931 Capacity: 61,500 Football In The Blue Ridge Mountains Scott Stadium was built in 1931 and is the home of the University of Virginia football. Renovations in 2000 closed in the stadium to its current horse shoe configuration. While crowds may not be as large as they were in the early 2000s, the environment and atmosphere on game days around Charlottesville is still a great college football experience. Throw in the fact that the campus is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, and you have a great setting for ACC football. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions at Scott Stadium are about what one would expect when attending a major college football game. There are general concession stands operated by UVA scattered around the upper and lower concourses. Specialty stands featuring Papa John’s Pizza, Chick-fil-A, and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream are located on the lower concourse, but not on the upper. The stands run by UVA often quickly except during halftime, and accept credit/debit cards. However, during the game I attended, the credit cards machines were not working at all stands. These stands offer a wide variety of food including pulled pork nachos ($6), BBQ sandwich ($5), nachos ($5), hot dogs ($4), chips ($4), and candy ($3). Pepsi products and Aquafina water are offered at Scott Stadium. Bottled water and a regular soda are $4, souvenir sodas are $5, and bottomless sodas are $8. The pulled pork nachos are definitely a hit, especially when paired with a bottomless soda. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere around a UVA football game is one of Cavalier comradery and pride. As you walk towards Scott Stadium, expect to see tailgaters and alumni groups gathered at various points around campus. The stadium is a double-decked horse shoe with metal bleacher type seats. The open end of the stadium features a large grassy bank which is popular with students. The suites and club seats are located between the upper and lower level. The field is natural grass and is always in excellent condition. One large video board is located above the grass hill in the open end zone. It does a great job providing score, down, timeouts, replays, and out of town scores. There is a ribbon board on the overhang of the upper level in the other end zone which also provides score, down, timeouts, etc. Be sure to be in your seats early to catch the Cavalier Marching Band perform pregame and team entrance. The team is led onto the field by the Cavalier mascot riding on horseback waving his sword to ignite the crowd. This is a can’t miss feature to a visit to Scott Stadium. There isn’t a bad seat in the house at Scott Stadium, and the sightlines are excellent Sitting on the west side will enable you to view the field logo correctly. Neighborhood 5 Scott Stadium is located on the beautiful UVA campus, which was designed by Thomas Jefferson. Monticello, Jefferson’s home, is also located just a few miles from campus and is great spot to visit if in town for a couple days. If you are looking for an area to eat, shop, and just walk around, make your way to downtown Charlottesville. This area offers many local eateries and shop, and is an overall nice place to stroll around on game day. If you enjoy the outdoors, there are many mountain activities around Charlottesville including hiking and camping. Also located in Charlottesville is the popular Carter Mountain Orchard, where you can buy fresh apples and enjoy a great view overlooking Charlottesville. Fans 3 Fan support has been slipping at UVA the last few years, which is undoubtedly due to the poor product on the field the past few years. Even though UVA had a good year in 2017 and went to a bowl, it is taking a while for the crowds to come back. UVA only had one game (the Virginia Tech game) in 2017 where the crowd exceeded 40,000. It is somewhat disappointing to see a beautiful stadium a little over half full on a sunny fall afternoon. This is not to say that the fans in attendance are not involved. After touchdowns and big plays, the fans lock arms and sing the Good Ole Song to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. Check out the video of this below: This video will also give you an idea of the crowd size. Hopefully, the new found success that Bronco Mendenhall has brought to the program will cause crowd numbers to increase in the next few years. Access 4 Since Scott Stadium is located on the UVA campus, access can be a little tricky. Allow yourself extra time to get through Charlottesville, get onto campus, and get parked. For a non-donor, the best bet for parking is to purchase a parking pass online before game day for $10-15 depending on location. It is $5 cheaper if you purchase ahead of time rather on game day. This will enable you to park at one of the parking decks on campus. Depending on where you park, it could be a 15-30 minute walk to the stadium. Entering the stadium is easy as there are multiple gates. Be aware that UVA enacted a clear bag policy during the 2017 season. If you are unfamiliar with this, check www.virginiasports.com for details. They are strict with this – I saw them tell several folks to take their large purses/bags back to their car. There is a concourse on both the upper and lower levels of the stadium. Both are very easy to navigate and well-marked. Handicapped accessible seating is available for advanced purchase on both the lower and upper levels. Return on Investment 4 Individual game ticket prices start at $30 and increase depending on seat location and opponent. Plenty tickets are also available on secondary market sites like stubhub.com. Expect to pay quite a bit more when high profile opponents like Virginia Tech are in town. Combine that with reasonable parking and concession, a trip to Scott Stadium will not break the bank. Extras 3 One point for the beautiful UVA campus surrounding Scott Stadium. Another point for the friendly staff and ticket collectors at the Stadium. A third for the plaza area above the grass hill that allows fans an awesome vantage of the playing field. Final Thoughts Virginia football has a great history, but the several bad seasons of late have had a negative impact on the fan support and atmosphere at Scott Stadium. That being said, the fans and surrounding community create a great college game day atmosphere. If you are looking for that college town charm, be sure to catch a game at Scott Stadium.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Clay Gould Ballpark 1400 Allan Saxe Pkwy Arlington, TX 76013 UT-Arlington Mavericks website Clay Gould Ballpark website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 1,600 UTA Mavericks Baseball at Clay Gould Ballpark The University of Texas-Arlington Mavericks makes their baseball home at Clay Gould Ballpark, on the southwesternmost corner of the campus located in Arlington, Texas. The campus, although hidden away between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, is just minutes away from the tourist attractions of Six Flags, Globe Life Field in Arlington , and AT&T Stadium . Clay Gould Ballpark opened in 1974 and was originally named the Arlington Athletic Center. The stadium was built in conjunction with the softball venue, now known as Allan Saxe Field. The name was changed to its current name in memory of a former player and coach, Clay Gould, after his untimely death in 2001. Clay Gould Ballpark has a capacity of 1,600. The field is real grass, Bermuda TIF 419 with dimensions of 330 feet down both lines, 380 feet to the power alleys, and 400 feet to straight away center field. An interesting side note is that the University of Arlington baseball program originally started in 1969 and played at Turnpike Stadium. Turnpike Stadium was a minor league stadium that later became the home of the Texas Rangers in 1972 and was renamed Arlington Stadium. The university knowing the plans of the City of Arlington to bring a Major League Baseball team to Arlington started to find a place to play on campus. The UTA baseball team shared Arlington Stadium with the Rangers during the 1972 and 1973 seasons. Food & Beverage 3 Clay Gould Ballpark features one concession stand at the main entrance of the ballpark located behind the backstop. The centrally located concession provides the basic ballpark fare of peanuts, popcorn, nachos, and other baseball amenities that one is used to seeing with a trip to the ballpark. The biggest surprise of the concessions is the cost of the food and beverages. The prices ($3 peanuts, $2.50 for a hot dog, $2 for popcorn, candy, and soda) really can get your attention and almost make it a must to get something even if you aren’t hungry. The local taco chain, Fuzzy Taco, provides heavier options such as tacos, nachos, or chicken wraps. The prices for these are a little higher, but still below the price of the usual ballpark foods. The ballpark serves alcohol with options of either $6 margaritas or 16 oz beers for $5. The beer choices are limited to Budweiser products. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere provides more of a local high school feel. The fans all seem to know each other as they are either students or friends or family members of the players. The atmosphere changes when the two nearby schools, Dallas Baptist and TCU, annually play at Clay Gould Stadium. During the 2016 season, College World Series participant, Oklahoma State visited Arlington in a non-conference series. The ballpark gives a big-time feel as the press box hosts announcers and radio teams for the game. The Texas-Arlington baseball program realizes that it can’t compete with the Texas Rangers, so the times for UTA baseball for Tuesday and Friday games are early evening, while the weekend’s games are in the afternoon. It is possible to see a Mavericks game on a Saturday afternoon and a Texas Rangers game that night. Overall the atmosphere is wonderful for a relaxing day or night at the ballpark. Neighborhood 4 Clay Gould Ballpark is located in the southwestern part of the University of Texas-Arlington campus. The neighborhood is very residential with an elementary school located next to the athletics fields. Arlington is in the center of the DFW metroplex and is a self-proclaimed entertainment city with Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, Globe Life Park, and AT&T Stadium. There are so many restaurant and lodging options in the area as well. One local food stop near the ballpark is Sistah’s Mississippi BBQ, a small family-owned soul food and bbq place. Other food options are located more towards old town Arlington on the other side of campus. There you will find places such as Babe’s Chicken House Dinner, Flying Fish, Twisted Root Beer, Grease Monkey Burger Shop, and J Gilligan’s Bar & Grill. Your lodging choice depends on where you want to be located in the Dallas Fort Worth area, but the Sheraton Arlington or the Holiday Inn near Globe Life Ballpark, are both convenient options when looking for lodging in Arlington. Fans 2 The University of Texas-Arlington has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 33,000 students, yet the majority of the students commute from nearby cities. The university has in recent years built student housing in the hope of providing more of a campus-type feeling to their academics. With that in mind, along with the fact that the majority of the home games are played on the weekends, the fans that arrive at the ballpark, are usually family and friends of the players. Some students come out, but most of them are already part of the athletic community as they wear orange and blue for the sport in which they participate with the school. The sad thing about this is that the Mavericks baseball team is the most successful sport for the University of Texas-Arlington athletics program with four conference championships in 15 years while participating in the Southland Conference, including 2013, their only year in the WAC. Access 3 The ballpark is in a residential area of Arlington and provides little parking. Although the parking lot isn’t huge, it is easily suitable for the time being unless the ballpark neighbor, Allan Saxe Field is having a softball game at the same time. The main entrance is right next to the ticket booth, providing fans with a smooth walk-up for tickets before entering the ballpark. All of the tickets are general admission, so get there early if you want either close to the field seating or a spot in the shaded areas under the overhang behind home plate. The seating behind the home plate is made up of actual plastic seats, while the two baselines offer to seat on aluminum bleachers. The concourse is small yet, not having much there besides the concession stand makes it easy to move along. The restrooms are split with the men’s being on the first base side and the women’s being on the third base side. On the third base side, there is also a little patio area between the seating area and the bullpen. Return on Investment 5 The free parking and cheap concessions are wonderful, especially for a Division I college baseball game. The $5 general admission tickets, and $3 ticket for students make for one of the best deals in the country. The product on the field is well worth the price, with the baseball talent that the program has sent to Major League Baseball. As a ballpark, Clay Gould is a great place to watch a game because it is simple and focused on the game. Extras 2 The simplicity of the ballpark doesn’t provide many extra things other than the game, but the success of the program with the past Mavericks players reaching the major leagues such as John Lackey, Hunter Pence, Dillon Gee, Mark Lowe, and Michael Choice are a great extra for people to come to watch baseball at Clay Gould Ballpark. There is a billboard in the outfield next to the scoreboard that lists many other major league baseball players that have called Texas-Arlington home during their college careers. Final Thoughts The University of Texas-Arlington Mavericks is a wonderful part of the Dallas-Fort Worth college baseball scene. A college baseball trifecta because on a weekend, it is possible to watch three top-level college baseball games on three different campuses within a short drive. Just to the east is Dallas Baptist University’s Patriot Field while to the west is TCU’s Lupton Stadium , but those other two ballparks could become crowded, so if you want more of a baseball gem, that still gives you MLB prospects with lower prices than come visit Clay Gould Ballpark.

Photos by Gary Butterworth, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Estadio de Béisbol Beto Ávila SM 21, 21, 77500 Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico Tigres de Quintana Roo website Estadio de Béisbol Beto Ávila website Year Opened: 1980 Capacity: 9,000 Baseball in Cancun Just a short drive, but a world away from Cancun’s famous beaches, AAA baseball thrives at Estadio de Béisbol Beto Ávila. The hometown Tigres (Tigers) are one of Mexico’s most storied teams, having amassed 11 championship banners over the course of their six-decade history. Though the Tigers have called three cities home in that time, the team has been settled into Cancun in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo since 2007. In that short time, the Tigres have brought two pennants to their Caribbean city, and locals, as well as the occasional tourist, have taken notice. Though oversized and perhaps just slightly drab, Avila Stadium is a unique and comfortable venue, and the Tigres de Quintana Roo run a very good operation here. Food & Beverage 5 One of the joys of attending sporting events in Mexico is the food. Not only is it good, but the variety and service are hard to beat. At Avila, as well in a variety of venues around Mexico, concession stands are rented out on an individual basis. This means that a walk around the concourse will give you your choice of international chain restaurants (Subway), generic stadium snacks (churros), or local cuisine prepared by mom-and-pop operations. Actually, you might not even need to take that walk, since a small army of vendors and waiters roam the stadium constantly. If you don’t like what a vendor is carrying, someone is certain to come along momentarily to take your order for something else. A few vendors carry menus in case you’re not sure what’s on offer, and some of these even include photos you can point to, si no habla español. Though prices are marked-up considerably from what you might pay at a local shop outside the stadium, food and drink are still far cheaper than what you would pay at a Minor League game in the U.S. or Canada, or at the resorts a short drive away that cater to those American and Canadian tourists. For the 2015 season, a Coke or bottle of water goes for 20 Mexican pesos (USD $1.30 or EUR 1.20, as of April 2015), while a small beer will run you MXN 25 (USD $1.63; EUR 1.50). If ordering from your seat, a small tip to the waiter is not required, but is appreciated. Unlike in more touristy spots in Cancun, US Dollars are generally not accepted here. Security checks at the entrance are minimal, and fans are unlikely to have much trouble smuggling in outside snacks. Considering the variety and quality available here, though, you should come with an appetite to try the local ballpark fare. Atmosphere 3 Most Tigers games in Cancun are played in the evening, which is sensible considering the merciless tropical sun throughout much of the season. As such, there is no roof to seek out, and the darkness means that you can’t complain about the lack of an interesting view. Instead, you’re free to focus on the game and stadium experience itself, all of which is pleasant. Views of the action are good. Aside from the cheapest outfield seats, everyone has a comfortable plastic bucket seat. Ushers will check your ticket multiple times to ensure that you’ve found your correct seat, but aren’t overzealous about ensuring that you stay there. Depending on your height, the first row in the upper level behind the plate may be obstructed by a railing, although we had no trouble moving two rows back. A nice, fairly-modern video board is well used, and sound is good in the ballpark. The mascot is entertaining, and the team’s cheerleaders are less visible than one might expect. Public wi-fi is not yet available here. The stadium itself is perhaps a bit more interesting in person than it appears in pictures. More like cricket and older soccer venues than most baseball stadiums, Estadio Avila actually has five separate seating structures linked only by a ground level concourse. The structures are entirely concrete, but the paint is fresh and colorful. Decorations, championship banners, and team signage prevent Avila from feeling bland. Except for the English line scoreboard in right center field and the occasional between-innings American pop song, everything at Estadio Avila is in Spanish. A little español will go a long way here, but Cancun was built on the tourist industry, so workers are patient and polite when dealing with gringos and others who lack even basic Spanish. Interestingly, the Mayan language can sometimes be heard being spoken around the stadium, and might be more useful than English here. The Mexican Baseball League (Liga Mexicana de Beisbol) is one of the handful of non-US leagues that, while members of Minor League baseball and thus with officially-assigned levels (in this case, AAA), lack direct Major League affiliations. The quality of play is good and you’ll even see the occasional familiar face. For example, former MLB superstar Miguel Tejada is kicking around the Mexican League as of 2015. Neighborhood 3 On the map, Estadio Beto Avila looks to be located right in the center of Cancun. But maps can be deceiving. Despite the geographically-central location, there isn’t a lot worth seeing within a short walk of the stadium. The neighborhood is safe, though, so the true Stadium Journeyman should make it a point to drop by the neighboring Estadio Olímpico Andrés Quintana Roo, home of soccer’s Atlante FC. A few local sports fields, including an American football field, are nearby. Aside from these, well, there’s a Costco. And a Home Depot. And a Walmart. Venture a little bit farther, though, and you’ll be able to keep busy. A very long walk or a short drive can bring you to the beach, to the glitz and glamour of Cancun’s nightclubs, or to authentic Mexican mercados in the more commercial parts of the city center. Fans 3 The Tigres fan base is similar to the fan base of most Minor League baseball teams: a mix of families, serious fans, the occasional tourist, and those simply looking for a night out. Many fans do arrive late, but we’ll blame that on parking and especially on the understaffed ticket window. Once inside, the crowd pays attention and cheers at the appropriate times, without over-reliance on the video board. The team sells noisemakers, but they are not popular enough to be annoying. Caps and jerseys are neither common nor rare. Fans are polite and mostly keep to themselves. Opening day and playoffs may come close to selling out, but in general, thousands of seats are available in this large building on game day. The Tigers raw attendance numbers aren’t bad, but this is simply a big venue in a medium-sized city. Thankfully, the concrete reflects the crowd noise, and the nearly-vacant outfield sections are painted a uniform blue that blends in with the outfield wall. Even at half of capacity, Estadio de Béisbol Beto Ávila doesn’t feel empty. Access 3 Estadio de Béisbol Beto Ávila is located in central Cancun. Though Cancun is a thriving medium-sized city with its share of downtown hotels and activities, most visitors choose to avoid the downtown and instead stay in the beachfront “Zona Hotelera,” or Hotel Zone. From the center of the city, you may be able to walk to the game, but most fans will arrive by car. If driving, roads are good, but the stadium is not well-signed. Between this and the fact that parking is tricky, newcomers to Cancun will find that driving to a Tigres game is a bit challenging, but not impossible. Still, give yourself plenty of time, or just take a cab. All taxi drivers should be familiar with the team and the stadium. Some taxi drivers speak English. Cabs in Cancun are plentiful and can be hailed on the street downtown or found in front of most large hotels. Rates are officially set and available on charts, though it is wise to confirm these directly with the driver at the very start of the trip. From downtown or the northern part of the Hotel Zone, taxi fares are reasonable. Fans staying in the southern part of the Zona Hotelera or closer to the airport (Mexico’s second-busiest) should prepare for a big fare. 350 pesos (USD $22.76) and beyond is possible for more distant locations within Cancun. Leaving the game, cabs line up at the taxi stand just outside the main entrance. Fans leaving immediately after the final out may be able to hop right into a cab. Those who hang around a bit might have a short wait, but will eventually find a ride home. The return trip should cost the same as the trip to the stadium. If coming from more distant places in Quintana Roo like the Mayan Riviera (Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, Tulum, etc.), it might be wise to pre-arrange transportation or to spend the night in Cancun, unless you are familiar with night driving in the area and all that entails (namely dark roads and speed bumps). Public transportation in city busses and shared vans can also bring you close to the stadium. Though relatively few tourists take advantage of this form of local transport, prices are low, and this can be an option for the budget-conscious. Inquire locally, ideally in Spanish. There is no rail service in Cancun or in the entire Yucatan Peninsula, though projects are being discussed. Once you’ve arrived at Avila, prepare on a long line for tickets. Despite the fact that many fans buy tickets on game day, the Tigres open a small number of ticket windows. This is perhaps the team’s biggest failing. Inside the stadium, fans can move around comfortably. With waiters available, fans generally stay in their seats, and the flat and roomy concourse remains clear. Restrooms are among the worst smelling in Minor League Baseball, but work in a pinch. Fans with special needs will find their seating options limited, but probably sufficient. Return on Investment 5 By AAA baseball standards and by night-out-in-Cancun standards, the Tigres offer an exceptional value. By Mexican League standards, prices aren’t as shockingly low, but are still very affordable. For the 2015 season, tickets range from 20-150 Mexican pesos (USD $1.30-$9.75), but frequent promotions bring these already low prices down even further. Children under 120cm (about 4 feet tall) can sit in the two lower-cost seating areas for free and pay just 20 pesos in other areas. Ladies are free on Thursdays. Students get 2-for-1 ticket deals every day in certain sections. Some type of 2-for-1 or even 3-for-1 promo is available for almost every non-Sunday game. A family of four (or more) could attend certain games for USD $1.30. Keep in mind that this is officially just one level below Major League Baseball. The value is incredible. Extras 3 In a city full of international visitors, Estadio de Béisbol Beto Ávila and the Tigres de Quintana Roo score bonus points by providing up a truly local night of entertainment for the visitor who makes it to this off-the-beaten-path destination. For the local, the team’s proud display of its tradition and its assurance that games remain affordable for fans from all walks of like is commendable. Additionally, a quality (though not inexpensive) team shop and free line-up sheet also add value to the game day experience here. Final Thoughts All in all, the Quintana Roo Tigers offer up a well above-average experience that is worth a visit for the baseball fan in the Cancun area.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Musselman Stadium 300 N. Washington St. Gettysburg, PA 17325 Gettysburg Bullets website Musselman Stadium website Year Opened: 1965 Capacity: 6,176 Gettysburg’s Football Address Gettysburg College is a private, four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832. From its founding until 1921 it was known as Pennsylvania College. Author Jerry Spinelli, Carson Kressley from Bravo TV’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” and former Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul are graduates of the college. The area is more known for the July 1st through 3rd 1863 military engagements, as well as Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The area is very busy nearly all times of the year as tourists flock to the battlefields, as well as the commercial endeavors that surround the area. Sports teams at the college are known as the Bullets and there are 24 NCAA Division III men’s and women’s teams. The Gettysburg College women’s lacrosse team won the Division III National Championship in 2011. The Bullets play in the Centennial Conference. The 1964 football team won the University Division of the Middle Atlantic Conference championship with a 7–2 record for the first and only time in school history. The 1966 football team also played in the MAC University Division and captured the coveted Lambert Cup, emblematic of northeastern collegiate supremacy, again for the first and only time in school history. Both teams have been inducted into the Gettysburg College Hall of Athletic Honor as Teams of Distinction. Their stadium, Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium, is also home to the school’s field hockey, lacrosse, and men’s and women’s outdoor track & field. It was dedicated in September 1965 with a ceremony attended by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Food & Beverage 2 There is no permanent food stand at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium. That is a bit shocking because of the relatively large-sized facility. There is a temporary stand at the north end selling cheap food and drinks and it is usually manned by another of the college’s sports teams. Atmosphere 3 The stadium is quite large. That can make the atmosphere seem a bit more subdued than needed, except when a large crowd is in attendance. The field is also surrounded by a track which means fans will be a bit further from the action. There are two grandstands, but the east side one is temporarily looking for construction. The west stands are permanent. They are pretty simple concrete stands, with simple metal bleachers attached to them. The west stands are also quite large with a good number of seats. Neighborhood 5 Gettysburg is a great small town. There is almost always traffic in the town as tourists flock to the area all of the year. In the summer months it can be almost unbearable to drive through the area, so make note of that. Because so many people travel in the area expect to see numerous food options. But not all of them are good so make sure to check reviews so that you do not waste time in tourist dumps. My favorite restaurant choices are Hunt’s Battlefield Fries, Tommy’s Pizza, and The Garryowen Irish Pub. The fresh-cut fries at Hunt’s are a must. A couple of home-style options are Hoss’s Steaks and the Lincoln Diner. You can’t go wrong with their simple, but tasty offerings There is also a very good outlet mall right outside of town called The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg. With no taxes on clothing in Pennsylvania, it is a popular attraction on its own. Fans 3 The football program is not always the best lately, but the fans still turn out fairly heavily for home games. The fans are decent and seem to be involved in the game action. Access 3 Gettysburg is close to many things. Washington, DC is 75 miles away and Baltimore is 55 miles away. The main east-west road through Gettysburg is U.S. Route 30, and U.S. Route 15 runs south towards Frederick, MD, and Washington DC, as well as north to Harrisburg, PA. The only real problem is the traffic in the area. The college is located in a small neighborhood north of downtown and it won’t be very hard to get to the college, but expect to venture on many small roads to get there. Parking is usually pretty OK, but the larger the event more likely it is that parking will be at a premium. You can always park downtown and walk to campus. Return on Investment 5 Football games are generally free, although they could charge for some larger games. Parking is also free unless you have to park downtown. Either way, the value and return on investment are very good here at Gettysburg College. Extras 5 There is a nice veteran’s memorial just outside of Musselman Stadium. Stop in and think of those who gave all to this nation before seeing a game here. It will be well worth the visit. The architecture of the college is worth noting. Make sure to wander around and see the marvelous buildings on campus. The John F. Jaeger Center for Athletics, Recreation, and Fitness is a pretty spectacular architectural building with its unique glass tower. There is a nice hall of fame and historical exhibits of the Gettysburg College athletic program located here. The Gettysburg Battlefield and all that surrounds it are worth a couple of stars themselves. Yes, it is a tourist attraction, but one must stop in and see it. There is a multitude of historical markings, statues, and attractions in the area. Besides being on hand upon this stadium’s opening, Dwight D. Eisenhower is a popular name on the campus and the region. He retired to his working farm adjacent to the local battlefield. The Eisenhower Institute is also a part of the college and develops and sponsors civic discourse on significant issues of domestic and international public policy. Final Thoughts Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium is quite a nice facility. It is much larger than one would expect from a Division III program, but it is a great place to see high-quality sports teams.

Photos by James Hilchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Principal Park 1 Line Drive Des Moines, IA 50309 Iowa Cubs website Principal Park website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 11,500 Principal Park: Home of the Iowa Cubs Located at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, Principal Park, then Sec Taylor Stadium, opened in 1992. Principal Park replaced the outdated Sec Taylor Stadium. The new stadium was also named Sec Taylor Stadium until 2004 when the Principal Financial Group bought the rights to the name and Principal Park was born. Through the years, upgrades have been made to the stadium, including adding sky boxes in left field. In 2006, new seats and a new video board were installed along with a fountain beyond right field. Before the 2013 season, the locker rooms were upgraded along with a small patio area beyond left field that now plays host to musical acts prior to and after selected games. In 2015, a brand new video board replaced the dated video board. The new Daktronics video board measures 64x24 feet and allows for far more statistical information to be displayed for fans. Due to safety concerns around baseball, the nets behind home plate were extended to the far ends of the dugouts prior to the beginning of the 2016 season. Principal Park hosted one of the most famous (or infamous) games in Pacific Coast League history on June 14, 2008. Torrential rains caused the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers to overflow, flooding a portion of downtown Des Moines. With the ballpark surrounded by water, the game that day was played in an empty stadium, to an official attendance of zero. In order to avoid having any fans show up, the game began at 4 P.M., was not broadcast, and was announced as postponed. Josh Kroeger’s seventh-inning home run was the winning run in Iowa’s 5-4 victory. The stadium played host to the 1997 Triple-A All-Star game and hosted the Iowa state high school baseball tournament for many years. In 2021, longtime owner Michael Gartner sold the team, which is now owned by Diamond Baseball Holdings. While there is new ownership, the front office has remained intact and, as always, the Iowa Cubs primary focus is presenting a fun and safe atmosphere for the fans. Food & Beverage 4 A wide variety of food options are available. Iowa is the biggest pork-producing state in the country and that fact is reflected here. The pork tenderloin sandwich, an Iowa staple, is available in two sizes. The large is enormous. Make it a basket if you want fries. Several items are available at the bacon stand, including the bacon explosion basket (bacon sliders w/fries) and bacon-wrapped hot dogs can be had. Stu’s BBQ serves up a great brisket sandwich and BBQ nachos. Other typical ballpark fare such as hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, chicken sandwiches, etc. are all available. Being a Cubs affiliate, you can pick up a Chicago Dog or Italian Beef sandwich at the Lil Chicago stand. You can also pick up an Old Style at this booth to go along with your food. Coke products are sold at Principal Park in three sizes. For soda enthusiasts, you can buy a bottomless Coke. Be sure to check out the Coors Light beer box in the concourse. It’s a walk-in refrigerator full of beer. Inside are different sizes of cans and brands for about the same range of drafts. Craft beer is big in Iowa and Principal Park celebrates it. In the concourse behind home plate is the Iowa Craft Beer stand. You have your choice of a whopping 32 local brews, so bring your palate and enjoy! Atmosphere 4 Upon entering the seating area, it is impossible to miss the stunning view of the Iowa Capitol Building over the center field wall. The building sits atop a hill and as beautiful as it is during the day, it is even better at night when the numerous domes are lit up. There is also a tremendous view of the Des Moines skyline looking over the left field corner. If you have visited Principal Park before the 2015 season, the biggest noticeable difference is the video board over the right field wall. The upgrade makes a world of difference and allows for fans to get much more information, including current stats, the pitcher’s pitch count, etc. A new batter’s eye was installed prior to the 2023 season, but the views remain. The seats are comfortable and are all stadium seats in the infield seating bowl. General admission is down both lines and in right field, but the small added cost of a reserved ticket is well worth it. The bleachers under the video board can be particularly hot during day games and are best avoided unless there is a full house. In the right field corner (Schaal Chill Zone) is a fountain that runs during the game and is great for kids (and some adults) on particularly hot days. The fountain shoots water after Iowa home runs and other exciting plays that benefit the home team. Inside the concourse is a large play area for kids including batting/pitching games and a large climbing/jungle gym-type structure. Neighborhood 5 Downtown Des Moines has anything and everything you could desire. There are plenty of places to have a drink before or after the game and a litany of different food options. Just down the street from the ballpark is the High Life Lounge. Obvious by its name, the High Life Lounge serves Miller but, not to fear, plenty of other options are available. The High Life, with its shag carpet and old neon beer signs throughout, is worth a stop. It has been featured on the Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food” show. The bacon wrapped tater tots are quite popular. Also the broasted chicken which customers rave about is some of the best chicken around. Buzzard Billy’s is another great option. They have plenty of drink choices and good food. Buzzard Billy’s serves many traditional bar foods but they are known for their Cajun and do it well. The catfish dinner is outstanding. The newest option will be particularly popular on nights with great weather. In 2016, the 300 Craft and Rooftop bar opened across the street from Principal Park. Take a two minute walk after the game and enjoy a few drinks on the 3,000 square foot outdoor patio atop a building that also includes a couple other restaurants and a gym. There are many options for lodging in the area although pricey with it being downtown. Two options are the Hyatt and Holiday Inn downtown. You can save a few dollars staying farther out. With the stadium being close to the interstate, it’s easy to get in and out of downtown. If traveling with family, the Iowa History Museum and Science Center of Iowa are great places to take the kids. When visiting Des Moines, a visit to the Capitol is a must, built in 1886 it is an amazing building. The view of the Capitol building from the stadium is outstanding and the inside is just as impressive as the outside and admission is free. Fans 3 Like at most minor league stadiums, the fans are a mixed bag. With the longevity of the team being affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, there are many diehards that you can count on seeing nightly. The fans have been spoiled with the amount of prospects that have played here the past few years. Kris Bryant, Javy Baez, Kyle Schwarber, Willson Contreras, and others have made the team even more popular. The regular fans follow the game pitch-by-pitch and can tell you all you need to know about the team. There are also those that appear to be there more for the social aspect, to see fireworks, or that come with a group and don’t pay much attention to what is occurring on the field. Access 4 Principal Park is easy to get to and you can access it directly from I-235. Parking is steep at $13. You can park a little farther away, across MLK Parkway, and save a buck. You will have a little bit of a walk but that is recommended on nights where the occasion dictates large crowds such as fireworks nights. There are limited exits leaving the main parking area at Principal Park. One of those exits is blocked on fireworks nights because they close the bridge on MLK and use that bridge to shoot off the fireworks. As such, lines are long and slow moving when leaving. Inside the park, the concourses are wide and easy to maneuver. Restrooms, concessions, and handicap seating is sufficient for the crowds. Return on Investment 3 Depending upon your preference, tickets generally range from $10 for general admission to $40 for home plate club seats with wait staff. General admission for children (13 and under) is $7. In 2023, the team went to dynamic pricing for tickets. As such, the tickets prices will vary but they won’t drift far from what was the normal pricing. For those that plan on consuming a lot of food and drink, perhaps your best bet is a table in the Budweiser Club seats. Located down the left field line, you can purchase a table for 4 in the Bud Club for $250. Included is admission to the game and all you can eat and drink. Food is about what you would expect to pay at a ballgame and you can get a decent seat, a beer, and something to eat for less than $30. The only drawback here is the parking cost. The recommended spot to sit is over the visitor's dugout on the first base side. In addition to great seats, you have a great view of the capitol building and the Des Moines skyline. Extras 5 An extra point for the amazing view of the capitol building. It is certainly one of the better views around. The Iowa Cubs have a really neat tradition every year prior to the July 4th (or 3rd) game. In addition to the traditional fireworks, a group of individuals from around the globe give their oath and are sworn in as citizens of the United States, in what is always a very popular citizenship ceremony. The walk-in beer cooler is a rarity and definitely worth a look. For history buffs, be sure and take a look in the north parking lot, near MLK Blvd. A preserved fort is on the ballpark’s property. The fort represents the birth of the city of Des Moines, Iowa. The team does a great job of celebrating its long-time affiliation with the Chicago Cubs. The ballpark has reminders of this affiliation everywhere you go. Final Thoughts Des Moines is an underrated city with a great downtown scene. The location of the ballpark is in a perfect location for entertainment before and after the game. Inside the gates is a great place to sit back and watch a game while taking in some great views and a litany of good food and drink options. Principal Park isn’t the newest stadium around, but it still provides a quality time for baseball fans of all ages. Follow my sports journeys on Twitter and Instagram : @stadiumjwriter

Get ready for the Salem Marion Berries this summer at Willamette University’s John Lewis Field at Spec Keene Stadium. The Oregon-based ball club will be the 17th member of the summer collegiate West Coast League.  The name comes from the marionberry that was developed nearby in 1956. It was the result of cross-breeding between the Chehalem and Olallie blackberries. It hails exclusively from Oregon and earned its name after its namesake Marion County. Oregon produces 28 to 33 million pounds of marionberries annually and is the most common blackberry in the state. The logo features two ripe, purple marionberries sitting on a crate, one grinning wearing sunglasses and a backward cap with the letter “B” on it. Pat Zajac, the team’s general manager, told the Salem Reporter that they have an “avenue to have some fun and play off the mascot that they created with the logo. “Marionberries themselves kind of go through a changing of colors when they get ripe, from green to red, to that deep purple. Like, do we want to have two or three mascots? One of each of those shades to create a little berry family?”  The team branding will focus on the distinct marionberry. Team management has taken suggestions for concession items featuring the berry that will also include marionberry pie and themed drinks. Zajac added that the team will take input from fans for suggestions on jerseys, entertainment, and fun food ideas. I have a few suggestions of my own. Marionberry barbecue sauce for chicken fingers Purple colored ketchup Marionberry and bacon jam topping for a burger Marionberry milkshakes Fried marionberry pies Pie eating contests Team jerseys that ripple like marionberry: monochrome green, red, and deep purple sets throughout the summer. Staff tosses out purple-colored balls to fans Nicknames for the ballpark: “The Berry Patch” or “The Berry Bowl” The Berries ballpark, built in 1989, has planned improvements that include installing synthetic turf, new field lights, an altered entryway, and field netting. Zajac added that there will be concrete poured in certain areas to create new concession stands and hospitality areas. The upgrades will be paid for with support from a $3 million state grant to money contributed by the university and Salem Baseball LLC. ------ 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 Toldo Lancer Centre 2555 College Ave. Windsor, ON N9B 3P4 Windsor Lancers basketball website Toldo Lancer Centre website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 2,000 The Centre of Lancer Basketball For many years, the Windsor Lancers played basketball in the most unique and obscure of venues. The Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse at the St. Denis Centre is an indoor track and field facility. For basketball games, the University of Windsor set up a basketball court in the centre of the 200-meter track and pulled out large bleachers for spectators. It was a Canadian venue not dissimilar to how the Syracuse Orange have played for decades in what is still commonly referred to as the Carrier Dome, just on a shrunken level. The success of the Lancer basketball program predicated a new venue and the Toldo Lancer Centre was born. Named after Anthony Toldo, who died in 2009, and whose foundation made a significant donation, the Toldo Lancer Centre is a state-of-the-art facility, perfect for OUA basketball. The Lancers began their basketball lives sometime in the early 1900s when they competed against colleges across the river, in Detroit, in friendlies as Assumption College. Founded in 1857, Assumption was granted university status in 1953 and federated with the newly established University of Windsor in 1963. In 1952, they joined the OQAA, a conference in what is now known as USports. The Lancers have enjoyed success in basketball earning the W.P. McGee Trophy as National Champions in 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1969. Windsor would also win the Wilson Cup as conference champions on ten occasions, the latest being in 2007. Currently, the University of Windsor has an enrollment of over 16,000 students Food & Beverage 2 The Toldo Lancer Centre offers a limited selection of concessions for basketball games. Soda, bottled water, chips, chocolate bars, hot dogs, candy, and popcorn encompass the entirety of the concession menu. There is just enough to keep fans happy with a snack, but for fans looking for something more satisfying, looking elsewhere before or after the game would be the best idea. Atmosphere 4 The Toldo Lancer Centre was built attached to the pre-existing St. Denis Centre which includes the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse where the Lancers previously played. As with other OUA basketball facilities, the Toldo Lancer Centre is much more than the home of the basketball teams but is also a hub for student athletics and recreation. Entering the building from the south gives fans a look at the main entrance. The exterior is fairly simple and nondescript but by no means ugly. Fans are greeted by the main ticket office upon entry and then immediately ascend to the upper level for entry to the seating area. The breezeway before entry to the gym features a crisp, clean look and a large Lancer Pride mural. The washroom facilities are found in this area. There is plenty of space for meeting with others without having to brave the elements in the winter. The University of Windsor Athletic Hall of Fame is also found in this area with a very nice display for the most recent honourees. Passing from the breezeway into the seating area, fans can have their tickets checked to gain access. The upper level of the seating area has a three-lane running track perfect for fans who wish to keep moving during the game and not miss any of the action. Windsor has taken design cues from Toronto’s Goldring Centre. The main gym is sleek and dark with a focus on the court and LED lights throughout. The court runs from south to north with four sets of bleachers on each side. The east side provides the best view of the center logo. Behind the east bleachers are the Alumni Lounge and the press box above that. The east and west bleachers are raised above floor level and feature padded, fold-down seats. Although less comfortable, the molded plastic bench seating on the north and south end bleachers gets fans closer to the action. Proudly hanging in the north end are the five women’s and five men’s basketball National Championship banners. The dominance the men enjoyed in the sixties is on display with five championships. The women have proved to be equally dominant with their own five straight National Championships. The Toldo Lancer Centre takes technology to the next level. The south end has two large videoboards which display the OUA.tv video feed while the north side videoboard cycles advertisements. Each of the four corners also has a video board on the railing of the track which serves as the scoreboard and score clock. It would be beneficial if two of these boards could provide lineups and statistics. The gameday production is about what one would expect for an OUA basketball game. There are student-run promotions in between the quarters. The music selection is what one would expect from a student-run production. The mascot, Winston, can be found moving around the gym and partaking in the promotions. Neighbourhood 3 Toldo Lancer Centre is segregated among the University’s athletic facilities and not very close to pubs or restaurants. Probably the only venue within walking distance is the McDonald’s on Huron Church Road. However, heading toward the riverfront will allow fans to find some decent spots on both Wyandotte St. and University Ave. The Barrel House, Dominion House, and Rock Bottom Bar & Grill are all good options. There are a few other spots where fans can find other sports options. Right behind the St. Denis Centre is Alumni Field at the University of Windsor Stadium , which is the home for Lancer football. A short drive to the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex will find the home for Windsor Lancer hockey. The WFCU Centre is the home for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and is also a short drive from campus. If none of these options are satisfying, fans may consider hopping the border where all of the sports options of Detroit, Michigan are close. Other entertainment options in Windsor include the Canadian Aviation Museum and Caesars Windsor. For fans who need a place to stay in Windsor, the Holiday Inn and Best Western are pretty close to campus and are good options. Fans 4 Assessing the fan support for USports basketball is difficult as the majority of teams do not publish attendance figures. That being said, the fan support that is found at a Windsor Lancers basketball game is above average in the USA. Known for their support of the Lancers, the fans in the Lancer Centre are loud and proud. The Lancers faithful has also, historically, been very supportive of the women’s team. At the game that was reviewed, there was a strong contingent of students that sat on the ends, dressed up, and made plenty of noise with pots, pans, and buckets. This impromptu student section is truly unique in the OUA and made the fan atmosphere more like an NCAA basketball game than a Canadian college game. Access 4 Getting to the Toldo Lancer Centre is not overly difficult. The stadium is a stone's throw from Highway 3, or Huron Church Road, the main street that leads to the Ambassador Bridge, in the Bridgeview neighbourhood of Windsor. There is some parking available on campus on the opposite side of College Ave and behind the Toldo Lancer Centre. Parking will cost fans a little bit but should be less than $10 for the game. Public transit is a little bit of a walk from the stadium. Some buses run on California, Wyandotte, Felix, Tecumseh, and Campbell. Fans interested in public transit should check out the Transit Windsor website for maps, fares, and schedules. Tickets can be purchased at the main ticket window immediately inside the south entrance. . There is plenty of space to walk around with the track and breezeway and the washroom facilities are more than adequate for the crowd on hand. Return on Investment 5 Canadian University Basketball has tremendous value for little cost. Windsor Lancers tickets go for $10 for an adult with discounts for students, seniors, kids, and alumni. Each ticket is a doubleheader with the women's basketball team usually playing in the early game followed by the men. There are not too many tickets anywhere that are as cheap and provide so much value. Windsor has consistently put a contender on the court on both the men's and women's sides. Combine that with a clean, comfortable, state-of-the-art facility and it is hard to go wrong with Lancer basketball. Extras 3 An extra mark for the state-of-the-art facility and the use of technology at Toldo Lancer Centre. An extra mark for the very strong support for the Lancer Women’s basketball team also. One of the best fanbases for women’s basketball in the province. An extra mark for the consistently competitive Lancer program. Final Thoughts Basketball fans in Ontario should take some time and head to Windsor to see one of the top OUA basketball teams. The Windsor Lancers are playing in one of the best facilities in Ontario and provide a great experience for fans. The Toldo Lancer Centre is worth checking out. Fans won’t regret it. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and Instagram .

For two drama-filled seasons, Netflix's Last Chance U followed every move of the Eastern Los Angeles College (ELAC) basketball team. ELAC assistant "Coach Rob" was an audience favorite. Since the show, Coach Rob has moved on from ELAC and taken the head basketball coach position at MiraCosta College (MCC). Coach Rob AKA Rob Robinson was nice enough to let us play catch up.    STADIUM JOURNEY: So how does the MiraCosta position come to fruition? How difficult is the process? How many interviews did you have to go through? COACH ROB: Getting a Cali Juco job is not easy. There are a ton of candidates for every job. I had 3 interviews for this job, two of them informal.  STADIUM JOURNEY: Was there any discussion, even for half a minute, of Last Chance U shooting at MiraCosta? COACH ROB: No discussion of LCU at MCC. The production company who creates LCU had other ventures they were pursuing the moment they wrapped on our Season 2. STADIUM JOURNEY: How much contact do you have with Greg Whiteley (LCU's creator)? COACH ROB: I haven't spoken to Greg since the premiere showing of Season 2 at Netflix HQ in Hollywood. But I periodically speak to most of the people who were a part of producing the show.  STADIUM JOURNEY: LCU shot two seasons at ELAC, but there's been nothing since, basketball or football. Any insight into the future of LCU? COACH ROB: I don't think LCU will happen again. They're looking to do more shows like the cheerleading series they just did in Texas.  STADIUM JOURNEY: How did you initially connect with Coach Mosely? Also, Is ELAC on MiraCosta's schedule this season? COACH ROB: Me and Mo had a mutual friend-coach who we're both close with. That friend was the assistant coach there before me. He called me up and said go to ELAC and meet Mosley. I went down there one summer day, spent 6 hours in the gym and his office. I knew it was the place I was supposed to be at that moment.  STADIUM JOURNEY: After twenty years coaching high school ball at an elite level, you took a leap of faith and accepted a volunteer position - with a long commute. What was your mindset at that point? COACH ROB: I wanted to be a college basketball coach. I had done about as much as I could do at the high school level. My belief in hard work and doing right by the game has always paid off for me. My future was murky at best when I showed up at ELAC for my first day on the job, but I knew if I gave everything I had to ELAC, Mosley and those players, that in the end, I would be in a good spot. No one is going to outwork me. You might beat me, but you're not going to out work me. I don't ever think about the end. My focus is always on doing things that get me the result I want in the end. At ELAC, I was determined to be the best assistant coach in all of hoops each day.  STADIUM JOURNEY: Coach Hunter had one of the best moments in LCU history: his locker room pep talk to Joe Hampton, which only the cameras witnessed firsthand. Did you have any idea that this took place at the time? What were your thoughts on this wonderful moment? COACH ROB: Ken has those moments with all the guys at some point. He knows just what to say and when to say it. Joe needed more of those moments than most though. STADIUM JOURNEY: At ELAC, you hung the team's uniforms with such love and care, and you continue to do so. Discuss. COACH ROB:  Humility.  I wish I could say I was always humble, always a servant, but that's not the case. It took me some years to figure out what my purpose in basketball was. Once I started focusing on everyone around me, my teams got better. The culture in the locker room got better. And my outlook on the game became clear. I am here to make young men better. Basketball is what I use to do that. Washing the gear and hanging them each day reminds me each morning as to why I'm here and what my focus should be.  STADIUM JOURNEY: Your side hustle is making fun t-shirts and other fun accessories. Where can these items be purchased? COACH ROB:  https://www.bonfire.com/store/jumpstops-chest-passes-and-jabs/ Jumpstops, Chest Passes and Jabs | Official Merchandise | Bonfire Check out Jumpstops, Chest Passes and Jabs on Bonfire and shop official merchandise today! Featuring limited edition custom apparel, printed with care in the USA just for you. www.bonfire.com STADIUM JOURNEY: Favorite t-shirt or two that you've created? COACH ROB: Jump Stops will change your life. It's my favorite shirt and saying.  STADIUM JOURNEY: How much interaction is there between the MiraCosta basketball and surf teams? COACH ROB: Our surf team is rarely on campus. But me and the beach volleyball coach hang out every day. We both love the sand and Star Wars.  Jon Hart is @manversusball

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.71 Progressive Field 2401 Ontario St Cleveland, OH 44115 Cleveland Guardians website Progressive Field website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 43,345 Cleveland Still Rocks The halcyon days of grand expansion in MLB took over in the 1990s and early 2000s. Out of these new stadiums emerged some all-time showcase facilities ( Camden Yards , PNC Park , and Coors Field ), while others faltered and have already been replaced (Globe Life Field and Turner Field). For their part, Cleveland opened the gates to what was called Jacobs Field in 1994 and never looked back. Progressive Field has become a shining example of how to maintain a beautiful baseball stadium over the years, altering the seating in the upper deck, incorporating local food and beverage providers, and maintaining a modern look in a facility that is nearing its 30th year in operation. As with the stadium, the Cleveland Guardians’ team name reflects the city’s local heritage, taking the name from the Guardians of Traffic statues that adorn each end of the Hope Memorial Bridge that leads to Progressive Field. Food & Beverage 5 The food at Progressive Field has long been regarded as among the best in all of baseball. Standard ballpark fare is available as one would expect – classic hot dogs ($4.50), popcorn ($6), sodas ($3.75-$9), peanuts ($5), Cracker Jack ($4.75), and more all call the stadium’s various concessions stand home. But what helps the options stand out here are the local vendors; Great Lakes Brewing Co. and Fat Head’s Brewery are among the local beer options you can find in the stadium. In addition, Momocho in Section 149 has previously been named the best ballpark food in all of baseball, while other local options include Barrio, Sweet Moses, Dynomite Burger, Happy Dog, and Melt. Another favorite is Ohio City Burrito, serving massive burrito bowls for $13.75 that rival those of any stadium food you’ll find. Artisan Pizza’s Inferno Pizza with spicy sausage, pepperoni, cheese, kalamata olives, basil, and hot peppers for $12.50 is also a fan favorite. Atmosphere 5 The stadium’s aesthetic hasn’t changed over the years, yet it continues to remain classic and relevant. Its iconic light towers adorn clothing and are almost as much a symbol of the stadium as the team itself. The Cleveland skyline rises over the outfield walls, giving the stadium a true city feel. The big digital LED scoreboard in left field is viewable from anywhere you sit and features a stunning display with all the vital statistics of the game and players. The famous hot dog races remain a Cleveland staple during games, while staff runs up and down the dugout roof waving large flags to hype up the crowd. Unique to Progressive Field is the outfield bullpens – situated right in the middle of the outfield seating, both bullpens allow fans to get up close to watch the action of the pitchers warming up, both before the game and during. Neighborhood 5 Next door to Progressive Field is Rocket Mortgage Field House , home of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Monsters . Cleveland’s historic downtown Public Square is just a few blocks away as well. Here you will find the classic architecture of the city’s past in places like Tower City and The Arcade. Both of these locations also house hotels, with Hyatt Regency housed in The Arcade’s upper levels and Ritz-Carlton in Tower City. Food options are also plentiful, with local favorites The Winking Lizard and famous Sylvan’s Restaurant all nearby. Visitors can also see some of the local sights, such as West Side Market or the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame within a few minute’s drive of the stadium. Shopping and entertainment are all nearby as well, and for nature lovers, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is south of Cleveland and well worth the short drive. Fans 4 The fans in Cleveland are known for loyalty. Currently holding the longest active drought without a World Series title to their name, Guardians fans have endured years of near misses. Nonetheless, their fans are among the most loyal in sports. Regardless of their record, Cleveland’s faithful turn out to Progressive Field to watch their team take on the rest of its major league foes. However, while once holding a record 455 sellout games, tickets are a bit easier to get nowadays. The fans in Progressive Field are also deeply sports-knowledgeable, meaning you won’t see bandwagon fans in the seats here. Access 5 Getting to Progressive Field is quite easy. Located right downtown, I-90 will deliver you right to the front steps of the stadium. Parking lots dot the landscape around the stadium, offering plenty of options for fans. The best option is the Gateway East Garage ($20), located right across the street from the Left Field Gate. This garage also features a walkover bridge that connects to the stadium’s middle concourse for easy entry and exit. Lots in the area can range from $15 on up depending on the game and the day. Signage is also plentiful on game days, allowing for easy navigation. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to the Guardians range from $15 to $120 depending on the game and day. Numerous promotions fill the calendar during the season as well, offering more bang for your buck. With middle-deck tickets at $30, you can get a great seat for a low price, meaning a family of four can enjoy a day at the ballpark for less than many may assume. Extras 5 The right field gate is home to some Cleveland Guardian statues of players from their past. Larry Doby, Jim Thome, and others are honored here in an area that connects both inside and outside the gates, all the way down to Heritage Park. Here, you can see Cleveland’s past players honored as well, and walk through a beautiful garden area that celebrates the team’s history. Another great feature is the team’s history celebrated throughout the concourse – large images and banners adorn the halls all around the stadium. The team store is also a showcase for fans at the game; open on game day hours before the gates open, you can visit the team store all morning and afternoon, before it closes and connects to the inner concourse. Finally, the middle deck is home to the Kids Clubhouse. Here, interactive games and play areas are available for the smallest fans at the park. Final Thoughts The Guardians continue to showcase what makes their home one of the best home stadiums in the major leagues. Progressive Field has everything you would want in a perfect setting. Top food and beverage options mix here with a constantly improving stadium that remains one of the best in baseball. Affordability and easy access also create a welcoming environment that makes for one of the best game-day experiences around.

Photos by Cory Sims, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Phog Allen Fieldhouse 1651 Naismith Dr Lawrence, KS 66045 Kansas Jayhawks website Phog Allen Fieldhouse website Year Opened: 1965 Capacity: 16,300 Beware of "The Phog" Let me say this strategically; Allen Fieldhouse is the best college basketball arena, if not the best home of any sports team, and anyone who would argue otherwise is a close-minded homer. Only a Kentucky fan would argue that Rupp Arena is on the same level as "The Phog". Only someone wearing a UNC or Duke shirt would say the Dean Dome or Cameron Indoor are equivalent to the Jayhawks home court. Pauley Pavilion, The Pit, Assembly Hall, all fall short of the glory that is the temple of college basketball, where the Jayhawks play on a court named for the inventor of the game (James Naismith, who was the first KU coach), and in a building named for a man who is given credit to creating modern basketball coaching (Forrest Allen, winner of three national titles). The Jayhawks are privileged to have the best home court advantage in all of major American athletics. Discussing coach Bill Self's home record is an exercise in absurdity. Since 2003, the team has lost 10 home games, and won 13 straight conference titles, a record. There's been a winning streak of 69 games, and a few longer than 40. Self has never lost two home games in a row. KU has not lost a Senior Day game in 32 years. Self's home winning percentage is better than 95%. The Jayhawks have not missed the NCAA tournament since 1988, when they were banned from postseason play for a rule that that has since been changed. Their seeds in the NCAA Tournament since Self's arrival are 4, 3, 4, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, and 1. No team has been more successful or consistent in the last 15 years, and no small part of that is due to the power of The Phog. Food & Beverage 4 Allen Fieldhouse has a great selection of sports snacks (nachos, popcorn, hot dogs, pizza and Coke products), all for decent stadium prices. They have several food stands shilling out local favorites, like the Bill Self Burrito from Salty Iguana and the pulled pork sandwich from Bigg's BBQ. You can also find specialty cookies and desserts at other food stands in various levels of the concourse.That being said, going to Allen Fieldhouse to experience the food scene is kind of like flying to Rome to check out the airport; it doesn't make any sense. Yes, there is food, and if you're starving, you will find something good to eat, but you're best to leave the concession line and experience The Phog, just as you would hightail it out of Leonardo da Vinci airport to see the Eternal City. My advice is grab a souvenir Coke, a box of popcorn, and get to your seat early to enjoy the show. Atmosphere 5 Simply put, nothing matches the atmosphere of the Fieldhouse. In 2017, the arena set a new Guinness World Record for loudest indoor stadium at more than 116 decibels, louder than a jet or chainsaw. And, that's not with piped in crowd noise or speakers blaring music, that is pure fan jubilation. Beyond just the crowd noise, the pep band does a really amazing job performing all the standard KU songs, but they also throw in 80s and 90s pop and rock favorites, current rap hits, and the Game of Thrones theme that's so hot right now. The cheerleaders and dance team have choreographed steps for many of these songs, just proving that every part of game production is practiced and perfected. It is an amazing place to watch ANY game, small non-conference contest or major conference rivalry. Before each game, the video board plays a highlight video that is re-cut each week to show recent highlights, or older highlights against that day's opposition. When the video gets to the Mario Chalmers tying three-pointer from the 2008 national championship game, the crowd reaction will be nearly deafening. It WILL give you chills, regardless of your team affiliation. Neighborhood 5 Lawrence, Kansas is a perfect college town. Big enough population to have movie theatres, restaurants, and shopping, but not so big that the city outshines the university. The city's political compass points liberal, like you would expect being so near a large university, but that liberal spirit keeps out a lot of the chain restaurants, and promotes a love of local spots. Mass(achusetts) Street is the heart of the downtown district, just a few blocks from the edge of campus and a short drive from Allen Fieldhouse. Papa Keno's pizza is a great place to grab a slice, and the Red Lion tavern is a casual local pub. Live music is big in Lawrence, and there are several places to catch local acts, or mid-major national artists. The best burger and fries you'll ever have are served at The Burger Stand, and the Sandbar is a great local tiki hut just off Mass. Closer to campus, and popular with the college and alumni crowd, The Wagon Wheel Cafe is one of the most acclaimed college bars in the country. It's stood in the same spot for more than 60 years. Sportscenter anchors often shout out the joint, and its famous "Wangburger" (a cheeseburger with a fried egg). Fans 5 Although #BBN (Kentucky's Big Blue Nation) may argue the point, Kansas fans are the best in the country. 16,300 pack the fieldhouse for every game (more than 200 sellouts in a row, in fact). They are the loudest, as proven with the noise record set this season. They routinely fill the stands for conference road games, often so much that you can hear them doing the Rock Chalk Chant when the Jayhawks inevitably win. They know all the players by name and face, where that player came from, and often know the same for opponents. Perhaps most importantly, they are a classy group, never cursing like the inferior fans down the river from Lawrence, and in fact applauding good play, as evidenced by the standing ovation they gave Oklahoma's Buddy Hield following his 46 point performance in the 3OT thriller in January 2016. This is a group that loves college basketball, not exclusively Jayhawk basketball, and they have an intimate knowledge of the history of the game that may just be limited to those lucky enough to be fans of the team that the inventor of the game coached. Access 4 The only issue with KU home games is that tickets do not run cheap. It used to be that you could get a non-conference GA ticket for around $20 (GA seats are in the high corner bleachers), but even those are hard to find now. It's not a stretch to say that Kansas home games are one of the largest collections of wealth in the Midwest. Any conference match-up will run North of $100 per ticket. Season tickets require a hefty annual donation. Once you've acquired your tickets, you should get to the area early to try to find free street parking nearby on campus, unless you have a parking pass for the lot that is connected to the building. Bathrooms are numerous and easy to find, and the concourses have been recently renovated to be brighter and wider. There are special sections for wheelchairs, directly behind the baskets, the best seats in the house. Return on Investment 5 Tickets aren't cheap, but like a lot in life, you certainly get what you pay for at the Fieldhouse. $80-$100 for one of the greatest live sports experiences on the planet is a fair price. The Super Bowl will cost way more and be less fun. This is truly a bucket list item. Just ask Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who made his pilgrimage a couple years back for that very reason. Celebrity sightings are far more common than they should be for a college basketball game in the middle of the country, with comedians like Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis and Rob Riggle being noteworthy Jayhawks fans. Music artist Trey Songz came two years ago to watch his childhood friend, KU point guard Frank Mason. Of course, the real stars are the ones with the KU jerseys, and no shortage of those guys have gone on to NBA play, including guys like Paul Pierce, Andrew Wiggins, and Wilt Chamberlain. Extras 2 In addition to hosting an occasional basketball game, Allen Fieldhouse is a full-fledged Kansas sports museum. Trophies and uniforms and balls and rings from all KU sports are housed in museum-quality exhibits in the entryway. You're highly advised arrive early to view the cases, and test your skill on the many games in the area, like the vertical jump meter and reaction time test. The walls are plastered with action shots of former players, as well as all of Sports Illustrated covers featuring the Jayhawks. Banners hang in the halls proclaiming the numerous Final Fours, conference titles, All-Americans, and national championships. Inside the arena, there are too many banners to count displaying the same, as well as retired jerseys, and famously, the long banner above the national championships with the warning "Pay Heed, All Who Enter: BEWARE OF 'THE PHOG'". Most notably, Allen Fieldhouse is home to the original rules of basketball, the two pieces of paper, penned by James Naismith, that sold at an auction to a Kansas alum for a sports memorabilia record $4.3 million back in 2010. The building add-on, called the DeBruce Center, hosts the original rules, as well as serves as a union style building for students during the week. Dedicated in Fall of 2016, the center is also used for donor events during home games, although the original rules will be visible to the general public at all times. The rules are a must see for anyone taking a pilgrimage to the Phog.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Notre Dame Stadium 1600 Edison Rd. Notre Dame, IN 46556 Notre Dame Fighting Irish website Notre Dame Stadium website Year Opened: 1930 Capacity: 80,795 The House that Knute Built Notre Dame Stadium has been the home of Irish football since opening its doors in 1930. The college football stadium has a capacity of 77,622 and is one of the most iconic structures of its kind in the nation. It was built for $750,000 and originally sat 54,000 people. It was originally designed by Osborn Engineering Company – the same firm that designed Comiskey Park in Chicago and New York’s Yankee Stadium and Polo Grounds – and it patterned on a smaller scale after the University of Michigan’s stadium. Capacity increased in the proceeding years, but a major renovation project of $50 million in 1997 included two new scoreboards at both ends of the stadium and a capacity of 80,225. It was lowered to its present 77,622 capacity in time for the 2017 season, and the playing field is now synthetic. Further enhancements to the stadium included the Crossroad project which included three new buildings: Duncan Student Center, O’Neill Hall, and Corbett Family Hall. The renovations added new premium seating, and the total cost was $400 million. It is known by many as the “House that Knute Built” after legendary coach Knute Rockne, who was key in the stadium’s structure and design. He insisted that it would serve as a football-only stadium and kept the area between the field and the stands small to keep fans on the sideline to a minimum. He supervised the parking and traffic system that is, for the most part, still in use today. Food & Beverage 3 The food options are not as varied as expected and feature multiple stands named either the Irish Express or Shamrock Snacks throughout the concourse. The food consists of hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, and snacks such as popcorn, potato chips, kernel mix, and chocolate chip cookies. The hot cocoa stands are quite popular for games late in the season that dip into the mid-20s. However, there are more options but many did not appear to be available during our visit to the stadium. The one highlight is the pot roast sandwich that is served with beer cheese, horseradish sauce, provolone cheese, and fried and caramelized onions. It is quite messy to eat and available on the lower level in section 10. The Domer Dog is a fan favorited and topped with caramelized onions, crispy bacon, and blue cheese and available at most concession stands on the upper and lower concourse. There are a few other items to look for that are not located in multiple sections. The pork tenderloin sandwich is a Hoosier favorite and is available at lower-level sections 13, 14, 31, and 32. Shamrock-shape pretzels are ideal for the game and are located in multiple sections. The Pot of Gold Nachos are worth seeking and can serve more than 1 person. These nachos are covered with 12-hour roasted beef, roasted corn, crispy jalapenos, and cotija cheese and served in a gold plastic helmet. Alcoholic drinks are not available for fans in the seating bowl and the soda pop of choice are Coca-Cola products. At the warmer games, expect to find long lines at the frozen custard stands sprinkled on the concourse. Atmosphere 5 If you are an Irish fan, there is no better place to see a game on a Saturday, if you are a college football fan, you might be somewhat envious of the atmosphere on the campus of Notre Dame. The “House that Knute” built is among the elite of college football. It has also been renovated with several nice touches and features honoring the program’s legacy. Pre-game activities include fans dressed in green and gold, tailgating in the nearby lots, and the traditional drum major and Leprechaun mascot leading the Irish into the stadium. There are various gates named after famous Notre Dame figures. The Knute Rockne gate features a bronze statue of the former coach who put the school on the map. Notre Dame Stadium blends in well with the surrounding buildings on campus. Depending on what time of year you attend the game, the fall colors may glisten brilliantly, or the warm summer or fall season could enhance the viewing experience. The layout of the main concourse is decorated with Art-Deco styles at gate entrances to vintage signs. A timeline of 35, 16-foot banners hangs from the lower concourse with replicated vintage football program covers on both sides from the 1930s to the 1970s. There is more vintage art that includes giant framed tickets with the stadium’s old wooden bleacher pieces. These two nods to the program’s history are worth taking photo opportunities with while at the game. The south concourse features various awards and accolades. 250 plaques celebrate Notre Dame’s National Championships, Heisman Trophy winners, College Football Hall of Famers, and All-Americans. The highlight could either be the giant championship rings or the massive 11 championship banners that hang above the players’ tunnel at the North Gate. Neighborhood 4 The Eddy Street Commons is within walking distance and home to regional restaurants, apartments, a hotel, and two urban parks. It makes for a great spot to grab a bite at either Brother’s, Chipotle, Five Guys, or McAllister’s Deli. Legends of Notre Dame is located on campus and also within walking distance of the ballpark. The establishment offers pub food during the day but becomes a nightclub with entertainment and live music at night. South Bend is in the midst of a renaissance with old buildings being converted into places to live and work, new companies moving headquarters to downtown, and a population book. South Bend Brew Werks and Studebaker Brewing Company are two craft beer choices that offer funky decor and tasty suds. Attractions include the Studebaker National Museum for the car enthusiast, the Potawatomi Zoo, or you may want to see a little more baseball during your visit. The South Bend Cubs play at Four Winds Field , and it has become quite the place to be seen in town, along with one of Stadium Journey’s favorite minor league ballparks. You might be able to see a game if attending an Irish game early in September. Fans 5 Irish fans can be found throughout the country, and there were 273 consecutive sell-outs from 1973-2019. Despite the end of the streak, the alumni, supporters, and student body are in action on the field of play. Fans are decked out in the colors green and gold on Saturdays. However, everyone has an ‘ND’ or four-leaf clover somewhere on their shirt or cap. Access 3 The stadium is located at the center of campus and is easily accessible from 1-90/1-80. Surprisingly, travelers can access the campus quite easily, but keep in mind the influx of 70,000 to 80,000 fans embarking on gameday. There are three main lots, Bulla Lot, White Field, and Burke Golf Course, that provide ample parking for home dates. The lots offer a shuttle service, and parking passes can be purchased for easier access. A website is available with much more information and a campus map Public transportation includes buses that travel to Twyckenham Drive and Edison Road, not far from the stadium. Check out the South Bend Public Transportation website for maps, fares, and schedules. The only suggestion would be to arrive well before kick-off, perhaps even 2 hours to grab a spot and take in all that the campus has to offer from tailgating, merchandise sales, mingling with fans, and campus views. Return on Investment 4 A ticket to a football game depends on the opponent the Irish are playing and how well they are playing that particular season. If you can pick the date for a game, look for cheaper tickets against opponents such as North Carolina and Georgia Tech. However, expect to pay more when USC, Michigan, or Ohio State come to South Bend. A ticket in the low-end price category could be anywhere from $47-$75 and $152-$200 at the higher end. The price to park is anywhere between $30-$40 in the three major lots, but there are cheaper options a little further away from the stadium. It all depends on how much you want to pay for your experience. Attending an Irish game is on the top of many college footballs, and sports travelers lists, and perhaps would pay a little extra for the cost of a ticket. The price of food for basic items will cost $5 for a hot dog, $6 for a pretzel, and $3.50-$4 for snacks. A few of the signature items include the pork tenderloin sandwich at $14, the pot roast sandwich at $14, and the Pot of Gold Nachos for $18. A Domer Dog sells for $8. Extras 4 A Notre Dame football game earns points for the various traditions and history on display throughout the building. The campus is worth a visit, and walking around before or after the game and tailgating with Irish fans is an experience in itself. The final point is for Touchdown Jesus, which overlooks the south end of the stadium. Final Thoughts It is one of the premier college football venues to watch a game in the country. Notre Dame Stadium combines history and tradition with a football experience that should be enjoyed by everyone at the game. There are many similar experiences in the nation, but there is something slightly different here in South Bend for an Irish football game. _______ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com