Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Queen’s University Athletics and Recreation Centre 284 Earl St. Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Queen's Gaels basketball website Queen's University Athletics and Recreation Centre website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 1,900 Tri-Colour Hoops On February 6, 1904 Queen’s University played McGill University in basketball. It would be the first ever basketball game played in what is now known as USports. Formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sport, USports has a long tradition with basketball and especially the tri-colour Queen’s Gaels. Queen’s maintains one of the deepest set of traditions in athletics. Located in historic Kingston, Ontario, Queen’s was established in 1841, before Canada gained independence and currently boasts an enrollment of over 24,000 students. Queen’s plays in the Ontario conference of USports known as Ontario University Athletics or OUA. The current home for the Gaels is the fairly new Athletics and Recreation Centre. Replacing the Bartlett Gymnasium in 2009, the ARC, as it is commonly known, is a bright, shiny home for the Gaels. It is not a stretch to say that Queen’s is a football-first school with the Gaels faithful providing one of the most unique and traditional experiences in all of Canadian football. On the other hand, basketball has not seen a ton of success over the years. The Gaels have claimed five Wilson Cups over the years as Ontario champions, with their last one coming in 1957. The deep-set traditions that fans find at Gaels football games are vacant from the basketball scene, however a Tri-Colour basketball game is an enjoyable affair in one Food & Beverage 2 Concession options at the Athletics and Recreation Centre are not earth shattering. However, if you are looking for a snack, you will be just fine. There is one concession stand at the south end. There you will find hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, pizza from Pizza Pizza, chocolate bars and chips. Slushies and frozen lemonade are also available. Soft drinks available are Coca-Cola products and are in plastic bottles. Powerade is also available. There are some vending machines close by as well if the selections at the concession are not good for you. Prices are decent and there are combos available combing pizza, hot dog or popcorn with a soda. Quality and selection won’t blow you away, but if you are someone who needs to munch during the game, then you will be satisfied. Atmosphere 3 The Athletics and Recreation Centre is a fully functional recreation centre for the students of Queen’s University. The main gym in the ARC is the host for Queen’s basketball. The ARC is inside the Queen’s Centre. From the exterior, the Queen’s Centre is a little difficult to find. Signage is not overwhelming from the exterior and some research is necessary for newcomers to the Queen’s campus. Upon entry to the ARC fans are welcomed by inflatable Queen’s promo items including the giant Q and inflatable tunnel. Entry is on the south side of the ARC and fans are welcomed to the north-south configuration of the basketball court. In the south concourse is where fans will find Queen’s trophy cases and walls honouring Academic All-Canadians and Athletic Award winners. There are a couple of lounges at the south side as well under the watchful eye of a large mural of the iconic Queen’s tri-colour flag and Queen’s fans. The seating area in the main gymnasium is bright and clean. There is seating on the east, west and south sides of the court. Seating on the east and west sides are plastic contoured bleacher benches with four rows of plastic seats on both sides of centre court. There is ample standing room behind each of the three seating areas as well. On the west side of the gymnasium, above the grandstand, hang all of the championship banners for all sports. Included in that group is the basketball banner honouring the 1924, 1926, 1930,1936 and 1957 Ontario Conference Championships which resulted in the Gaels bringing home the Wilson Cup. Unfortunately, the Gaels have yet to bring home a National Championship in basketball. On the east side, above the grandstands, hang banners honouring the 1922, 1923 and 1924 Grey Cup Champions and recognizing Richardson Stadium as the site of the 1922 Grey Cup. These show great history for Queen’s athletics, but are football related and seem a bit out of place in the ARC. On the north wall is the scoreboard, which is decent, but pretty standard for this level of basketball and does not feature a videoboard. The game day production at Queen’s is far different for basketball than football. At Richardson Stadium, football game days are steeped in Queen’s traditions which have been handed down through the generations. There are no such traditions with basketball. Overall, the basketball production is fairly modern, with modern, student-chosen, music during the down times and student run promotions and contests. The Queen’s Competitive Dance Team performs between the quarters and helps distribute promotional items in the crowd. The Queen’s mascot Boo-Hoo did not make an appearance at the game that was reviewed. Neighbourhood 5 The ARC is located at the north end of the main campus of Queen’s University. Queen’s is located just west of downtown Kingston, one of the most interesting and vibrant neighbourhoods that you will find. Head towards the river and Princess Street to find just about everything you could want. A number of national restaurant chains can be found all along Princess, Queen and Brock Streets, but there are also a ton of independent spots that will peak your interest. Woodenheads Gourmet Pizza, Sir John’s Public House, The Merchant Tap House, Chez Piggy, The Toucan and Grizzly Grill are all worth checking out. Kingston is a fantastic spot to be, especially in the summer. The Haunted Walk is interesting and Confederation Park is along the Rideau Trail right by the waterfront. The ferry to Wolfe Island is right there also. Across the river, at the top of the hill is Old Fort Henry, which has a number of activities during the summer and fall. Bellevue House was the home of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Fans looking for other sporting options within the city will not have to look far. Queen’s fields a full slate of athletic programs including their legendary football stadium that plays at Richardson Memorial Stadium . The Queen’s hockey team plays a few blocks away at the Kingston Memorial Centre. The cross-town rivals for the Gaels, the RMC Paladins play just across the water at Constantine Arena . Also, the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL play right downtown at Leon's Centre . There are a number of places to stay if you are staying in Kingston. By the waterfront you can find the Confederation Place Hotel, Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront and Delta Waterfront Hotel. All are good spots to stay. Fans 3 Assessing fans at USports basketball games is challenging. Usually, attendance numbers are not published, and discerning league attendance averages is almost impossible. That being said, USports basketball fans would assuredly be measured in the hundreds and not thousands. At the game that was reviewed there were over five hundred fans in attendance, all of which were corralled on the east side of the gymnasium, which makes for more of an event feel, but doesn't make for great pictures. The fans that are in attendance are decent supporters of the Gaels but are not over the top crazy. There is a decent percentage of students in the crowd, but not nearly as significant as universities south of the border. Access 4 Getting to Queen’s and the ARC are not too difficult. The ARC is located on the main Queen’s campus and a significant distance south of the main highway into Kingston, Highway 401. Getting to Queen’s from out of town will require a significant drive through the city . For fans interested in public transportation to the ARC there is a bus stop on Earl Street at University Ave, right by the ARC. Check out the Kingston Transit website for schedules, fares and maps. The Kingston Trolley may also be an option for you to head to the ARC. Check out the Kingston Trolley website for details. Right by the Earl Street entrance to the ARC, there is a large underground parking garage. Parking can run up to $6 which is on the pricy side for university basketball. Pay and display on nearby streets is also an option. Having a plan is a pretty good idea when heading to a game. The markings for the underground garage are not very good as are the markings for the ARC. The Queen’s University and Gaels athletics websites are pretty good at filling in the gaps. Getting around the ARC is not a problem considering the number of fans in the stands. Washrooms are also adequate for the crowd numbers in attendance. Return on Investment 5 There is great value in a Queen’s Gaels basketball game for little investment. Adult tickets purchased in advance will run $8 or $10 at the door. Discounts are available for students and youth. Children under five are free as are Queen’s University students. All tickets are doubleheader tickets with entry into the women’s game included. Parking prices aren’t the greatest but concession prices are okay. The product that Queen’s puts on the floor is high quality and exciting and absolutely worth the very insignificant investment a fan is asked for. Extras 3 An extra mark for Queen’s playing in the first ever interuniversity basketball game in Canada. An extra mark for the Gaels players and coaches linking during the singing of O Canada. A definite nod to the Oil Thigh, which is a deep-set Queen’s tradition. An extra mark for the Public Address announcer for the Gaels. During the play the name of the opposing player who scores is not announced, only the team name. A unique feature that nudges up the home court advantage just a bit. Final Thoughts Although Queen’s Gaels basketball does not offer the vast array of traditions that can be found at a Queen’s Gaels football game, basketball does have some tri-colour history. The Athletics and Recreation Centre is a wonderful facility that should help with recruiting for years to come. Tri-Colour Hoops is well worth checking out when in Kingston. Che Gheill!! Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos courtesy of Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Vaught-Hemingway Stadium All-American & Hill Drive Oxford, MS 38677 Mississippi Rebels website Vaught-Hemingway Stadium website Year Opened: 1915 Capacity: 64,038 Rim! Ram! Flim! Flam! It's been called the Literary Capital of the South, as Grisham, Faulkner, and Willie Morris have all lived here and used the small Mississippi town as a setting for many of their novels. It's Oxford, Mississippi, and after coming here, it's easy to see why, as the scene here is something straight out of a novel. At The Grove, you'll find tailgating like you've never seen before – it's as grand and upscale as you can get, with chandeliers hung from a sea of tents and people eating off fine china. Students wear their Sunday Best, with men in slacks and women in dresses and boots, backdropped by beautiful Greek column buildings and hundred-year-old oaks. This is Ole Miss Rebels football, and the unique blend of Southern culture, charm, and historic tradition combined with one of the most storied programs in all of college football makes coming to an Ole Miss football game a must-do in the fall. The Rebels began playing football at Ole Miss in 1893 as the state's first football team; as one of the founding members of the SEC in 1932, the Rebs won six SEC titles and won three National Championships (1959, 1960, and 1962). Since 1915, the Rebs have played at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the country's fifth-oldest FBS College Football stadium, which, as of 2024, has a capacity of 64,038, making it the largest stadium in the state of Mississippi based on capacity. The stadium is named after Judge William Hemingway, a former law professor at Ole Miss, and former Head Coach John Vaught, who coached the Rebels from 1947-1973, including the three National Championship teams. Coming to an Ole Miss game is an experience like no other and perhaps the most raucous atmosphere in not just the SEC but across all of college football.   Food and Beverage   4 You can find plenty to eat and drink inside the stadium if you don't fill up pregame in The Grove or on The Square. In 2019, Ole Miss updated the concessions inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to give you plenty of options – in addition to over 20 different basic stands built into the concourse, you'll also find several custom-themed options. Fergndan's Wood Fire Pizza has two locations for fans to purchase brick oven pizzas, and there is also a sausage and hot dog cart located on the southeast side of the stadium. Burger Me, a spot to get custom-themed burgers, is located on the southwest concourse, while Chop's BBQ has two locations to get anything BBQ-related, from nachos to pulled pork sandwiches. Chops has its signature item called Totchos, which includes pulled pork, tater tots, and jalapenos, The Healthy Rebel features grilled chicken wraps, fruit cups, and other healthy snacks. Lastly, Great American Cookie and Nuts 4 offers spots in the stadium to get candy, funnel cake, and cookies. For drinks, Coca-Cola is the official soft drink provider of Ole Miss athletics – if you purchase the souvenir cup for $7, you can get $1 refills throughout the game. Also, a cool promotion they have is if you take your signature Ole Miss cup to any Blue Sky convenience store in Oxford, you can get a 65-cent refill. But for those who want to drink alcohol, there are 15 stands inside The Vaught, where you can buy alcoholic beverages. The usual domestic beer is sold, as well as some premium beers such as Suzy B, a local beer, and Henry's Hard Sparkling Water, a locally brewed seltzer. A cool spot to hang out and have a drink is Blue Moon Brewhouse, located on the west concourse; this location is a cool little beach-themed bar with TVs, but it is kind of hidden so as not to get in the way of people walking through. I found myself here at Blue Moon Brewhouse during halftime, watching some of the other games on TV.   Atmosphere   5 You cannot find an atmosphere that embodies the Southern culture and personality more than a trip to the Ole Miss campus on a game day. At the center of campus lies The Grove, a 10-acre greenspace that is transformed into the SEC's ultimate debutante ball on gamedays – a sea of tents takes over The Grove, stretching as far as the eye can see, all under the shade of hundred-year-old oaks and magnolia trees, for which The Grove got its name. It is an upscale affair here, with many tents decked out with elaborate décor, including people drinking wine and eating off fine china. It is also not uncommon to find chandeliers hanging from the tents here. A common misconception is that you have to dress up to come to games here, but that is mostly for the students. Ole Miss has a large student population in Greek life who dress up in suits and ties, but most people will be wearing casual attire, as it can be particularly hot in Mississippi in September. I would go with khaki shorts in the heat and khaki pants in the cold. The ladies will particularly dress up more than the men; you'll find many women wearing fancy dresses and boots while wearing glitzy hats. Just blocks from campus are the famed Square, the downtown area, and the cultural heart of Oxford. The Square is just as much a part of the Ole Miss gameday experience as The Grove – The Square is about a 15-minute walk from The Grove, so many fans will walk back and forth between the two before the game. 2 1/2 hours before kickoff is perhaps the most cherished gameday tradition at Ole Miss, the Walk of Champions. During the Walk, the football team walks from the student union down a brick-lined path through the Grove and into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. This tradition began in 1983 when coach Billy Brewer wanted the players to experience the atmosphere of The Grove before the game. There is also another cool tradition here, where fans will lock arms and rock back and forth as the team runs out onto the field – this is called "Locking the Vaught." The stadium sits at the center of campus, a short quarter mile from The Grove – the facility is surrounded by buildings, so it's kind of hard to see as you approach. On the west side of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is SBJ Pavilion , which opened in 2016 and is home to the Rebels basketball team. The Pavilion is open on football gamedays and hosts a small fan fest inside and outside of the building. On the south side sits Manning Practice Facility, named after the Manning Family (Archie, Eli, and even Tennessee  grad Peyton have their names engraved on the plaque). Outside the venue, near the student entrance, is a giant statue of former coach John Vaught. Once inside the stadium, the seating bowl is in a perfectly shaped oval around the field, which faces north and south. The facility is not very high up or steep like some stadiums are, but instead, all 64,000+ seats fit into the oval-shaped bowl and are slanted at a 45-degree angle, so you'll have great views no matter where you sit. At the top of the east grandstand is the Rebel Club, a climate-controlled luxury seating area, while at the north end is a huge video board measuring 48 x 105 feet. My favorite spot to watch the game from is a standing-room-only concourse below the Rebel Club – here, you'll get excellent views of the field and also a great view of the fireworks that go off after every Ole Miss touchdown. For night games, they'll do a pretty impressive light or drone show at the start of the 4th quarter, which is best seen the higher up you are. The students take up the entire north end zone, and there is no way to get into that seating area from elsewhere in the seating bowl. Students and fraternities will start filling up the student section hours before kickoff, and you'll hear plenty of "Hotty Toddies" throughout the day. This saying is synonymous with Ole Miss, and when you leave the game, you'll have the official rallying cry stuck in your head for days – “Heighty! Tighty! Gosh A Mighty! Who in the [Heck] are we? Rim! Ram! Flim! Flam! Ole Miss, By [Darn]!”.   Neighborhood   5 This small town of 25,000 swells to over 100,000 on Saturdays in the Fall. About a 3-block walk from campus is The Square, centered around the Historic Lafayette County Courthouse, which was built in 1872; local shops and restaurants make up the businesses around the courthouse. Oxford's favorite son, William Faulkner, used The Square as a setting for many of his books, renamed the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, while Oxford was called Jefferson in his novels. Some of the more popular shops on The Square include the South's oldest department store, Neilsen's, which has been in operation in the same location since 1839. Another must-visit if on The Square is Square Books, one of the largest independent bookstores in the country – You never know who you might run into in the famed bookstore on gameday, whether it be John Grisham or one of the Mannings. There are four Square Books stores located on the block, with each store featuring a large selection of local and national authors, from kids' books to history books. Some of the restaurants on The Square include Ajax Diner, voted the Best Plate lunch in Mississippi, as well as City Grocery for local Southern fried foods and Boure Restaurant for Creole or Cajun. South Depot Taco Shop offers tacos and Mexican dishes, but if you want to venture out a little, world-renowned Taylor Grocery is about a 15-minute drive from Oxford and is famous for its fried catfish. A visit to this hole-in-the-wall is almost a rite of passage for Ole Miss fans and something you must see if in Oxford – note that the place gets extremely busy on Sundays after gamedays, however. Oxford also has a popular live music scene; the Delta Blues combined with Memphis rock ‘n roll has produced a unique jam band scene. Proud Larry's, The Lyric, and Rooster's Blues House are a few of the popular places on The Square to check out live music, while End of All Music is also a popular place to buy vintage records and vinyl albums. The Lyric's building was once used as the stables for William Faulkner's horses – Faulkner lived nearby at the historic mansion Rowan Oak, which makes for another must-visit if in Oxford; the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer wrote five novels while living inside this two-story 1840s mansion. Rowan Oak is located just off campus and is open for public tours, and there is even a cool trail that goes from campus through the woods and to Rowan Oak. Besides all of the above, for outdoor stuff to do during the weekend, there is the South Campus rail trail, a paved bike trail over a former railroad, as well as Sardis Lake just north of Oxford, which is a great place to take a boat or do any other water-related activities.   Fans   5 This season, fan support is at an all-time high, with every game selling out. In fact, the game I most recently saw broke the attendance record with over 67,000 fans in attendance – this was also the highest-attended college football game ever in the State of Mississippi. Head coach Lane Kiffin has brought prestige back to the program to the likes of how it was in 2014 when the Rebels rose as high as Number 2 in some polls. There is just something special about generations of families gathering together in the same place in The Grove on Saturdays in the fall for decades. Ole Miss fans are some of the most passionate and knowledgeable of any fan base you will find – The Grove has a bad reputation for not being very welcoming to visiting fans, but I did not find that to be the case, as I saw many opposing fans walking around in The Grove. The only visiting fans who might get hassled are Mississippi State  fans. Most of the fans here are knowledgeable about the history and traditions of the program – you'll find old-school fans who can remember names like Archie and Eli Manning, Deuce McAllister, and Patrick Willis, as well as a new generation of fans who remember guys that made an impact on the program in the past 10-15 years like Bo Wallace, Chad Kelly, AJ Brown, DK Metcalf, Laremy Tunsil, and Robert Nkemdiche. You’ll also find the longtime Colonel Reb logo everywhere in The Grove, emblazoned on everything from tents to shirts. The real Colonel Reb mascot can also be seen walking around The Grove, taking pictures, and you will even find people dressed up as the Colonel.   Access   3 Getting to Oxford may seem fairly simple, although it might seem like kind of a rural drive to get here, as it is located about 25 miles from the closest interstate. If coming from the west, take I-55 until you get to Batesville, which is about an hour south of Memphis, then go east on Highway 278 for about 20 minutes, and you'll run right into campus. If coming from the east, the closest big city is Tupelo, about an hour away – from there, take Highway 278 west, and you'll find the university. Once in Oxford, due to the small size of the city and the limited parking, it can be quite hectic finding a place to park. To park anywhere close to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium or near The Grove, you are going to have to have an Ole Miss Athletic Foundation-issued parking pass – these are hard to get unless you are a season ticket holder or park of the Rebel Club. Instead, if coming to a game as a regular fan, there is one lot on campus called Insight Park near the soccer stadium. There is also parking at Oxford High School, a nearby shopping center, and at the local community college, where they’ll shuttle you over to campus if you park at any of these three. For non-conference games, parking is $35, while for big SEC contests, you’ll pay between $50 and $75. If parking at Insight Park, I recommend purchasing your parking pass in advance, as this lot sells out quickly. Once inside the stadium, with overfill capacity, you'll find moving around kind of difficult. Also, all the seats are bleacher seating, except for the south end zone, so you'll be kind of crammed in here. However, there is also a lack of ushers checking tickets, so you can move around.   Return on Investment   4 Coming to an Ole Miss game is an experience like no other and something all fans of college football should experience. Should you come to Oxford for the weekend, you will not be disappointed. The only drawback is the expensive parking and the somewhat expensive ticket prices – you get what you pay for, though, which is the only way to put it, as you are getting to see SEC football at its best and experiencing some of the best tailgating in all sports, here at an Ole Miss football game. For the beginning of the season non-conference games, you can get tickets for as little as $20 to $30. As the season progresses, however, ticket prices will fluctuate depending on how the team is doing, for example, for conference games, you may see tickets on the Ole Miss athletic site for between $50 and $60. This season, every game sold out by week 3, though, and so some conference games started selling on secondary sites for $200 to $300. If you come into Oxford for the weekend looking to stay the night, you better book your rooms well in advance – Oxford doesn't exactly have many hotels and the few they do have often sell out quickly or are really expensive during game weekends. Instead, I recommend staying about 25 minutes away in Batesville, where there are more and cheaper hotel options.   Extras   5 If you do happen to drive on campus, make sure you drive 18 mph, the official speed limit on campus. The reason is that # 18 was Archie Manning's number at Ole Miss; this is perhaps the only college in the country that has an official speed limit based on the number of a former player. One extra for The Grove, being the Holy Grail of Tailgating for College Football – this is one of the best experiences and atmospheres in all of sports. College GameDay even broadcast from The Grove in 2014 with Katy Perry as the guest picker. The Rebs upset # 3 Alabama  that day and rushed the field, after which the students, with Katy Perry in tow, then proceeded to carry the goalposts from the stadium to The Square (the goalposts ended up at the fraternity houses). Besides Ole Miss football, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium has hosted the Mississippi High School Football Championships on two occasions (2017 and 2023). The facility has also hosted two concerts, one by Hardy in 2023 and one by Morgan Wallen in 2024. With a capacity of 64,038, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is the largest stadium in Mississippi – the extra 38 seats are in honor of Rebel star Chuck Mullins, who suffered a devastating injury in a 1989 game that left him a quadriplegic. Even though he would pass away in 1991, Mullins left a lasting impact on the Ole Miss community. The road to the west of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is named after Mullins, and every year, the football presents the Chucky Mullins Courage Award. As of this season, over 250 former Rebs have been drafted into the NFL, with 29 Ole Miss alums currently on active NFL rosters. Ole Miss has also produced 12 College Football Hall of Famers and 3 Pro Football Hall of Famers (Patrick Willis, Bruiser Kinard, and Gene Hickerson, as well as soon-to-be Eli Manning). The Conerly Trophy, given to the top football player in Mississippi, is also named after former Ole Miss quarterback Charlie Conerly – 11 former Rebels have won the prestigious award.

Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Momentum Bank Ballpark 5514 Champions Dr Midland, TX 79706 Midland RockHounds website Momentum Bank Ballpark website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 6,669 Rockin' in the Midlands Since 2002 Momentum Bank Ballpark has been home to the Midland Rockhounds, the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics . Located in West Texas on the border of the Chihuahuan desert and the Panhandle Plains, the Midland-Odessa area is most famous for two things: oil and high school football. The ballpark is an oasis in the landscape that has brought visitors from the days it was built – the Rockhounds are anticipating hosting their 10 millionth fan at some point during the final few games of 2024, or early in the 2025 season. Before this stadium was built, the team played in Christensen Stadium as the Cubs (1972-1984) and Angels (1985-1998) before rebranding as the Rockhounds in 1999. A rockhound is a nickname for a geologist, in honor of the oil and gas industry, which is responsible for approximately 30% of the Permian Basin’s workforce. The Rockhounds and their predecessor names have won 7 championships in their history, most recently in 2017. They were also leading their division by 2 games late in August when I last visited on a warm Sunday afternoon. Food & Beverage   4 Upon entering the ballpark gate you are met with a plethora of aromas, including the smell of grilled sausages, burgers, barbecue, Mexican food, popcorn, and more wafting through the air. Multiple concession stands and kiosks are spread from foul pole to foul pole; in addition to traditional ballpark fare such as hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, and pretzels, the Rockhounds also offer foods such as Philly cheesesteaks, PB & J hot dogs, supreme nachos, and grilled chicken sandwiched. Momentum Bank Ballpark also offers numerous beer offerings beyond the standard market brands, including local craft beer Tall City  in 4 different styles, Yuengling, and the Texas beers Karbach and Saint Arnold's Lawnmower .   Atmosphere   3 The slightly smaller-than-life-size catcher statue on a large home plate-shaped cement pad welcomes visitors to Momentum Bank Ballpark as you walk up from the north. Displayed on the cement in front of the catcher are bronze plates recognizing championships and other team accomplishments through their history, which sets the tone for an enjoyable experience. Fans are treated to a beautiful view of the field from directly behind home plate as they enter the gate, and head toward the team store, concession stand of choice, or their seats. There is a large video scoreboard beyond the right field fence, which displays player information as well as advertising, and between inning challenges and quizzes – video ribbon boards above the seating on both baselines display current player statistics and line scores. There are also three pitch clocks, one on the outfield berm which is visible to the crowd, batter, catcher, and home plate umpire, as well as two on the backstop visible to the fielders and field umpires. Like most MiLB franchises, the Rockhounds promote their sponsors well – during most home games of the 2024 season they offer either an advertised promotion, giveaway, or discount. For example, every Tuesday game promises 2-for-1 tickets, Wednesdays call for half-price hot dogs, Saturday games end with postgame fireworks, and fans are given free ice cream for all Sunday games. In addition, Thirsty Thursdays have drink discounts and Fridays are usually when cap, t-shirt, and jersey giveaways take place. It seems that no matter which game you might choose to attend, value is added to your ticket purchase.   Neighborhood   4 Located off Loop 250 in northwest Midland, the area around Momentum Bank Ballpark is home to newer homes and businesses, as well as open land plotted for future development and growth. There are numerous quality hotels across the street from and within walking distance of the ballpark – these accommodations include Tru by Hilton , Townplace Suites , and Residence Inn   among others. No matter what your palette desires, you should be able to find a restaurant within a few miles of Momentum Bank Ballpark to satisfy you; eating establishments within a long line drive include Raising Canes, Osaka Japanese Steakhouse , Clear Springs Seafood and Steaks , and   La Mision Mexican Food . Or, if you’re looking to have a drink and relax after the game, Fair To Midland  Kitchen and Bar or The Hemingway  are two excellent options just a short distance away.   Fans   3 Momentum Bank Ballpark, and Midland in general, have been home to a consistent fan base since baseball was introduced to the Permian Basin in the 1970s – this is well documented by the average of over 250,000 fans per season, or over 3500 per game. The game I most recently attended was a late summer Sunday afternoon the week before school started, so attendance was lower than normal. Fans in attendance cheered for between-inning game participants and made noise when the Rockhounds snuffed out a late-game rally from the opponent; you can tell that regular fans are very knowledgeable about the game here and want to have an impact on its outcome.   Access   4 Getting into the ballpark is easier here than at many other stadiums – Momentum Bank Ballpark is located in Scharbauer Sports Complex, which houses Grande Communications Football Stadium as well as competition soccer fields, ensuring plenty of parking lots within less than 100 yards of the ballpark’s gate. The Rockhounds also offer free parking, which makes for a wonderful first impression. Public transportation is available to most games, but is not an option as a way to get back after the game ends, since the rides end at 7:30 pm – Uber  and Lyft  are much better options and are typically available when needed. Mobile tickets are required at Momentum Bank Ballpark, and the process was effortless using the MiLB ticketing software. Gates open only 30 minutes before the first pitch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, but an hour prior for games on other days. Clear bags are required, but you are allowed a 20-ounce water bottle if you desire. The concourse is large enough for multiple grill kiosks, a bar down the third baseline, a safety tent, and an information table without hampering movement at all. Lines move fast due to concession options in all areas of the stadium. My suggestion is to take time to walk the concourse around the ballpark and enjoy the view from every angle. If you are fortunate enough to attend a night game, you’ll want to catch the west Texas sunset behind the first base stands from the left-field berm.   Return on Investment   4 Attending Rockhound games is an affordable event. Ticket prices range from $8 for general admission berm seating to $12 for reserved seats in sections well down both baselines, up to $22 for premium reserved seats in the sections behind home plate. While there are no bad seats at Momentum Bank Ballpark, the added price for premium reserved seating is worth the added cost. You can also find other opportunities to save through promotions such as 2-for-1 tickets on Tuesdays, Thirsty Thursdays, free ice cream Sundays, and half-price hot dogs on Wednesdays. Concession prices here won’t break the bank either – non-alcoholic drinks are $4.50 to $6, and most beer and wine cost between $7 and $9 depending on your selection. Adding food items, a person can enjoy a meal at the game for less than $20 and easily feel satisfied, which is very much in line with other Double-A experiences in the minor league system.   Extras   3 An extra point is given for the splash pad – only those who’ve experienced the Texas summer heat would understand this. Points are also added for the friendliness and accommodation of the staff, as well as for the free parking.   Final Thoughts Midland Rockhound Baseball is the only professional baseball option within 250 miles. As such, the leadership and game presentation could easily become stale, with the staff here counting solely on their monopoly to sell tickets and bring in crowds. Instead, they have chosen to offer an experience that is fun for all ages and different levels of baseball acuity. Whether you are spending one night in Midland or an extended time, attending a Midland Rockhounds game should make the to-do list.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Joe Cannon Stadium 7611 Ridge Chapel Rd Hanover, MD 21076 Coppin State Eagles website Joe Cannon Stadium website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 1,500 Fly Like An Eagle Coppin State University plays baseball nearly 25 miles away from its Northwest Baltimore campus, as an on-campus facility does not exist. They use Joe Cannon Stadium, located at Harmans Park in suburban Hanover, MD. The stadium was designed for the use of amateur baseball teams in the region and is named after the man who pushed very hard to get such a field developed. Coppin has not really been one of the more successful schools in baseball, but it did have the late Baltimore Orioles great Paul Blair serve as their Manager from 1998 to 2002. Recent years have seen some better success with the team. When Joe Cannon Stadium was opened in 1990, the area was not very developed. Since then, this area has been the center of rapid growth and development. The large Arundel Mills Mall and Maryland Live Casino are nearly across the street from the stadium. BWI Airport is also located nearby, and the sight of airplanes taking off is not uncommon. Food & Beverage 0 There are no food options available for a Coppin State baseball game. A concession stand exists at Joe Cannon Stadium but is not used during Coppin games.  No soda nor snack machines are located here either. Atmosphere 2 The seating section sits pretty high off of the field, which limits fan participation. And that is if there are fans at the game. The atmosphere is almost non-existent, although a PA announcer does keep you into the game with announcements and music played between players. The seats are metal bleachers with no backing. It may be worth it to go all the way to the top of the stands so that you will have a back to your seat, but you will be a bit further from the action. Many of the fans do not even sit in the stands, but bring their own chair to sit along the chain link fence along the foul lines. This may offer a bit more interesting view than in the main grandstand. The stadium did have a recent renovation that added an artificial turf field and other player amenities. Neighborhood 4 The stadium is located back in the woods but is across from a thriving development. Arundel Mills Mall is very popular, so much so that parking can be difficult at times. The addition of the Maryland Live Casino adds to the popularity of the area. Luckily, the casino has added a large parking garage to alleviate some parking problems. Food options are varied. The closest options are within walking distance across parking lots. Subway and The Greene Turtle are close and offer options for both carry-out and eat-in. The Greene Turtle has a diverse menu, offering more intriguing options, including everything from Raspberry Turkey Flatbread down to a more usual bar food menu. They also offer many happy hour foods and drink specials at the bar. There are so many other food options in the area, from standard fast food fare to upscale restaurants at the casino. There are a few hotels also in the area, with ALoft and Element located within walking distance of Joe Cannon Stadium. Fans 2 The fans at the stadium are clearly family and friends only. I would doubt there are ever many student fans in attendance unless they know someone playing. The stadium is too far removed from their campus. The stadium did seem to draw a large group of fans from the opposing team. Once again, it was mostly family members and other friends, but the location near Arundel Mills may be a draw for these games. Access 3 Joe Cannon Stadium is near most of the large highways in the area, such as I-295, I-95, and Maryland Route 100. So access is technically very good. The abundance of highways does not tell the whole story. The traffic around Arundel Mills Mall can be stifling. You can expect to sit through many lights just to make simple and small turns. Weekend games will be worse than weekday games. Plan your trips accordingly, as you may need to be patient for the most simple of rides. Parking at the stadium is plentiful and free. Return on Investment 4 Games are free to attend, and there are no other costs associated with the stadium, so the value for the fans is very good. If a good local team is in town, or one of the powerhouse programs is playing, fans will be rewarded with some good baseball skills with very little investment. Extras 1 The large water tower located beyond the left field wall is an interesting sight to see at a baseball game. It may not be the Green Monster or the Camden Yards Warehouse, but it gives fans at Joe Cannon Stadium an interesting view. Final Thoughts The stadium is an enjoyable place to watch a game, especially for being free. You will not be wowed by the field, nor probably the talent level, but it can offer a good option away from the crowded shopping environment located nearby. A good option for many fans is to drop those of their party who wish to shop at the mall while others take in a game.

Photos by Matt Finnigen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Sam Suplizio Field 12 St and North Ave Grand Junction, CO 81501 Grand Junction Rockies website Sam Suplizio Field website Year Opened: 1949 Capacity: 10,000 Getting it Right in Grand Junction Minor league baseball should provide fans with a fun experience in a pleasant atmosphere at a reasonable cost. The Grand Junction Rockies achieve all of these aims, enabling fans on Colorado’s Western Slope to enjoy short-season, Class-A, Pioneer League baseball in a naturally magnificent setting. The team’s parent club, the Colorado Rockies, purchased the Casper (WY) Ghosts in 2011 and relocated the team to Grand Junction’s Suplizio Field before the 2012 season. Since then, Grand Junction has served as a first stop for several players who advanced to play Major League Baseball, such as David Dahl, Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, and Ryan McMahon. The ballpark is part of the city’s 42-acre Lincoln Park, which also features a 9-hole golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, picnic shelters, a playground, and horseshoe pits. Colorado Mesa University sits just across U.S. 6 from Suplizio Field. CMU’s NCAA Division II baseball team also uses Suplizio Field for its home games and its football team plays adjacent to Suplizio Field, at neighboring Ralph Stocker Stadium. Notably, Suplizio Field has hosted the National Junior College World Series every year since 1958. Suplizio Field sits in the shadow of the Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flattop mountain at approximately 500 square miles. Grand Mesa provides a stunning backdrop for the Rockies’ home games, as well as a key part of the team’s primary logo. Before the Rockies’ inaugural season, Suplizio Field received $8.3 million in renovations that included new bleachers on the stadium’s first base side, a new press box, and a new wheelchair-accessible mezzanine section. These renovations enhanced the experience at Suplizio without compromising its many positive attributes. Food & Beverage 4 Suplizio Field has high-quality food and drink options. Although the fare is what most people would expect from a sporting event, it is fresh and delicious. Hot dogs ($4), Polish dogs ($5), hamburgers ($5), cheeseburgers ($6), and grilled chicken sandwiches ($5) can all be complemented by a side of French fries ($3), which are actually thinly sliced strips of starchy perfection and a must-try for anyone attending a game in Grand Junction. Pepsi products are offered, with a souvenir cup of soda costing $5 with $2 refills. The Rockies also have an ice cream stand, where soft-serve vanilla and huckleberry ice cream are available in mini-helmets for $5. The Rockies have a small concession stand, the Rockaritaville Cantina, on the concourse beneath the right field grandstand where fans can enjoy limited Mexican fare. Nachos ($7), burritos ($7), and tacos ($6) are offered along with margaritas ($6) and Estrella Jalisco beer ($4). Beer lovers will appreciate Suplizio Field’s selection and prices. Fans can enjoy 16-ounce draft beers for just $4, including not only Budweiser products, but also the Rockies’ house brew, GJ Brew; Goose Island IPA; and the local Palisade Brewing Company’s Dirty Hippie wheat beer. Atmosphere 4 The Rockies have created a very pleasant atmosphere at Suplizio Field. The team’s mascot, a coyote named “Corky,” interacts with fans throughout the game. The team also stirs fans’ interest by designating an opposing player as the “Beer Batter;” if that player strikes out, fans enjoy $2 beers for the ensuing 10 minutes. Seats along the first baseline offer not only the best views, but some protection against the sun during late afternoon and early evening games. The recently built press box towers over the stands and provides ample shade. The Rockies have extended the protective netting along each baseline but fans in the stands can watch pitchers warm up in bullpens in the left field (visitors) and right field (home) corners. Some of the metal bleachers have seat backs. To access the dugouts from the teams’ respective clubhouses, players must walk across the concourse. This enables fans to obtain autographs from and take photos with the players before and after each game. Neighborhood 3 Suplizio Field sits along a busy, commercial corridor near both downtown Grand Junction and Colorado Mesa University. Fans can park next to Suplizio Field and enjoy the rest of Lincoln Park before a game with a picnic, a round of golf, pickleball, tennis, or swimming. Downtown Grand Junction offers a wide variety of dining options just a five-minute drive from the ballpark. Pablo’s Pizza and the Rockslide Brewery offer good food along Main Street in downtown. Several hotels are also located downtown, including Marriott’s Fairfield Inn and Springhill Suites. Fans 3 While the crowds at Suplizio Field are not large, they are loyal and engaged. The stadium has capacity of approximately 10,000 and crowds range between 2,000 and 3,000. Access 3 With free, close, abundant parking, fans should plan to drive to Suplizio Field. Fans using a navigation system to travel to the ballpark should note that parking is behind center field, although iPhones will direct fans to the home plate entrance (where there is no parking). The stadium does not display obvious signage to direct fans where to park. The local Grand Valley Transit does have a bus stop on 12th Street for fans wanting to take mass transit. Return on Investment 4 A night at Suplizio Field is a great value. Tickets are available at either $11 for a club seat behind home plate or $9 for a reserved seat along either baseline. Parking is free and concession prices are quite reasonable. Extras 3 The Rockies offer high-quality promotional items. On one night, all fans received Kyle Freeland bobbleheads and free, post-game fireworks. Players from both teams are accessible, gladly signing autographs and posing for photos with fans after the game. The Rockies also provide free game programs with rosters and photos. Fans should consider a late-season visit to Grand Junction for a game. Palisade, Colorado, is just a 10-minute drive east of Grand Junction and is an agricultural hub where some of the best peaches in the country can be found, beginning in August. Final Thoughts The Rockies work very hard to provide fans with a great experience, and it shows. A night at Suplizio Field promises a fun time and beautiful views for even a casual baseball fan. With an abundance of outdoor activities in and around Grand Junction, Suplizio Field is a summertime highlight for fans on Colorado’s Western Slope.

Photo Courtesy of Pacific Tigers Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Klein Family Field Pershing Avenue At Larry Heller Drive Stockton, CA 95204 Pacific Tigers website Klein Family Field website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 2,500 The Klein Family’s Gem Klein Family Field has been home to UOP (University of Pacific) baseball since 2006 when they moved from the longtime and former home of the Stockton Ports, Billy Hebert Field. The Ports played at Billy Hebert Field from 1953 until 2005 when they moved into their new home, Banner Island Ballpark . Bud Klein, the namesake of the Stanford Cardinal’s Klein Field at Sunken Diamond , is also a member the honored family in Stockton. His father, Sol Klein, began many Stockton youth leagues and the baseball club that would eventually be known as the Ports. Many members of the Klein family have been Tigers and their support continues with the donation of this beautiful new facility for the baseball program. Food & Beverage 3 There are two concession stands, one serving the main items like hot dogs ($3), polish sausages ($4.50), baked potato ($4), burger ($4.50) and various sides like cookies ($1.50), peanuts ($2.50), bottled water and soda ($3), and malts ($3). The other concession stand only serves the side items. There is a third mini area that serves bottled beer and glasses of wine. It is in a section sort of separated from the rest of the seating area. It was unclear to me whether you needed a special ticket to enter this lounge area or some sort of wristband acknowledging you are of age. Atmosphere 4 Klein Family Field is a great place to watch a game. There are lots of seating options that you can choose from that include chair back seats, grass seating, high tops under canopies, and lounge chairs near a fireplace. Fans aren’t terribly loud but do have a good turnout. At this game, the energy level certainly dipped when Cal State Fullerton started the game by scoring 7 runs in the first 2 innings. The sight lines are great all around the park and there is plenty of room for the little ones to run around and keep themselves occupied. Klein Family Field and the surrounding scenery provides a top atmosphere for college baseball. Neighborhood 3 Klein Family Field is adjacent to the home of Pacific basketball, the Spanos Center. The area surrounding the ballpark is largely upscale residential, including parts of the UOP campus. There isn’t much in way of good hangouts in the immediate area but you can be sure you’re in a safe neighborhood, unlike the perception of other parts of Stockton. Though bars and restaurants within walking distance to and from the venue aren’t very available, downtown Stockton, as well as the Miracle Mile, is not far away. I’d recommend going to Valley Brewing Co about two miles away. They serve their own micro brews, good pub food, and you can take in sports memorabilia from all over Northern California as well as Stocktonians who made it to the big leagues. Lastly, the Stockton Ports play two and a half miles away on the Stockton waterfront. Fans 3 At the game of this review, much of the wind was taken out of the fans’ collective sail because of the onslaught by the visiting Titans. They were however engaged with the ballgame throughout. It certainly feels like a community of friends in the stands as I would imagine many of them go to all of the games together, much like the experience across the way at the Spanos Center. The Pacific Tigers also must compete with Stockton Ports and their new ballpark as well. On this particular day, baseball fans needed to choose between the two teams as the Ports were in town playing the Lancaster Jethawks. Access 4 Klein Family Field is located just a few blocks from highway 5 and two miles from 99. Getting from the freeways is easy through safe city blocks. Take main drags Pershing or Alpine to the convenient (and free on weekends) parking lot. You enter the ballpark between Klein Field and the Spanos Center where you’ll pass mementos of past donors to UOP athletics and through the charming gates to the field. Once inside, the promenades are plenty wide and the restrooms are clean and spacious enough for the field’s capacity. Return on Investment 4 General seating starts at just $6 for this 80 degree May afternoon. With parking free and concessions affordable and plentiful, Klein Family Field provides a great value to fans. Unfortunately Ed Sprague’s squad has struggled the last few years and is currently in last place in the Big West Conference. On the flip side, I got to see the top team in the conference in Cal State Fullerton, who has plenty of tradition beyond their successful 2012 season. Extras 2 The Spanos Center showcases all the banners for all sports at Pacific so there aren’t many acknowledgements of baseball successes at Klein Family Field. Extra points go to the array of seating you can choose from as well as the fireplace (yes, fireplace) down the right field line. The fireplace has lounge style chairs to kick back in. Final Thoughts I really enjoyed my trip to Stockton and would recommend a trip to Klein Family Field. I didn’t know what to expect as I had only been to the snazzy Banner Island Ballpark and couldn’t imagine that the UOP ballpark could measure. It measured up very nicely. Note: The University of Pacific will be joining the West Coast Conference (WCC) for the 2013-14 academic year.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Sam Boyd Stadium 7000 E Russell Road Las Vegas, NV 89122 UNLV Rebels website Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 36,800 What Happens At Sam Boyd… Sam Boyd Stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a notable figure in the Las Vegas hotel & casino industry. Built in 1971, the venue has been renovated multiple times, most recently in 2015, and now has a capacity of 35,500 (a horseshoe design with no fixed seating on the north side). Besides hosting the UNLV Rebels, the stadium has been home to several (short-lived) professional football teams, and is also home to the annual NCAA Las Vegas Bowl. Temporary bleachers can be erected in the north end zone as needed to add capacity, and the venue has held over 40K on several occasions, most notably in years when BYU played in the bowl game. Food & Beverage 5 Sam Boyd Stadium has a wide variety of food and beverage options, including plenty of alcohol; concession stands offer everything you would expect at a game and then some, including pizza, burgers, hot dogs, brats, smoked sausage, chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, and Blings!, as well as snacks such as popcorn, churros, cotton candy, pretzels, and several varieties of nuts (salted, cinnamon glazed, and chocolate covered). Main dishes range in price from $4-$9, while snacks cost $3-$6. Adult beverage options at Sam Boyd Stadium include several stands that have full (or at least semi-full) bars, as well as stands that only sell beer, and even specialty stands that sell Guinness products. You can also buy beer for $7 at the main stands (Bud Light, Coors Light, or Miller Lite). Non-alcoholic choices include Coke products in bottles or from the fountain, Powerade, bottled water, and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Atmosphere 4 The crowd is not very large at UNLV games lately, but the venue is still worth a visit. The decor at Sam Boyd Stadium really plays up the Vegas angle, with poker/casino-themed icons surrounding the distance markers on the field, the slogan “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” painted in each end zone, and even images of the Vegas skyline behind the north end zone; they also play the song “Viva Las Vegas” before every game. Besides the Vegas imagery, you will also see the mascot, Hey Reb, being chauffeured around in a red and black car decorated with Rebels logos. He drives around the parking lots before the game to help rev up the crowd, and rides around again just before kickoff when he leads the team onto the field – the second time is much better, because this time there are actually five cars, the first one sporting a giant UNLV flag, and the others bearing flags with the letters U, N, L, and V. These flags won’t be seen again, though – while at most stadiums, the cheer squad runs around with their flags after every home team score, here at Sam Boyd Stadium, they shoot off red and white confetti instead. The best thing about Sam Boyd Stadium is that all of the seats have chair backs – specifically, all the seats are bleachers with chair back rails. This is much more comfortable than most stadiums (which only have chair backs on the alumni side, if at all). Neighborhood 5 The stadium is located in Vegas – what more could you ask? While there are fewer choices near the stadium itself (south of city center, near Henderson), there are plenty of great restaurants in Vegas, too many to even begin naming them. The best ones are the buffets, where the food is very high quality, but the prices are low (because the hotels make their money off the gambling). There is plenty to do in Vegas besides dining out – in addition to the myriad casinos, there are plenty of clubs you can visit or shows to take in at The Mirage or at similar venues. You may also want to visit Hoover Dam, located just a few miles south of Las Vegas. A hotel in Vegas can easily cost over $100 per night (plus resort fees), but it is definitely worth it to be close to the action, especially if you can find something close to the strip – that place is bustling all night long! Lots of the hotels run specials, and try to get it back from the gambling, so you should be able to find a good rate. Remember that Vegas is located in the middle of a desert, however, so you won’t find much except coyotes if you stray too far from the city limits. Fans 2 The Rebels fans who show up are passionate, loud, and wear school colors, but there aren’t that many of them. In fact, you might see just as many visiting fans as you see UNLV fans. Officially, attendance is listed at 20K per game, but the actual attendance is a lot lower, more in the 10K to 15K range. They do sell team gear in the stadium, if you forget to bring your own. Access 4 There are plenty of ramps in Sam Boyd Stadium, parking is free behind the south end zone, and while there are not a lot of bathrooms, there are more than enough to accommodate the size of the crowd. Depending on where you are coming from, getting to Vegas could be a long lonely drive through the desert, so you may prefer to make the trek in the daytime. The parking on the south side is in gravel lots, and the area is actually one continuous zone with entrances on either end, so pay attention to the numbered posts along the fence to remember where you parked. There is no tailgating in this area; for that you will need to park in the grass on the north side, which will cost about $10. There are gates on the east, west, and south sides, but the main entrance is on the south, which is closest to the parking for most fans. This is also where the ticket booths and will-call are located. The concourse under the seats is plenty wide, but there are numerous pillars you have to navigate around, so watch for those – at least they are painted in Rebels colors. There are concessions stands on both sides of the aisle, however, so it should be easy to find what you want – the main stands are on the inside (closer to the field), and the satellite stands are along the outside. Return on Investment 4 Like most college football venues, ticket prices at Sam Boyd Stadium vary by game, with the cheap seats starting at $14 for some games, up to $20 or more for other games. However, since UNLV games rarely sell out, you should be able to find tickets on the secondary market, and you can always buy cheap seats and move to a different section. I didn’t notice any promotions, like free t-shirts or rally towels, but programs are free, as is parking, and concession prices are reasonable, so seeing a Rebels game is definitely worthwhile from a cost perspective, given the unique imagery and fun antics of the mascot. Plus, it gives you an excuse to see Vegas – as if you need one! Extras 3 Enjoy the view of the Rockies – people always seem to rave about the mountain views, I guess because they are a rarity in college football, since most teams are near the coasts. We should also mention all the Vegas imagery – the only thing lacking is a slot machine. A third point for the other events held here, such as the annual Las Vegas Bowl, which provide additional opportunities to visit this modern, fun venue. Final Thoughts UNLV may not have the most competitive team lately, but their stadium is definitely worth a look, and the location cannot be beat. And if you pick the right opponent, you just might witness a Rebel victory.

Photo by Stephan Hoogerwaard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Estadio de Mestalla Avenida de Suecia, s/n 46010 Valenica, Spain Valencia Club de Futbol website Estadio de Mestalla website Year Opened: 1923 Capacity: 55,000 Viva Valencia It all started in 1919 when two friends were at Bar Torino in Valencia having a drink. They talked about football in Spain and found it very unfortunate that Valencia had no football club. During the following conversation the idea was born to start a football club and so arose the Valencia Club de Fútbol (Valencia CF). The first games were played in the old stadium Algiros, but the club was increasing rapidly and gained more and more popularity in the Orange city (nickname of the city of Valencia). It was decided to build a new stadium in the district of Mestalla. Estadío de Mestalla was opened on the 20th of May 1923 with a friendly match between Valencia and local rivals UD Levante (1-0). At that time the Mestalla stadium was the largest stadium in Spain. It could initially hold 17,000 fans but the popularity of the club was still rising so the stadium was expanded a few years after opening to 25,000 places. Since then, the stadium has been expanded many more times. Nowadays the Mestalla Stadium holds up to 55,000 places. The stadium is very steep, which gives spectators a feeling that they are always close to the action on the field. In 1982, the stadium was host for three group matches during the World Cup. Back in August 2007, the club started construction of a new stadium called ‘Nou Mestalla.’ Unfortunately for the club the completion of the new stadium has been delayed due to financial problems. Now sufficient funds have been found, the 2020/2021 could be the final year of Mestalla! Food & Beverage 3 There are many small food and drink counters inside the ground which sell different sodas (Coca-Cola is Valencia CF’s main sponsor). Beer is also sold inside the stadium, you can buy a local Spanish beer by the name of Estrella Damm for just € 2.50, this beer is served in a plastic glass. When you are hungry you can buy yourself a hamburger or a pre-prepared sandwich. Atmosphere 5 The Mestalla Stadium has everything for a groundhopper like myself. It is the oldest football ground in the Spanish Primera Division. Only the main stand is covered, it has an old rusty roof which gives the stadium its old charm. The other three stands have no roof and have been rebuilt many times. This is something which you can clearly see as additional tiers were added on existing ones. I have visited many stadiums in the Primera Division, for me the Mestalla Stadium is the second best ground in the country. It can only be topped by the Santiago Bernabéu , the stadium of Real Madrid. Neighborhood 4 Mestalla Stadium is located less than 2 kilometres (1 mile) east of Valencia’s historic city centre in the Mestalla district. This part of the city is a dense urban neighbourhood with many narrow streets with high apartment buildings. In the area around stadium there are plenty of tapas bars, cafés and restaurants. We ate at the ‘Q de Barella-restaurant’ (Address: Calle de Finlandia 7) and had a good pre-match three course meal for a reasonable price. Fans 4 The Valencia supporters gather hours before the match in the tapas bars and cafés. When these are loaded they gather in the streets around the stadium. When we were at the ground the police blocked the main street in front of the stadium for traffic because the Valencia supporters took over the street. Most of them drink beer and hold pre-match analyses talks with fellow supporters. The Valencia supporters are very loyal supporters. The last three years the club has an average gate from around 40,000 each season. Valencia’s attendances are among the top 5 highest in the league. Access 4 From the city centre the Mestalla Stadium is easy to reach. It is located less than 2 kilometres (1 mile) east of Valencia’s historic city centre. When you walk from the Plaza de Toros in the historic city centre it takes you no longer than 20 minutes. You can also take the metro line 5, there is a metro station (Aragón) just next to the stadium. Metro line 3 is less than a 5 minute walk from the ground. There are also several busses which can bring you to the Mestalla Stadium. Valencia’s international airport is also connected to the Valencia metro network, so when arriving by plane you can travel in less than 35 minutes to the ground. I think travelling by car to the grounds is not really an option as I haven’t spotted many parking places around the stadium. Return on Investment 5 Valencia, just like many clubs, operate a category scheme for ticket prices. Ticket prices for lower and mid-table opponents vary depending on the opponent and range from € 25,- to € 90,-. The most popular games against top teams or against local rivals are the most expensive to watch. We enjoy the passionate atmosphere made by the Valencia supporters and we enjoy the old Mestalla Stadium very much. When you visit a match in Spain just treat yourself to a bag with pipas (sunflower seeds) because everyone in the stadium is eating those. Extras 3 Just want to sit in the dugout, walk around in the VIP area, watch the stands and the field, the presidential balcony, trophies or see the dressing rooms? Discover one of the oldest stadiums in Spanish football. This all can be done during a tour, the Mestalla Stadium offers self-guided tours with the name: ‘Mestalla Forever Tour.’ Adult ticket price € 10,90 and for children € 8,50. For more information, check the club’s website. Final Thoughts All the sights in the city like the cathedral, the bullfight arena, the Lonja de Seda (silk house) and the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias are worthwhile visiting. But when you can add a home match of Valencia CF in the old Mestalla to your trip, it would be really the icing on the cake. Make sure you hurry up before this historical stadium will be demolished, I’m sure it will make your trip to Valencia even more memorable.

Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center 1050 Panther Drive High Point, NC 27268 High Point Panthers website Qubein Center website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 5,000 The Panthers’ New Arena Reaches a High Point High Point University is a private University located in High Point, NC. It was founded in 1924 and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school has an enrollment of 5,850 students. High Point University offers seventy undergraduate majors and eighteen graduate majors. The athletic teams at High Point University are known as the Panthers. They belong to the Big South Conference of NCAA Division I. High Point does not have a football program, so the basketball program is the primary sport during the late fall and winter months of the academic year. The Panthers basketball program has been around since 1927 when it played at the NAIA level through 1998. During its NAIA years, the team was a powerhouse, winning fifteen regular season titles and thirteen tournament championships. The home of High Point basketball is the on-campus Nido and Marianne Qubein Arena and Conference Center. As the name suggests, the facility is a complex composed of a 5,000-seat athletic arena, a conference center, and a small hotel. For brevity’s sake, we will use Qubein Center in this review, as this is the portion of the facility we visited and reviewed. The Qubein Center is named for Dr. Nido Qubein, the longtime president of High Point University. The arena opened in September 2021, just in time for the basketball season. Both the men’s and the women’s basketball programs play in the Qubein Center. The arena also hosts concerts, speakers, and school-wide events for the university. Food & Beverage 4 There are eight concession stands, with five located along the concourse and three more at the suites level. The stands take both cash and credit cards. Four of the concourse level stands carry identical merchandise, including pizza ($9), chicken tenders ($7), hot dogs ($4), nachos ($9), pretzels ($4), popcorn ($4), fries ($4) and candy ($3). Drinks include Coca-Cola brand sodas ($4), bottled water ($4), beer ($5), and wine ($7). There is one stand that sells sandwich combos, including Philly Cheesesteak/chips ($13), Pulled Pork sandwich/chips ($13), Angus beef sandwich/chips ($13), Beyond Burger/chips ($14), and Chicken Breast sandwich/chips ($12). We were unable to check out the stands at the suite level. The concourse is enclosed in some sections and open to the court in others. There are monitors along the concourse, so you should not miss any of the action while you are getting your food. Atmosphere 5 It will be obvious to you when you arrive in front of the Qubein Center that it is a one-of-a-kind facility. The circular drive goes around a large fountain with a 20-foot-tall bronze panther statue gracing its center. The building behind it has very dramatic lighting and lots of brick and glass along its front face. As you enter the building you will be on the first level of the building. The first level houses the ticket offices, dressing rooms, and other support areas. The second level is the concourse level. It is very polished and has lots of artwork related to High Point University. There is a team store called the HPU Team Store and Panther Boutique located at this level. You will then go down into the seating bowl. The suite level is on the third level and is restricted to season ticket holders and major donors. The concourse will take you 360 degrees around the court. A majority of the seats in the arena are below the concourse, while the suite level is above the concourse. The aisle markings along the concourse are easy to follow. If you have time, it is well worth it to walk around the concourse. There are informational stations along the way with displays on the history of High Point basketball, the top scorers in school history, trophies won by the various teams, and major upsets the Panthers have inflicted on major teams. If you had not figured out what the Panther’s team colors were…. you will after you see the seating bowl. There is purple as far as your eye can see. The seating in Qubein Center surpasses anything we have experienced on our visits to college basketball arenas. The seats are all fold-down seats, with nicely padded areas to support your back and bottom. The seats are all purple. There is not a bad seat in the house, as the pitch of the seating area is gradual enough that you are not looking at the back of someone’s head. Most of the seating is below the concourse, but there is a smaller set of seating at the third level of the arena known as the suites level. As you descend the steps going down towards the court, make sure to check out the video board over the center of the court. You are looking at the second-largest video board in the state of North Carolina. It has screens on all four sides and provides very clear graphics no matter where you are in the seating bowl. It can project game statistics and replays all at the same time. The video board can also project images down onto the playing court, a feature typically found only in professional sports arenas. The seating bowl also includes not one, but two levels of ribbon boards that continuously carry updates throughout the game. High atop the arena and the seating bowl is a dome ceiling constructed totally of wood, giving the facility a very classic look. The court below the videoboard is known as the Tubby and Donna Smith Court. Tubby Smith is a graduate of High Point University and coached the High Point University basketball team for several years. It is a very deserving honor for a coach who also led teams at the University of Georgia, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Memphis. The court also has nice graphics featuring the High Point University logo at midcourt. Neighborhood 5 High Point University is in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina. The Triad includes the cities of Greensboro, NC, High Point, NC, and Winston-Salem, NC. High Point is located 20 minutes from both Winston-Salem and Greensboro. High Point’s claim to fame is the Home Furnishings Capitol of the World. There are more than one hundred furniture stores and outlets located in the city. One of the city’s major attractions also relates to the furniture industry, as High Point is the home of the Largest Chest of Drawers in the World. The art piece is more than thirty-two feet high and is famous for the large number of people from all over the world who have their photo taken in front of the dresser. Another nearby point of interest is the statue of jazz musician John Coltrane, who was a native of High Point. Both the Chest of Drawers and the Coltrane statue are located on Hamilton Street, just a few blocks from the university. If you are traveling with children, the Nido and Marianne Qubein Children’s Museum is well worth a visit. There are a wide variety of national hotel chains located near the former Oak Hollow Mall. The Courtyard Marriott High Point offers special pricing for High Point University events. Austin’s Steakhouse and Brewery is located near the school and has a wide selection of craft beers. Fans 4 Qubein Center has been quite a draw with both the students at the school, as well as the local population of High Point. There is a close relationship between the school and its neighbors, and they welcome the community to events held at the school. High Point basketball is the major sports event in the community unless you travel to the other cities in the Piedmont Triad. The student section at Panthers games is known as Purple Reign. They are vocal and they attend home games in large numbers. More than 95% of the High Point student body lives on campus. The arena is within walking distance of many of the dorms and residential buildings on the campus. Students can attend sports events on campus for free through the student activity fee. The student section at High Point home games is strategically located behind the baskets at each end of the court. By splitting the student section in this way, they can ensure a loud crowd will always be adjacent to the free-throw line to distract the visitors throughout the game. The High Point University Pep Band and Prowler the Purple Panther work closely with the Cheer squad and the Dance team to keep the energy level high throughout the evening. Contests and giveaways take place during breaks in the action. Access 4 The Qubein Center is easily accessible from anywhere in the Piedmont Triad area. From Greensboro: Take I-85 South to Business 85 headed towards High Point. Take the South Main Street/High Point exit and turn right onto Main Street. Turn right onto College Drive. Turn right at Lexington, then take the first left into the campus via Panther Drive. Parking personnel will then direct you to the University Parkway lot. From the South: Travel north on I-85. Take Business 85 North. Take the South Main Street/Archdale exit off Business 85 North and turn left. Turn right at College, then left onto Lexington. Turn into campus on Panther Drive. Parking personnel will direct you to the University Parkway lot. From the West: Take I-40 East to Highway 311 South (Exit 196). At High Point take the North Main Street exit (Exit 65). Turn left at Hartley Drive Hartley becomes College Drive at the Oak Hollow Mall. Continue on College Drive, then turn right at Lexington. Take the first left onto campus via Panther Drive. Parking personnel will be on hand to direct you to the University Parkway lot. There are a limited number of parking spaces immediately outside the Qubein Center. These spaces are reserved for season ticket holders and major donors. All other fans must park in the University Parkway lot down the street from the arena. Shuttles run throughout the evening to ferry people to the arena before the game and take people back to the parking lot afterward. There is no charge for parking or the shuttle. Once you arrive at Qubein Center, five entry doors are adjacent to the front driveway. Doors to the arena open 90 minutes before tipoff, leaving you plenty of time to get something to eat and find your seat. There are seven ladies’ rooms and five men’s rooms located along the concourse. You will only encounter a line for them shortly before the game and at halftime.   Return on Investment 5 Tickets for all Panther games are priced at $25. The concession stands offer a wide variety of items at reasonable prices. Parking is free for fans parking in the University Parkway lot. The shuttle between the parking lot and the arena is also free. Extras 4 There is a great deal of public art throughout the Qubein Center. There is a series of prints located along the concourse entitled “Art of the Possible.” Each of the twelve prints features an illustration and a few words to outline the many ways High Point University can prepare students for a successful life. There is a great photo opportunity awaiting you along the concourse. You will encounter a full-sized fiberglass version of Prowler, the team’s purple panther mascot. There is a chair for you to sit in for the photo, and the wall serving as a backdrop has some wonderful graphics to complete a very well-composed shot. The Princeton Review rates High Point University as # 1 in the Country for Best College Dorms and # 9 for the Most Beautiful College Campus in the United States. The Qubein Center hosted the 2024 Big South Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament. Final Thoughts The Qubein Center is a stunning addition to the High Point University campus. The arena offers fans a professional level of amenities, including comfortable seating, an above-average video board, and an impressive set of dining options. Qubein Center also serves the High Point community through concerts, appearances by notable speakers, and other events throughout the year.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 7721 Steam Corners Rd Lexington, OH 44904 IndyCar Weekend website Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course website Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 65,000 Packed Hillsides in Central Ohio Put simply, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during big-time racing feels like an Ohio State football game. Not only are the fans loud, proud of their favorite drivers, knowledgeable, and loyal, but the food is great, the scenery is beautiful, and the facility is top notch. Now if only the traffic and getting to the track weren’t as bad as they are, then there would be little keeping Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course from being among the best around. Food & Beverage 5 Living in Ohio, or visiting Ohio, brings with it a culinary world of wonders. From Cincinnati to Cleveland, there is no shortage of places to find great food – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is no different. With numerous places to find food and drinks at food stands around the course, quenching your thirst or getting a bite to eat isn’t hard to do. The food here ranges from the standard burgers and hot dogs to fresh and authentic Polish sausage sandwiches. The best part? It won’t break your bank. Food ranges between $5 and $10 for main meals, including chips or fries. Drinks (soda and water) are standard as well, costing only a few bucks. And if that doesn’t do it for you, then get some pizza from one of the numerous traveling pizza servers. Yes, I said traveling servers – driving around the property on ATVs and off-road vehicles that feature warm pizza onboard, you can purchase your lunch and something to drink without losing your spot on the hillside, while watching the action on the track. Atmosphere 5 Ohio sports fans know how to hype up the energy, even at a car race. Whether they’re cheering their native son to victory, like Graham Rahal at the Honda 200 in 2015, or rooting for the driver of their favorite Porsche, McLaren, or Audi in a sports car race, they let the world know who they are rooting for. And in an act of impressive ability to cheer, you can hear them roaring for their favorite drivers over the sound of the roaring engines. In addition, the camping on-site is on the same level as the best sports tailgating in the country. Dare I say, the views from the trackside camping are also among the best. The view you can get with a camper parked at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is not like other courses, where you are separated from the actual race course and in your own parking area. Instead, here you can see the actual track itself from your campsite, with your tent right up next to the trackside barrier and fences – it’s hard to find a place with a better place to stay at the track, where you can camp while seeing the race as well. In addition, for those who enjoy the group aspect, camping is also available in the forest. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - Trackside Camping, Photo by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 3 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course isn’t in a major city, nor is it near a thriving metropolis. Instead, it is quite literally in the middle of farm country outside of Mansfield. The biggest town near the track, Mansfield, is also not that big of a place, but has its own mall and several places to eat and stay. While nice, the track is separated from civilization, giving a bit of an isolationist feel to the facility. One of the track’s entrances actually features a driveway that goes through a farm field, while another road leading to the front entrance goes through Lexington, a small town with a 35-mile-per-hour speed limit – this small town does embrace race weekend however, with local shops and restaurants putting on their best for race fans who pass through. For food, driving into Mansfield will bring you to Texas Roadhouse and Olive Garden, two popular stops for drivers and teams. For hotels, Hampton Inn & Suites Mansfield South and The Inn on Smith’s Hill are also popular stays. For sights, the Ohio State Reformatory, located outside of Mansfield, was the filming location of the popular “Shawshank Redemption”, and even offers tours. Another popular stop is Cedar Point theme park, an hour north in Sandusky. Fans 5 See the Atmosphere section! The fans at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course are pure awesome. Even if they don’t know the drivers on the track, they’ll pick their own favorite car and cheer for that team, whether they’re first or last on the track. In addition, if you get lost, most are more than willing to help you find your way – this is midwestern hospitality in its best form. Access 3 Getting to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course isn’t exactly easy; it’s in the middle of nowhere. It is also a fair driving distance from the highway, all down one-lane roads with speed limits that average about 40 miles per hour. Once you get to the track, all the parking is in grassy or dirt fields, with some spots on the hills. Your rarely-used parking brake will come in handy at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, as many parking areas are on hillsides with noticeable slants, that will become slippery if it rains. Needless to say, getting out after the races takes a lot of work and patience, as traffic is quite an ordeal. The one lane road coming in and out, as well as the single bridge leading from the infield to the outer portions of the facility, mean you may spend hours walking or driving out before you even reach the main gates. Return on Investment 4 While it may take some travel to get to the track, going to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a track steeped in history and sporting tradition is worth the trip. There are plenty of places to see big sections of the track, and the beautiful hillside scenery makes for a great backdrop for a NASCAR, IndyCar, or sports car race. That said you also have to bring your appetite, as the food will be hard to resist once you smell its sweet scent wafting through the air. Extras 5 There are many extras at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course that set it apart from others. First, the social media interaction helps engage fans while at the track – Instagram posts with the race’s hashtags show up on the monitors and big screens during the weekend. Another bonus is the great weather the track usually enjoys – even in the summer, it gets no warmer than the low 80s. How can you argue with that? Something else that gets the fans engaged is the large fan zone at the interior of the track. With displays, shopping for souvenirs, and driver interaction events, fans can get up close and personal with their favorite drivers and teams. Autograph sessions throughout the weekend stretch down the hill and around a few trees…literally! Fans can also wander throughout the pits and garage areas to see their favorite teams at work, preparing their cars for the on-track action. Perhaps the most unique thing about Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is that the garages feature a fan walkway above that looks down on the old-fashioned wooden and open-air rooms. This gives you a unique bird’s eye view of the IndyCar and NASCAR teams working on their machines, a view that few other tracks offer. Final Thoughts If you want a quick, action-packed racetrack that features great camping, a beautiful backdrop, some of the loudest and most passionate fans in racing, and is far from the hustle and bustle of city life, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is the place for you. You won’t leave hungry, you won’t leave disappointed, but you may leave in a long line of traffic (fair warning).

Photo courtesy of Getty Images If you’re a sports fan, which you have found our site, you no doubt are, are fully aware of how much ticket costs have climbed each year. The complex correlation between athlete salary costs, the financial realities owners face in running a team, and the state of the overall U.S. economy are all entangled, with fans caught in the crossfire. Supporting your team and checking off bucket lists, big events have to be weighed based on their financial burden. Online gaming site VegasInsider   recently did a study of just how expensive the average ticket cost was for fans for the 15 most popular sporting events in the United States for 2024. Coming in at by far the most expensive as, not surprisingly, the king of pro sports in the U.S., the NFL Super Bowl LVII, which was a classic between the Kansas City Chiefs  and the San Francisco 49ers . The biggest sporting event in the country was exponentially the priciest ticket to get for fans, with the average single ticket costing $8,600. Coming in second was Formula 1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix at $2,167, followed by The Masters Golf Tournament  at $2,111. The Kentucky Derby, at $1,774, and UFC 300, at $1,567, rounded out the top five most expensive sporting events. Two of the more surprising events found on the list were WWE’s equivalent to the Super Bowl, Wrestlemania XL, which was held this year at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup cricket event held at venues in Florida, New York, and Texas. The ticket cost for one of cricket’s largest annual events was $675, while Wrestlemania tickets set fans back an average of $639 – with the latter event spanning two days, that added up to quite a chunk of change. Other big-ticket events this year were the NCAA’s Men’s Basketball Finals, held this year in Phoenix, which set fans back an average of $622 per ticket, and the upcoming boxing exhibition between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, which is priced at $717 per ticket. Rounding out the rest of the list were auto racing’s Miami Grand Prix ($1,110) and U.S. Grand Prix, held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas  ($820), MMA’s UFC 306 ($1,083), and the Copa America Final, which saw Lionel Messi return to form for the Argentinian national team ($750). Lastly, the two U.S. Open events for men’s tennis and men’s golf were $425 and $250, respectively. ---- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Greg Johnston, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Oland Stadium 1 West St Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5 Canada St. Francis Xavier X-Men website Oland Stadium website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 4,000 X-Men Football Competing in the Atlantic University Sport Conference (AUS) of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), St. Francis Xavier University has a storied football history. The X-men made several appearances in the Atlantic Bowl throughout the 1950’s and 60’s, prior to the arrival of the Vanier Cup in 1965. Their most successful season came in 1966 when they won the Vanier Cup, lead by Hall-of-Fame Fullback Paul Brule. Brule suited up for the 1964 through 1967 seasons and holds eight rushing records, which are still intact today. The X-Men came up short in their only other Vanier Cup appearance in 1996, losing to the Saskatchewan Huskies. Oland Stadium is home to StFX football, along with track & field, a rugby, soccer, and lacrosse team. The field first hosted football games in 1967 and underwent major upgrades in 2009, including a new field and stadium lighting. Food & Beverage 5 Normally the food selection at smaller sporting venues is very basic. Cheap processed food dominates the menu with less than desirable tastes. However, the food selection at Oland Stadium celebrates local businesses in Antigonish with two popular food trucks offering unique, high quality options. For the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the Waffle Bus Stop has been serving up their sweet and savory waffle sandwiches for $5.50-$8.50. This food truck is owned by a friendly local couple that also have a popular restaurant just off Main Street. Wood Fired Pizza is the other food truck parked next to the Waffle Bus Stop just beyond the north end zone. The plain white trailer with black lettering does not look like much from the outside, but step inside to see pizzas cooking over flames inside a grand oven. In front of you is a table full of fresh appetizing toppings and a menu of four traditional options, along with a “create your own adventure.” A freshly baked personal size pizza costs $10, while a family size pizza costs $20. As with any food truck, you will have to wait for your food; however, the location creates no barriers and allows a fan to take in every play of the game. Unfortunately, if the food truck option is too pricey, your options are limited. Kenny’s Pizza serves large slices of greasy pizza for $4.50. A number of fans also step inside Oland Centre to grab chips and candy from a vending machine. Alcohol is available underneath a large tent at a sectioned off area just north of the grandstand, near the food trucks. The beer selection includes: Bud, Bud Light, Alexander Keith’s, Labatt Blue, and Angry Orchard Cider, for a reasonable $4.50. Wine is also available by the glass for $5. You cannot return to your seats with alcohol, but you get a great view of game action from the beer garden. Soft drinks, bottled juices and water are offered for $1.75. Be sure to bring cash, as most of the vendors do not accept credit cards. It is refreshing going to a sporting event with alternative options other than the traditional hot dog and fries. Plus, purchasing items from the food truck gives the travelling fan a taste of Antigonish and an opportunity to support local business. Kudos! Atmosphere 3 The field at Oland Stadium may be modern, but the old grandstand provides a unique experience. Twenty-six rows of mostly old wooden bleachers line one side of the field, leaving the other sides open to views of the campus and landscaping. Unfortunately some sections of the wooden bleachers were replaced with aluminum, losing the appeal of the old-fashioned stadium. The metal replacements make you think about why the wood planks were replaced; did they break? This thought leaves one with an uneasy feeling about safety as you step on the old boards. Also, you must watch your step as you climb the bleachers, as the width of the steps are uneven and would not pass today’s building codes. Tickets are general admission, with the most popular seats located in front of the media boxes. These seats have great sight lines and are the only shaded areas to escape from the mid afternoon sun. If you get too hot, cool off inside the Oland Centre and discover the Hall-of-Fame sketches of all the famous former St.FX athletes, and old artifacts celebrating the school’s athletic past. The pregame events at Oland Stadium are a unique game day experience. Players storm the field through blue smoke with the Clay Thompson Pipe Band playing Scottish music and ‘Captain X’ pumping up the crowd. The pipe band re-enters the field to play after each quarter. Be sure not to miss a big play as the stadium lacks a video screen for replays. The public address announcer is heard throughout campus as he cleverly describes how a defense “gobbled up” the offensive player. Just outside the stadium on the northeast side of the field is “Cheapskate Hill,” where students gather on the grass to watch the game for free. A popular photo opportunity is located below Cheapskate Hill where the popular “Smile You’re at X” sign is located. After a touchdown by the home team, an alumnus rings the “Paul Brule Scoring Bell” located at the bottom of the grandstand. Neighborhood 4 Oland Stadium is located near the south end of St.FX’s beautiful campus. Walking around campus takes you back in time with strong Italian and Colonial architectural influences. St. Ninian Cathedral is a must see for any architectural history buff. Downtown Antigonish is a five-minute walk from campus along Main Street. A number of good local cafes and restaurants reside here with an old small town feel. The Tall and Small Cafe offers fresh sandwiches and coffee with work from local artist/photographers lining the walls. A good dinner option is the Townhouse, a community supported restaurant offering local craft beers and unique food items. Fans 4 Oland Stadium has an ideal location that allows the 4,700 enrolled students to come out in fairly large numbers. Students start “Go X Go” chants at varies times of the game. They cheer loud and are decked out in blue and white. Football games create reunions for alumni and citizens of Antigonish who make up the rest of the typical crowd. Attendance figures are commonly atop the AUS ranging from 2,000 to 3,500 the last few years. The large, near-sellout crowds add to the exciting atmosphere at the games. Access 4 Prepare for a scenic road trip to Antigonish, as the nearest major airport is a two hour drive away in Halifax. However, fall colours will be vibrant if you go in late September or early October. Getting to the stadium is straightforward. Highway 104 skims the south end of Antigonish and the StFX campus. Exit at Highway 7 (Exit 32) and after a few blocks turn right on Convocation Boulevard. Oland Centre will be straight ahead, with Oland Stadium right behind it. Parking is free but somewhat limited. Antigonish Community Transit is a viable option for fans coming from Antigonish County. Prices range from $6-$10 depending on where you board the bus. For more information, visit http://antigonishcommunitytransit.ca/ . Tickets can be purchased at the Keating Centre prior to game day, and at the north gate on game days. Entrance into Oland Stadium is possible from both north and south sides of Oland Centre, although the north side is known as the grand entrance. As you enter, get your hand stamped for re-entry and receive your free program. Merchandise stands are located just past the entrance. Staff hand out free bottles of water with the aim to curb the perception that alcohol is essential to enjoy a game. Access to the seating area is narrow but easily navigable. The sidewalk leads you underneath the bleachers to a series of portals, from which you can enter the seating area on one side, and the Oland Centre on the other. As a first time visitor, a feeling of uncertainty comes across as it’s unclear whether you are allowed in the building where the locker rooms are located. However, this is also where the washrooms are situated which are outdated and fairly small, although lineups are minimal. The grandstands are not a good option if you are in a wheelchair, as a railing disrupts your view. Alternatively, you may sit just to the side of the grandstand. See one of the many approachable usher/security staff for assistance. Return on Investment 5 Come out and enjoy a beautiful setting for football with friends and family. Tickets run $8 for an adult prior to game day, $12 on game day, or $30 for season tickets. Discounts are available for seniors, students, and youth 12 & under. St.FX athletics offers a 6 or 10 game pass for any sport to get a variety of athletic entertainment. For a devoted fan, an “all sport” pass is available for $195. St.FX has an exciting and competitive football program. Overall, witnessing a game is a worthwhile investment for your entertainment dollar. Extras 4 StFX football at Oland Stadium has several items worth an extra mention: Contracting local food trucks for games Passing out free water as you enter the stadium The tradition of the Brule Bell, honouring a famous alumnus The hall-of-fame, including individually framed head shots sketched by hand and the historic trophies, photos, and jerseys encased in glass.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium 4103 Granny White Pk Nashville, TN 37204 Lipscomb Bisons website Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium website Year Opened: 1991 Capacity: 1,500 Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium – Lipscomb University Bisons Nashville is world renowned for its country music and neon-filled nightlife, but there is also a very wide appeal for baseball in the area – from the professional ranks with the Nashville Sounds (AAA- Milwaukee Brewers ), to the two-time national champion Vanderbilt Commodores , to the smaller, rival schools in the city, Belmont and Lipscomb universities. You do not have to venture far from the hustle-and-bustle of Nashville’s Broadway to find the quiet Green Hills neighborhood and the campus of Lipscomb University. Lipscomb has a deep baseball history dating back to the 1920s that includes two NAIA National Championships. The Bisons christened the current Ken Dugan Field in 1991, and have made upgrades to it as their program has grown. Since jumping from the NAIA ranks to NCAA Division I, Lipscomb has played as part of the Atlantic Sun Conference since becoming fully recognized members in 2003. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions here have many of the typical baseball items like hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, and sodas. The biggest game changer on the menu though, the addition of chili, opens a whole new world of possibilities. Hot dogs become chili dogs, nachos have more than just the usual suspect of a cheese cup, and a plain old bag of Fritos is now transformed to Frito pie. Beverages include a line of bottled Coke products; Lipscomb is an alcohol-free campus, so beer and seltzers are not available. Atmosphere 3 Upon initial approach, Dugan Field appears to be not much more than a small, brick and cinderblock press box, but after passing through the gates the stadium opens up to a concrete grandstand with alternating seat back chairs and backless bench seating. The bench seating serves more as a footrest than a seat, but can come in handy if the need for more seats should arise. There are a handful of umbrellaed patio tables around the top of the grandstand. While there is no shade in the primary seating area, trees on the grassy berm do provide relief from the sun. Any of the seats are good for taking in the action on the field. Day games make the first base side of the field preferred, to keep from having to face the setting sun all afternoon. Lipscomb plays on a well-manicured, natural grass surface with a synthetic halo surrounding the home plate area. The field plays to rather traditional dimensions: 330’ down each of the lines, 375’ to each of the gaps, and 400’ to dead center. A symmetrically curved, 8-foot fence is backed with trees from foul pole to foul pole. A simple scoreboard rests in right-center field and is crowned with the school’s gold and purple “L” logo. The scoreboard provides basic inning-by-inning scoring, hit-run-error, and ball/strike information. Restrooms are built into either side of the lower level of the press box, but are a bit on the small side. The doors to neighboring Allen Arena seem to be left open to provide fans with a second restroom option. Throughout the game there are not a lot of ad reads, but there are a handful of promotions to engage fans during the downtime between innings. Promotions include a “Let’s Make a Deal” type game that looks for a fan with a random item, Lipscomb baseball trivia, sing-along-karaoke, and a t-shirt toss. The remainder of the mid-inning downtime is filled with popular music. Neighborhood 4 The Lipscomb campus is a bit removed from the bright lights of Nashville’s entertainment district, but is just 2 miles from the 12 South neighborhood that is populated with several coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques. Though 12 South does not have all the lights and glitz of Nashville’s Broadway, the entertainment epicenter of Nashville is just five miles away. Lipscomb University itself is in Nashville’s Green Hills neighborhood, which is made up of several large, beautiful homes. Some of these homes are visible just over the right field wall. Nashville is a city ripe with sports entertainment, and much of it is not far from the Lipscomb campus. Belmont and Vanderbilt baseball teams play at separate fields, each just three miles away. On the north side of the city is First Tennessee Park , home of the AAA Nashville Sounds ( Milwaukee Brewers ). The Nashville SC of the MLS should just be starting their season as the Bisons are getting theirs going, while the Nashville Predators should be making a push just about the same time, in preparation for the NHL playoffs. Fans 3 Even though Nashville is a city that always seems to have something going on, Lipscomb does a fairly good job at drawing fans to baseball games, given the size of the university. Baseball attendance typically ranges from the mid 200s to the lower 400s per game. As might be expected, high profile programs do a lot to boost attendance to just over 1,000. On average, Lipscomb ranks in the middle of the Atlantic Sun conference when it comes to attendance. Students make up a decent amount of the total fans in the stands, but do not get overly rambunctious as students might at other schools. Fans are not necessarily loud, but they are actively engaged in the game and supportive. Access 4 The most direct access to Lipscomb is via Interstate-65 from the north or south, or from the I-440 bypass if approaching from the east, west, or from Interstate-24 (toward Murfreesboro). The campus is within 2 miles of either highway. Nashville has made a substantial investment in its public transportation, which does have a bus stop at the Lipscomb campus. Parking is available in either the Allen Arena East or West parking decks, and is just a short walk to Marsh Stadium’s entry gate. Even though there are entry points at the front of the stadium, the gate adjacent to Allen Arena is used for fan entry. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for Lipscomb baseball are a single, general admission price of $5. With free parking and reasonable concession prices, the monetary investment in going to a game at Dugan Field is minimal. Given the wide number of choices for sporting events in Nashville, the time investment might be a bit more of the prohibitive issue. Nevertheless, Lipscomb does well to attract from their own student body and the surrounding community. Extras 3 Lipscomb’s conference tournament successes and NCAA Regional appearances are recognized with banners on the West parking garage's exterior. There is a fair amount of grassy area for kids to run and play catch, while not getting in the way of fans watching the game. Lipscomb runs many promotions and giveaways throughout the season, including “Sunday Fun Day” where kids can run the bases post-game. Final Thoughts Even though baseball at Lipscomb would not be considered a destination ballpark, it is an enjoyable time. Opponents from Power-5 conferences tend to give a significant boost to the stadium's attendance and overall atmosphere. While Lipscomb probably is not going to pull many fans from the other collegiate or professional teams in town, they don’t really need to. The amount of Lipscomb fans, combined with a thoughtful game presentation, makes baseball at Ken Dugan Field an overall fun experience.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Day Field 2204 Henry St Ashland, VA 23005 Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets website Day Field website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 2,500 The Buzz Around Randolph-Macon The campus of Randolph-Macon College is located in Ashland, Virginia, about 20 miles north of Richmond. RMC's athletic programs, known as the Yellow Jackets, compete at the Division III level in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Randolph Macon's football team has enjoyed great success, winning four straight ODAC championships from 2020 to 2023 and reaching the semifinals of the 2023 Division III Tournament. The Yellow Jackets play their home games at Day Field, a 2,500-seat stadium that opened in 2012 to replace the previous venue of the same name. Both venues are named after RMBC faculty member Frank Day, who donated the property on the original stadium that was built in 1937. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions from local vendor Jake's Place are sold out of a tent near the scoreboard. The menu is somewhat limited and includes pulled pork sandwiches ($7), hot dogs ($6), chips ($1), candy ($2), water ($2) and assorted sodas ($2). Be sure to bring cash, as that is the easiest payment method to use here. A wide assortment of sauces, some of them homemade by Jake's Place, is available for your pulled pork or hot dog, as are the classic ketchup, mustard, and relish. This stand may not open until close to game time, especially for the hot food options. Atmosphere 5 Although Day Field is a Division III venue, the atmosphere here is quite good. There are two sets of bleachers, a larger one on the home sideline and a smaller one on the visiting sideline. Only the top row of seats has backs. A large scoreboard is located to the left of the home bleachers. Before the Yellow Jackets take the field, a single drum player will play their drum faster and faster as the crowd claps along on the off-beats to get hyped up. As it reaches a frenetic pace, the team will take the field led by cheerleaders holding flags spelling out "Jackets" and their mascot, Buzz, who is appropriately a yellow jacket. Buzz will proceed to roam the stands during the game, interacting with fans. Randolph-Macon does not have its marching band but partners with local ones to perform at halftime. There is no pregame performance and no band music played during the game itself other than halftime. The cheerleaders are active but generally stay in the same place on the sideline. Day Field is surrounded by campus buildings, and it is not uncommon to see students and others watching the game from the balconies. Neighborhood 3 Randolph-Macon College is located in Ashland, about 20 miles north of Richmond. Downtown Ashland includes many options, including the Iron Horse Restaurant, The Caboose Market & Cafe, and Trackside Grill. There are hotels available as well for visitors who are staying overnight. Richmond is a relatively short drive away and offers many more options than would be available here. Fans 5 Day Field officially seats about 2,500, but it will be over capacity in most games, especially for the heated rivalry against Hampden-Sydney. Crowds of about 3,500 are typical, or twice that for the Hampden-Sydney game. This ranks towards the top of Division III in attendance. Before the game even starts, the tailgate lot will be packed with fans as the smell of freshly grilled food rises. You do not often see such a tailgating scene at this level. The crowd here packs the bleachers and, when that fills up, stands along the fence surrounding the field. It can get quite loud here, especially when the Yellow Jackets make big plays or score a touchdown. On third downs, the PA announcer will dramatically announce, "It's third down," and encourage the crowd to get as loud as possible, and they will comply. While nobody would mistake the crowd here for what you'd see at a Division I school, RMC has one of the top fan bases in Division III. Access 3 The Randolph-Macon campus is a few miles off Interstate 95. Once you are on campus, keep in mind the lot closest to the stadium is reserved for tailgaters who have prepaid for their space. You can park in any other lot on campus, including the one directly across Center Street, where staff will helpfully direct you to an appropriate place to park. You may wind up parking on the grass or in other suboptimal places. Be sure to arrive at least an hour early if you want to park close, more for the Hampden-Sydney game. Restrooms (real ones, not port-a-potties) are located at the south end of the stadium and are generally sufficient for the crowds. The bleachers are not too hard to get up and down, with wide walkways, although they can get a bit backed up at halftime and postgame. One good thing about access is that the Ashland Amtrak station is located less than a 10-minute walk from Day Field, with access up and down the Northeast Corridor. This may not help most people, but for some, it will be extremely convenient. This easily accessible transit station brings what would be an otherwise low access score up a bit. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Randolph-Macon home games are just $10 each and can be purchased on the RMC athletics website or the hometown ticketing app. Children 12 and under and students, faculty, and staff of Randolph-Macon and their opponents get in for free. Tickets to the Hampden-Sydney game may be more expensive. Parking is free unless you reserve a space in the tailgating lot for the season, and concessions are reasonably affordable. Considering this is one of the top experiences in Division III football, a Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets game is of great value. Extras 4 A merchandise tent on the south end is worth an extra star here. A second star for the way Day Field is integrated into the Randolph-Macon campus, surrounded by buildings with balconies that overlook the field. A third star for the banners honoring Randolph Macon's postseason appearances. The drumbeat to introduce the team before the game is worthy of a fourth and final star here. Final Thoughts Don't let the fact that Randolph-Macon is a Division III college fool you. A Yellow Jackets football game at Day Field is a great experience at a price the whole family can afford. College football fans in Virginia will want to make the trip to Day Field on a Saturday in the fall.

Photo Courtesy of Foursquare Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Roy E Lee Field at Simmons Baseball Complex Stadium Dr. Edwardsville, IL 62025 SIU-Edwardsville Cougars website Roy E Lee Field at Simmons Baseball Complex website Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 1,000 Cougar Town Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has played baseball at their current stadium site since 1972. Renovations were made to the facility in 2004, 2005 and 2010. With the 2005 renovations, the field was transformed into a stadium. The field is named after Roy E. Lee, the founder of the SIUE program and the coach who led the Cougars to three Division II College World Series appearances. The complex is named for John Simmons, who along with his law firm, contributed money for the renovations for the facility. Seating capacity for the stadium is 1,000, including three rows of chair seats that stretch between the two dugouts. Three sections of bleachers (with backs) are directly behind home plate and lead up to the press box. From 1968 through the 2008 season, the Cougars played at the Division II level. SIUE joined the Ohio Valley Conference as they transitioned to Division I in 2008. The 2012 season was the first year the Cougars played a full conference schedule, although they were not eligible for postseason play until 2013. While the transition to Division I hasn’t been kind to SIUE on the field, fans do not have to look far back to remember the program's success. Along with the three Division II CWS appearances under Lee, the school made five Division II CWS trips with longtime coach Gary Collins at the helm for 34 years. Food & Beverage 2 There is one small concession stand behind the seating area. The stand does not feature anything out of the ordinary. A sign is posted to the left of the window that features the stand’s fare. However, no prices are listed and some items are covered by masking tape to signify they are no longer available. During my most recent visit, by the time I made my way to the concession stand brats, soft pretzels and hot cocoa had been removed from the sign. Hot dogs and nachos are the two main items available. Bags of chips, candy bars and individual bags of microwave popcorn are available for snacking, and are a steal for just 50 cents. The 20-ounce bottled drink offerings include Pepsi products, Gatorade, and water ($2.50). Atmosphere 3 There are not a lot of frills involved in the game day presentation at Roy Lee Field. So, the atmosphere will most likely be determined by the weather and the game on the day you attend. There are four sections (with three rows each) of red stadium seats directly behind home plate. These sections are uncovered. These seats are very close to the action and are filled up by the families of the players and the diehard fans. If the home plate umpire is not on his game, he will hear from these folks. Behind an aisle are three more sections of bleachers with backs. These seats are covered by a metal roof canopy. Due to poles holding up the canopy, there are a few obstructed views, but plenty of room to spread out and see all the action. At the top of this section is the press box, along with some very loud speakers for the public address system. There are plenty of places to stand and stretch your legs while still seeing the action. Several folks stand behind the first three rows of seats in the areas where there aren’t bleachers directly behind them. Also, there is a grass area down the first base line by the visitor’s dugout. Beyond the left field fence and outside of the stadium is a small hill where students can sit and take in the game for free. It’s a small hill, so there isn’t room for too many people. The students bring bag chairs and grills for weekend games. The field features Astro Turf GameDay Grass with only dirt for the warning track. Dimensions are symmetrical with 330 feet down the lines, 375 to the power alleys and 390 to dead center. A game program is available, featuring rosters and stats for both teams, along with an SIUE schedule. The program features ads from businesses that support SIUE athletics. The ads for restaurants and bars help new visitors to the area figure out where to stop in for a bite to eat and a drink after the game. Neighborhood 3 The Simmons Baseball Complex is located on New Poag Road in the northwest corner of campus. The stadium is somewhat detached from the heart of campus, with the baseball field surrounded by corn and bean fields. It’s a short drive from campus to downtown Edwardsville, with plenty of eating and drinking options. I stopped after the game at Dewey’s Pizza in historic, downtown Edwardsville. Dewey’s has five St. Louis area locations, along with several stores throughout Ohio. The menu features several choices of salads, calzones and pizza, including seasonal choices. The seasonal pizza when I visited was Dewey’s delicious take on a taco pizza, named after former pro wrestler, Tito Santana. The bar also features seasonal choices and I went with a seasonal beer from St. Louis favorite, Schlafly. An 11-inch pizza and draft beer will run you about $20, but it’s totally worth the price. If you’re dining with kids, the kitchen area features a glass window, so the youngsters can line up and see the pizzas being made. Former St. Louis Cardinals player and long-time radio voice, Mike Shannon, opened up a restaurant in Edwardsville in 2013. Mike Shannon’s Grill is a more casual version of his steak and seafood restaurant that is a downtown St. Louis institution. If you’re looking for an upscale sports bar in the Metro East area, you can’t go wrong here. Fans 3 With a program struggling through the transition to Division I, it would be understandable if the fans stayed away until the team got on steadier footing. Instead the Cougars are supported by vocal family and friends. If the fans behind the plate disagree with the strike zone, they make it known. The students grilling out behind the left field wall add a nice touch not seen in bigger parks. Access 3 The Simmons Baseball Complex features a sizable parking lot that fills up due to the fact that the field is separated from campus and all attendees are driving to the game. If the lot fills, cars can park in the grass close to the road. The restroom facilities are a little different than at most stadiums. Instead of a men’s room and women’s room with multiple facilities, there are four restrooms at the complex: one men’s room, one women’s room and two unisex rooms. The bathrooms are more reminiscent of a gas station, but cleaner, than a baseball stadium. There might be a short wait, as the visiting team also utilizes these restrooms. Return on Investment 2 At $7, general admission is fairly steep for Division I baseball outside of say the SEC, Pac 12 or ACC. The drinks are also a little pricey, but snacks are affordable. Parking is free. Spending nearly $10 seems too high when conference foes with similar stadiums do not charge admission. Extras 2 Beyond the left field wall is a sign paying homage to the history of the Cougars baseball program. The sign features the names and numbers of four of the more successful players in SIUE history that have moved onto the big leagues. The names and retired numbers are Champ Summers (19), Dennis Werth (15), Aaron Rakers (35) and Clay Zavada (13). The sign also notes the years of the eight D-II College World Series appearances (’72, ’76, ’77, ’83, ’85, ’91, ’97, and ’01). Final Thoughts Roy Lee Field at the Simmons Baseball Complex is a nice facility for a program that is in a growth stage. As SIUE continues at the D-I level, the atmosphere should continue to grow as well.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Drass Field at Scott D. Miller Stadium 401 Clara St Dover, DE 19904 Year Opened:  1986 Capacity:  2,500 Wolverines of The First State Wesley College is a private liberal arts college located in Dover, the capital of Delaware. The college was founded in 1873 as a preparatory school called Wilmington Conference Academy. It became a two-year college in 1918 and was renamed the Wesley Collegiate Institute and later just Wesley College. Wesley competes in Division III sports as part of the Atlantic East Conference, except in football where it competes in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.  Its teams are known as the Wolverines. Wesley has been very successful in football, achieving high rankings quite consistently. Food & Beverage   3 The food operation at Miller Stadium is quite a simple affair. There is a regular food stand at the far end of the main grandstand, as well as a tented operation at the near side of those same stands. The food is hot dogs, hamburgers and Italian sausages made straight from the grill. The offerings may be slim, but the price is cheap and the quality is quite high. Atmosphere   4 Wesley is good at football and draws a large crowd to their simple football field. The field is no more than an average high school quality stadium, but it is maintained well and offers a great atmosphere. There is one main grandstand, a small end zone seating stand, and a medium-sized visitor stand. Fans can also stand around the fencing that surrounds the field. Wesley has a nice scoreboard and has cheerleaders that help with the atmosphere. Neighborhood 4 The area is good if you need food and sustenance before or after the game. Legendary local chain Grotto Pizza has a sports bar located nearby at 1159 N DuPont Highway. They have never been a favorite of mine but fans of them will flock there. Other great choices include Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop on Gateway S Blvd, Restaurant 55 at 2461 S State St, La Tolteca Restaurant at 859 N Dupont Hwy, and 33 West Ale House & Grill at 33 W Loockerman Street. The Fire and Ice Bar at Dover Downs Casino is another choice for a drink after the game. Fans   4 The Wesley fans know the game well and support the team strongly. Wesley also plays relatively local teams, so expect to see the visitor stands full as well. Access   4 Dover is about a one-and-a-half-hour trip from Philadelphia or Baltimore, and at least two hours from Washington DC. It seems close by on a map but is isolated at the center of the Delmarva Peninsula. If venturing to a shore destination such as Ocean City, Maryland, or Rehobeth, Delaware, then Dover may make a quick, enjoyable stop, but as a destination, it is not the easiest location to travel to. Watch out for NASCAR weekends when traveling in the area; those weekends are not recommended unless you have no other options, as traffic can pile up, so leave yourself additional time in those cases. There may also be tolls unless you are already on the eastern shore or Delmarva region. If travelling from the DC and Annapolis area you will have to pay tolls across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. If going around the top of the bay from Baltimore you will have to pay very hefty tolls on either Route 40 or I-95. And coming from Norfolk you will need to pay for the Bay Bridge Tunnel. There will be plenty of parking on the streets near the stadium. Return on Investment 4 General Admission tickets are $8 and for Homecoming Weekend, special Tailgating and game package deals will be available. Extras 2 There seems to be a pretty decent tailgating culture before games in a field to the south of the stadium. An extra point is also given to the fact that the visiting team usually has their halftime meeting right along the fields surrounding the stadium. It is fun to watch the team’s plan for the next half of game play. Final Thoughts Drass Field at Scott D. Miller Stadium is a simple affair, but the high quality of play for Division III is quite evident and the fan support is very good.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Radford Baseball Stadium 101 University Dr Radford, VA 24142 Radford Highlanders website Radford Baseball Stadium website Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 56,000 Upscale Baseball in Rural Virginia Radford Baseball Stadium in Radford, VA is home to the Radford Highlanders of the Big South Conference. The venue opened in 1986 as Radford Baseball Field, but the name was changed in 2011 after the stadium was almost completely rebuilt during renovations beginning in 2008. The stadium is also used for baseball camps as well as high school baseball tournaments. Food & Beverage 2 The stadium has a single mobile concession stand, which they move around to different sporting events at Radford. Hot dogs are $3, or $3.50 if you add chili, and nachos are $4 for basic and $5 loaded with onions, chili, and jalapenos. Popcorn and peanuts are $3.50, sunflower seeds are $2, and chips and candy are $1.75 – chip options include Ruffles, Bugles, and Chex Mix, while “candy” options include powdered donuts, cookies, Honey Buns, Starburst, M&M’s, Skittles, and Snickers. Drink options include PowerAde for $3.50, Coke products in cans for $2, and bottled water for $2.50. Coffee is also available. Note that the concessions are cash only, and no outside food or drinks are allowed. Atmosphere 3 While small, Radford Baseball Stadium is a decent venue that feels modern, thanks to a brand-new press box and PA system, and bucket-style seats in all areas. The sightlines are good, and you can get really close to the action thanks to the size. The field is built alongside a small rise, and many fans sit or stand there to get a better view of the outfield – admission to Radford baseball games is free, so this is a preference, not a money-saving move (undoubtedly if admission wasn’t free the administration would find a way to prevent fans from watching from there). The field is also adjacent to New River if you are in the mood to take in some nature, and there is a baseball practice field next door that is a hit with the kids. Neighborhood 3 Radford Baseball Stadium is part of the Radford Athletics Complex, which includes the baseball field, softball field, basketball arena, golf course, tennis courts, soccer field, and track & field venue. There are a number of restaurants nearby, many of which offer fast food, but there are also a few small local eateries, and several pizza parlors (it is a college town after all). Probably the best option for before or after the game is BT’s on Tyler Avenue, a happening restaurant near campus that offers cheap beer, daily food specials, multiple TVs, and drink specials between 5 and 9 pm. A little on the loud side, BT’s provides a great atmosphere, and offers your typical bar & grill type fare, including burgers and wings, but also serves up some unique items such as the Porky Potato, a deep-fried spud piled with barbecued pork. Or, if you are looking for something truly unique, stop by Highlander Pizza for a Pizza Cone; Highlander Pizza is a local chain named after Radford’s mascot, and their unique menu item is exactly what its name implies – an ice cream cone made of pizza dough stuffed with cheese, sauce, and pizza toppings. Unfortunately, there isn’t much in the way of sightseeing in the town of Radford, but there are a couple of parks and the Glencoe museum, which is your typical small-town museum showcasing the history of the local area. A potentially more interesting option, if you are willing to drive about an hour east, is the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, which is well worth a visit. Located on Overlord Circle, the Memorial was dedicated in 2001 by then-President Bush and is made up of numerous sculptures across three plazas representing the planning, invasion, and victory. Viewing the Memorial will cost $10 per person, which is tax-deductible. Fans 3 At a typical game, the stadium is probably half or two-thirds full, and the fans are really into the game, cheering on their team and booing the umpire’s bad calls. There are lots of Radford red to be seen, although there are also a number of visiting fans, which makes sense as several of Radford’s Big South foes are located only a few hours away – Liberty University being the closest. The venue is far too small to offer any type of team store, so fans will need to bring their own Highlander hats, jackets, and t-shirts. Access 4 Right off of I-81, Radford University is easy to get to. There are plenty of signs pointing the way, and lots of logos touting the university once you get to campus, so you know you are in the right place. As mentioned earlier, the baseball field is part of the Athletics Complex, so there is plenty of parking because the complex was designed to support much larger venues like the Dedmon Center (home of Radford basketball), which has a capacity of over 5 times that of the baseball stadium, and is located right next door. Parking is free, and the bathrooms are easy to get to since RBS is so small – there are two for women and one for men, and while they aren’t very big, they are more than sufficient to accommodate 700 fans (and usually less). Check out the video below to see more of the complex: Return on Investment 4 Admission is free to Radford baseball games, as is parking. Concession prices are reasonable given the options, in fact, the same items here are much cheaper than they would be at a larger facility elsewhere (most likely because RBS doesn’t cost a lot to run, so additional revenue is not needed). The seats are comfortable and the atmosphere is decent, so a visit to this venue is well worth the cost. Extras 2 One point for the many different vantage points – the rise that runs alongside the third baseline allows for some pretty unique views of the game. Looking down from above provides a unique perspective that you can’t get at most parks, and also lets you get some great shots if you bring a camera (or your Smartphone). Another point for the practice field next to the park – bringing kids can be a hassle for parents since children don’t always have the longest attention spans, so having an activity they can engage in while you cheer on your team is a godsend. Final Thoughts Radford Baseball Stadium is a better stadium than you would expect from a small school in a small town – modernized due to recent renovations, it features great views of the game as well as beautiful natural scenery, and is well worth a visit if you are in the area. The experience is practically free since there is no cost for tickets or parking, so this is the perfect option for an outing with family or friends.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Dan Snyder Memorial Arena @ Woolwich Memorial Centre 24 Snyder St. S. Elmira, ON N3B 1Z1 Elmira Sugar Kings website Woolwich Memorial Centre website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 1,300 How Sweet is Sugar Land? Founded in 1971, the Elmira Sugar Kings have been stalwarts at the Junior B level, their existence hanging on through several different leagues.  Starting in the Western Ontario Junior Hockey League, then moving to the Southwestern Junior B Hockey League, Waterloo-Wellington Junior B Hockey League, Midwestern Junior B Hockey League, and finally, as of 2007, the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, the Sugar Kings have enjoyed a fair bit of success.  The Sugar Kings are the holders of three league championships, before the consolidation of Junior B hockey in Ontario, and three Sutherland Cups as Ontario Junior B Champions.  The name and logo come from Elmira hosting the largest Maple Syrup festival in the world, a staple in Elmira since 1965. Home for the Elmira Sugar Kings is the Dan Snyder Memorial Arena, named after the late NHL player who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2003.  The arena is found in the Woolwich Memorial Centre, owned by the Township of Woolwich and built in 2009.  The arena holds 1,300 fans and is part of a larger recreation complex.  The Elmira Sugar Kings are the sporting staple in small-town Elmira and have seen future NHL talent like Ric and Rod Seiling, Dan Snyder, Cam Stewart, Dennis Wideman, and Darryl Sittler. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions at the Woolwich Memorial Centre are what one would expect from a small town arena.  On the lower level, there is a small snack bar that provides beverages to the larger Centre.  Upstairs, inside the Dan Snyder Memorial Arena, there is a main concession stand that sells the usual arena staples.  Hot dogs, popcorn, pizza, nachos, and candy are the main items.  Coffee, hot chocolate, bottled water, and Pepsi products are the soft drinks available.  The Blueline Club, a few steps away from the concession area, offers a variety of alcoholic beverages.  Local brewery Rural Roots Brewery has a special brew for the Sugar Kings, “Always A King” among beer selections. Atmosphere 3 Built in 2009, the Woolwich Memorial Centre is one of the more modern buildings in the GOJHL.  It boasts an attractive silver siding and glass exterior and serves as a hub for the community of Woolwich Township and as a living memorial for those local veterans who lost their lives in armed conflicts.  The Woolwich Memorial Centre acts as a larger recreation facility with two pools, a gym, two ice rinks, an indoor track, and outdoor sports fields.  Upon entering the bright and clean facility, fans are greeted with a large display case with a stone statue of a soldier, to remind patrons of the ‘memorial’ part of the Woolwich Memorial Centre. To get to the main arena, the Dan Snyder Memorial Arena, fans must traverse a set of stairs and are met with temporary tables for ticket sales and a table for merchandise sales.  Trophy cases are common and well-maintained at the Woolwich Memorial Centre.  A large case sits outside the Dan Snyder Arena and houses awards earned by youth hockey teams and artifacts from local celebrities.  Upon entering the Dan Snyder Memorial Arena, the connection between the community and the Elmira Sugar Kings is immediately apparent.  The ice surface runs from north to south with eight rows of seating along the east and west sides of the ice surface.  The entrance to the arena is at the concourse level, a walking track behind the seating area.  The north side of the building features signage for several teams that call the arena home, including the Sugar Kings, who are proudly trumpeted as a community-owned team. The north and west sides feature several accolades for youth hockey teams over the years, but it is across centre ice, from north to south, which is reserved for the accomplishments of the Sugar Kings.  Of note are the five Cherrey Cup Championships (1974, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002) as the best team in the Midwestern Junior Hockey League, as well as the ultimate prize, four Sutherland Cups (1997, 2001, 2011, 2017) as champions of Junior B hockey in Ontario, across multiple leagues.  Since 2007, Junior B hockey has been consolidated into one league, the GOJHL, where the Sutherland Cup is awarded to the champion.  Previously, the winners of various leagues competed against each other for the Sutherland Cup.  Two other banners of note include a banner honouring the legacy of Jeff Snyder as a coach, GM, and Director of Hockey Operations.  The other is, of course, for Dan Snyder who played for the Sugar Kings and is from Elmira.  The gameday production at a Sugar Kings game is very simple.  There is a 50/50 draw and the requisite music during the downtime.  The PA system is very good and the announcer is easy to understand.  There is not much else to it; just hockey, pure and simple. Neighbourhood 3 Elmira is a town of only around 10,000, but there are a couple of things of note for fans.  The Arena is located a block west of Arthur Street, which is the main street in Elmira.  However, it is a residential area where the arena is, and a fast trip in the car to a spot for something to eat or drink before or after the game is probably necessary.  Other than the expected fast food restaurants, a couple of original spots fans may want to check out include Elmira Donuts & Deli, Arthur Street Kitchen and Bar, and Rural Roots Brewing Company.  For other sporting options, fans will need to head south to Waterloo as the Sugar Kings are the attraction in Elmira.  There are some other tourist options, however, including the Waterloo Central Railway, Kissing Bridge Trail, and Elmira Theatre Company.  Being in town for the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival would be ideal to get a real sense of the town of Elmira.  For fans wishing to stay in town, try Bristow’s Inn or head to Waterloo or St. Jacobs for more accommodation options. Fans 4 The Elmira Sugar Kings are one of the best-supported teams in the GOJHL.  In the 2023-2024 season, at the time of writing, the Sugar Kings are averaging more than 550 fans per game.  This is normally where they end up annually.  The fans in attendance are smart and supportive of their squad and the Sugar Kings are the sporting draw in Elmira.   Access 5 Getting to the Woolwich Memorial Centre is not difficult at all.  Elmira is in Woolwich Township, at the north corner of Waterloo Region, north of Kitchener-Waterloo.  Highway 85, before the Elmira bypass, becomes Arthur Street.  Getting through town to the arena is not difficult at all.  For fans wanting to take public transit, there are GRT bus stops on Arthur Street.  Fans should check out the Grand River Transit website for schedules, fares, and maps. Getting in and around Woolwich Memorial Centre is not an issue at all.  The walking track in the Dan Snyder Memorial Arena makes plenty of space for fans to move around during the game and there are plenty of spots for fans to stand if that is what they enjoy.  The washroom facilities are good for the arena also. Return on Investment 5 GOJHL hockey offers a solid return for little investment.  Elmira Sugar Kings tickets cost $12 for an adult, $10 for students/seniors and $5 for children.  Parking at the Woolwich Memorial Centre is free and concession prices are decent.  The caliber of hockey presented is solid and there is great support for the Sugar Kings, which adds to the atmosphere.  Overall, a great night of family fun can be had without breaking the bank. Extras 2 An extra mark for the Atlanta Thrashers hosting a promotional practice to help open the Dan Snyder Memorial Arena on October 18, 2009. An extra mark for the Sugar Kings Alumni, which included Dan Snyder, Rod Seiling, Ric Seiling, Dennis Wideman, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Darryl Sittler. Final Thoughts With the prices rising across all sporting events, finding something that is fun and not that expensive becomes an increasing challenge.  Checking out some Junior B hockey in the GOJHL is a great solution and the Elmira Sugar Kings are one of the premier teams in the league.  Fans won’t be disappointed by catching a game. --- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photo Courtesy of Niagara Purple Eagles Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 1.86 Bobo Field 5795 Lewiston Rd Lewiston, NY 14092 Niagara Purple Eagles website Bobo Field website Year Opened: 1949 Capacity: Unknown Niagara Fails Niagara University is a small Catholic school located in Lewiston, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. The University has a student body of 4,200, with half the students living on campus and the other half attending on a commuter basis. It was founded as a seminary in 1856, and officially became Niagara University in 1883. Niagara is primarily a liberal arts school, but also has a College of Business and a College of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Niagara’s Hospitality major is among the top six programs of its kind in the country, and has nearly a 100% placement rate for its graduates due to its proximity to Niagara Falls. The Niagara athletics program competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, with teams including St. Peter’s, Siena, Marist, Monmouth, Manhattan, Canisius and Quinnipiac. The sports teams go by the name of the Purple Eagles, and are very successful in basketball, hockey and soccer. Niagara University has two prominent baseball alums; Joe McCarthy, a seven-time winner of the World Series as a manager and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and Sal Maglie, a three-time All-Star as a Major League pitcher. The Purple Eagle baseball team currently calls the on-campus Bobo Field its home. For many years, the team played at Maglie Stadium, a community ballpark operated by the city of Niagara Falls. Due to tough financial times, the city chose to divest its ownership of the facility, as it was losing money and sold it to a private investor. The University and the investor could not come to terms on a contract, leading the team back to the campus. Unfortunately Bobo Field is a subpar facility in many ways. It offers none of the amenities even a basic baseball park on any college campus should offer. There are no lights at the field, no bathroom facilities (not even a port-a-potty), no parking access and very little in the way of seating. It is not a pleasant place to watch a baseball game, especially a doubleheader. Food & Beverage 1 There is no concession stand at Bobo Field, not even a water fountain. It is easy to pick up the local fans, as they tote in food and drink, as well as camp chairs for seating. Visiting fans must go more than two miles to the nearest convenience store for food or beverages. The only permanent seats are on the home side of the field, and consist of four rows of rusty bleachers. Atmosphere 1 The Niagara baseball team does put a good show on the field, but the conditions at Bobo Stadium do tend to dampen the enthusiasm quite a bit. The locals come prepared and show up in large numbers, despite the often cold and windy climate adjacent to the Niagara River. If you are a visitor and come unprepared, it can be a miserable viewing experience. Neighborhood 2 Niagara University is a self contained campus, with not many services right around it. It is located immediately beside the Niagara River Gorge, two miles north of the Falls. Technically, it is a part of the village of Lewiston. Some of the eateries located in the village include Carmelo’s Italian Restaurant, the Griffon Pub and the Village Bake Shop. The nearest accommodations to the University are in Niagara Falls, which, being an international tourist destination, has hundreds of accommodations at all price ranges available. Niagara Falls is approximately two miles south of the campus. The Hard Rock Cafe / Niagara Falls is very popular with the students. Fans 3 Niagara’s baseball fans do deserve a purple (school colors) star for their loyalty in cheering on the Purple Eagles. A majority of the fans are friends and family of the Niagara team members. In addition to cheering the team’s successes, they come prepared to deal with the shortcomings of the baseball facility, with coolers, blankets, food and drink and the knowledge of where the nearest bathrooms are, which is graciously shared with the opposing team and their fans. Many of the fans voiced a desire that an alternative site be found as soon as possible. Access 1 Niagara’s campus is located about 30 minutes north of downtown Buffalo, about midway between I-190 and the Robert Moses State Parkway. It can also be accessed via Highway 405 coming out of Canada, which becomes I-190 once it crosses the American border. Access becomes a problem once you reach the Niagara campus. Parking is free, but it is located nearly a half-mile from Bobo Field. The only paved surface to access the field is a hike/bike path that runs near the park; otherwise, you have to cross a large undeveloped field, which can be muddy after a rain. Also, it is wise to make a pit stop back on the main campus before heading out to the park, as no restroom facilities of any kind are available at the field. Return on Investment 1 There is no charge for anything at Bobo Field, and well…you get what you pay for. There are just too many other activities related to Niagara Falls that are going to provide you with more enjoyment (and indoor plumbing!) Extras 4 Obviously, the main extra to Niagara University is its close proximity to Niagara Falls. The campus is just north of the American and Horseshoe Halls along the Niagara River Gorge. On the other side of the gorge in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada are the beautiful Niagara Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory. Those wishing to make a long weekend out of their trip may choose to visit Toronto, which is about a 90-mile drive from Niagara via the QEW. History buffs may be interested in visiting nearby Fort Niagara or the Erie Canal Historical Park in Lockport. Shoppers have access to the 200-store Premium Outlet Mall located one exit south on I-190. Final Thoughts I really hope for the sake of the fans and players at Niagara University that some alternate facilities are identified in the near future. If not, I hope Niagara University will allocate funds to dramatically upgrade the existing field. The other athletic facilities on campus (tennis courts, ice rink, an artificial turf lacrosse/soccer field, sports arena) are in good shape and suggest that the University can do better for its baseball program.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Centre Gervais Auto 1200 Avenue des Cedres Shawinigan, QC G9N 1P6 Shawinigan Cataractes website Centre Gervais Auto website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 5,195 L’Energie de les Cataractes When the QMJHL formed in 1969, one of its first franchises was the Shawinigan Bruins. Since then, almost everything about The Q has changed, with the exception of that team located between Montreal and Quebec City. What is now known as the Shawinigan Cataractes is the only original team from The Q to continuously run in the same city. Known as the City of Energy for its production of hydro-electric power, the city of Shawinigan is also known as the home of Canada’s longest serving prime Minister, Jean Chretien, and legendary Montreal goaltender, and first goalie ever to wear a mask, Jacques Plante. The Cataractes have a long standing tradition with the city, formerly playing in the Arena Jacques-Plante. In English, Cataractes literally means “waterfalls,” which is also a reference to the Shawinigan Falls, which is used to produce energy. The Cataractes were a community owned team, until 2007 when “Le Club de Hockey de Shawinigan Inc” was sold to a group of 15 investors. The former home of the Cataractes, Arena Jacques Plante, was one of those arenas that oozed history and tradition. However, the Cataractes moved to a new arena in 2008, which was built and owned by the City of Shawinigan. The new area sold naming rights to a water treatment company known as Bionest. Although tragic that an old arena with a great tradition and name had to be abandoned, it is probably for the best. The Cataractes were the host team for the Memorial Cup in 1985, but Arena Jacques Plante only hosted 2 games of the tournament. The support columns in the seating area made it impossible to televise the games, and the remainder of the tournament was moved to Drummondville. Shawinigan has been rewarded for their loyalty. They are the host city for the 2012 Memorial Cup, a tournament in which the Cataractes are guaranteed a birth as the host city. Food & Beverage 3 There is decent variety of food at the Cataractes game and the prices are decent as well. Budweiser and Bud Light are the available beers at Centre Bionsest ($4.75). Hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, fries, and soda are available here. There is a Van Houtte Coffee stand that offers various flavours of coffee. You can also try some Quebec staples which would include a Montreal Smoked Meat sandwich and some poutine. Atmosphere 5 Centre Bionest de Shawinigan has a newer look to it. The classic, red brick look to Arena Jacques-Plante has been left behind for something a little more modern looking. Once inside you will notice a couple of unique items in the causeways. There are numerous places to sit and eat, or stand and eat. You can also find a nursing station/kids area. Finally, there are a few “rod hockey” games for the kids to play as well. Once inside the seating bowl, you will see a split level seating bowl with a 360 degree walkway around the centre of the seating bowl. That walkway offers much desired standing room which seems to be important at all junior rinks. The back wall of the walkways, which would normally be a bland painted concrete, are painted a sharp navy blue with numerous Cataractes logos around the arena. Above the seating bowl there are numerous banners hanging. A couple of banners are for division and conference championships. These pale in comparison to the 9 banners that honour former Shawinigan players. These include the retired numbers of: Michel Briere, Benoit Plouffe, Marcel Giguere, Dean Bergeron, Patrice Lefebvre, Stephan Lebeau, Patrick Lalime, Marc-Andre Bergeron, and Stephane Robidas. However the biggest banners belong to two men who never played for the Cataractes. There is a banner honouring former Montreal Canadiens, and Shawinigan native Andre Pronovost, who won four Stanley Cups. The largest banner is of course for hockey innovator and icon, Jacques Plante. Plante was the first goalie ever to don a mask, and kicked off the era of colorful and exciting face masks. He is a native of Shawinigan and his number has been retired at Le Centre Bell in Montreal as well. Neighborhood 2 Centre Bionest is located on what is basically the edge of town, not far from the river. It is north of what would be considered downtown Shawinigan. There is nothing that is walkable for pre or post game fare. You are pretty close to Arena Jacques Plante, which is worth a drive-by at least. If you are looking for a place to go, head downtown where you can find a few places that may interest you. For something pretty close, you may want to try the Broadway Pub where they have a good beer selection. Fans 5 Attendance in Shawinigan has been in the top 5 in the QMJHL, especially since they have christened the new building. This is one of the reasons that the Cataractes have been rewarded with the ability to host the Memorial Cup in 2012. Even more than the support at the box office that the Cataractes have received, Cataractes fans are LOUD! They seem to be in the play all the time, and when a goal is scored, the place gets really loud. On the other hand, when the opposing team scores, you can hear a pin drop. Shawinigan fans are intelligent and passionate, and much more hospitable than I ever expected. Access 4 Getting to the Centre Bionest is very easy. It is right on the edge of town, so traveling there by car is a piece of cake. Parking is free, but you might want to get there early enough to ensure that you are getting a good spot. Parking goes down to Arena Jacques-Plante, but is a little less organized down there. Centre Bionest does seem a bit small to host the Memorial Cup, but I’m sure they will do a great job. Washroom facilities are adequate, and traveling throughout the arena can be tight at times. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to see the Cataractes are an unbelievable deal! Adult tickets are only $15, and tickets for children are a staggering $5!! At this rate, a night for the family at a Cataractes game is cheaper than a night at the movies. Parking is free and concession prices are good. The Q is a fast-paced, high-scoring league, that never seems to disappoint. At the end of the day, I don’t think it is possible to get a greater return on such a small investment. Extras 3 An extra point for being the host city of the 2012 Memorial Cup. An extra point for the large hanging aboriginal in the upper corner. He flashes with lightning when the Cataractes score a goal. Extra points for the stability of the Shawinigan franchise and their great history in the Q. Final Thoughts If you REALLY want to see what Quebecois hockey is all about, make a trip to see the bedrock of junior hockey in Quebec. The Shawinigan Cataractes are a fantastic entertainment experience and a must for all hockey gurus. When in Shawinigan you will most definitely feel l’energie!

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 A. B. Howard Gymnasium 33 College Dr Ellisville, MS 39437 Jones College Bobcats website A. B. Howard Gymnasium website Year Opened: 1927 Capacity: 2,200 The Free State of Jones Jones College is a Junior College located in downtown Ellisville, Mississippi. The college originally opened as an agricultural high school in 1911, before beginning to offer junior college classes in 1927. Today Jones College is one of 15 teams that make up the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conferences (MACCC) for basketball. Nicknamed the Bobcats, the first year of athletics at Jones began in 1927 and currently sponsors 11 sports. The Bobcats compete in NJCAA Division 1 Region 23, which also includes some Louisiana schools. In over 80 years of basketball at Jones the Bobcats have won six State (MACCC) Championships and have been Region 23 Champions three times. But perhaps the greatest feat in Bobcat Basketball history happened at the end of the 2013-14 season, when the Bobcats won their first NJCAA National Championship. The Bobcats were coached at the time by current Southern Miss Head Coach Jay Ladner, who was named Junior College Coach of the Year that season. Food and Beverage 2 There is one small concession stand in the lobby of the gym. They don't sell much here as the menu only consists of popcorn ($3), candy, and canned cokes ($2). The gym is attached to the Student Union, however, which has a Taco Bell and a small restaurant called The Grill – both places are open during games, however you have to walk outside the gym and around through another entrance to get to the union. Though there is technically a no re-entry policy, I was able to talk the lady taking tickets at the front into letting me leave and come back, and she seemed relaxed. Atmosphere 3 The Bobcats play at the Historic A.B. Howard Gymnasium, formerly known as Bobcat Gym. Opened in 1954 the gym is named after the winningest coach in Jones College history, A. B. Howard. Howard is a former standout running back on Mississippi State's 1941 SEC Championship team. He came to Jones College in 1950 as the football coach, serving in that position until 1961, and serving as the basketball coach until 1977. After retiring from coaching he was the Jones College Athletic Director from 1977-1982. From the outside the gym looks like any other building on campus, as it is attached to the Student Union and campus police station. There is only one main entrance to get to the gym, on the north side of the building. The surrounding walkway walking up to the building on the north side is quite pretty during Christmas – they have a giant Christmas tree lit up right outside with decorations all around the building; it definitely sets the mood if you are attending a game during the holiday season. Once inside there is a spacious lobby with a trophy case and a banner commemorating the 2014 National Championship Team. The National Championship trophy is also on display in the rack, as well as Jay Ladner's Coach of the Year plaque. Once inside the gym it is basically laid out like an old high school gym. There are 15 rows of wooden bleachers on each side of the court, which can hold about 2,200 people. The ceiling is made of the typical ceiling tile you would find in a classroom, and a large A/C unit sits hoisted up at the east end of the court, next to a basic scoreboard that just shows the score. The one cool thing that stands out is the large banner of the basketball team that takes up the entire east side wall, as well as all 10 of the MACCC Champions Banners, and the large 2014 National Championship banner standing out above center court, adding to the intimidation for visiting teams. Neighborhood 3 Downtown is just a couple of blocks off campus and features a historic courthouse, with a square of historic buildings that date back to the 1800s. Ellisville is one of the oldest cities in Mississippi, and you can definitely tell by walking around downtown – many of the buildings still look like they did over 100 years ago. A couple of restaurants to check out downtown include Casadores Mexican Grill, Karocks (which is a chicken and BBQ joint), and Bosun Suns, a popular seafood restaurant located in an old historic hotel. Another interesting place to check out in downtown Ellisville is the Amos Deason House. The house was built in 1845 and gained historical significance because of a small Civil War skirmish in 1863 that resulted in the death of the house’s owner. The House is rumored to be haunted, and is considered one of the most haunted places in the South – it has been featured on numerous TV shows. Deason House is located a couple of blocks away from campus, and if in town on Saturdays they give tours of the historic home. The events that unfolded at the house were adapted into the 2016 movie ‘Free State of Jones’ starring Matthew McConaughey. Fans 2 The Bobcats average a couple hundred fans per game. You'll find a mix of all kinds of people scattered throughout the gym. There is no permanent student section, although most of the students will sit in the bleachers on the east side of the building behind the home bench. There were also a good number of visiting fans sitting on the west side bleachers at the most recent game I was at. There is no student band or mascot walking around, although there are cheerleaders pumping up the crowd. Access 3 Getting to Ellisville is very simple; the small town is conveniently located off Interstate 59 about 20 minutes north of Hattiesburg and 5 minutes south of Laurel. The campus is located at Exit 58, a few miles past the interstate on Highway 590. Getting to campus can be quite easy, however finding the Gym can be quite difficult. As mentioned, the Gym blends in with the surrounding buildings and is a part of the Union, so it can hard to find without a campus map. However, the building is located right next to the big green quad at the center of campus. Return on Investment 3 Tickets are $8 to attend a Bobcats game, which I consider reasonable for basketball at this level. Don't come expecting many concessions though, as I would definitely recommend getting something to eat before coming to the game, or eating at the Taco Bell attached to the building. The Bobcats have also sent over 100 players to the next level, so you are potentially seeing some future D1 basketball players on the court. The Bobcats are consistently one of the better teams in the MACCC every year as well, and have the NJCAA National Championship to add to their resume. Extras 3 The Bobcats assistant coach for the 2022-23 season is former NBA player Clarence Weatherspoon. The Mississippi native and Southern Miss alum had been the assistant coach for his alma matter for the past six seasons, until he got job at Jones. Weatherspoon was selected 9th overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He had a 14-year career for six NBA teams, and finished second in the 1993 All-Star Game Dunk Contest his rookie year. Weatherspoon was nicknamed "Little Barkley" during his first few seasons, as the Sixers drafted him three days after trading away Charles Barkley. Because of both players' similar builds, Weatherspoon was drafted to the Sixers as the subsequent heir to Barkley. The Jones College football team also made history in 1955, when they played in the Junior Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the NJCAA National Championship against Compton (CA) College. Though the Bobcats lost that game, they made history by becoming the first sports team from Mississippi to play against an integrated team with black players. Under the threat of losing state funding, the college president assured his team that they would get a chance to play for a national title. There is a nice historical marker as well as a plaque dedicated to this game outside the gymnasium. Some of the more notable alumni of Jones College include two-time national champion quarterback at Georgia, Stetson Bennett and Super Bowl XXXIX (2005) MVP for the Patriots Deion Branch, as well as Grey Cup winning quarterback, and the college's only member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Jackie Parker. Seahawks Safety Jonathan Abram, UFC Heavyweight Chase Sherman, and Western Actor Red West round out the list of interesting names to attend this small college.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 George W. Woodruff Physical Education Center 26 Eagle Row Atlanta, GA 30322 Emory Eagles website George W. Woodruff Physical Education Center website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 1,000 Welcome to the WoodPEC Tucked away in Atlanta’s Druid Hills neighborhood sits the campus of Emory University. Even with Emory’s high academic standards, athletics play a key role in the overall culture of the university. Originally founded in 1836, Emory would move from their original east Georgia home in Oxford, Georgia, to Atlanta in 1915 on land donated by the founder of the Coca-Cola Company, Asa Griggs Chandler. Emory University has played in the University Athletic Association in the NCAA’s Division III since the conference’s inception in 1986. The UAA is comprised of colleges and universities throughout Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, which are all also highly regarded institutions of higher learning.   Food & Beverage   2 When it comes to food and beverages, options are as basic here as you are going to find. A small table is set up along the entryway and sells candy, chips, and other snacks, along with Minute Maid Agua Fresca, Dunkin’ Iced Coffee, Powerade, and Coca-Cola products. A saving grace for concessions is that outside food does not seem to be frowned upon – with the Cox Hall food court just steps from Woodruff P.E. Center, there are several options for fans to grab and bring to the game.   Atmosphere   4 The George W. Woodruff Physical Education Center, affectionately called the “WoodPEC”, is a multi-use student recreation complex that houses campus health and wellness facilities and an Olympic-sized swimming pool, along with the gymnasium. The facility uses two very different styles at each of its entrances. In what might be considered the backdoor there is a very ‘80s minimalist feel to it, with very straight angles and little use of glass and windows. In contrast, the campus side of the facility has a much different feel, featuring a high arching entryway, large columns, and a great deal of stonework on the lower portion of the building. Since Woodruff Physical Education Center doubles as the student recreation center, there is an interesting mix of those there for the basketball game and those there to get a workout in. The playing area is part of a much larger gymnasium that is divided into a pair of side courts alongside the main game court. Traditional wooden bleachers pull out from the wall across from team benches, while temporary bleachers run the length of the sidelines behind the team benches. Basic scoreboards are affixed to the facade of the overhead track that runs above the gym; the scoreboard at the home end of the floor provides fans with player individual totals, along with the typical game time and score. Emory also has a small but energetic pep band, which is quick to fill time during breaks in the action with popular music and the school fight song, to fire up students and alumni. Friday night games also use a DJ to bring a bit of hype to the contest. When it comes to seating, much will depend on needs and wishes. Seating across from the team benches is wooden step-up bleachers, so there is no back support. On the other hand, the bleachers behind the team benches are more of a stadium style with seatbacks. For students, Friday night games seem to bring a bit more excitement, as Emory Athletics hosts a pre-game tailgate with free food, beer, and giveaways. This goes a long way in enticing students to come out to the game and create a fun, college basketball atmosphere.   Neighborhood   4 Emory is in Atlanta’s Druid Hills neighborhood, just to the east of downtown Atlanta. On campus, Woodruff Physical Education Center is in the northwest corner, sandwiched between the campus track and tennis courts. The area immediately around Emory’s campus allows visitors to feel as if they are in a small college town. Just east of campus, Emory Village has a handful of restaurants, cafes, and shops, while to the north, Emory Point offers even more shops and restaurants, including one of Atlanta’s most highly regarded delis, The General Muir. Alternatively, if looking for more of a college town vibe with more food, drink, and entertainment options, the city of Decatur’s town square is only a short drive away. Being just over 6 miles from Downtown Atlanta, there are seemingly endless points of interest near the arena.   Fans   4 Emory’s student body and fanbase definitely fill the stands, especially for Friday night games. They typically create a definitive home court advantage, but at times require a bit of a spark to get going. Fans do not seem to be overly rambunctious throughout the game, but are quick to celebrate big plays, jeer opponent mistakes, or join the Eagles’ bench in calls for “DE-FENSE!”.   Access   3 Emory is in a part of Atlanta that can be a bit tricky to get to, close to being in the middle of three different interstate highways (I-85, I-20, and the Atlanta I-285 bypass). The area is fed by surface and neighborhood streets that can be rather congested on Friday evenings, when the Eagles play many of their home games. A saving grace is that Emory plays many of their games at noon on Sundays, so dealing with the trials and tribulations of Atlanta traffic is not much of an issue at this time of day. When it comes to accessing the gymnasium, a large parking deck is conveniently located on the back side of Woodruff Physical Education Center, which is just a short walk away. Fans will enter on the second level of the recreation center and proceed to the middle of the building, where they can take the stairs or elevator to the first floor, where the gymnasium’s entry point is located.   Return on Investment   5 Admission to Emory Eagles basketball games is free, as is parking, so it’s hard to ask for anything more than that. Concessions are a bit hit or miss when it comes to what might seem reasonable, especially for beverages, and there really aren’t any food options to attract fans, unless they just need to grab something to tide them over.   Extras   3 The hallway behind the primary seating area has two “pop-a-shot” games where fans to challenge each other to a head-to-head competition, or just see what high score can be set. The walls of the eastern entrance on the main level display the Emory Athletics Hall of Fame – one drawback though is many of the plaques are mounted so high up the wall they can be difficult to read. Along the center staircase of the WoodPEC is an interactive look at Emory University athletics and the accomplishments of each of the Eagles programs. Also included is the Emory Victory Bell that was salvaged from the Emory Victory, a World War II and Korean War-era cargo ship. The bell is rung in recognition of the achievements of student-athletes.   Final Thoughts Emory University has a vibrant basketball atmosphere that encompasses much of what has traditionally made college basketball so attractive. Despite what might be considered a smaller venue, the packed stands contain a lot of energy that celebrate the highs and lows of the game. The coziness of the stands and involvement of fans create an exceptionally fun, Division III college basketball experience.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Davidson College Stadium 109 Patterson Court Circle                                                                                                                                                     Davidson, NC 28035 Davidson Wildcats website Davidson College Stadium website Year Opened: 2024 Capacity: 5,000 The Wildcats' New Den Davidson College is a private liberal arts school affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is in the village of Davidson, NC, which is 19 miles north of Charlotte, NC. The school was founded in 1837 and has a student body of just over 1,900 students. The school offers more than 74 majors and other academic programs. The athletic teams at Davidson are known as the Wildcats. They play at the FCS level of NCAA Division I football as a member of the Pioneer Football Conference. Davidson first fielded a football program in 1896. They played at the Division III level of competition through 1992, when they moved up to the FCS level. The Wildcats have gone to the FCS playoffs three times (2020,2021 and 2022). Davidson’s rivalry game each season is the interstate battle with Presbyterian College. This game is known as the Carolina Border Clash, with the winner taking home the 1919 Cup. The kickoff to the 2024 college football season was also the beginning of a new era for the Davidson College football program. For the first time in a century, when the Davidson Wildcats stepped out on their home field, it was not in Richardson Stadium. The opening of Davidson College Stadium is the crowning achievement of the Athletics Done Right: The Next Step capital campaign to take athletics to the next level at the school. Richardson Stadium, built in 1923, will stay in use as the track and field stadium at Davidson. While Davidson College Stadium primarily serves as the home of the football and lacrosse programs, it also serves a much broader purpose to benefit the entire Wildcats athletic program. The 56,000-square-foot three-story building atop the home side of the stands is known as the Game Changers Field House. It houses several facilities that are being used by all the sports teams at the school. These include the Sports Performance Center (weight room/training room), the Sheridan Brothers Locker Rooms, showers, coaches’ offices, a film room, team meeting rooms, and a media center. The top floor of the Field House will have a large multipurpose room for use by boosters and other campus activities. The new stadium includes stands on both the home and visitor sides of the field. This is a huge change from the home and visiting fans having to share the same seating area. It also allows the cheerleading squads and bands from each school to focus on their respective fanbases. Food & Beverage 4 One of the main beneficiaries of the new stadium on gamedays is the concession stands. They are located at the concourse level of the stadium, which is atop the seating bowl at the 50-yard line. The Richardson Stadium concession area was located quite a distance from the seating area. The state-of-the-art food prep area greatly reduces the wait time to receive your food. The concession stand has also expanded its menu to include NC Hot Chicken, pork BBQ, potato wedges, and a more diverse beer and wine list. Pepsi brand sodas and North Carolina favorite Cheerwine are the featured soft drinks. Unfortunately, there is no permanent concession stand on the visitor’s side of the field. Davidson College Stadium also has several local food vendors lined up for games with temporary setups. These include Sully’s Steamers sandwiches, Crazy Pig BBQ, and Bojangles. Atmosphere 4 Moving into a brand-new stadium has brought a whole new feel to attending home games at Davidson. The faculty, administration, and alumni sections of the seating bowl are located between the 40s at midfield and feature chairback seats… much more comfortable than the bleacher seats at Richardson Stadium. The other sections of the stands still feature bleacher seating. By spreading stands over both sides of the field, the new structure was able to place the seats closer to the playing field, as no seats are more than 15 rows from the playing field. The new electronics package at Davidson College Stadium is a vast improvement over Richardson Stadium. The basic, high school-level scoreboard used at Richardson Stadium has been replaced by a high-definition Armfield Foundation video board. The lighting and sound system at the new stadium is now state of the art. The playing surface at the new stadium also adds to the improved atmosphere at home games. It features a very attractive graphics package with each of the end zones featuring one of the team’s colors (red and black). There is also a script “D” at the 50-yard line of the field. The new artificial turf should also reduce injuries for both the home and visiting teams, as it is a much more giving surface than its predecessor. The playing surface is known as Field 76, which is the number Coach David J. Fagg wore during his playing days at the college. Coach Fagg then served as the head football coach at Davidson during the 1970s. After retiring from the coaching profession, he became a fundraiser for the Davidson Athletic Fund. Neighborhood 5 Davidson College Stadium is located at the north end of the Davidson College campus. It is still within walking distance of the main campus quad and the charming downtown Davidson business district. The downtown area is very pedestrian and bike-friendly with both walking trails and bike lines. It is very much a college town, with mom-and-pop stores serving the student population. One of the local favorites is the Soda Shop. It has been open since 1951 and serves the typical soda shop menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, and milkshakes. Those looking for more adult fare can choose between the Brickhouse Tavern and Il Bosco. The downtown area also features the Our Town Cinema and Drafthouse. Most of the lodging accommodations for visitors to Davidson are located at the I-77 exit, which is only two miles from the campus. They include the Davidson Village Inn, and the Homewood Suites by Hilton-Davidson. If you will be staying in Davidson over a football weekend, be sure to visit Lake Norman. It is the largest manmade lake in North Carolina. There are numerous recreational activities available at the lake, including a picnic area, fishing, boating, and swimming areas. Fans 4 Attending a game at Davidson College Stadium is the quintessential small college football experience. Davidson only has 1,900 students, and most of the alumni live in the greater Charlotte area. This means it does not require a lot of effort to get back for all the home football games. They are very knowledgeable about the players, as the school’s small size makes it likely you might know several classmates who also play on the football team. They are very welcoming of visitors and are glad to recommend places to eat at or visit while you are in town. The students are also well-behaved at games, with no trash-talking, as the school has a very strict honor code. The stands are packed for every home game, as alumni have turned out in large numbers to check out the first new Davidson football stadium in more than 100 years. Access 4 The Davidson campus and the football stadium are very easy to get to from I-77. From Charlotte: Take I-77 North for 19 miles to the Davidson exit (Exit 30). Turn left onto Griffith Street and follow it until you reach North Main Street. Turn left on North Main Street, then right on Patterson Court Circle. There is a large, paved parking lot right outside of the stadium. Gameday parking in this lot is $30, with free parking available in a grass lot next to the baseball field. Overflow parking is available at the Baker Sports Complex just south of the stadium. Davidson College Stadium is much easier to navigate than Richardson Stadium. While Richardson Stadium was charming, it was built well before many of the amenities we expect to see in a sports facility existed. There are multiple ticket windows too so you should not expect much of a line when you buy your tickets. There are several entry points into the seating bowl, so you should have no trouble getting to your seats. The concourse and the aisles are wide enough that you should have no problem getting around the venue. The seating bowl is in a U–shaped, with the concourse circling to the other side of the field at one end atop a berm. The other end of the field is where the videoboard is located. There are three entry gates at Davidson College Stadium. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. Return on Investment 3 Attending a game at the new Davidson College Stadium will not cost you an arm and a leg. The three middle sections between the 40s on the home side of the field feature chairback seats, which are $24 for adults and $12 for youth (under 18). All other seating in the stadium features bleacher seating and is considered general admission. (General Admission also means bench seating… bring a seat cushion!). The general admission seats are $14 for adults and $7 for youth (under 18). The grass berm at the end of the field is also considered General Admission seating. Parking is $30 in the paved lot just outside of the stadium. Parking is free in the grass lot next to the baseball field or at the nearby Baker Sports Complex. As far as concession prices, the stadium standards are reasonably priced. Some of the items on the newly expanded menu such as the Impossible burger, the NC Hot Chicken, and several items on the beer and wine list are somewhat more expensive than you would pay at a retail establishment. Extras 3 Nearly 25 percent of the Davidson student body is involved in one of the NCAA sports at the school. The Wildcats have beaten the University of Georgia Bulldogs. The game took place in 1906, with a score of 15-0. Davidson used the recently approved forward pass to seal the victory over the Bulldogs. Davidson has the 4th smallest enrollment of any school competing in Division I football. Davidson is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference in all sports except football. Final Thoughts After playing in Richardson Stadium for more than a century, the football program has moved to a new state-of-the-art facility just up the street. While the football program is the major beneficiary of the new stadium and the Game Changers Field House, the facility will also service the needs of all 21 Division I sports programs at the school. The training facilities, sports medicine offices, the strength and conditioning rooms and sports performance laboratories housed in the new structure will be available to all Wildcat athletes. In addition, the alumni will have access to the Gallery 18 multipurpose space housed on the top floor of the Field House for their meetings. There are also plans to allow the townspeople of Davidson, NC to use the building for community events as the schedule allows.

Photos courtesy of Columbia Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Robertson Field at Satow Stadium 533 W 218th St New York, NY 10034 Columbia Lions website Robertson Field at Satow Stadium website Year Opened: 1921 Capacity: 360 Columbia Baseball Tucked away in a remote nook of the Baker Athletic Complex at the northernmost tip of Manhattan on 218th Street, Robertson Field at Satow Stadium is home to the Columbia Lions baseball team. Befitting Manhattan’s trademark space-efficient design, Satow Stadium abuts the school’s football stadium, Wien Stadium, along the third base side and the softball field and parking lot along the first base side. The outfield wall borders Spuyten Duyvil Creek, which connects the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, and the Marble Hill neighborhood of the Bronx serves as the backdrop for fans, catchers, and batters. The Baker Athletic Complex opened in 1921, though it is unclear which year the baseball stadium opened. It is certain, however, that America’s first televised sporting event was held there in 1939, a Columbia-Princeton contest at what was then known as Andy Coakley Field. Coakley, a member of the 1908 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs (he did not play in the Series), coached a young Lou Gehrig at Columbia, though Gehrig’s time at the school occurred when the team was still playing at South Field, now part of Columbia’s campus approximately 100 blocks south of the current stadium. Andy Coakley Field was renovated in 2007 and re-named Robertson Field in honor of 1981 graduate Harold Robertson, a football and baseball player in his time at Columbia. In 2010 Columbia honored Phillip Satow, a 1963 graduate and Lion baseball player, by dubbing the diamond Robertson Field at Satow Stadium. Satow Stadium has four sections (plus one additional strip of two seats per row) with seven rows each of stadium-style plastic seats. The playing surface is FieldTurf, which makes sense given the cold Northeast climate, as it is not conducive to early spring grass growth. The seats, field, and press box are very modern and professional, as are the dugouts. The seats are asymmetrically located from the 7 o’clock position of home plate to approximately half-way up the first base line, with plenty of room to stand on the stadium’s wide concourse. The seats on the first base side abut the fence, while those behind the plate and to the left are slightly farther away. The outfield features a full-color scoreboard displaying photos of each batter as his personal walk-up music plays over the stadium’s PA system. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Satow. A deli and coffee shop are located across 218th Street from the main entrance to the Baker Complex, a few hundred yards from the Satow entrance. These are the closest places to get anything to eat or drink. Fans are allowed to bring in any food they would like. Though alcohol is specifically banned, one otherwise well-behaved fan was spotted drinking beer in his seat out of a blue plastic Solo cup. A few fans set up tables to eat and drink in the parking lot, though this was far from an SEC football-style tailgate scene. Many fans arrived with coffee and other hot drinks on this snowy March day. Atmosphere 2 There is not a single bad seat in Satow Stadium, though there are only approximately 360 of them. Because the seats are so close to the field, and because you wouldn’t have to raise your voice very much for everyone in the stands to hear you, there is a small feeling of community to the proceedings. The security staff, who appear to be student volunteers, are friendly and non-intrusive. Columbia has an interesting 147-year baseball history. Unfortunately, you would never know it from visiting Satow Stadium. There is nary a mention of Andy Coakley or Lou Gehrig to be found, and even the plaques commemorating Robertson and Satow themselves are located on a ramp to the visitor’s dugout on the third base side that is closed to spectators. The only acknowledgement of previous Columbia teams comes in the form of dates signifying NCAA Tournament appearances and Ivy League Championships on the outfield walls. The field at Satow is sunken below the rest of the broader complex, and both baselines feature tall, unsightly cement walls running nearly to each foul pole. The walls serve as a not-so-subtle reminder that this stadium is crammed very tightly into a much larger complex in America’s most densely-populated metro area. The stadium is also dwarfed to the left by Robert Kraft Field at Lawrence Wein Stadium, the school’s 17,000-seat football stadium, which also serves Columbia’s lacrosse and track and field teams. The visitor’s dugout is cut into the wall on the third base side, nestled below the track surrounding the football field. These physical limitations, coupled with the strange outfield configuration (the center field fence is actually closer than the left and right field walls) dictated by an unswimmable river combine to give the stadium a somewhat claustrophobic feel. Neighborhood 3 Compared to most of the country, the area surrounding Satow Stadium is teeming with options for pre and postgame dining or entertainment. Compared to the rest of Manhattan though, the area is fairly quiet. The stadium is located in the Inwood neighborhood at the northern tip of Manhattan, far from the hustle and bustle of New York City’s more touristy areas. Even the heart of Columbia’s campus sits a cool 100 blocks (5.5 miles) to the south, which seems to preclude students with no personal ties to any players from attending. Anything you would come from somewhere else and visit Manhattan to do is a long subway ride away. The neighborhood feels very safe, but aside from the deli and coffee shop on 218th Street, everything in sight of the Baker Athletic Complex entrance is fairly industrial, including several auto-body shops, closed storefronts, and raised train tracks running above Broadway, the closest major thoroughfare. Within a five-minute walk down Broadway are a handful of restaurants and sports bars. A few grocery stores are also only a few minutes away by foot. Fans 3 Crowds typically attract a friends and family-heavy affair, with a few faculty types in the mix, as well. The tailgaters mostly appears to be parents and younger siblings of players on either team. All that said, the chatter mostly revolves around baseball (though not necessarily the game being played) and the crowd cheers loudly at every hit and third out. While a small-time Ivy League baseball crowd doesn’t have the same atmosphere as those you might find at South Carolina or UCLA or some other baseball powerhouse, there are moments that remind you that college kids are college kids, no matter their school’s Princeton Review ranking. During a recent visit, a group of five young men sat together in the sixth of seven rows behind home plate. One of them asked the others where he could get a tin of Skoal and, upon receiving no helpful answers, demonstratively said he would “get a pledge” to bring him one. About 20 minutes later, a young man in a black North Face jacket arrived to deliver a tin of dip to the requesting gentleman. Some things never change. Access 4 Parking is free at the Baker Athletic Complex, and the 54-space parking lot is located adjacent to the Satow Stadium entrance. Softball and women’s lacrosse games may also be taking place at the same time as the Columbia baseball game, and there should still be empty parking spaces available. Parking at the far end of the lot closest to the softball field is not advised, as multiple foul balls land there. As with all things in Manhattan, parking is not the true measure of access. The complex is located within an eight-minute walk from the uptown terminus of the A-train, which runs (mostly) express down the island’s west side to Midtown and beyond, including JFK International Airport. The 1 train, which runs local from the Bronx to South Ferry at the southern tip of Manhattan, is also a short walk from the complex and stops every 8 blocks or so through Harlem and the Upper West Side. Because of its frequent stops, the 1 train takes much longer to reach Midtown Manhattan than the A, which reaches Port Authority in just over 30 minutes (the A also stops at Penn Station for those arriving on Amtrak, Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit, and elsewhere). To get from Satow to Columbia’s campus, one can take the A seven stops to 125th Street and then either transfer to the B or C to go one stop to 116th Street or simply walk from 125th Street. There are no bathrooms at Satow Stadium, though the bathrooms at the football stadium are located in clear sight of the Satow entrance and are well-marked and decently maintained. From the most distant seat at Satow, the walk to the bathroom can be accomplished in less than 90 seconds. The stadium is also wheelchair accessible, and the concourse is in plain sight of the field. Return on Investment 3 Admission and parking are both free, so any investment is one of time and $2.75 for a subway fare (for those who do not drive). Despite the stadium’s cramped configuration, the stadium has its charms. Free double-sided programs with Columbia’s schedule and the rosters of each team are available in a small stand by the entrance, and everyone is free to sit wherever they please. When Satow’s 360-odd seats are full, there is ample room to stand and a set of bleachers is located at the edge of the football stadium overlooking the diamond. The fans are friendly and, at times, fairly involved. The feeling of attending a Columbia game as someone with no ties to either team or school is fairly odd, as nearly every fan seems to personally know at least one player. There is also a certain lack of attention to detail, as a baseball and a lacrosse ball were found in the stands that nobody seemed to know what to do with. Random equipment, specifically the netting that protects batting practice pitchers, is simply left in the spectator area. Extras 0 What you see is what you get at Satow Stadium, and you don’t see a lot. There aren’t really any extras to speak of. Final Thoughts Hardcore stadium chasing aside, there is really no reason to attend a game here if you don’t have any ties to Columbia or the opponent, and the stadium is located in a remote area (by Manhattan standards). The Baker Athletic Complex itself is fairly charm free, essentially a larger scale version of a suburban high school with chain link fences everywhere. That said, if you’re a real baseball junkie and live in New York City, admission is free and Satow Stadium is just a subway ride away.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 ZoZo Marine Stadium 1 Mihama Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-0022, Japan Chiba Lotte Marines website ZoZo Marine Stadium website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 30,000 Quality, Value, Chiba! In 1990, Chiba Marine Stadium was built on the shores of Tokyo Bay and two years later, the Lotte Orions moved there and became the Chiba Lotte Marines. It didn’t take long for people to realize that building an outdoor stadium next to a large body of water isn’t always the best idea, as the ballpark became famous for its difficult playing conditions whenever the weather turned slightly foul. Swirling winds and bone-chilling temperatures are the norm early in the season and night games sometimes require an extra layer or two of clothing, even in midsummer. In 2011, shopping channel QVC bought the naming rights and the stadium was known as QVC Marine Field. Along with the name change came a newly installed turf and what seem to be some other cleanup projects as the stadium was brighter and more colorful than I had remembered. It is now known as ZoZo Marine Stadium. Food & Beverage 3 As with all Japanese ballparks, you should investigate your dining options before entering. I found a number of interesting stalls, including gyutan tsukune (minced beef tongue on a stick) and sausage and steak tacos. Take your time to explore here and remember that any food you buy can be brought into the stadium. There is also a small picnic area here where you can sit to enjoy your meal. Once inside, the first floor is lined with concessions that offer typical Japanese fare. There’s also a Domino’s (600 yen for a slice of cheese-filled pizza) and Nakau, a fast-food chain that offers udon and donburi and was the most popular stand. My favourite was the honey peanuts from Rie Coffee, a bargain at 250 yen and great for snacking throughout the game. Note that the 2nd floor has limited concessions, so you are better off buying what you want on the 1st floor before walking up. Beer here is served in smaller cups and is consequently a bit cheaper than in the other ballparks. You can also buy cups of shochu, a clear, distilled beverage that comes from wheat, rice, or potatoes for the most part. It is stronger than wine but the distinct taste is one worth trying. For those looking to enjoy a real meal after a day game, try Tony Roma’s on the third floor in the Marive Dining building. Across the street in the Plena complex is the Marines Official Sports Bar, a small outpost that just shows highlights of Chiba games and seems to serve more as a smoking area rather than a full-on drinking spot. There are several other restaurants around here, but nothing that you can’t find at any typical large train station in the greater Tokyo area. Atmosphere 3 The stadium seats only 30,000 but with two seating levels and a relatively roomy upper deck, the atmosphere is not as good as it could be. The upper level is mostly unreserved seating, so fans generally try to spread themselves out. Fortunately the outfield seats are jam packed and it is these cheering groups that keep the stadium alive, particularly when the Marines are enjoying a long rally. As an open air stadium next to the bay, the air is fresh and cool. The sun moves from left field to right during a day game, so you can always find shade if you are looking for it. I found this to be a relaxing and comfortable place to watch the game. Neighborhood 2 The stadium is surrounded by nothing except office buildings and exhibition halls. Only Kaihin Makuhari station provides any entertainment or food options, and even those are fairly limited and uninteresting. My recommendation is to take the train back to Tokyo or over to Chiba to find a more dynamic environment post-game. Fans 4 Lotte fans are infamous in Japan for being tough on their team, but they might also be the most united. The outfield stands are completely white as every fan seems to be wearing a Marines uniform and the energy they showed by jumping up and down throughout the game was fantastic. Even after the game the entire group stayed and continued to cheer as their team had prevailed. The Marines faithful are also famous for their support of one-time manager Bobby Valentine, who spent seven seasons with the club and led them to the Nippon Series title in 2005. When the club announced that they would not retain his services after the 2009 season, thousands of fans signed petitions, wore “Bobby 2010” t-shirts, and waved large signs, all in an ultimately vain attempt to force the team to reconsider. Ironically, the first season after Valentine left, the Marines again won the Nippon Series, this time after finishing third in the regular season but using a strong rotation to win the Pacific League’s Climax Series before besting Chunichi in the final. Access 2 The closest station to QVC Marine Field is Kaihin-Makuhari on the Keiyo Line. It’s about a 40 minute train ride from Tokyo, but then another 15-20 minutes to walk to the stadium itself. Bus service is available from the station for a meager 100 yen, although I prefer to walk; most of the way is via elevated pedestrian walkways. I’m docking points here for a number of reasons. The concourses are narrow and not easy to navigate when crowded. When you go up to the second level, you have to walk through a smoking area, in fact the stadium is filled with them and they should really be moved outside of the concourses. The toilets are limited and you can see right into them, a curious but not uncommon situation in Japan. Even the ladies’ loo was sporting a urinal for some strange reason. Finally, there are far too many checkpoints and you can’t move around the stadium on the lower level before the game without showing your ticket. These minor annoyances, coupled with the distance from the stadium, are why I am giving QVC Marine Field an access rating of just two stars. Return on Investment 3 Tickets here are priced fairly, but be careful of the field level seats, which are on the field but stretch well down the lines, almost to the corners, which seems to be a terrible vantage point. The best option is the second deck unreserved seats at 2,300 yen ($30).You can sit pretty much anywhere in the upper deck, and when the stadium is not full, you can usually get a few seats to yourself. One of the interesting things about QVC Marine Field is the colorful seats. Each section is color-coded in the same way as on the stadium seating map. Red, green, orange, and light and dark blue seats remind you where you are but also provide a welcome alternative to the usual monochrome seating plans. For parents with toddlers, there is a small play area on the concourse which might help pass the time. In other areas, there are not a lot of bells and whistles here. A ribbon board is on the facing of the upper deck and shows the batter’s previous results, while the scoreboard is typically large but provides little more than lineups and the linescore. I do like the wind direction indicator on the right side of scoreboard. It didn’t show higher than 3 m/s at the game I attended, but in the spring and fall, you might see it hit double digits. Another interesting feature is that the batting average and home run stats change immediately after the play, before the next batter is announced. As Lotte is a gum and candy maker, all fans are handed a pack of lemon gum as they enter the stadium. Extras 3 The Marines Museum was a nice surprise as it was not here on my last visit. It is a small Hall of Fame dedicated to the franchise, which has moved around quite a bit. Located just across from the main entrance, the museum is free and only takes a few minutes to explore, but there is a lot of history here. Do take the time to walk through it. The Marine Dance Academy seems to be a cheerleading school that has dozens of dancers from age 4 and up. They were on the field before, during, and after the game. As well, they have a stage outside where the actual team cheerleaders put on pre-game performances that attract mostly guys with zoom lenses. Finally, the day I went was Drug Store Day and they were handing out travel size shampoo and other sundries before the game. It was amazing how long the lineups were for something worth perhaps 50 yen, but in these trying times, every little bit helps. Final Thoughts I was surprised at how much I enjoyed my time here. On a previous visit, the weather was miserable and cold and I hated it, but for an afternoon game, the stadium is pleasant, spacious, colorful , and loud. The friendly staff and few extras mentioned make QVC Marine Field well worth a look if you are in Tokyo or Chiba during the baseball season.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Hovey Field 1500 N Lombardy St Richmond, VA 23220 Virginia Union Panthers website Hovey Field website Year Opened: 1907 Capacity: 10,000 At Home in Hovey Home of the Virginia Union Panthers, Hovey Field opened in 1907 and is the oldest football stadium in D2, and is the second-oldest college football stadium still in use overall (second only to Harvard Stadium ); football has been played here continuously since it opened. The stadium is named after the second president of the university, George Hovey, who donated about $8K of his own money to purchase the land for the venue. The stands on the east side of the field are the original ones, but are now mainly used by visiting fans – the bleachers behind the north end zone were added in the 1940s, and the larger stands on the west side were added in the 1980s. The field itself is still the original grass surface, but during the off-season next year the Panthers will install new turf. Located in Richmond, Virginia, Hovey Field is surrounded by some of the campus’ original granite buildings, as well as the Panthers basketball arena (beyond the south end zone). The building housing the basketball arena was actually built for the 1936 World’s Fair and was moved here later – it is one of only two buildings that remains from that World’s Fair. Food & Beverage 3 There are not a ton of options available for sale at Virginia Union Football games, but the limited menu should be more than enough to keep you sated for a few hours. The lone concessions stand is located under the home grandstand, but most fans sit on that side anyway, and the venue is small enough that even if you side on either of the other two sides it is a quick walk to get a bite to eat. Food options at Hovey Field include chicken wings (a sauceless version that is easier to eat on the go), burgers, hot dogs, fries, nachos, chips, popcorn, and candy bars – for these options the prices range from $2 to $6, with the $3 burger a great value for the money. Drink options include canned soda, bottled water, and Gatorade for $2 to $3. Atmosphere 3 A recent news article said that Hovey Field is the worst stadium in college football, but that report is completely untrue. Admittedly the bleachers on the north and east sides could use some work, being wooden bleachers and thus having the potential for splinters, but I was easily able to sit on them without feeling like they would fall apart. Regardless, all the seats here are general admission, so you are welcome to sit on the much newer, metal bleachers on the east side if you prefer. Like at most HBCUs the band is one of the driving reasons for attending a football game, so you should definitely stay in your seat during halftime so you can watch the show – the band doesn’t perform during pregame, but you can watch them march, or should I say, swagger, into the stadium when they take their seats, and you can see them movin’ and swayin’ in the stands throughout the game, with their color guard flags waving and twirling in the breeze. The band plays plenty of great music during the game, too much for the refs’ taste in fact, as the band does occasionally get called out for making too much noise during plays on the field – the Virginia Union marching band is proudly known as the “Ambassadors of Sound”. Neighborhood 3 VUU’s campus and Hovey Field are located near downtown Richmond in probably what is not the nicest area, but there are a few attractions nearby as well as some restaurants. The main area around the stadium consists of other campus buildings and a residential area, but there are a number of restaurants to the east and to the south; college students seem to adore pizza, and they can get their fill at nearby Mellow Mushroom. However, my recommendation would be a quaint little place simply called “Lunch”, which boasts a cool looking black-and-white interior, plus all-day helpings of sandwiches and other lunch choices. The closest hotels to Hovey Field are Diamond Inn & Suites and Enys Hotel, but these are on the cheap side and therefore may not be the kind of place you would be comfortable in; but never fear, there are plenty of more well-known brands to the southeast closer to I-95/Virginia Commonwealth University, such as Marriott and Hilton, as well as some upscale off-brands like Quirk or Graduate. And if you plan to be in town for the weekend, nearby attractions include the Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum or Petersburg National Battlefield Park. Fans 3 The fans at Hovey Field are really into the game – you will see many of them in gear and they cheer loudly for their team. As I mentioned before most fans sit on the west side, so that set of bleachers will be pretty full during most games, while the other two sides will be fairly empty. Still, on the plus side you can sit anywhere you want, so fans who want different views of the action can move around with ease. Virginia Union Panthers Fans, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Access 4 Getting to Hovey Field is pretty easy since it is only a couple miles off 1-95, although there will be a little traffic coming in and out despite the small stadium size, given that the streets around campus are not very wide and get easily congested, the college and neighborhood being as old as they are. But you can park right next to the stadium (at a cost of $15), or you can park further away and walk if you want to save a little money, which might be a good option anyway if you want to avoid the little bit of traffic right around the venue. Once you get inside there is plenty of room to move around – there are not a lot of bathrooms so they do bring in port-a-johns, but you can find regular bathrooms under the main grandstand to use instead, and most fans seem to do just that. Return on Investment 3 While concessions are on the low side, parking is a little on the high side for this level of college football and ticket prices are as well, being $25 for general admission except for students/seniors, who get $5 off. However, this cost is less than higher college divisions – as a comparison, tickets at nearby E. Claiborne Robins Stadium (also in Richmond and home of the FCS Richmond Spiders ) cost between $30 and $55, and though that stadium is much nicer and more modern, that venue is a little more off the beaten path and concessions cost a little more there. So, if you just want to take in a football game and the team you are rooting for is not a factor, you can weigh the options and decide whether cost or other considerations are more important to you. Extras 3 Unlike some D2 schools, and even some higher-level football schools, the Virginia Union Panthers do have a mascot, and also do some interesting promotions that enhance the game day experience – for example, at homecoming they have antique cars parked on the street next to the stadium for fans to take a look at, and they also invite cheerleaders from past years to perform on the field during the game. The venue also has some history, being the oldest D2 stadium in the country and having some historic buildings around it, so there are certainly good reasons to make the trek. Final Thoughts Virginia Union doesn’t have as much money as some of the other football programs in the area, so your expectations should reflect that when planning your visit. However, the team is solid on the field of late and has even won a National Championship, so Hovey Field is certainly worth a look if you are in the area.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Steven Kerr Memorial Centre 965 Binning St. W Listowel, ON N4W 0G6 Listowel Cyclones website Steven Kerr Memorial Centre website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 800 A Cyclone is in Town Listowel, Ontario is known for a couple of things.  The lead singer of the band Helix, Brian Vollmer, hails from Listowel.  The hit show “Letterkenny” is loosely based on creator Jared Keeso’s experiences growing up around the Listowel area.  Millions of cans of Campbell’s Soup have been produced outside of Listowel.  Possibly the most famous son of Listowel was the “Listowel Pistol” Frederick “Cyclone” Taylor.  Cyclone Taylor is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and an original Ottawa Senator whose number is retired in the Canadian Tire Centre and has a street outside the home of the Senators named after him.  Taylor’s name is on the Stanley Cup in two spots.  It seems appropriate that the local team in the town in which he grew up is also named after him.  The Listowel Cyclones joined the Central Junior C Hockey League in 1972.  By 1979 the Cycs moved up to Junior B and currently remain a cornerstone franchise in the Junior B, Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. The home for the Cyclones is the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex.  Built in 2017 and owned by the Municipality of North Perth, the complex is named after a generous donation by the family of Steven Kerr, who died in a tragic car accident and had played all of his minor hockey in the Listowel area.  The Steve Kerr Memorial Complex replaced the venerable Listowel Memorial Arena.  In 1959, the roof of the arena collapsed and tragically killed eight people.  A movement remains in place to build a park with a proper memorial on the site of the former arena. Food & Beverage 3 There is a concession stand inside the main lobby of the Steve Kerr Complex.  It offers a limited number of options including hot dogs, pizza, nachos, popcorn, coffee, apple cider, and tea.  Coca-Cola products can be found in vending machines around the complex.  The Blueline Room is on the upper level on the east side of the arena and offers beer and spirits that must be consumed inside the room. Atmosphere 3 The Steve Kerr Memorial Complex has a bit of an inauspicious look from the exterior.  A simple, rectangular structure with lower brown and grey brick with upper off-white siding, the Kerr Complex is not by any definition unattractive, but will not wow anyone driving by. Inside the main lobby, fans are met with a few temporary tables, the first of which is for purchasing tickets.  Other tables for Cyclones merchandise, program, and 50/50 draws are front and centre.  A bit of exploring can be done through the lobby, which is bright and clean and looks right onto the ice surface.  The donor display features an inscription and explanation about Steven Kerr and his importance to the arena.  A large trophy case on the right side of the lobby is dedicated to the friends who were lost in the arena tragedy of 1959.  The case includes a large, beautiful piece of art with the visages of all seven of the children and one adult who perished in the accident.  Artifacts including skates, pennants, and hockey sticks can also be found in the case as well as how fans can make donations to the monument and park that is planned on the former site of the arena.  Unfortunately, an opportunity is lost in the lobby, and the larger arena, as there is nothing to be seen about Cyclone Taylor.  This may normally be an acceptable oversight, but when the team is named after the Hall of Famer some acknowledgment is necessary. Inside the seating area, the ice surface runs from west to east with seating on both the north and south sides of the ice.  Behind the elevated seating area with six rows of plastic arena seats is a walking track and railings perfect for standing, which is very popular in Listowel.  When choosing a seat, fans should be aware that tickets are partially general admission.  Seats are reserved for season ticket holders and are marked with an ‘R’ sticker on the back.  The Blueline Room at the east end looks over the ice as well.  Championship banners for the 2018 Sutherland Cup as Junior B Champions, 2018 and 2017 Conference Championships, and the 2005 Cherrey Cup as Midwest Junior B Hockey League Champions, predating the reorganizing of Junior hockey, all hang in the west end.  In the northwest corner of the arena, at the track level is a mini-stick arena under the watchful eye of the honoured jersey of Dan Williams, a former Cyclone who passed away in 1999. The memory of the 1959 arena collapse victims is further galvanized in the seating area with a large banner listing all of their names in the northeast corner of the arena.  The arena has a relatively low ceiling and low profile score clock hanging over center ice surrounded by youth hockey banners. The gameday production at a Listowel Cyclones game is fairly simple.  Promotions include program raffles, 50/50 draw, and shootouts are staples at a Cycs game.  Music is played during down times and some songs that are of interest include “Rock You” by local legends Helix and the somewhat appropriate “Rock You Like A Hurricane.” Neighbourhood 3 Listowel is a small town, which is part of the Municipality of North Perth.  The Steve Kerr Memorial Complex is located on the edge of town and looking for a place for a pre or post-game meal or drink will require a very short trip by car.  Fast food and chain restaurants are easily found in town.  Some more unique selections include Hom Restaurant and Roadhouse 23. The Listowel Cyclones are the only game in town.  Fans looking for other sporting options at or above the Cyclones level will be required to head out of town.  Other tourist ideas in Listowel could include checking out Listowel Paddyfest, the largest St. Patrick’s Day festival in North America.  The Drayton Festival Theatre is found in the nearby village of Drayton.  Heading to the site of the original Listowel Memorial Arena is also worth a stop, more so when the park and memorial are completed.  Fans who wish to stay in Listowel can stay in the Listowel Country Inn. Fans 4 The Listowel Cyclones enjoy strong support.  For the 2024 season, at the time of writing, they have averaged over 500 fans per game.  This is an increase from 355 fans in 2023.  In 2024 they are ranked 8th in the GOJHL in attendance, up from 14th.  The game that was reviewed saw more than 900 fans in attendance, nearly a capacity crowd.  Cyclone fans are typical Southern Ontario fans meaning they are generally quiet and get loud when there is something to get loud about.   Access 4 Listowel is located at the confluence of Highways 23 and 86 and the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex is located at the northwest edge of town.  Getting to the arena will not be difficult at all and traversing town is not difficult.  There is plenty of parking at the complex and it is free.  Fans who wish to take public transit to the game are out of luck, but this should not be surprising considering the size of the town.  Getting around the Steve Kerr Memorial Complex is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are adequate for the arena. Return on Investment 5 GOJHL hockey offers one of the best returns on investment that can be found anywhere.  Adult tickets are sold for $12, students/seniors are $10 and kids are $6.  Parking is free and the concession prices are about what one would expect.  The product on the ice is solid and the atmosphere that the Cyclones put together is great.  Overall, a Listowel Cyclones game offers great value and is a great activity for the entire family. Extras 3 An extra mark for the hopefully future Listowel Memorial Arena Park which will be located at the site of the original arena and will provide a permanent memorial for those who perished in 1959. An extra mark for the Listowel Cyclones being named after Frederick “Cyclone” Taylor. An extra mark for Listowel being the home of Letterkenny crater Jared Keeso. Final Thoughts When in Ontario, taking in some Junior B hockey is a great way to get a sense of the province beyond just the big cities.  Listowel is one of the cornerstone franchises of the GOJHL and the Cyclones offer a terrific history.  The Steve Kerr Memorial Complex is a solid Junior B venue and a great place to catch a game. ----- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

McCoy Stadium Sunset. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. The news that so many baseball fans dreaded, but still expected to hear was announced yesterday. There will be no minor league baseball in 2020. Obviously, this will have a great effect on those who play, work at and love going to their local ballparks. This is a story about one of these people. With no games being played in 2020, this longtime Rhode Island resident, Pawtucket Red Sox fan and former Pawsox employee will not get a chance to bid McCoy Stadium a proper farewell. After 50 seasons at McCoy Stadium , the Pawtucket Red Sox have played their final game at the old ballpark. The team, wooed by a sweetheart stadium deal, will be moving 45 minutes north to Worcester, Massachusetts, and their new home, Polar Park, for the 2021 season. Since the day it was announced that the Pawsox would be leaving Rhode Island, I’ve been thinking about the massive hole that this team will leave in the fabric of the community. While Rhode Island has lost teams before (the Providence Reds called the Ocean State home for 52 seasons before moving to Binghamton, New York in 1977), this time it feels different. Looking at it from a purely personal perspective, it’s amazing how much of my life has revolved around McCoy Stadium. After Throwing Out the First Pitch at McCoy Stadium. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. As a sports-crazed boy living in a home with parents who did not share my passion, my exposure to sports was largely limited to watching games on television. Luckily for me, I had an uncle who was also a big sports fan. My Uncle Sid would take me to McCoy for a game a few times each summer. In those days the Pawsox really struggled to attract fans, so they gave away tickets by the thousands to get people to come to the ballpark. Local schools would receive passes that were good for a selected series of games. Since my uncle was a teacher in a neighboring town, he was able to grab some passes and use them with me. In a Pawtucket tradition that has endured through the years, I would fish for autographs at the games. I can’t remember who my first autograph was, but I can remember my own kids pulling up hundreds of autographs during their time at McCoy. In the early 80s, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League decided to ditch their traditional divisional setup that matched teams of similar size, and have all the schools compete for a single state title. In 1982 tiny Tiverton High School ended up winning the whole thing. The championship game was played at, of course, McCoy Stadium. I can remember the student body piling in busses and trekking on up to Pawtucket to witness our friends and classmates play in the championship game, with Hall and Oates’ “H2O” and The J. Geils Band’s “Freeze Frame” blaring over someone’s boom box in the back of the bus. Paws and Sox. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Years later, when I had a family of my own, it was a given that my kids would be forced to tag along to McCoy with me. The fact that neither of them loved baseball the way I did wasn’t an issue, they seemed to at least enjoy going to the ballpark almost as much as I did. There were rumors in the late 90s that the Pawsox might move (to Worcester, of all places). The International League had mandated certain amenities and minimum capacity for all their ballparks and McCoy didn’t come close to measuring up. The resulting renovations to the ballpark made it the jewel of the minor leagues, for a little while. My friend Ben and I went to the first game of the “new” McCoy Stadium in 1999, arriving early and picking out a prime spot on the new party deck right by the left field foul pole. The spot must have been a good one because we were interviewed by several local news outfits. In hindsight, I wish we hadn’t been enjoying so many adult beverages that night. Posing with World Series Trophies. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. When I later went through a divorce and was struggling with the expense of child support, a friend who was a bartender at McCoy suggested I get a part-time job at the ballpark. I remember my interview with Jim Hogan, who was the Director of Concessions at the time. It consisted of one statement: “Dave tells me you’ll do anything.” I replied in the positive and was immediately hired, beginning my career in baseball. Running a grill wasn’t what I had expected to be doing, but I had no complaints. Our crew always managed to have a good time. A few months later, my children came to live with me full-time. I was worried that I’d no longer be able to handle two jobs with two kids at home. When I talked to Mr. Hogan, his response was “you work at a ballpark-bring them along.” Can you imagine any other place allowing an employee to bring their kids to work? I’ll forever be grateful to the Pawsox for this. My children now had an entire ballpark at their disposal. No other kids could ever collect more batting practice balls and autographs. Name a famous Red Sox player who passed through McCoy, and my kids met them. McCoy Stadium Circa 1999. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Despite the star power of players like Nomar Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez, and Jason Varitek, players like Alejandro Machado, Don Wengert, and Freddy Sanchez are as prominent in their memories as any Red Sox Hall of Famer. The kids got every giveaway McCoy could hand out, had access to most of the ballpark, and hung out with players’ families during the games. They feasted on ballpark food. I blame McCoy Stadium for the fact that their entire diets to this day consist of hot dogs, burgers, chicken fingers, and pizza. They were undoubtedly the envy of all their friends. Eventually, the kids grew up, coming to the ballpark with dad every night was no longer cool and the time commitment of a second job became too much, so I “retired” from the Pawsox. For a long time, it was strange to return to the place, but it was great to be able to actually sit in the stands once again and enjoy a game with my wife and friends. McCoy Stadium remained a fixture in our summer routine. Pam and Paul at McCoy. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. I was fortunate to find a kindred sports fan when I met my wife, Pam. When it became time to discuss wedding plans, it was a given that we would have the ceremony at a ballpark. Now, Pam had spent many nights at McCoy while I was working in the concession stands, and had developed her own opinions on the old place. I just couldn’t convince Pam that getting married under a giant tent at McCoy was the thing to do. We ended up having our wedding at Campanelli Stadium in nearby Brockton, MA, home to the independent Brockton Rox. Campanelli had a wonderful event center attached to the ballpark. We got married before a Rox game and threw out first pitches in our wedding attire. Former Pawsox manager Ed Nottle and the team mascot crashed the reception. Despite my bias towards McCoy, she was right, As usual. Pam was gracious enough to agree to schedule the wedding when the Pawsox were on the road and `we did stop at McCoy on our way back from our honeymoon. I’ve been able to fulfill so many items on my baseball bucket list thanks to the Pawsox and McCoy Stadium. I’ve played football and softball on the field, thrown out first pitches, laid on the soft outfield grass drinking beer and watching movies on the video board, flipped burgers on ESPN (watch the footage of the 2004 International League All-Star Game), dressed as a mascot, hung out with future major leaguers and Hall of Famers (and Donny Osmond), lifted championship trophies and so much more. Kissing the Governor’s Cup. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. While I was never able to parlay my part-time gig with the club into full-time employment, I have nothing but respect and admiration for those who ran the Pawsox all these years. The Pawsox staff truly treated me like family. I was invited to special events and when money was tight, they were always there to give me extra hours. I’ve never had another employer who treated me as well as did the Pawsox. Whenever Pawsox President Mike Tamburro would see me around the stadium, he would joke “when are you coming back?” My response was typically “you couldn’t afford me now.” That was never really true, I would have come back in a heartbeat. Although I won’t get the chance to hang out at Ben Mondor’s place one last time, the memories will never fade. More than just the games on the field, it’s been the people that filled McCoy that have made it so special. So many of the fans I used to serve and bump into around the ballpark have become dear friends. The teenagers with whom I worked during my time at McCoy are now in their thirties and forties. I would bump into them from time to time with their own families, and of course, we would reminisce about the “good old days,” when McCoy would host crowds of over 7,000 every night. Walking off at the Final Pawsox Game. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. I had been hoping to share my final Pawsox game with those closest to me. That I won’t get this chance is without a doubt my biggest disappointment with the cancellation of the season. My children, who had been coming to McCoy since they were in diapers, would have been with me. I wonder if this day would have been as difficult for them as it would have been for me. Among the throng of Bakers who would have descended on the ballpark on Labor Day would have been my granddaughter, who would have been eight months old and going to her first baseball game. She would have been the fifth generation of the family I dragged to “The Bucket.” I was six years old when my family moved to Rhode Island, and McCoy Stadium has been a part of my life for close to five decades. While Pawsox fans have taken their anger out on the team over the past two-plus years by staying away from McCoy, I don’t expect that that would be the case at the Pawsox’ last game. We all would have come to say our final farewells. It would have been nice to see the place filled to the brim with Pawsox fans one last time. Saying goodbye would have been really hard. Not being able to say goodbye is even harder. Ben Mondor Statue in the Snow. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. _________ Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Memorial Gymnasium 210 Emmett Street S Charlottesville, VA 22904 Virginia Cavaliers website Memorial Gymnasium website Capacity: 1,500 Year Opened: 1924 Volleyball at Historic Memorial Gym Memorial Gymnasium first opened on the campus of the University of Virginia in 1924 as the home of the Cavaliers' basketball program. The team played here for 42 years before moving into University Hall, and later, John Paul Jones Arena. Today, Mem Gym, as it is known to students, is home to UVA's volleyball program. It also hosts the wrestling team and intramural sports, and there is a small workout facility on the lower level. Food & Beverage 2 One concession stand at Memorial Gym is located to the right of the main entrance. Hot dogs, soft pretzels, and candy are the main food options, with water and soda also available. As is the case at all public universities in Virginia, the water is sold in aluminum cans rather than plastic bottles to be more environmentally friendly. Prices are affordable, with nothing costing more than a few dollars, although this is not posted anywhere so you will have to ask. . Atmosphere 4 Walking through the front doors of Memorial Gym will put you in the main lobby, with the arena straight ahead through another set of doors. There are plastic bleachers on each side of the court as well as behind the baselines. The bleachers on one side have wooden backs, the others do not. There are only a few rows so any seat will put you very close to the action. There is a scoreboard on each sideline that also shows detailed player and team stats, as well as a hype video before the game. One thing to note is that the small number listed next to "score" is the number of sets each team has won, while the larger number indicates how many points a team has won in the current set. It can be confusing at first, but will soon become obvious once the game has started. The atmosphere at a Virginia volleyball game is extremely lively. The PA announcer shouts "Point, Hoos!" after every UVA point about the school's unofficial nickname. Occasionally he will mix it up, shouting "It's a Block Party" after a block by a Cavaliers player. Before the match, the Cavaliers' players will toss miniature volleyballs into the stands. If the match goes to a fifth set, staff will toss t-shirts into the stands after every Cavaliers point. Between the low ceilings, frenzied crowds, and bold PA announcer, it can get extremely loud in here at times. It is a great atmosphere for a volleyball game, even if the setup feels more like a high school gym. Neighborhood 4 Memorial Gymnasium is located on the campus of the University of Virginia, which is one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Once you get off campus and into the city of Charlottesville, there is plenty else to do. Boylan Heights is a popular bar just off campus and serves up good food as well. It is just one of many places to eat, drink, or have fun along University Avenue ranging from bagel bakeries to bars to sushi restaurants. History buffs may also want to check out Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Fans 4 Although the Cavaliers only average about 500 fans a game according to the official attendance numbers, this is a small gym so it feels like a lot more. As mentioned above, the fans are raucous, and the low ceilings and tightly packed bleachers make it even louder. Many of the fans come dressed in Virginia colors, and it is clear this is not just a friends and family crowd like you would see in some places at more "minor" sports. Everyone from young families to lifelong UVA fans turns out to cheer on their team. Even if the match goes the full five sets, most fans will stay until the end, shouting and cheering on the Cavaliers. While the numbers may not be as high as in some other places, the passion of the fans at Memorial Gymnasium is a large part of why the experience is so great. Access 2 If you come to Charlottesville from the east or west, you will likely take Interstate 64. If coming from the north or south, you will take U.S. Route 29. Although both are major roads, Route 29 has a few traffic lights along the way, so you won’t have as good a time as you would on the highway. Still, you should be able to make reasonably good time if you head that way – the lights are for the most part few and far between. Once you get on campus, you have several options to park. The Central Grounds Garage is right next to Memorial Gym, but you will have to pay to park there. This will cost you between $1.50 and $3 per hour, depending on the time of day, except on Sundays when it is free. You can also park in the Culbreth Garage about a five-minute walk away. This is free all day on weekends and after five on weekdays, which should cover all home volleyball games except an early season tournament or two if you want to catch the first game of the doubleheader as well. The restrooms in Memorial Gym are on the lower level, downstairs from the volleyball arena, and are awkwardly located inside the locker rooms (the main ones for students working out - the players have their own.) There is a single-person gender-neutral restroom downstairs if you do not want to deal with that. Return on Investment 5 Admission to all Virginia volleyball games is free, with the possible exception of ACC and NCAA Tournament events. Concessions are affordable, and there are options for free parking for most games if you are willing to walk a few minutes. Given the electrifying atmosphere in Mem Gym, that makes this an outstanding value. Extras 2 Look for the trophy case in the lobby with Virginia's volleyball accomplishments—a second star for the marketing table by the entrance with free posters and roster cards. Final Thoughts Although many people don't pay much attention to college volleyball, Memorial Gymnasium proves the naysayers wrong. With raucous, passionate crowds in a historic venue, a trip to a University of Virginia volleyball game can be an exciting experience for any sports fan.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Callaghan Stadium 605 Beckett Hill Rd                                                                                                                                                   Princeton, WV 24740 Concord Mountain Lions website Callaghan Stadium website Capacity: 3,700 Appalachian Mountain Lions Concord University is located in Athens, West Virginia, though your GPS might call it Princeton, WV instead. Their football teams compete in NCAA Division 2’s Mountain East Conference, which includes schools in West Virginia, Ohio, and Virginia. The Concord Mountain Lions play their home games at on-campus Callaghan Stadium, which has a capacity of 3,700. The team’s school colors are maroon and gray, although the athletic teams sometimes don all-black uniforms.   Food & Beverage   2 There are very basic concessions at Callaghan Stadium – a small selection, but enough to get you through a game. On offer are hot dogs, Chick-fil-A sandwiches, popcorn, candy, and drinks (bottled Pepsi or diet Pepsi, water, and Powerade). Prices are low with most items costing $3 or less, though they might run out of food by halftime, so you may want to grab your snacks early.   Atmosphere   3 The gameday atmosphere during a Concord Mountain Lions game is decent – they have a mascot who races kids and teens across the field during breaks in the action. The first 50-yard dash includes kids 11 and younger and is run during halftime; the second is run after the third quarter and includes kids 12 through 17. Another nice feature is that re-entry is allowed; you can leave the stadium during the game and come back later, which is convenient in case you want to hit the Subway in the student center, find better bathrooms, or just want to get out of the sun for a few minutes. Speaking of the sun, there is no shade to be found, even though the facility is surrounded by greenery, although you can bring umbrellas inside the stadium, something a lot of larger venues won’t let you do. Another nice perk is that there are two team gear stands inside, one right next to the main entrance (where the ticket booth is) and another up the short hill next to the grandstand – it is not a long walk between the two by any means but is a nice touch to have multiple locations so that lines are shorter. The facilities seem a bit dated, as there is only one static scoreboard behind one end zone, with no capability for video replays.   Neighborhood   2 Athens is a very small town with almost nothing of note near Callaghan Stadium – though you are only about 5 miles east of I-77 (use Exit 14 for the venue), from the setting you would never know it. There is a pizza place in town, as well as a gas station, and the aforementioned Subway inside the Concord University student center, but nothing in the way of hotels or nice restaurants unless you want to drive about 10 miles back to Princeton proper; if you take Exit 9 from I-77 you will see all kinds of hotels and restaurants, as well as the West Virginia welcome center. There is a small wildlife museum a mile or two from Callaghan Stadium, but it is only open on weekdays, so you wouldn’t be able to visit before or after the game unless you come for the weekend. There is also a railroad museum and a Civil War Museum nearby, but the Civil War Museum is also only open on weekdays, and the railroad museum is only open from 11-4 daily, making it tough to see either of those on football game day, either.   Fans   2 The fans are pretty solid during a Concord Mountain Lions game, making some noise during big plays, but there are not very many of them – the visitor grandstand especially is practically deserted, and the home side stands are nowhere near a sellout. I didn’t notice a real student section either.   Access   4 Except for the potentially out-of-the-way location (although remember you are only 5 miles from I-77), it is easy to access Callaghan Stadium. Even if you arrive close to kickoff time, you should still be able to park at the top of the hill right behind the main stands, either in one of the small lots or along the roadway. There is also a larger parking lot at the bottom of the hill, though it may be reserved. The stadium's main entrance is at the bottom of the small hill, where the ticket office and one of the team gear stands are located. However, I entered through the gate at the top of the hill, without a ticket, and they still let me in through that gate, after which I walked down the hill and got one. It might not look like it, but there is one set of real bathrooms inside the facility, on the home side – the men’s is on the right side of the press box/concessions building and the women’s is on the left. There are also port-a-johns you can use, so you may not think there are real bathrooms, as they are kind of tucked away, but they are there.   Return on Investment   3 Tickets are only $10 each, parking is free, and concessions are cheap. That said, it may not be worth your while to come to this out of the way location unless you are a pretty diehard fan, or unless your team happens to be playing the Mountain Lions that week. Concord football is a pretty basic experience, so some fans may miss the raucous atmosphere of a larger venue. However, on the plus side, it is dirt cheap, and you won’t have to fight any crowds – you can be in and out before and after the contest in no time at all.   Extras   2 Callaghan Stadium has great scenery with all the greenery around the venue, and the mascot is solid. They also have cheerleaders on hand to entertain fans, but the marching band is small.