Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Audi Field 100 Potomac Avenue Washington DC 20024 DC Defenders website Audi Field website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 20,000 A New Football Team In Town...Again The DC Defenders are the newest football team in the Washington, D.C. area. Originally a member of the second incarnation of the XFL in 2020, their season was cancelled shortly after it began due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They then joined yet another edition of the XFL. In 2024, the XFL and USFL merged to form the UFL, and the Defenders moved over to that league where they found yet another home. The Defenders play their home games at Audi Field, which is primarily a soccer stadium and is the home of DC United and the Washington Spirit. Food & Beverage 5 Audi Field has a wide range of concessions that should satisfy any fan’s palette, many of which are provided by celebrity chef Jose Andres. In addition to classic options such as burgers and pizza, fans can pick from more unique options such as pupusas and arepas. The stadium's concessions seem more designed for the demographics of soccer fans than football fans, but there is still plenty to enjoy. . Prices can be quite high, with one meal costing $20-$25 between the meal and a soda or water, even more if you are planning to drink alcohol at the game. Atmosphere 4 Other than the Standing Room section behind one end zone, every seat in Audi Field is a chairback, and no matter where you watch the game from, you will have a great view of the action. There are two levels, although 200-level seats are only located on one sideline, above the suites. There is a large videoboard behind the SRO section as well as a smaller board on the other end that is capable of showing video as well as the score and advertisements. Before the game, the Defenders run onto the field as staff carry flags with the Defenders' logo on it. The PA announcer attempts to hype of the crowd at times but isn't always successful. There is a lot going on on the concourse as well, including games fans can play for a chance to win prizes. The Defenders do keep fans engaged, which is always good for the atmosphere. Neighborhood 4 Audi Field is located in an up-and-coming part of D.C., near Buzzard Point. There is currently a lot of construction going on around the stadium, so expect it to improve even more in the future. For now, All About Burger is a popular local burger place located a few blocks of the stadium, Bonchon serves up Korean-style fried chicken nearby, and there are other options closer to Nationals Park. Of course, you are in Washington, D.C., so there is plenty to do if you head towards the National Mall, and much of it is free. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the White House or Capitol, you will need to book that in advance. Fans 4 While the Defenders will rarely fill up Audi Field, they do draw reasonably well. The fans who show up are loud, passionate, and occasionally profane. They cheer on the Defenders and will often get on the referees' case when they feel a call hasn't gone their way (and will often complain even about an obviously correct call that goes against the Defenders.) This is a loud and tough crowd, so be prepared, although they aren't likely to cause any real trouble for anyone. The fans in the Standing Room section are known for being especially loud and passionate, as well as probably drunker than the rest of the stadium. They are also legendary for building a giant beer snake every game out of discarded beer cups. You can watch it grow as the game goes on. Access 3 When going to Audi Field, your best bet is to use public transit or a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft. If taking Metro, take the Green Line to Navy Yard-Ballpark and walk about ten minutes to the stadium. Keep in mind, however, that there is often trackwork on Metro, particularly on weekends and during the summer, resulting in single tracking and/or the closing of stations entirely. Be sure to check in advance. If driving in, you can park at one of the stations in suburban Maryland and take Metro from there so you do not have to contend with D.C. traffic. Crowds will be large on the train after the game, although if you park at the Branch Avenue station in Southern Maryland, you will be taking the Green Line in the opposite direction from most fans so it will be far less packed once you board. If you do arrive at the stadium by (whether one driven by you or an Uber/Lyft driver) there is a lot of construction surrounding the stadium right now so it may be hard to figure out how to get right there, although an Uber/Lyft driver should be able to get you close. Parking is very limited and can be purchased in advance through SpotHero, but the cheapest spots will cost about $25 and can be located a 15-minute walk from the stadium. To get closer will cost you twice to four times that. There is still no dedicated team-run parking lot at Audi Field, run by either the Defenders, D.C. United, or the Spirit. Return on Investment 3 Tickets start at $16 for upper level seats and can go up to $80 for seats near midfield. the Standing Room section is $32. However, with Ticketmaster fees, all of these are a lot more. Concessions are expensive as well, and transit to the stadium may or may not be depending on if you are willing to walk from the Metro. Even then, for a family of four, round trip fare will be about $30-$40 depending on where you are coming from. So this makes a Defenders game an average value, but no more. Extras 4 The unique food offerings are an extra as it is. Look for a team store on the concourse selling Defenders' gear. A third star for the games on the concourse that provide fans an opportunity to win prizes. A fourth and final star for the giant beer snake formed by the fans in the standing room section each game. This is a unique tradition that is always entertaining. Final Thoughts There has been much instability in spring football leagues, and the DC Defenders are no exception. They have found yet another league to play in, the UFL, and have built up a decent fan following. Hopefully the league sticks around long enough for the fan base to grow further.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Dub Herring Park Poplarville, MS 39470 Pearl River Wildcats website Dub Herring Park website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 400 Welcome to 'The Dub' at Fabulous Pop Vegas Pearl River Community College is one of 15 schools that make up the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) for baseball. Located in the small town of Poplarville, MS in Pearl River County, the school opened in 1911, making it the oldest community college in the state. Nicknamed the Wildcats, the baseball program has become a powerhouse in recent years, winning four MACCC State Championships since 2018 and two Region 23 Championships. Prior to 2018 the Wildcats had only won two State Championships, in 1939 and 2004, but the school's greatest feat occurred in 2022 when the Wildcats advanced to and won the NJCAA College World Series, the school's only national championship in baseball. The Wildcats play at one of the finest ballparks in all of Juco baseball, Dub Herring Ballpark. After the 2018 season the school knocked down the old ballpark and built what you see today, including a new press box and 400 chairback seats with a shaded canopy. Re-dedicated after Dub Herring, a local RV and car dealer and longtime supporter of Pearl River athletics, The Dub has a homefield advantage unlike any other, and remains one of the most intimidating places to play in all of Juco baseball. Food & Beverage   3 There is one small stand under the pavilion separating The Dub from PRCC softball stadium. The usual fare is sold here, with hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage dogs, nachos, pulled pork nachos, boiled peanuts, popcorn, chips, and candy rounding out the menu – expect small town prices here, as everything is under $5. Coca-Cola is the soft drink provider with 20 oz drinks selling for $3, and you can also purchase Pearl River baseball and softball shirts, along with hats, at the concession stand. Atmosphere   4 Dub Herring Park is located on campus, as part of PRCC Sportsplex, which also includes Dobie Holden Stadium and the softball facility. The Dub has a unique and interesting design, making it stand out among normal looking ballparks. The grandstand is basically concrete steps that go up, with rows of chairback seats in the Wildcats color of maroon – there are 6 rows of 400 chairbacks separated by a walkway. The exterior of the ballpark is designed with brick, including a brick press box behind home plate. As part of the second phase of the recent renovation, two luxury suites were added down the first baseline prior to the 2023 season. In addition, the great thing about The Dub is that the entire ballpark is shaded, as the first and third baselines are covered by a tin awning held up by three brick columns; the only areas in the sun are the first two rows. Pearl River also does a great job utilizing the maroon color scheme throughout the ballpark, as the entire outfield wall is made of maroon wall pads. There are also no advertisements or sponsor banners along the outfield wall; instead, banners honoring the Wildcats lone national championship, as well as banners honoring the Wildcats MACCC state championships wins cover the wall. The Dub is not a hitter's friendly ballpark due to the "Maroon Monster", an 18-foot-high part of the left field wall, similar to Fenway's Green Monster. The centerfield batter's eye is quite high as well, making this a hard ballpark to hit it out of the park in. A state-of-the-art videoboard scoreboard sits in left center field; this is quite large for a Juco facility. An elevated party deck with two rows of chairback seats also overlooks right field, where you'll find a few of the hardcore fans grilling out and drinking a few beers. The Dub is built into a grassy hill on the first base side, and students will sometimes come and sit on the hill and watch the game. Behind the third base side is a covered pavilion with a concession stand, plus more picnic tables with bench seating. Down the left field line is the Artigues Family Clubhouse, housing the locker rooms and batting cages for the Wildcats – the clubhouse is named after former coach and current Southeastern Louisiana AD Jay Artigues. Lastly, on the outside of the clubhouse is a banner listing all the former Wildcats who have gone on to play at the professional level. Neighborhood   3 As you enter town, you'll see signs welcoming you to Fabulous "Pop-Vegas". The small town has really worked hard in recent years trying to boost the local economy, centered on the local community college and its thriving blueberry industry. You can park on campus and walk a few blocks over to a lively and pleasant downtown area – start the morning at Popa's Donuts or Main Street Coffee for some delicious brew, and then if you want to do some shopping walk across the street to Apple Ltd, the oldest locally owned clothing store in town, open since 1968. Later, walk next door to Pearl River Drugs and sit down at the old soda fountain for some ice cream, or for other restaurants in town there is Wild West Grill, Deb's Pasta and Pizza, and Fiorella's, which sells seafood. Pop Vegas is also home to hundreds of blueberry farms, and the town is nicknamed the Blueberry Capital of Mississippi. Every June they host Blueberry Jubilee, attracting thousands of people to the small town – if in town during this weekend there are several blueberry farms which offer tours, as well as samples of some of the best blueberries in the world. In downtown there is a blueberry-themed water tower next to an old, abandoned water silo; this makes for a great photo op. Also before you leave town make sure you fill up your gas at Hall's Service Station; this vintage station is a throwback, so much so that a gas station attendant actually pumps your gas for you. There is no alcohol sold in Poplarville, as the county is a dry county. Pop Vegas also doesn't have any hotels; instead I would recommend staying about 30 minutes south in Picayune. Or, Poplarville is also about 30 minutes south of Hattiesburg and an hour north of New Orleans, where there are plenty of additional hotels and better food options. Fans   4 With baseball powerhouses Southern Miss and even NAIA William Carey up the road this area of Mississippi loves their baseball, and just 30 minutes down the road it's no different here in Poplarville. Fans show up on gamedays and are quite into the game. Each game averages a couple hundred people spread out throughout the chairbacks – the Dub only has seating for 400 people so expect a sellout, but many of the fans are scattered around, which helps. You'll find fans standing under the pavilion and on the berm area down the first baseline. There isn't a whole lot to do in town at night either, so many of the local residents are ardent supporters of the Pearl River baseball program. It also helps that the baseball program is consistently ranked in the top 10 of the country, not to mention the MACCC schools have a passionate fan base when it comes to baseball, so expect a decent turnout from away fans as well. Access   4 Getting to PRCC’s campus shouldn't be too hard; Poplarville is located right off Interstate 55 about an hour northeast of New Orleans and about 30 minutes southwest of Hattiesburg. Exit 29 to Highway 26 will be your best bet, as it is the main road that heads into town – the school is located a few minutes down 26 just north of downtown. The Dub is kind of hard to find, as it is located on the far north side of campus. If you’re having trouble finding it just go to the north side of the football stadium and it's right there. Once inside the ballpark there are no obstructed views, and it is perfect size for a Juco facility. Return on Investment   3 Tickets are $7 and allow you to sit anywhere you want inside the facility. PRCC has also become a Juco powerhouse in baseball in recent years, so expect a high level of competition between schools. During my most recent visit # 3 ranked Pearl River played # 5 ranked Meridian Community College – a lot of these players will sign with D1 colleges after PRCC. In fact, Pearl River had four sign with D1 baseball schools after the 2024 season, including two who signed with SEC schools. Extras   4 One extra for the Wildcats winning the 2022 NJCAA World Series, capturing the school's first national championship in baseball. A huge banner commemorating that feat sits behind the scoreboard, and is the first thing you’ll see when you come to the ballpark. People in South Mississippi may not be familiar with the name Dub Herring, but I guarantee you they'll be familiar with Paw Paw from Paw Paw's Camper City. Dub Herring is the namesake behind Paw Paw, and since the 1970s has owned car dealerships throughout southern Mississippi. In 1992 Paw Paw entered the RV business and opened Paw Paw's Camper City in Picayune, now known as Paw Paw's Campers and Cars – for the past 30 years everybody with a television on the Gulf Coast has been greeted to the words "That's a good RV Paw Paw" coming through their TV sets. Thanks in part to his famous commercials, Dub Herring holds a special place in the pop culture of the Gulf Coast. Paw Paw did not attend Pearl River, but his grandkids did, and Herring was the one who raised the funds to build the new baseball stadium that now bears his name. Another extra for all the famous baseball players to come through here – Pearl River has had over 20 players get drafted into MLB, with four players making it to The Show. Perhaps the most successful player to ever come out of here is outfielder Wendall Magee, who had a seven-year big league career with the Phillies and Tigers, from 1996-2002. Pearl River has a few famous alumni, but perhaps the most famous alum is Jimmy Buffett, who attended for one year (1966-67). Buffett hated Poplarville, as there are no bars in town to play music in, so he resorted to playing his guitar from his Huff Hall dorm room, which is still standing at the entrance to campus. Another extra for the Wildcats Den, the official on-campus store for Pearl River athletics. Located at the main entrance to the sports complex, this bookstore rivals some of the nicest bookstores you will find at four-year colleges. You can find all the latest Wildcats merch and even some items on sale, and the baseball game is usually playing on TV for those who want to get some A/C during the game. There is also a pretty cool little history museum right across the street, honoring all the school’s past achievements and housing old memorabilia from Pearl River athletics.

Photos by Gregory Koch and Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Sonny Pittaro Field 2083 Lawrenceville Rd Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Rider Broncs website Sonny Pittaro Field website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 2,000 Take a Ride(r) to Sonny Pittaro Field Sonny Pittaro Field is the baseball home of the Broncs of Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The stadium opened in 2005, and is named after longtime Rider coach Sonny Pittaro, who retired the year before after leading the team to nine NCA Tournament appearances. The stadium is located at the back of Rider's campus, surrounded by several other fields, including Ben Cohen Field, home to the Broncs' softball, field hockey, and lacrosse teams, as well as the softball field, tennis courts, and track & field complex. Pittaro Field was briefly home to the Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League in 2021 due to ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Toronto Blue Jays were forced to relocate to Sahlen Field in Buffalo due to border closures, forcing the Buffalo Bisons to relocate to the Thunder's stadium in Trenton. With no place else to go, the Thunder played their home games on Rider's campus until the Canadian border reopened and everyone returned to their normal home. However, in terms of both player and fan amenities, the field is nowhere near the level of other Draft League ballparks, all of which were affiliated minor league stadiums until the contraction of 2020. Food & Beverage 0 No food or beverages are sold at Sonny Pittaro Field, but fans are welcome to bring their own with the exception of alcohol and sunflower seeds. There is a drink machine on site that appears to sell bottled water and soft drinks, but it was not functioning when we visited. Atmosphere 2 There are several places at Sonny Pittaro Field to watch a game from. Chairbacks and bleachers surround the area behind home plate, although the bucket seats are quite narrow with limited legroom. These seats are all behind netting due to their proximity to the field, but it doesn't obstruct the view too much. There are additional bleachers further up the field, outside the dugouts, which are not behind netting. A scoreboard in left-centerfield shows the linescore as well. This is a pretty basic gameday experience. Music is played during some breaks in the action, and the PA announcer can be loud at times, almost as if he is yelling into the microphone. There is little going on here besides the game. Baseball purists will enjoy that, while others may get bored quickly. Neighborhood 3 As Sonny Pittaro is located towards the back of the Rider campus, there is not much else to do in the immediate vicinity. However, if you head back to the main road, you will find several places to eat, hang out, and more. Varsity Pizza is a short drive away and sells great pizza by the slice or as whole pies. The Tastee Sub Shop also seems popular. If you drive about ten minutes into Trenton, you will find many more options as well. Fans 3 Rider typically draws a couple hundred fans a game. Some of these are friends and family of the players, while others are locals who have been coming to games for years and have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the team and its history. Some former Rider baseball players still turn up for games, and Sonny Pittaro himself has been known to make an occasional appearance at the ballpark that bears his name. The fans can get loud at times, but are mostly subdued during the game. This is typical of northeastern college baseball. As the MAAC covers a small geographic footprint, there will often be a good number of fans of the visiting team as well. Rider fans mostly sit up the first base line, while visiting fans sit up the third base line, as that is where the respective dugouts are. Oddly enough, few fans choose to sit in the bucket seats behind home plate even though those are the only proper seats in the stadium - the rest are uncomfortable metal bleachers. Access 3 Sonny Pittaro and the Rider University campus are accessible via I-295 (formerly I-95 until a few years ago when the designation changed to resolve the infamous gap in the latter.) There are signs directing you to the field once you get on campus if you do not have a GPS. There is a spacious lot in between Pittaro Field and Ben Cohen Field that fans can park in. It is highly unlikely this lot will ever fill up given the small crowds baseball attracts. Even if there are events elsewhere on campus, people attending those will likely not park in the stadium lot as it would be quite inconvenient for them to access the rest of campus. There are no real restrooms on site but there are a few port-a-potties down the first base line. Players use these too, so you may have to yield to them on occasion. Return on Investment 4 There is no charge for admission to Sonny Pittaro Field, and you won't spend anything on concessions because there aren't any. Parking is free as well. However, there isn't enough here to earn the top score. Extras 1 Look for the signage and murals on the outfield walls and dugout honoring Rider baseball history, as well as longtime coaches Sonny Pittaro and Tom Petroff. Final Thoughts Sonny Pittaro Field is a typical northeastern college baseball stadium. While the Broncs certainly have loyal and knowledgeable fans, they don't have too many of them. A visit here is a chance to take in a free baseball game and learn a good deal about the team from the others in attendance, which is always a nice bonus. While it may not be the fanciest stadium, Sonny Pittaro Field is an enjoyable place to spend a spring afternoon watching baseball.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Dell Diamond 3400 East Palm Valley Blvd Round Rock, TX 78665 Round Rock Express website Dell Diamond website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 11,631 Round Rock Express – Dell Diamond At the start of the 21st century, baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and his business partners purchased the Jackson Generals and moved them to the north central Texas city of Round Rock – in time for the 2000 season, the Round Rock Express, named for their famed owner, were born. As the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the Express has experienced lengthy periods of success while sending crop after crop of talented ballplayers to the big leagues. Round Rock has taken home seven division titles, three conference titles, and one league title as a member of the Texas League (the latter in 2000). Former MLB All-Stars such as Yordan Alvarez, Chris Davis, Joey Gallo, and Josh Jung are just some of the ballplayers that have donned the unis of the Express. Since day one the Round Rock club has called Dell Diamond their homefield. In addition to being the home park for the Express, Dell Diamond has also been home to college baseball, rugby, the Double-A All-Star Game in 2001, an episode of Fear the Walking Dead, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie’s The Simple Life, and an awesome publicity stunt by Will Ferrell. In one of my favorite cities in Texas, Dell Diamond is probably my favorite minor league ballpark. Read on to learn all about it. Food & Beverage   5 The food and beverage scene at Dell Diamond is, quite frankly, top notch. You can pretty much find whatever you’ve got a hankering for, with foods ranging from your traditional hot dogs, nachos, and burgers to rice bowls, mac and cheese, and barbecue. Some highlights to be on the lookout for include beer battered fish and chips at Cork and Barrel Pub, red velvet milkshakes at Fairlane’s Diner, a “Moa Bowl”, which is chicken tenders in mango habanero sauce with sesame seeds and tater tots from Ono Pacific Grill, and “The Boomstick”, a foot-long hot dog smothered in chili and queso topped with fried onions and jalapeños. You can also find local favorites, such as Mighty Fine Burgers and Southside Market Barbecue, featuring pared-down versions of their iconic menus. All the food is on the mezzanine/main level, which makes things very convenient; you won’t go hungry in Round Rock. Atmosphere   4 In terms of atmosphere, Dell Diamond is all about the details. Premium fan areas, such as Bullpen Bar located just beyond centerfield, offers a great respite from the summertime heat, which is inescapable in this part of Texas once the calendar changes over to June. Right next to that is a kids play area dubbed “The Backyard”, complete with rides, splashpad, and rock-climbing wall – this area is restricted to kids 12 and under, and they must be supervised by an adult. The team store, aka The Railyard, is located on the first base side of the stadium. It is pretty massive for a minor league team and has a ton of merchandise, including specialty and collector’s items. Beyond the left field wall is the Home Run Porch; this covered seating area is a prime spot for fans wanting to catch dingers, as well as being the best-shaded spot in the ballpark. The premium seats in this area are rocking chairs, which sit in the shade underneath ceiling fans – again, a bonus during the summer. Behind the seating here you’ll find the Round Rock Express Hall of Fame, which honors important figures in the team’s history. Dell Diamond also has two outfield lawn seating areas; with a general admission ticket, fans can bring in blankets, lawn chairs, or towels to sit on in these sloped grassy areas. Also, photo opportunities abound all through the ballpark for fans looking to get that one for the ‘Gram. Neighborhood   4 Round Rock is roughly a 20-minute drive north on Interstate 35 from the big city of Austin, becoming pretty much a suburb of the Texas capitol. As such you’ll find a lot of the trappings of a big city, but it still retains some of its small-town charm. The immediate area around Dell Diamond has been built up quite a bit, however – it is across the street from a relatively new Kalahari Resort. This ultra family friendly playground is home to rides, a massive indoor waterpark, an array of dining options, and a spa. If you’re taking little ones, this would be a great way to cap off the trip. Also, just down the road from the ballpark is Old Settlers Park, which is the city’s number one public park. For sporting enthusiasts this place is a paradise, offering up areas for fishing, disc golf, cricket, volleyball, basketball, football, and so much more. If you’re looking for dining options either before or after the game, you can’t do much better than Salt Lick BBQ. I will admit some bias, as the Salt Lick location in Dripping Springs is my favorite barbecue spot in the state, which by default makes it my favorite in the country. Mouth-watering brisket, dynamite sausage, and fall-off-the-bone ribs are all ranked as some of the best in the state. I would also recommend not skimping out on dessert, as the blackberry cobbler is sneaky fantastic. One other recommendation I have to pass on in regard to food is the hands-down best donut shop in the state, Round Rock Donuts. With their signature orange-glazed offerings, Round Rock Donuts has been a beloved Texas institution for nearly a century. If you can go early, that’d be great as the demand for the sugary treats only increases exponentially during the rest of the day. For lodging, most of your traditional hotel/motel options are going to be closer to Interstate 35; however, not too far from the ballpark is La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Round Rock East. This affordable option is within walking distance of the ballpark. Aside from this and Kalahari Resort, the only other option in this section of Round Rock is Redbud Ranch Cabin & RV Resort – this quaint spot is about 10-minutes from the ballpark. Fans   3 Last season the Express averaged around 5,600 fans per game, which places them smack-dab in the middle of the minor leagues in terms of attendance. This was about what I experienced, taking into consideration it was drizzling off and on throughout the day on my most recent visit, which probably affected the crowd somewhat. While this level of attendance is respectable, it is a far cry from the halcyon days of the early 2000s, representing only about half of what the park holds. I believe the lure of Austin and all it has to offer has sapped some of the luster from the Express. With that being said, the fans who attend games here truly care about their team. They’re loud, engaged, and dress in the team’s garb, and there are also quite a few kids at the game, which is a good sign; get them to be fans while they’re young! Access   3 As mentioned, Round Rock and Dell Diamond are about 20 minutes from downtown Austin. The exit for the ballpark is clearly marked off Interstate 35, which is nice. Once on-site, parking is plentiful in two main lots. The park is also about a 25-minute drive from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. If you choose not to drive or use a rideshare, the public transportation option in Round Rock, CapMetro, has stops near Dell Diamond. Return on Investment   4 Single game tickets for the Round Rock Express at Dell Diamond start at just $13 per person. This is pretty much on par with the rest of Triple-A; note that costs do vary slightly, however, depending on the day of the week or the promotion that is offered for that game. Parking is also pretty on par with the rest of MiLB at $15 per car. The concession costs vary, but you will still be able to get a pretty good bite to eat and something to drink without bursting your wallet. All in all, it’s still a good bargain in Round Rock, especially considering the talent that comes through Dell Diamond on a yearly basis. Extras   4 Like most, if not all, minor league clubs, the Express pull out lots of stops to get folks to the ballpark. Virtually every game this season has some sort of giveaway or theme night, including $2 Taco Tuesdays, fireworks on Friday nights, Round Rock Donuts jersey giveaways, and meet and greets with the legit Shooter McGavin and Napoleon Dynamite! The team also takes part in the Minor Leagues Copa de la Diversión, and for certain games they don the uniforms of the Chupacabras de Round Rock. For Kids Days, which take place each month, a miniature train is brought in along with balloon artists, face painters, and bounce houses. Last, but most certainly not least is the team’s mascot, Spike – this lovable bulldog/train conductor can be counted on to entertain the crowds throughout Express games, and is always amenable to taking photos with fans of all ages. Final Thoughts As mentioned, Dell Diamond is my favorite minor league park. Even though it is approaching being 25 years old, it still looks modern. There are tons of nods to baseball’s past, which is both intrinsic and essential to the sport. There is not a bad sightline in the stadium, and it has enough amenities and extras to keep everyone (e.g., young fans) entertained and engaged. I would definitely add Dell Diamond to your bucket list, and I’m sure you’ll understand why when you take in a game here. Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 McWhorter Stadium 114 Baseball Dr Clemson, SC 29634 Clemson Tigers website McWhorter Stadium website Year Opened: 2020 Capacity: 2,116 The Orange and Regalia Softball at Clemson debuted in 2020, and the Tigers got off to a strong start with a 5-1 record – unfortunately the season was cut short by COVID-19, limiting the Tigers’ inaugural season to just 6 games. The abrupt end to the 2020 season did not seem to adversely impact Clemson, however, as in their first full season in 2021 they went 44-8, winning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season championship with a 22-5 conference record. Since that time Clemson has firmly established itself as not just one of the top teams in the ACC, but also one of the top teams in the national scene. Food & Beverage   4 McWhorter Stadium has one main concession stand located on the upper level of the concourse, directly behind home plate. It has somewhat of a condensed menu, but does offer a bit more than just hot dogs and typical snacks. Entrees include hot dogs, burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and BBQ sandwiches. Nachos, peanuts, and chips are also available, along with an assortment of candy. Frozen Fanta is also a popular choice at this stand, and chili can be added to any of the entrees. A second concession stand, dedicated to snacks, is tucked under the concrete walkway along the third baseline – while this stand sell snacks and Coke products, it is the shaved ice that is the featured item here, where fans can add their own flavoring. Alcohol is not served at Clemson athletic events. There is not much that will blow your doors off, but concessions at McWhorter Stadium do offer more than the typical ballpark choices. Atmosphere   4 McWhorter Stadium has a very open, modern feel to it. The large press box is topped by a massively large canopy that provides a great deal of shade for the area behind home plate. The stadium’s purple hued seats are also perfectly complemented by the orange trim of the dugouts and the Clemson trademark paw prints. The immediately recognizable paw logo is also prominently displayed on the natural grass in short center field. The in-game presentation is as would be found at many other softball and baseball stadiums around the county; despite there not being a designated stadium host, there are a handful of interactive games such as the cap shuffle, as well as reminders of fan promotions on the scoreboard. When it comes to seating options it largely depends on your desired experience – seats in the grandstand tend to hold the Tigers most ardent supporters, who hang on every out as possibly the most important at bat of the game. The outfield berm, on the other hand, has more of a social atmosphere, but fans there are still into the game, and roar in approval for Clemson hits, runs, and big plays. Despite the large awning there is not a lot of shade at McWhorter Stadium, but fans looking to get out of the sun often find themself standing along the walls of the softball facilities on the first base side of the field, or on the concourse behind home plate. Neighborhood   5 Clemson, South Carolina is a quintessential college town, where the university is the center of most of what goes on in the area. College Avenue, the hub of activity on weekends, and the scene of much of Clemson’s nightlife, is located just about a mile from McWhorter Stadium. Situated near the northern edge of campus, this area is heavily populated with an array of bars and restaurants, making it a popular destination for both pre and post-game gatherings. During the spring, as days lengthen and temperatures rise, College Avenue buzzes with visitors exploring its shops, bars, and dining spots. While College Avenue has the highest concentration of popular establishments, The Esso Club, a renowned Clemson watering hole, is just a short stroll from Clemson’s athletic neighborhood, which McWhorter Stadium is part of – the rest of the athletics complex includes baseball’s Doug Kingsmore Stadium , directly behind the softball stadium’s grandstand, while just across the street are both Littlejohn Coliseum and Memorial Stadium. Fans   5 Clemson softball packs the stands with standing room only attendees, averaging over 1,800 fans per game, which is impressive given McWhorter’s stated capacity is just a touch over 2,100. The 1,800 fans per game puts the Tigers in the Top 10 nationally in attendance, and nearly double that of the next closest ACC rival. However, it is not just that the seats and concourse are full, but a sea of tailgating chairs also surrounds foul territory, from left field around to the scoreboard in right field. And if that was not enough, a pair of rambunctious fan groups, “Cagle’s Corner” and “The Deep End”, are there keeping the tailgating going throughout the game, taking down celebratory beers and rattling cowbells in response to big plays. It is not just their boisterous nature, but also their unwavering support of Clemson softball that adds so much to the atmosphere here at McWhorter Stadium; these two groups also fly several boat dock flags in support of Tigers players. Clemson softball fans definitely comes with passion and an enthusiasm to get behind their Tigers, which helps create a top-notch experience. Access   3 Located just about 15 minutes off I-85, Clemson’s campus is easily accessible for fans traveling from Charlotte or Atlanta, with a drive of about 2 to 2.5 hours from each. Once on campus parking is readily available around the stadium. There is plenty of free parking in the lot just outside the main gates for fans with mobility challenges, with additional general parking in Jervey Meadow, just beyond the right field confines of the stadium. McWhorter Stadium has two entry points: a main gate at field level just to the third base side of home plate, and a second, more discrete entrance through a gate and up a short flight of stairs. However, if traversing the stairs to the main concourse is too much, or the long ramp too far out of the way, there is also an elevator at the base of the press box that fans can use to access the top of the seating bowl. Attendees will also find a rather wide walkway that runs from just beyond first base down the third baseline. Several of Clemson’s games are standing room only though, so even with a wide walkway navigating can get a bit crowded. And while the concrete walkway ends as it nears the outfield wall, the grassy outfield berm has been well worn down so much that there is a path. Take caution, though, as the hillside is rather steep, and the large crowd there can make it a bit of a challenge to navigate. Return on Investment   4 Walk up tickets for general admission start at $10, which is consistent with ticket prices for many other of the higher-level collegiate softball programs in the county.  However, when factoring in free parking, $10 to get in is a pretty reasonable rate; tickets on the secondary market might even be available for $1 before fees are added. Even if tickets do not appear to be available online, berm seating is typically available on a walkup, day of game basis. Concession prices are also kept pretty well in check to where it encourages fans to buy food, rather than simply lament the inflated stadium prices. Extras   3 Given the popularity of the outfield seating and berm, inclines have been placed at the base of the fence, to allow fans who want to watch from that vantage point a bit of a boost to peer over the top of the outfield wall. The ambiance outside the stadium is every bit the top-notch college sports experience as you will find anywhere else in the country – the hoots-‘n-hollers big rig whistles from the two fan support groups especially add a lot of festivity to the atmosphere, playing off the idea of baseball’s “Cheap Seats” and “The Cajun Café”. In an ode to their university and in unison with the fanbase, the entire team lines up along the first baseline following the game to sing the school’s alma mater with the fans in attendance. Final Thoughts The Clemson softball program, athletic department, and the Tigers fan base all deserve a lot of credit for where the softball program stands today; the fans for their undying devotion to Clemson athletics, the athletic department for investing seemingly unconditionally into the program, and the softball staff and players for growing a culture that has translated to such a high level of success on the field in such a short amount of time. When looking at both conference and national rankings, it is hard to believe that Clemson softball is a program still in its infancy – walking into McWhorter Stadium it would feel as if the Tigers have been fielding a softball program since the ACC started crowning a champion in 1992. What Clemson has done in establishing itself as a perennial Top 25 softball programs in four seasons is nothing short of amazing.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Horner Ballpark 3000 Mountain Creek Pkwy Dallas, TX 75211 Dallas Baptist Patriots website Horner Ballpark website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 3,492 Horner Ballpark - A Baseball Gem in DFW Located in Dallas, TX, Joan & Andy Horner Ballpark is home to the Dallas Baptist University Patriots baseball team. The ballpark was designed by well-known architecture firm HKS using the architectural theme of the campus, a Georgian-style facade of dark red brick. The facility has a capacity of 3,492 (including 4 guest boxes) – opened on February 15, 2013, the venue was ranked 20th best stadium in college baseball by D1Baseball.com. Dallas Baptist University recently became a member of Conference USA, with previous membership in the Missouri Valley Conference and the Western Athletic Conference. Horner Ballpark played host to the 2015 Dallas Regional; a record crowd of 3,242 was announced during the regional, as the Patriots defeated the University of Texas 8-1. Horner Ballpark also hosts Dallas area high school playoff games in May. Food & Beverage   3 There are two concession stands inside Horner Ballpark, one on each of the baselines, which provide basic food and beverages. During my most recent visit, though, only one concession stand was open, so the line was very long. The concessions are limited in selection, but prices are on par with other sporting venues. The highest cost food item is the Patriot nachos, loaded with chili or chopped beef, for $12. Besides the chopped beef sandwich at $9, other items range from $4 to $7 for hot dogs, chili cheese dogs, nachos, candy and pretzels. Beverages at Horner Ballpark consist of Coca-Cola fountain products – a 20oz soda costs $5, while the 32oz souvenir cup is the more economic choice at the same $5, but offers refills for $2. Dasani bottled water is the lowest priced beverage at $3; alcohol is not sold inside the ballpark. Atmosphere   3 Dallas Baptist University sponsors 15 intercollegiate athletic teams, but baseball is the only sport that competes on the Division 1 level. The majority of baseball games during the season are held on the weekends, with a single game during the week. The ballpark contains four guest suites available for rent (each one has audio broadcast available), a pavilion down the left field line for large groups, and party plazas on both sides of the concourse for medium sized gatherings. Horner Ballpark has an Astroturf infield with only the pitcher's mound having real dirt. The dimensions of the playing field are 330 feet down the lines and 390 feet to straightaway center. The home team's bullpen is behind the left center field fence, which you can see through, while the visitor bullpen is located in the corner of right field, since the visitors use the first base side dugout. The scoreboard in right field is basic with no video replay, and has the old name of Patriot Field across the top. There is a small apparel shop called the Patriot Locker next to the main entrance. The 7th inning stretch is the always "Take Me Out to The Ballgame" with the additional playing of a Texas favorite, Cotton Eyed Joe. The most interesting item at Horner Ballpark is the cannon on top of the hill behind the DBU bullpen – the cannon is fired after each home team home run.  The Regiment, a group of 5 Cannoneers, are in charge of protecting and executing the Order of the Cannon; this shows the spirit of the university namesake and legacy of the American Patriot. Neighborhood   3 Dallas Baptist University is located 12 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, near the DFW National Cemetery and overlooking Mountain Creek Lake. The campus is within the City of Dallas limits, but the closest activities for food and lodging are in the cities of Grand Prairie and Duncanville – Grand Prairie is located just across Mountain Creek Lake via the toll bridge, while Duncanville is situated just south of campus off Interstate 20. Horner Ballpark is located on campus, so there isn't much nearby if you are looking for food or lodging. Outlaw's BBQ is about 4 miles across the lake in Grand Prairie, just to the right off Beltline, and there are additional fast food restaurants if you continue west on Pioneer Parkway. Although there isn't much around campus, the school is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, which opens up an unlimited number of restaurants, lodging options, and attractions; some of the attractions are the John F. Kennedy Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas World Aquarium, and Perot Museum, to name a few. Fans   3 Dallas Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university with 3,400 undergraduates, so the majority of baseball fans are students and relatives. The fans typically wear DBU sporting apparel, and their support is genuine. The schedule is competitive, so you might see fans from TCU, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma, for example, filling the stands on the visitor side, so the ballpark doesn't feel empty. Access   3 Horner Ballpark is located on the Dallas Baptist University campus, in a secluded area on the back side behind the student housing. There are two interstates that can be used to reach the school - from the south use Interstate 20 and take Mountain Creek Parkway, while from the north take Interstate 30 to Loop 12 and then onto Mountain Creek Parkway. The main entrance to the university is on Mountain Creek Parkway, but the easiest access to the ballpark is off W. Kiest Blvd / Spur 303, as this way you will avoid having to drive through the hilly campus – for this route use Mountain Creek Parkway or Loop 12 and Spur 408 (from Interstate 20) to the W. Kiest Blvd exit. The first road on the right after The Potter House will lead to the ballpark. Once on campus parking is free; space is limited within the athletics area but you should be able to find a spot. Horner Ballpark does have more than one entrance, but the main entrance is guaranteed to be open and is next to the ticket office. As you walk through the main entrance, the walls on each side show DBU players that went on to a professional career, and the ceiling has the DBU logo with a baseball stitching imprint. The concourses and section portals are narrow but acceptable given the crowd size. There is only one concourse, and all of the seating is below it. At the end of the concourse there are also stairs that take you to left field, the general admission area, or the Patriot Yard in right field. Return on Investment   5 Single game ticket prices for reserved seating are $12; this represent a high return on investment to see a baseball program that has been one of the top programs in the country over the last five years, along with free parking and reasonably low concessions. I recommend seeing a game at Horner Ballpark if you love baseball or just want a fun-filled day. Extras   4 Several Dallas Baptist baseball players have gone on to the pro levels of competition, and the school honors them at the entrance of Horner Ballpark. There are also military statues near the entrance, and a cannon on top of the hill that is used for the home team’s home runs, behind the DBU bullpens. During the most recent game I attended there was even a stoppage of play while Taps was being played at nearby Dallas National Cemetery. Horner Ballpark doesn’t have all the amenities of another ballpark; it is just pure baseball. Final Thoughts Overall the ballpark is a diamond in the rough for the local DFW area baseball fan. The experience provides top notch Division 1 baseball in a quiet setting without large crowds, expensive tickets, nor high-priced concessions. There is so much to do in the DFW area that an out-of-town sports traveler may not have time to pick up a game at Horner Ballpark, but if you make the time you'll find baseball being played at its purest.

Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey I find myself at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament that has been around since 1913, for the first time in several years. That changed last week when I went to see the Indy Eleven take on San Antonio FC at the Butler Bowl on the campus of Butler University. The two USL Championship foes find themselves in the round of 32 teams, with the winner advancing to the next round to play. The Bud & Jackie Sellick Bowl is not Indy’s home venue, due to commencement ceremonies at Carroll Stadium on the campus of IUPUI, placed the game here. The Butler Bowl is home to Butler's football team but can serve as a soccer pitch, albeit with gridiron marks. It was the second time the club played a US Open Cup match at this location, and hopefully, they could pull out a victory and play again at home in a few weeks. That game would be back in familiar surroundings at Carroll, but will the change of venue make a difference in the team's play? Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The ample crowd barely reached their seats when Eleven's Augustine Williams scored with only two minutes to play. Initially stopped by the goalkeeper, the ball found its way across the line. It resulted in a cloud of red and blue smoke from the supporters group The Brickyard Battalion at the other end of the field. Fans did not have to wait much longer as Indy tallied its second goal only eight minutes later off the foot of Jack Blake. This time a massive puff of smoke descended to the skies and through the stands. It appeared that it would be a night of goals, but that would be it as neither team found the back of the net for the next 80 minutes. Between the goals and the final whistle, there were several more shots at goals, cheering from the BYB, a few near misses at the net, silently fewer pleasantries from the opposing players leaving the pitch at half-time, and Indy XI players signing autographs and high-fiving fans after the match. Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Indy's next opponent will be Detroit City FC at home on May 22. If they win they will take on the New Mexico United or New York City FC II. Do the Eleven have the legs to make a run in the tournament and capture the $300,000 in prize money and a trip to the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Who will get there is anyone’s guest? MLS clubs have dominated since their introduction in 1996, only losing once to a second-division side in the finals. The USLC Sacramento Republic FC made it to the final game in 2022 before losing to the Orlando City of the MLS. The USL Championship has 9-teams, MLS has 6, and MLS Next Pro has one club remaining in the tournament. Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Open Cup games are interesting bags of treats. In some cities, the games are not highly marketed and many fans might overlook the fact that they are not league games scheduled for weekend bouts. The mid-week games don't bring out huge crowds at times, but as each team moves closer to the finals, the crowds do come out. The Detroit City faifthful do enjoy these types of games and will make their presence felt in Indianapolis where a rowdy supporters group will try to outduel the BYB on the other side of the pitch. For the fans, the US Open Cup offers a chance to see USLC clubs battle MLS members on their home turf. It is a rare opportunity when the top two divisions play one another. It also provides an extra game of soccer to watch at your club’s regular grounds or somewhere else in the city. Be on the lookout for the next few months, as the tournament continues until the final match on September 25. Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by James Clotfelter, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Dan Magill Tennis Complex 518 D W Brooks Athens, GA 30605 Georgia Bulldogs website Dan Magill Tennis Complex website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 5,000 Tennis In The Classic City Many outside the college tennis world do not know that the University of Georgia has a rich tennis history. The university consistently produces ATP and WTA talent and has accumulated two women's and six men's national championships. The Dan Magill Tennis Complex itself has hosted a total of 24 men’s championships and three women’s championships. This 12-court outdoor court and 6-court indoor court facility is the crown jewel of the collegiate tennis landscape. Food & Beverage   3 One cashless concession stand serves the main outdoor court and one serves the indoor courts. Expect the basics of small stadium foods like hot dogs, burgers, chips, and candy. In terms of drinks, water and Coca-Cola products, including PowerAde, are all provided and bottled. Domestic beer and imports can also be purchased at the concession stand. They are also served with a UGA-branded souvenir cup. Atmosphere   4 The outdoor complex hosts six courts: courts 1–3 are covered by the main stand, and courts 4–6 run along a grass terrace. The main stand is split into two levels: the lower level has chairbacks, and the upper level has bleacher seating. Every ticket to the main stand is general admission, so it is first come, first served for the chairbacks. Across from the main stand appears to be a terrace with shaded, high-top seating, presumably reserved for team dinners. To the left of the main stand, parallel to court one is the player clubhouse with more exclusive shaded seating. The concourse in the main stand splits the two levels and holds the concession stand along with restrooms. Outside the concourse, little gardens and flowers are sprinkled throughout the complex, creating a pleasant atmosphere. There is a scoreboard slightly past court 3 that gives the scores on all six courts as well as the total team scores. Those unfamiliar with the college game will be surprised to learn that fans can make noise during the game. While the umpires may tell the fans to relax if it gets excessive, the students like to get into the action, occasionally engaging in some banter with the opposing team and some instigation from the Georgia players. This intimate environment also allows fans to hear back and forth between players and their opponents, players and the umpire, and players talking to themselves. The entrance to the indoor facility sits right across the street from the Carlton Street Parking Deck adjacent to the outdoor courts. These courts will only be used if weather forces the event to be moved inside. It consists of a much smaller capacity than its outdoor companion, with three humble rows of supported bleachers running along all six of its courts. Each court contains its scoreboard located on the wall across from the bleachers, and a master scoreboard sits at the head of the building. Neighborhood   4 The tennis complex is located in the same lot as Stegman Coliseum (men's and women's basketball and gymnastics) and Foley Field (basketball). It is an on-campus facility, so if it is your first time visiting UGA, be sure to take a stroll around a campus that is regarded as one of the most beautiful ones in the country. Popular on-campus attractions include the athletic facilities, Tate Student Center, the UGA bookstore, and North Campus, which holds the oldest buildings of the first public university in the country. Athens is regarded as one of the best college towns in America. With downtown being adjacent to the north campus, students and visitors are steps away from local shops, restaurants, and bar options. The best time to stroll downtown Athens for the first time would be during the day before the nightlife crowd hits downtown. The Five Points neighborhood holds some great, quitter food options like Sakura Hibachi and Sushi Bar, Pine Bar, and Loaded Pizza, and is also within a walkable distance from the tennis complex. There is one hotel on the UGA campus in the convention center, but there are loads of options outside of campus that you may want to investigate. Many visitors also prefer to book an Airbnb, as Athens is home to many affordable ones. Fans   3 The University of Georgia tennis fans are very knowledgeable of both their men’s and women’s tennis teams. Attendance can vary greatly, as marquee night and conference matches will have much better attendance numbers than the random noon midweek nonconference match. When the SEC championship is hosted, many of the non-UGA matches will have only a handful of patrons and family in attendance. Student turnout also varies depending on the stakes of the match, the quality of the promotion or giveaway, and the time. If it is a good opponent on the weekend, student turnout is very good by college tennis standards, and they give the atmosphere as well as the usual student section banter to opposing players, occasionally sneaking under the skin of the opposing team. It is a usual occurrence for the umpires to calm the crowd when the student turnout is in full force. As for the rest of the crowd, it tends to be the families of the athletes and local families getting out of the house on a nice day. Access   3 Getting to Athens is not always the easiest experience. There is not a direct highway to Athens, but the most common way to get to Athens from Atlanta is I-85 to Exit 106, which will put you on GA 316, otherwise known as University Parkway, and it runs directly to Athens. There is also a world where it ends up being faster to take I-20 from Atlanta. This will take you to Conyers, GA, and put you on a combination of countryside highways to Athens. If coming from Lake Hartwell or South Carolina, it is best to take I-85 to Commerce, Georgia. From Commerce, you can take GA 15 south directly into Athens. Once in Athens, the tennis complex is located directly behind the Stegman Coliseum on the campus of the University of Georgia. The Carlton Street parking deck is free to park on event days, and it is situated right across the street from the indoor complex and approximately a mere 200 feet from the outdoor entrance. The outdoor concourse is simple and easy to navigate, but there is only one set of restrooms, which may get crowded at highly attended matches. The indoor concourse is impossible to get lost in, and it is simply a hallway with a concession stand that takes you straight to the main courts. Return on Investment   5 Admission to UGA Regular season matches is free, and every event is general admission, so it is hard to complain about that. On top of free admission, parking on the Carlton Street Deck is free as well. For non-UGA events, like the 2024 SEC Women’s Tennis Championships, the price per day was $5, and an all-sessions pass was $15. Concessions are on par with every UGA athletic event, which is a more than reasonable price. $2.50 for hot dogs, $5 for hamburgers, $7-$8 for beer, $5 for a pretzel, and $2 for water. Extras   4 The Dan Magill Tennis Complex offers a sense of natural beauty with the garden-like features it incorporates into the complex. Inside the main stand is a long timeline and tribute to the Georgia tennis greats. The grass terrace along courts 4-6 also gives a very green feel to the complex. Outside the outdoor courts is also the ITA Tennis Hall of Fame, which was unfortunately closed for our visits, but when it opens, it will add some more character to this historic complex. Final Thoughts The Dan Magill Tennis Complex provides a quality atmosphere with quality tennis for a non-existent dollar amount. No matter what you are in Athens for, it is more than worth checking out both the men’s and women’s tennis schedules.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Fitch Park 651 N Center Mesa, AZ 85211 Map It ACL Athletics website Fitch Park website Year Opened: 1997 Year Renovated: 2014 Capacity: 125 (estimate) Rookie A's In the sports world, Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ, is mostly known as the workout and practice facility as the Oakland Athletics’ spring training site.  It is a city-owned and operated park.  The park has four ball fields on the west side and traditional city park amenities like a playground, ramadas, and picnic tables on the east side. The ACL Athletics (Arizona Complex League) play their home games there (Field 3) from mid-spring to mid-summer.  The 2024 ACL season runs from early May till the end of July.  It is an earlier start than previous seasons.   This is nice because it’s not quite as hot in early May. The Arizona Complex League (formerly known as the Arizona League) is one of two rookie-level baseball leagues of MLB, the lowest level of the organization.  The games are nine innings and use only two umpires.  If you look at the rosters, most players were born after 9/11.  For many of the players and the umpires, the ACL is their first professional engagement. The ACL Athletics began playing at Fitch Field in 2015.  The team has won the most ACL championships since the league started in 1988. Food & Beverage 0 The stadium does not sell concessions.  Fans can and should bring in their own snacks and beverages.  We recommend bringing in at least two bottles of water as it gets unbelievably hot at these games, brutally hot, especially later in the season. Atmosphere 2 The park has a good-looking, plush green field (at least at the beginning of the season).  Palm trees line the center field walls.  Two sets of bleachers are on each side of the infield.  They are five rows high and sit maybe ten across.  Thankfully, canopies cover them, so they are shaded.  The seating is very close to the field; you’re up close to the action.  A thick chain link fence protects not only the bleachers but also the dugouts.   It impedes the view of the game. The field has a basic scoreboard in left field showing strikes, balls, outs, the inning, and runs per team.  It is best seen from the first base bleachers during day games, as the chain link fence blocks the view from the third base set. The team has an announcer, who calls the game extremely well, though his voice volume is low, and sometimes you need to strain to hear it. Game day operations play music between innings at a perfect volume level. Neighborhood 4 The stadium is in a residential area, and while there’s not a whole lot to do in the immediate area, the stadium is a little over a mile from downtown Mesa, which has developed significantly over the last several years. Downtown Mesa has four breweries:  12 West Brewing – which serves tasty food, Beer Research Institute – which has a classic arcade in it, Oro Brewing Company, and the newest Phantom Fox Beer Co – which partners with Goat and Ram (pizza).   A cidery (Cider Corps) and Chupacabra Taproom are also downtown and offer cider, beer, and wine and a place to hang out before or after the ballgames.  Diamond’s Sports Grille, a classic sports bar, has traditional sports bar food and is just a mile from the park. For local restaurants, we recommend the delicious New Mexican fare Blue Adobe Grille, which is only a four or five-minute drive from the ballpark, and the Que Chevere (Venezuelan cuisine) on Main St. downtown. Tourist things to see and do in Mesa are the Arizona Museum of Natural History, the engaging i.d.e.a Museum (excellent for kids), or the popular cultural Mesa Arts Center. The Mesa Historical Museum has an exhibit on the Arizona Cactus League and Arizona Spring Training, as well as Mesa-specific historical exhibits. Though a little distance from Fitch Park (about 5 miles), fans may want to visit Organ Stop Pizza with its Wurlitzer Theater organ, which some say is the world’s largest pipe organ. The Delta Hotels by Marriott Phoenix Mesa is one mile away. A few lower-priced hotels, like Quality Inn or Baymont Inn, are three to five miles from the stadium. Other sports near Fitch Park during the rookie season include the WAC baseball tournament played at Hohokam Stadium at the end of May or the Pac-12 baseball tournament at Scottsdale Stadium. And, depending on schedules, fans can visit Chase Field and see an MLB Arizona Diamondbacks game or the Footprint Center and watch the WNBA Phoenix Mercury. Fans 2 The fans in the stands are players not playing that day, some local A’s fans, and others who like the game of baseball.  Some fans bring bags of baseballs to get autographs of possible up-and-coming Athletics.  It’s easy to strike up a conversation with the other fans.  You can hear discussions about the type of pitch thrown and good plays on the diamond; visitors know the game.   Probably the biggest fans are the teammates in the dugouts. Access 3 Getting to and from Fitch Park is easy and hassle-free.  It is a little over a mile north of downtown Mesa, half a mile south of Hohokam Stadium, and about two miles south of the 202.   A DBUZ bus stop is outside the stadium.  The bus service ends at 8pm during the week and 9pm on Saturdays. This may not be an option if you want to stay for the whole game, as evening games start at 6pm. Sky Harbor Airport is 11 miles to the west; Mesa Gateway Airport is 22 miles to the southeast.  Uber and Lyft are readily available in Mesa. When arriving by vehicle, drive past the ball fields and park in the area at the end of the road.  Then follow the sign to the field entrance.  It’s a short hike to the playing field. Return on Investment 5 It costs nothing except your transportation to Fitch Field and the snacks and drinks you bring.  The city doesn’t charge for parking; the team doesn’t charge admittance.   You can’t do much better than that for a few hours of baseball. Extras 2 Extras go to the city for renovating the complex and the field ten years ago.  Beginning the season earlier is favorable just because of the heat in the later parts of summer. Final Thoughts If you like baseball for baseball and can manage the heat, watching an ACL Athletics game is a worthwhile few hours out.  Be sure to check out the lively downtown Mesa area after (or before) the game.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 TPC Sugarloaf 2595 Sugarloaf Club Dr Duluth, GA 30097 Mitsubishi Electric Classic website TPC Sugarloaf website Year Opened: 1997 Where Legends Play Located in the northeastern Atlanta suburb of Duluth, the one-time Rollins family cattle and horse farm Sugarloaf Farms was transformed into the Greg Norman-designed TPC Sugarloaf. The 7309-yard, par 72 Bermuda fairways and bent grass greens of TPC Sugarloaf have played host to both PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions events since its opening in 1997, when the club hosted the Bell South Classic. The PGA Tour stop would last until 2009 when it was renamed the AT&T Classic, but then TPC Sugarloaf would go without professional golf until the PGA Tour Champions added it to their schedule in 2013, with two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer winning the inaugural event. The PGA Tour Champions is comprised of golf legends aged 50 and above; most tournaments on the tour are 54-hole events with no cut. Food & Beverage   4 Starting with the first hole, concession tents are stationed every three holes and serve a full food and beverage menu – snack tents are also set up around the course and offer a hefty selection of choices.  On course Gourmet to Go tents sell a wide variety of high-quality sandwiches, including the Georgian classic Pimento cheese, and Tuscan grilled chicken salads are also available from the tents. On course concessions also serve a wide selection of candy, chips, and other snacks. The Fan Expo area behind the 18th green offers a wider selection of foods – in addition to the standard grab-and-go set up, local pizzeria Johnny’s New York Style Pizza provides three different options, while the neighboring Snack Attack! tent serves more typical stadium type concessions such as hot dogs, pretzels, peanuts, popcorn, and nachos with cheese sauce. Another favorite during the event is Atlanta popsicle producer King of Pops, with their hand crafted, all natural popsicles, which can be found at the trademark rainbow umbrella among the vendor tents at the exposition center. When it comes to beverages there is a little bit of something for everyone; non-alcoholic beverages include Coke, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero, Sprite, PowerAde and Dasani bottled water, along with hand-squeezed lemonade. For adult beverages, attendees can choose from Michelob Ultra, Corona, and Modelo beers, with mixed drinks and wine available in the premium access areas. Atmosphere   4 Made up of three individual 9-hole tracks, the original “Stables and Meadows” courses are used for tournament play – the courses are a nod to the history of the land upon which the community was built. The front 9, the Stables course, does have some forgiving landing areas, but the greens are well protected either by bunkers or Singleton Creek, which meanders through the front side. There is little opportunity to land a shot short and run it up close to the pin. On the other hand, precision is the name of the game on the back 9, the Meadows course. Greens here are a bit less protected, but fairways are tighter, putting a premium on keeping the ball on the short stuff. In addition, Rollins Ranch Lake, centrally located on the Sugarloaf property, comes to play on the par 3 11th hole and on the closing 18th. The palatial lake front estates across the water also provide a beautiful backdrop for the 12th hole, though the lake itself doesn’t come into play on this one. The benefit of golf tournaments is that there really is no best way to take in the action – several holes have foldable lawn chairs set up around the green, for spectators to watch approach shots or to see players putting out. Some patrons enjoy following their favorite around the course for all 18 holes, while other fans take the strategy of finding a comfortable spot on the course and watching each group pass by, before heading to the 18th hole to catch the leaders finishing up their round. For those wanting a bit of it all, walking the course backwards will provide a look at each group as they come through the course.  The Saturday pin placement on 18 is typically just beyond the water hazard on the front of the green, and thus makes for some thrilling high risk/reward situations. If looking for the excitement of a possible hole-in-one, the 144-yard par 3 second hole is known to surrender more than its fair share. Whatever strategy is implored, just make sure to head to the 18th green toward the end of the day for the excitement of players making one last gasp to pick up a stroke on the leader. Neighborhood   3 TPC Sugarloaf is on the backside of the Gas South District in the Sugarloaf neighborhood of Duluth, a northeastern suburb of Atlanta, about 30-minutes from downtown. Sugarloaf is a private neighborhood, so typical access to the club is restricted. The surrounding area is where commercial properties and office parks begin transitioning to residential housing and subdivisions. The area is full of additional entertainment, restaurants, and lodging. The front gate of TPC Sugarloaf is less than a quarter mile from the back access road to Gas South Arena, which is home to the Atlanta Vibe (Pro Volleyball Federation), Georgia Swarm (National Lacrosse League), and Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL). The arena also hosts numerous concerts year-round, and Duluth is also just a town over from Lawrenceville, which is home to the Gwinnett Stripers, the AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Fans   4 The Friday round is rather lightly attended, but as the tournament progresses to the weekend rounds, the gallery swells to where each grouping has a solid crowd following. By the time Sunday’s final groups are starting their rounds, the course is abuzz with excitement for the leaders heading out. With the course situated amongst private residences, a handful of homes around the course host tournament watch parties from their backyards or decks; these gatherings tend to grow in size and exuberance as the leading groups come through on Sunday’s final round. A few of the patrons do tend to get a bit overly enthusiastic in trying to score an autograph or selfie from the golfers as they exit the 18th green, to make the trip to the clubhouse to sign their scorecard. These autograph seekers end up blocking the area for players to access the green and their carts. Also, a nearly unavoidable issue with a handful of patrons are those who have been overserved on the course, who can then become a bit obnoxious on the shuttle back to the parking lot. This is mostly a case of a very minimal number who can easily ruin the experience, making it an uncomfortable ride back at the end of the day. On the whole, however, the patron involvement at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic is a supportive and respectful group. There is a bit of playful banter between the golfers and the gallery, with an occasional call of “GET IN THE HOLE!” for a tee shot on a 600-yard par 5, as well as a few screams of “BABA-BOEY!” Access   4 With PGA Tour Champions events running Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, getting to Duluth is not as much of a challenge as it might be for midweek or evening events. Patrons park at the nearby Gas South District to be shuttled to the course, which once wheels are moving is no more than a 10-minute ride, mostly due to the 20 mph speed limits within the Sugarloaf neighborhood. The shuttle drops off just before the clubhouse, leaving patrons with just a short walk up to the 1st tee box on the Stable Course (or the 10th tee on the Meadows Course) – one of the drawbacks of the course layout is that each of the three 9-hole courses creates a loop around the outside of the property, making it difficult to join a passing gallery. The course does have a decent amount of elevation change, so patrons with mobility issues might find accessing parts of the course difficult. There are ADA carts available to assist in accessing the course, though. Return on Investment   4 Daily grounds passes start at $20 per day, with passes for all three rounds going for $54 – Ticketmaster service fees are kept reasonable at under $4. For those wanting more comfortable amenities, clubhouse access runs $75 per round, while passes to access some of the on-course club seating options do start to get a bit expensive. Veterans and active, along with first responders, can attend the tournament free of charge. Also, in a way to grow the game, children under 15 are free with a paying adult. Parking does add an extra $10 to the cost, but considering the typical prices to park at professional sporting events, this cost does seem reasonable. Concessions around the course and in the golf expo are what might be expected at sporting events, but rates are kept a bit lower than what fans may have become accustomed to – with a menu full of items costing less than $11 each, there doesn’t seem to be the same stadium sticker shock here that fans have started to become accustomed to. Extras   4 In a bit of a reflection of southern charm, rather than the typical “Quiet Please” signs held up by the course marshals as players address their ball, the signs have been altered to say “Hush Y’all, Please.” The Mitsubishi Electric Classic implements and sponsors several activities and initiatives that reach out to golf’s next generation, including a 9-hole miniature golf course set up at the tournament expo, giving kids an opportunity to hone their short game as part of their tournament experience. Also, the Georgia State Golf Association sponsors a junior chipping and putting skills competition on Saturday afternoon. As players exit the 18th green, an Autograph Station has been set up for the tournament’s youngest patrons to try to get a quick photo or autograph from their favorite golfer after the round; the Autograph Zone has even been designated for those under 60” in height or under 15 years of age. Final Thoughts The Mitsubishi Electric Classis at TPC Sugarloaf serves at a wonderful backdrop for an entertaining weekend of golf for all ages, and the Tour has done a great job promoting the game to everyone, from the first timers who might only understand the game in its miniature form to those who have already found a love for the game. Golf is unique in that as players age, there is still a viable option for them to continue playing at an elite level, which few other professional sports offer – the PGA Tour Champions is a wonderful opportunity to watch and showcase the talents of the PGA Tour’s stars of the previous generation.

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.71 PETCO Park 100 Park Blvd San Diego, CA 92101 Map It San Diego Padres website PETCO Park website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 42,445 20 Years As America's Finest Park From 1969-2003 the San Diego Padres MLB franchise called Mission Valley their home. From San Diego to Jack Murphy to Qualcomm, the Friars had their share of memorable moments from Steve Garvey’s 2-run walk-off in Game 4 of the 1984 NLCS to the hitting prowess provided by Mr. Padre Tony Gwynn. The Padres would make two World Series appearances during their days in Mission Valley in 1984 and 1998.  The 2024 season marks the 20th anniversary of Petco Park. In that span the Friars have made three postseason appearances highlighted by their 2022 National League Division Series triumph over their long-time nemesis Los Angeles Dodgers. Food & Beverage 5 There is no shortage of dining options at Petco Park ranging from the traditional hot dogs to an array of fare.   There are your usual ballpark options such as the Friar Frank, the half-pound Big Slugger Dog and bratwurst, and local favorites from Barrio Dogg, Randy Jones BBQ and Hodad’s. A single bacon cheeseburger from Hodads with all the fixings piled high is big enough to satisfy even the biggest appetites. Recent additions to the menu are spicy fried chicken sandwiches from San Diego’s Finest Hot Chicken, acai bowls from Sambazon, and locally sourced frozen popsicles from Holy Paleta, offering exotic flavors from lavender lemonade to pineapple mojito pops, sure to be a refreshing sweet treat for those hot afternoon games. Cardiff’s Seaside Market has a cart located in the both lower and upper concourse on the third base side serving up some tasty Burgundy BBQ tri-tip sandwiches as well as a generous helping of Burgundy Pepper tri-tip nachos. Petco Park offers a wide variety of local craft beers and microbrews. Among the options are Ballast Point, Karl Strauss, Mission Brewery, as well as your typical ballpark variety of Anheuser Busch/Budweiser products. If there’s one brew that you must try at Petco if only to soak in the local brew experience, it’s the San Diego Pale Ale .394. The brew is a simple Pale Ale that pays tribute to Mr. Padre, Tony Gwynn, and his highest season batting average, .394, accomplished in 1994. Coke products provide non-alcoholic options with fountain stations located throughout the yard for free refills. Atmosphere 5 Throughout the years San Diego fans and folks from Southern California have had a reputation for being laid back. Expectations for this season’s team remain high and the enthusiasm throughout the stands has been evident. The recently renovated Gallagher Square, located beyond the outfield seating area is a good way for the casual fan to spend a day at Petco Park. The recent $20 million renovations to Gallagher Square presents fans with more room to maneuver, as well as an updated video board along the Sycuan concert stage, leveled tiered lawn seating and a vastly improved kids play area that features the world’s largest climbable bat and an off-leash dog park. Gallagher Square tickets do not limit fans to just the grass hill as they are free to roam other areas throughout the yard. Gallagher Square, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Another addition fans will notice to Gallagher Square is the leveled terrace named after Mr. Padre himself, Tony Gwynn. Fans will also notice the relocation of the Tony Gwynn Statue in the upper deck of the terrace. The terrace also has a pedestrian tunnel leading to the staging area of Gallagher Square. The tunnel also features tributes to Mr. Padre including a six-minute video highlighting some of his accomplishments. Tony Gwinn Tunnel, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey San Diego has long been known for its military presence. Military exhibits are on display behind the lower right field stands should you choose to arrive early and view the exhibits. A statue of former legendary broadcaster Jerry Coleman, a former Marine Veteran, is located inside the right field entrance gates. Sunday afternoon games bring out a strong military presence as one of the 4 branches of uniformed military personnel make their presence at the yard with the Padres donning their military themed uniforms. Neighborhood 5 Petco Park Exterior, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Since Petco Park’s opening in 2004, the vibe around the surrounding neighborhood has continually increased as more residency, as well as pre- and post-game entertainment and dining options continue to develop. The Gaslamp is the place many fans venture to with its wide variety of bars and restaurants. Bub’s at the Ballpark and The Blind Burro are some of the nearby favorites. Bar Basic, with its brick warehouse vibe as well as its signature Mashed White Pie, is also another neighborhood favorite a stone’s throw away from the yard. Fans 4 Despite last season’s struggles the level of enthusiasm among the Friar Faithful has not waned. The Padres continue to draw crowds of close to and over 40,000 per game. The laid-back reputation has mostly been put aside, particularly when their long-time nemesis two hours up I-5 are in town. Access 5 One of the major changes fans will notice when walking through Gallagher Square is the pedestrian flow expansion in the space that would be used for standing room concert goers. The extra space that also leads to the Tony Gwynn Tunnel beneath the terrace allows for more room for fans to wander about and provides fans an extra entry point option. Gallagher Square Space, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey The downtown location of Petco Park allows for easy access, with parking lots scattered throughout the area. If you park in one of the further lots toward Broadway St and save some dough, the walk to the ballpark is approximately only 15 minutes. If you and your buddies want to do a little pre-game tailgate, Tailgate Park provides fans a small lot to grill, socialize and consume beverages before heading inside the yard. The experience at Tailgate Park is a bit scaled-down. Among the restrictions from your usual tailgate, the use of charcoal is not allowed on the premises as only gas cooking grills are allowed on the lot. The SDMTS trolley is another option for Padres fans who wish to avoid the hassles of driving to the game with park and ride lots available throughout various spots throughout the city. If traveling from points north of San Diego toward Oceanside, the Coaster provides rail service throughout the season to the Santa Fe Depot station where fans can connect free with their Coaster ticket on the SDMTS Trolley to Petco Park and back. Return service on the Coaster departs one hour after the last out or the conclusion of post-game fireworks. The latest Coaster departure is midnight. Return on Investment 4 On most nights, you can get a “Park Pass” starting at $25. The pass allows fans to roam throughout the park without any restrictions. For games that aren’t filled, you should have no trouble finding a seat at the upper level. Otherwise for games where attendance is expected to reach full capacity the “Park Pass,” while still allowing fans to roam the yard, permits fans access to Gallagher Square. Tickets inside the seating bowl for most games also start at $25 with a significant bump when certain teams such as the Dodgers or Yankees are in town. With crowds mostly reaching capacity status it would be worth the few extra bucks for a seat inside the actual seating areas. Extras 5 Located behind the batter’s backdrop at  Gallagher Square, the Sycuan Stage is the first outdoor concert venue of its kind to be included inside an MLB park. Before ballgames, a local DJ spins beats from the stage. The recently renovated Gallagher Square now features tiered lawn seating and an elevated terrace among other fan and concert-friendly features. A recently celebrated addition to Petco Park is a statue of Hall of Fame relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman. The statue is located behind the left-center field bullpens at Hall of Fame Plaza, facing the Gwynn statue, recently relocated to the new Tony Gwynn Terrace, giving the thought that Trevor is throwing to Mr. Padre. The statue of Tony Gwynn has been a very popular meeting spot for years and the Trevor Hoffman statue makes for another popular pregame meeting spot as well. Opened before the 2016 All-Star Game, the Padres Hall of Fame features a timeline of Padres and other baseball history in San Diego, as well as other photos and artifacts and an interactive video display that allows fans to view a profile of a past Padres legend. Outside the Hall of Fame at the Plaza are plaques displaying players in Cooperstown who donned the Padre uniform at some point in their careers. The Breitbard Hall of Fame is located on the field concourse inside the Western Metal Supply Co. The building has a display of 153 plaques honoring athletes who left an impact on San Diego, both native San Diegans and those who played for a San Diego organization. A bronze bust of Johnny Ritchey can be viewed at the Breitbard Hall of Fame. A native of San Diego Ritchey would be the first black ballplayer to break the color barrier in the AAA Pacific Coast League one year after Jackie Robinson would break the MLB color barrier during a time when MLB’s furthest team west was in St. Louis. The historic Western Metal Supply Co. building, Petco Park’s signature feature, is nicely incorporated into the yard, located by the left field corner, with rooftop viewing available throughout most games. The building also houses the main team store as well as several suites and The Loft, a sports bar located on the building’s 4th floor that offers your standard ballpark brews and bites with several screens as well as pool and foosball tables. The Loft is open to all game-day patrons. Bringing the little ones to the yard? A miniature playground that now features the world's largest climbable bat and a whiffle ball field are there for your little ones to enjoy. Gallagher Square also operates as a public park during the day as well as non-game days. Climbable Bat, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey The historic Western Metal Supply Co. building, Petco Park’s signature feature, is nicely incorporated into the yard, located by the left field corner, with rooftop viewing available throughout most games. The building also houses the main team store as well as several suites and The Loft, a sports bar located on the building’s 4th floor that offers your standard ballpark brews and bites with several screens as well as pool and foosball tables. The Loft is open to all game-day patrons. Bringing the little ones to the yard? A miniature playground and a whiffle ball field are there for your little ones to enjoy. Gallagher Square also operates as a public park during the day as well as non-game days. A plaza of retired numbers that once stood atop the batter’s backdrop can be viewed at the plaza inside the gate located at the corner of Tony Gwynn Drive and Trevor Hoffman Way. In section 114, San Diego’s high school baseball and softball make their presence known. The “San Diego Section” features hats from San Diego County high school teams that compete in CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) play. The display is also accompanied by two interactive screens where fans can search schools and professional players from those schools. Final Thoughts Celebrating its 20th year Petco Park continues to play a huge role in the revitalization of the local area throughout the East Village. With a vibrant neighborhood and enthusiastic fans coming in droves along with one of the more picturesque parks among the 30, it’s no wonder Petco Park continually ranks high in our MLB Ballpark Rankings and other ballpark rankings. ----- Follow and view all of Andrei’s journeys on Instagram @thestadiumjourneyman and @dreiinla.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 George H. W. Bush '48 Field 252 Derby Ave. West Haven, CT 06516 Yale Bulldogs website George H. W. 48 Field website Year Opened: 1928 Capacity: 6,200 Historic Bush Field George Herbert Walker Bush was the 41st President of the United States and the captain of the Yale baseball team during his senior season as an undergrad. In 2021 Yale honored Mr. Bush by dedicating its baseball field, known as Yale Field for almost a century, as George H. W. Bush ’48 Field. The first baseball team to represent Yale University played in 1864. The team played at various sites around campus until 1882, when the university purchased an apple orchard and farm in neighboring West Haven. In 1927 the school replaced the open field containing a few bleachers with a concrete and steel structure that cost a half million dollars to build. The ballpark was the site of many major league exhibition games over the years when teams would barnstorm to make extra money. Notable players such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams played at Bush Field. With an original capacity of 12,000, the ballpark has been downsized and renovated over the years. Most recently, the grass turf, once lauded by Babe Ruth as one of the finest he'd ever played on, was replaced by a FieldTurf surface, a concession to the harsh weather in the northeast during the college baseball season. In addition to serving as home to the Bulldog nine, Bush Field has been home to the New Haven Ravens of the Eastern League from 1994-2003 and the New Haven County Cutters of the independent Can-Am League from 2004-2007. Over their long history, the Bulldogs have qualified for the NCAA Tournament six times, reaching the championship game of the College World Series twice (1947 and 1948). 24 Yale alumni have made it to the major leagues. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small concession stand located at the top of the seating bowl behind the press box. This stand, with a menu consisting of hot dogs, pretzels, candy and Coca Cola products, exists solely to tide Bulldog fans over should they need a snack during the game. It certainly accomplishes this mission. No item sold here costs more than four dollars. Atmosphere 2 As a rule, college baseball in the northeast is just not the big deal that it is in other parts of the country. The same is true here at Yale University. What does separate Bush Field from other facilities in the northeast is that this is an actual stadium with a long and storied history. Visiting fans will find a laid-back, simple game day presentation at Yale. Dare I say the atmosphere is scholarly? With small crowds present at this historic venue, an over-the-top presentation just wouldn’t make sense. Music plays over the sound system between batters and innings, but otherwise there’s not a whole lot of extraneous noise at Bush Field. The PA announcer tries his best to inject some energy into the proceedings, which is not always easy to do with a typical small Ivy League crowd in attendance. There is a simple, hand-operated scoreboard in straightaway center field. Neighborhood 3 Bush Field is not located on the school's campus in downtown New Haven, but about a mile and a half away in neighboring West Haven. Also located at the sports complex is the Yale Bowl, Reese Stadium, Coxe Center and DeWitt Family Stadium. Visiting fans will want to explore the Yale campus, renowned for its unique Gothic architecture. New Haven is developing a reputation as one of the country's best small cities for foodies, with excellent spots located throughout the downtown. A couple of spots in particular may be of interest to visiting fans. Just blocks from the Yale campus is Louis’ Lunch, which claims to be the birthplace of the hamburger. New Haven is also home to a unique brand of brick oven pizza, called apizza by locals. Frank Pepe’s and Sally’s Apizza, located just over a block apart on Wooster Street, are world famous for this pizza style. Many locals tout a third location, Modern Apizza, located only a half mile from campus. To avoid the crowds of Wooster Street, Stadium Journey recommends nearby Zuppardi’s Apizza in West Haven. Fans looking for lodging during their visit to New Haven will not find much in the immediate vicinity of Bush Field, but there is no shortage of choices around the Yale campus. The Yale Visitor Center contains a great deal of information about attractions in and around New Haven. Fans 2 Crowds at Bulldog games at Yale Field would accurately be classified as a "friends and family" type of crowd. Typical crowds average between 100-250 fans, with a minimal turnout from the student body. Those fans that do come to Yale Field are usually connected in some way to the players on the field, and are knowledgeable, active and vocal. With the bulk of the Bulldogs' schedule consisting of local and conference rivals, it's not unusual to see fans of the visiting squad in attendance. Access 4 Yale Field is fairly easy to get to. Simply take exit 44 off of Interstate 95 and follow Ella T. Grasso Boulevard for about a mile and a half. Take a left onto Derby Avenue and Yale Field will be on your left in about a quarter of a mile. Traffic can be heavy in and around New Haven, so give yourself enough time to get to Bush Field. There is free parking at Yale Field in a small lot adjacent to the ballpark, or behind the outfield fence on busier days. There is an overflow lot a short walk down Derby Street. The seating bowl at Yale Field runs from shallow left field to shallow right field. The seating at the ballpark consists of individual plastic stadium seats behind home plate, with molded bucket seats at field level further down both lines. Metal bleachers with backs make up the bulk of the seating. Standing room is available at the top of the seating bowl and on the party deck far down the right field line. Sadly, the old wooden seats that were original to the ballpark and comprised the last row of seating are no longer here, having been removed in recent years due to deterioration. There is a cramped walkway beneath the stands. Luckily, since crowds at a typical Yale baseball game are sparse, it is not crowded. It is difficult to imagine how this concourse would handle a large crowd. Bathrooms are well-maintained and clean, and more than large enough for a typical Bulldog crowd. Inclusive restrooms are even available for fans who need them. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Bulldog baseball games is free, as is parking in the area surrounding the ballpark. Fans can bring in their own snacks to enjoy during the game, but concessions are inexpensive should you need a little something to tide you over before heading downtown. Extras 2 Bush Field has been the site of many historic games. In 1981 Future Major League stars Ron Darling (Yale) and Frank Viola (St. John’s) hooked up in a classic pitcher’s duel that is considered by many to be the best college baseball game ever played. Darling threw a no-hitter for 11 innings before the winning run scored in the 1-0 final on a double steal in the 12th inning. An extra point is awarded for the classic design of Bush Field. Recent repairs to the facility served to restore and refresh its façade while stabilizing the shell of the park to extend its useful lifespan. As a result, Bush Field has kept its vintage feel while looking renewed. Final Thoughts Bush Field stands out from its brethren in the northeast due to its history and aura. There are not many college ballparks in this part of the country which would be considered a destination for ballpark chasers. Bush Field should certainly be on any baseball fan’s short list. If planning a trip to New Haven, keep in mind that the college baseball season takes place largely in the months of March and April, when the weather in this part of the country can be fickle. Postponements, cancelations and schedule changes happen regularly. Be prepared to be flexible with your scheduling. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 CCBC Baseball Field 7200 Sollers Point Rd Baltimore, MD 21222 CCBC Dundalk Lions website CCBC Dundalk Baseball Field website Year Opened: n/a Capacity: 250 Lions At The Field One of the largest colleges in Maryland is largely unknown outside of the Baltimore area. The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) has an annual enrollment of greater than 72,000 students. Created in the 1990s by a merger of Essex Community College, Dundalk Community College, and Catonsville Community, the new college kept each of those three main campuses, along with a bevy of extension campuses around the suburban Baltimore area. The three colleges shared a common board of trustees for years, but operated independently. Essex, Dundalk, and Catonsville have each kept their own distinct athletic identity. CCBC Dundalk began in 1970. The school mascot is the Lions and they play three sports total. Dundalk won the NJCAA Division II national championship for basketball in 2000. They are a member of Region XX of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference, The Baseball Field is located next to the Dundalk Wellness & Athletics Center, which is pretty much the middle of the campus. Food & Beverage 0 There are no food options at or near the baseball field. You are free to bring your own food. Atmosphere 2 There is not much else in terms of atmosphere as it is a JUCO-level baseball game. The team does have a PA announcer and plays walkup music for players. There are two small bleachers and two garden areas for seating around the main part of the field. There is a tiny chain link and no netting, so be aware of flying balls as this field is mainly unprotected. Neighborhood 3 CCBC Dundalk is a suburban community college with its main neighbor being the Dundalk High School and Sollers Point Technical High School. One of my favorite places to eat in the area is Squire's Italian Restaurant, which has a large menu of offerings. Their pizza is well-known in the area. Fans 2 The attendees at most games are family members or other athletes. There may be a few local residents who attend the games. The fans are knowledgeable and friendly to visitors. Access 4 CCBC Dundalk is located not far off of the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) via Merritt Boulevard. Please note that the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was part of I-695, could make getting to the field from the south a little more difficult. You will need to use one of the Baltimore tunnels instead. There is plenty of free parking on the campus. If classes are in session you may expect to park a bit further away from campus. Be careful parking right by the field, as the lot right by the field would seem to be a magnet for foul balls. Return on Investment 5 The games are free to attend. That, along with the free parking, means that you can attend a good-level JUCO program at no cost. . Extras 2 If you go inside the Dundalk Wellness & Athletics Center, there are a few plaques around the that honor student-athletes from Dundalk's years past. Walk around campus and see the solar panels that have been added to many parking areas on campus. All of the CCBC campuses have added these and expect to get more than a quarter of their electricity from solar. This 5.1-megawatt project is expected to generate 6.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year and joins the 16.1-megawatt array at Mount St. Mary’s University in an effort by local colleges to expand solar usage. Final Thoughts The CCBC Dundalk Baseball Field is a basic pleasant baseball field located in a nice setting. Although nothing fancy, it is a nice little stop for a baseball fan traveling around the Baltimore area.

One third of the top junior hockey league in Canada, the Ontario Hockey League features seventeen teams from Ontario, one from Pennsylvania and two from Michigan.  The OHL has seen such hockey legends as Bobby Orr, Darry Sittler, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis, and Wayne Gretzky have all called the OHL home at one point.  A healthy mix of new and old facilities, the OHL offers fans an intimate experience with the glitz of future professional hockey players who help fill the NHL Draft. Stadium Journey has taken to rank the experiences of all 20 experiences in the Ontario Hockey League.  The scores are all very close, however, in every case, a high marks for Return on Investment are present in each experience.  This makes the OHL a prime spot to invest some entertainment dollars and get the most out of that hard earned money. The arenas are ranked according to Stadium Journey's patented FANFARE rating scale, which takes into account a venue's food and beverage, game day atmosphere, surrounding neighborhood, fan support, access, value and more. When two or more venues are tied, a Stadium Journey Council of Elders familiar with the league are consulted to break those ties. Here are the Top 20 OHL Hockey Experiences of 2024. 1. Dom Cardillo Arena @ Kitchener Memorial Auditorium - Kitchener Rangers 4.43 Dave Cottenie - The Aud remains one of the most unique venues in a league where new venues are becoming increasingly homogeneous.  The arena with the main ice is named after former beloved mayor of Kitchener, Dom Cardillo, making the home of the Rangers the Dom Cardillo Arena at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.  The Rangers provide one of the best experiences in the entire Canadian Hockey League and are a must see for all junior hockey fans. 2. Meridian Centre - Niagara IceDogs 4.14 Robbie Raskin - Meridian Centre still feels shiny and new after a decade, yet it also avoids feeling like a cookie-cutter modern venue. Coupled with a charming surrounding neighbourhood and world-class tourism draws beyond it, hockey fans should definitely consider OHL hockey in St. Catharines as part of a trip to Niagara. 3. TD Place Arena - Ottawa 67's 4.14 Dave Cottenie - One of the cornerstone franchises of the Ontario Hockey League, the 67’s derive their name from not only their inception, but to the founding of Canada as an independent country in 1867.  The 67’s are one of the most successful franchises in the league, both on and off the ice, are owned by the Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group, who also claim the CFL’s Ottawa RedBlacks as part of their portfolio. 4. Sleeman Centre - Guelph Storm 4.14 Dave Cottenie - Although not normally considered a cornerstone franchise of the OHL, the Storm have been among the most consistent both on the ice and at the turnstile.  The Storm have participated in the Memorial Cup tournament on six occasions and won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions four times. 5. GFL Memorial Gardens - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4.00 Dave Cottenie - If there is one thing above all that the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are known for, it is their connection to the greatest hockey player ever, Wayne Gretzky. In 1977, the Greyhounds selected the slender, sixteen year old with the third pick in the midget draft. Gretzky would not disappoint by scoring a Greyhound record 182 points in his only season in the Soo. 6. Budweiser Gardens - London Knights 4.00 Dave Cottenie - The John Labatt Centre opened in 2002 and helped usher in a new era in the OHL of new or renovated facilities and quickly became the gold standard in arenas in the league. Going from a nightmare to a dream come true has been an amazing ride for the fans in London and there are no signs of slowing down. 7. Slush Puppie Place - Kingston Frontenacs 3.86 Dave Cottenie - Although the Fronts have not enjoyed a ton of success on the ice, with only two East Division Championships to show for their efforts, the Frontenacs experience has improved significantly and remains a great option for sports fans 8. Tribute Communities Centre - Oshawa Generals 3.86 Dave Cottenie - With a lineage that goes back to Oshawa’s favourite adopted son, Bobby Orr, the Generals are one of the most successful teams to ever take the ice in Ontario.  The Generals hold the record for most J. Ross Robertson Cups as OHL Champions, with 13.  The Generals also boast an impressive five Memorial Cups, which is also more than any other current Canadian Hockey League franchise. 9. Sudbury Community Arena - Sudbury Wolves 3.71 Dave Cottenie - The Sudbury Community Arena is in the twilight of its Ontario Hockey League life, and fans need to take advantage of the opportunity to see this facility host the Sudbury Wolves while they still can.  The expected opening of the Kingsway Entertainment District, which will provide a new event centre home for the Wolves, is not far off, in 2025. 10. Erie Insurance Arena - Erie Otters 3.71 Patricia Beninato - If you’re a hockey fan, an Erie Otters game is fun and relatively inexpensive, even if you throw in a hot dog, a beer, and a t-shirt. Maybe it’s not a destination arena, but if you’re in the area and want to see future NHL stars up close and hang out with some loyal hockey fans, you can do worse than Erie Insurance Arena. 11. Peterborough Memorial Centre - Peterborough Petes 3.71 Robbie Raskin - The Petes are the oldest continuously-operating team in the OHL and have won the league nine times and the national Memorial Cup championship once. Frustrating to their fans is that the only team with greater success are their hated rivals, the Oshawa Generals. 12. Progressive Auto Sales Arena - Sarnia Sting 3.57 Marc Viquez - Progressive Auto Sales Arena is home to the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League. It has a seating capacity of 5,500 and sits on the campus of Lambton College. The building debuted in 1998, four seasons after the Sting arrived. 13. North Bay Memorial Gardens - North Bay Battalion 3.57 Dave Cottenie - In 2013 the Ontario Hockey League made a triumphant return to North Bay, Ontario.  After the North Bay Centennials had their run from 1982 to 2002, they left for Saginaw, Michigan under a cloud of mistrust and bad feelings. The hockey light would shine again in the Gateway to the North after the local fans provided next level support for the Nipissing Lakers, a newly formed university team. 14. Sadlon Arena - Barrie Colts 3.43 Dave Cottenie - Sadlon Arena offers a solid junior hockey experience that is not uncommon in many other markets. From the exterior, Sadlon Arena has a bit of a barn-like appearance with a rounded, elongated roof, which can be seen from Highway 400.  Oriented from west to east, the most eye-catching feature of the arena is the Horsepower Sports Bar, which offers a unique brick facade to the front of the building with awnings. 15. WFCU Centre - Windsor Spitfires 3.29 Marc Viquez - The original Spitfires were members of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1945 to 1953 and relocated to Hamilton. The current version began operations in 1971 in the Major Junior Hockey League and was promoted to the Ontario Hockey League in 1975. The Spitfires are named after the Royal Canadian Air Force No. 417 Squadron, nicknamed “City of Windsor” squadron, who flew the Spitfire fighter planes during World War II. To many fans, they are nicknamed the Spits. 16. Brantford and District Civic Centre - Brantford Bulldogs 3.14 Dave Cottenie - New to the 2023-2024 Ontario Hockey League landscape is the Brantford Bulldogs. When the Hamilton Bulldogs found they would be homeless for two years as the FirstOntario Centre undergoes renovations, owner Michael Andlauer found a landing spot in Brantford, Ontario, famously the childhood home of Wayne Gretzky, and signed a lease with the city for at least three years. 17. J.D. McArthur Arena @ Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre - Owen Sound Attack 3.14 Dave Cottenie - On the banks of Georgian Bay sits the smallest market in the Ontario Hockey League. In 1989, the Guelph Platers, who had been in Guelph since 1968, made the move north to the Grey-Bruce area of Ontario. 18. Wendler Arena @ Dow Event Center - Saginaw Spirit 3.00 Dave Cottenie - With a small city population of under 50,000, currently a poor team on the ice and economic challenges in Central Michigan, the Spirit are having a bit of a rough go.  That being said, there is still hope that Michigan’s hockey spirit can continue to thrive in the OHL. 19. Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center - Flint Firebirds 2.86 Dave Cottenie - When Peter Karmanos sold the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League to the IMS Hockey Corporation and Rolf Nilsen there were a number of eyebrows raised. There are more than enough doubters when it comes to the Firebirds viability in Flint, but IMS is chugging along and they want everyone to get behind and Believe in Flint. 20. Paramount Fine Foods Centre - Mississauga Steelheads 2.71 Dave Cottenie - A decade as the Steelheads has passed and hockey in Mississauga once again is at a tipping point.  Owner Elliot Kerr has made public his frustrations with the lack of fan support and mused that maybe the Steelheads should be elsewhere.  The Steelheads are expected to move to Brampton, Ontario for the 2024-2025 season

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Nationals Park 1500 South Capitol St SE Washington, DC 20003 Washington Nationals website Nationals Park website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 41,888 A National Pastime In 2005, the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, D.C., and changed their name to the Nationals. For their first three years of existence, they played their home games at RFK Stadium, which had previously been home to the Washington Senators. In 2008, the Nats moved into a stadium of their own, Nationals Park, which represented a significant improvement over RFK. The stadium is located only a few blocks south of the U.S. Capitol, which is visible from parts of the upper deck. Food & Beverage 4 Nationals Park has a wide selection of food that will guarantee you will not go hungry. Options include traditional items like hot dogs, burgers, and pizza as well as more unique items like falafel, freshly made donuts, and sushi. Ice cream is available, including a special cherry blossom variety (more cherry flavored than blossom flavored) in honor of DC's legendary cherry blossoms. Several of the concession stands also sell half smokes, a D.C. specialty that is somewhere in between a hot dog and a smoked sausage. There are also foods to serve various dietary restrictions, including gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and kosher items. PETA has consistently ranked the stadium one of the best in the majors for vegetarians. The prices are a bit high, though considering this is a major league park, that is not unexpected. The roving vendors typically only accept credit cards, and many stands require you to order either on your mobile device or at a kiosk nearby. Atmosphere 4 All seats at Nationals Park are chairbacks, except for a few tables in centerfield where fans can eat and drink by the nearby bar. Some of the seats down the lines may have an obstructed view of the corners due to other seats jutting out, but for the most part, you’ll have a good view no matter where you sit. There is a giant scoreboard in right-centerfield above the concourse, as well as a smaller out-of-town scoreboard built into the right-centerfield wall. One of the more unique traditions at Nationals Park is the Presidents’ Race. In the middle of the fourth inning of every game, costumed versions of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt will emerge from the center field gate and race around the warning track to a finish line by the first base dugout. During the race, they will frequently get into various hijinks, such as playing dodgeball, getting attacked by a giant ice cream cone, or having their First Lady attack the other racers with her handbag. If you're ever wanted to see the stump of the cherry tree George Washington chopped down come back for revenge, the Presidents' Race is for you. The Racing Presidents and a bald eagle mascot named Screech can be seen on the concourse, stands, and field throughout the game as well, interacting with fans and encouraging them to get loud. Neighborhood 5 Nationals Park is located in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Although this used to be a very bad part of town, that has changed since the stadium went up and it is now a perfectly safe, up-and-coming area. There are several bars and restaurants located within walking distance of the stadium, including Mission and Buffalo Wild Wings. A BetMGM sportsbook is located right next to Nationals Park, outside the centerfield gate and attached to the parking garage. Downtown D.C. is a short Metro ride away and has a lot to offer as well. The best part is that most of it is free. Whether it’s walking along the National Mall or visiting one of the many museums, there is so much you can do here. All government-run attractions are free, but some of the privately-run ones are not. Just keep in mind that if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to book in advance. Fans 2 Nationals fans arrive late and leave early, even at the best of times. Fans will still be filing in two or three innings into the game and will start filing out by the sixth or seventh. Even for the limited amount of time everyone’s inside, there will still often be huge swaths of empty seats, especially now with the team at the bottom of the National League standings. The fans who do show up can get loud at times, with some of them waving their hats and chanting “N-A-T-S NATS NATS NATS!” after every run, but involved fans seem to be in the minority here. It seems to be a place to hang out with friends rather than pay attention to the action on the field. Although Nats fans are friendlier than what you’d experience up I-95 in Philadelphia or New York, there is a happy medium between abusive and uninvolved, and sadly Nationals fans seem to be more at the uninvolved end. Crowds have seemed to shrink significantly since the Nats championship in 2019 as the team has fallen on hard times – there will usually be many empty seats, and if they are playing an NL East rival, visiting fans will make up a significant portion of the crowd. This is disappointing to see given how large the crowds were during the World Series run just a few years ago. Access 4 Nationals Park is conveniently located right next to the Navy-Yard Ballpark Stop on the Green Line of the Washington Metro. Although this may seem convenient, there are frequent Metro shutdowns that may reduce headways to 24 minutes or more or even shut down stations entirely. These shutdowns are most prevalent on weekends or over the summer, which is of course when most people go to baseball games. Be sure to check the WMATA website before you head out if you plan on going this way. There are extra trains after games to accommodate the crowds, but the trains can still get pretty packed. Also, note that the supplemental trains only go a few stops in downtown before turning around to take more fans home. Although fans who plan to transfer to other lines should have no problem, fans who wish to remain on the Green Line past Mount Vernon Square should check the destination sign of their train to be sure it is heading to Greenbelt, or simply get on the first train that comes and transfer later if need be. Fans who are outside the D.C. area don’t need to drive to the ballpark, as they can drive to a suburban station and park there. Parking at Metro stations ranges from $3 to $6 depending on the station and is free on weekends. Fans coming from the south may wish to park at Branch Avenue in Southern Maryland, as you will be heading in the opposite direction from most fans at the end of the game, so your train will be significantly less crowded. Also, you will not need to transfer. Fans coming from the north may want to look into parking at Greenbelt or another station on the northern part of the Green Line, which at least avoids a transfer. If you do plan on driving to the stadium, parking can be $50 or more. Parking in the GEICO garage next to the stadium or other lots nearby can be reserved in advance through the Nationals' website to ensure a spot. Taking an Uber or Lyft may end up being cheaper than parking, depending on where you’re coming from. Keep in mind that prices for rides close to the stadium after the game can skyrocket in price due to increased demand. If you can, we suggest walking a few blocks away from the stadium, which should bring the prices back down close to normal. Return on Investment 3 Like many teams, the Nationals use variable pricing for tickets, so prices can vary depending on the opponent, the day of the week, and if any promotions are going on such as bobblehead giveaways. Expect them to start around $17 for upper-level seats and go up to over $400 for VIP seats behind home plate which include suite access. One additional option for residents of the District of Columbia is to purchase $5 tickets in Sections 401 and 402 at the Nationals Box Office. Although this option was previously available to all fans, effective in 2024 it is only available to residents of the District. The process is easier than in past years as tickets can be purchased in advance, but they must be purchased at the Nationals' box office. Those who are not residents of D.C. cannot take advantage of this offer anymore. Concessions are a bit pricey, but about what you’d expect from a major league venue. Parking is ridiculously expensive, but as you have plenty of other options, that isn’t too big a factor here. While prices have not gone up by much since the Nationals' championship run, the quality of the experience has decreased, with reduced crowds, fewer gameday amenities, later gate opening times, and a lower quality of play on the field. While the return on investment is still decent, it isn't what it once was, especially if you want to sit someplace better than the $5 cheap seats. Extras 3 There is a Ring of Honor on the wall between the upper and terrace levels with the names of former Nationals greats as well as legends from Washington’s previous baseball teams, the Washington Senators (both incarnations), and the Negro League’s Homestead Grays. Look for all the banners and murals with pictures of Nationals players past and present. A third star for the Presidents’ Race, as it is one of the more unique and entertaining traditions in baseball. Final Thoughts After the second incarnation of the Washington Senators moved to Texas in 1972, Washington, D.C. was without a baseball team for over 30 years. In 2005, the Nationals came to town, and in 2008, they got a brand-new stadium. Since then, the excitement has worn off and the crowds have steadily declined, especially as the Nationals’ performance on the field has gone downhill. That being said, Nationals Park is still a nice stadium for fans to take in a Major League Baseball game.

Author:  Jimmie James Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Copyright: 2024 The best stories about sports are, far more often than not, deeper than the game itself. The best sports stories are those of individuals overcoming obstacles, conquering personal demons, dealing with social inequities, or finding redemption. On its surface, Playing from the Rough by Jimmie James is the story of a man’s Odysseus-like quest to play the top 100 golf courses in the U.S. in one year. However, each course on James’ journey brings with it insight into himself as a black man in modern society, as well as reconciling his past growing up in poverty with a single mother in East Texas. By the end of his journey James has accomplished a goal that few not only have ever attempted, but completed, and also found some solace in his current life through the journey. Unlike most sports biographies, James was never a professional athlete, nor a celebrity of any stature. He is an everyman, which makes what could be a very stuffy topic – playing an exclusive sport at some of the most exclusive places in the world – relatable. You don’t find yourself rooting so much for James, who retired relatively young as an engineer and executive at a very large energy company, to complete his quest, but rather you feel as if you are a buddy on the journey with him. It was also very interesting to see someone give their impressions of those legendary courses that most golfers will never get the chance to set foot on. Reading James describe with reverence courses such as Augusta National, Merion, and Riviera is refreshing. His love for the sport of golf, its history, and the deep meaning that players attach to it is evident and much appreciated. My one critique is the speed, if you will, with which James goes through some of the lesser-known courses on the list. I understand, however, that both for the length of the book and the amount of time James spent on the road going from course to course, not everything could be included. Some details might even have already been lost to memory – James grouped many of the courses on his quest by state, so we truly only get brief looks at quite a few courses. Where the book really shines, though, is when James becomes introspective. He speaks about the shame of the poverty of his youth, about feeling like an outsider in certain work situations, and even writes lovingly about the time he first met his future wife. Throughout the book James is reminded of how much his past has shaped the man he has become. The following passages are especially poignant: “Though I was willing to spend whatever it took on things that mattered to me, I was pretty frugal about things that didn’t. Yet when those things were pointed out to me, I’d be instantly embarrassed—not by my cheapness but by the fact that somebody had noticed. It’s an involuntary response that goes way back. In the eighth grade, my reading teacher often brought me her son’s hand-me-downs. I was grateful, but embarrassed by the fact she recognized I needed them.” These kind of moments are deftly woven into the rounds that James plays at the 100 courses, and are the true star of this book. Overall, I think the book is well done. While it doesn’t tread on new ground, what it does do it does very well. It won’t reach the canon of great golf books, but it is nicely done. It is relatable, easy to read, and doesn’t get bogged down in the minutiae of the sport. Fans of golf will enjoy getting a peak at these legendary courses, while non duffers will appreciate the internal battles and the personal stories.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Mike D. Lane Field 615 N Pine St Florence, AL 35630 North Alabama Lions website Mike D. Lane Stadium website Year Opened: 1984 Capacity: 1,500 Roar Lions! One of the newer additions to the NCAA’s Division I, the University of North Alabama Lions made the jump to D1 in 2018, becoming a full member as part of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) in 2022. North Alabama comes to the NCAA’s highest level with an impressive resume at the Division II level, having won five Gulf South Conference titles, qualifying for 12 NCAA tournaments, and advancing to D2 College World Series in 1999, making it to the quarter finals. The year 1984 would prove to be one of new beginnings for the Lions – not only would they christen their newly built baseball field, but would also welcome Mike Lane to the helm, who went on to lead North Alabama baseball for the next 25 seasons, accumulating 908 wins while never suffering a losing season. Lane would be honored with the field being named for him in March of the 2008 season. Food & Beverage   3 A lone concession stand is built into the bottom of the press box structure, behind home plate in the entry plaza of the stadium.  Concessions are a bit limited with hot dogs, soft pretzels, and nacho chips with cheese being the featured items; the menu runs heavy on snacks such as popcorn, peanuts, and candy. Beverages include options from the Coca-Cola family of soft drinks, PowerAde, and Monster energy drinks. Alcoholic beverages are not sold at UNA campus athletic events. Atmosphere   3 Mike D. Lane Field is a rather basic baseball facility consisting of three rows of individual chair back seats in the section behind home plate, backed by the press box and flanked with aluminum bleachers on either side (two sections up the first baseline and one on the home plate side of third base). The stadium dimensions are a bit unique in that right and left center field are deeper (410’) than dead center (385’). The wall plays a touch short with power alleys of 365’ and right field at 320’. The stadium scoreboard just beyond the right field wall is fairly straightforward, displaying inning-by-inning line score with ball-strike-out counts as well. The game presentation is as simple as it gets, and it is wonderful! Other than mid-inning ad reads and reminders of in-game promotions for fans to collect on after the game, the game is kept as the center of attention throughout. There really is not a bad seat at Mike D. Land Field, since everything is pretty close to the action, but the upper rows on the third base side of the field do use the North Alabama campus as a backdrop. For those sitting in the bleachers behind the visiting team dugout on the first base side of the field, take caution, as there is no protective netting beyond the start of the dugout, protection that fans have become accustomed to. Neighborhood   4 The North Alabama campus is just a short walk from downtown Florence’s restaurant and entertainment district. On weekends the streets are busy with visitors ducking in and out of shops, or waiting to grab a bite from any of the several restaurants, cafes, and even sidewalk stands set up around town. The city of Florence and the surrounding area takes great pride in the history of the area. Historical markers can be found all around the city noting important dates, buildings, and events. North Court Street itself has a vibe of late 19th century main street, as many of the buildings have retained their 1800s charm. A bit further from campus, along the Tennessee River that separates Florence from Muscle Shoals (home of the Swampers), is McFarland Park – McFarland Park is home to a riverside beach, miles of walking trails, an 18-hole golf course, and grassy areas with picnic tables where visitors can enjoy views of the O’Neal Bridge that crosses the river. Fans   2 The Lions have a bit of a modest following but a supportive one, nonetheless. Averaging just over 250 fans per game, this does put UNA in the lower half of the ASUN in attendance. What Lion fans lack in numbers, however, they make up for in enthusiasm and support. Fans are frequently calling out points of encouragement to make the opposing pitcher work, or willing a lefty to just put the ball on the ground to move a runner on second over to third. Fans of the Lions do come with a good amount of knowledge of the game and about what constitutes “good baseball”. Access   2 There is no putting it lightly – there really is not an easy way to get to Florence. The closest major city, Huntsville, is still an hour and a half away. Interstate-65 is the closest major freeway that runs through the area, but Florence is still a minimum of 50-minutes of US-highways away from it. Once on campus there is a relatively small parking lot just outside the main entrance to Mike D. Lane Field, which wraps around the football practice field and along the access road to Bill Jones Athletic Complex. Street parking is available along Stewart Avenue, which also has a larger parking lot. The baseball stadium sits high above the street and is accessible via a stairway that joins the aforementioned lot and entry point. The main gates enter into a small plaza just to the first base side of home plate. The pair of bleacher seating sections are directly to the right, but accessing the seating on the home side of the field is a bit challenging, in that there is only about three feet of space between the press box structure and the fence that sets the perimeter of Mike D. Lane Field. There is a walkway that runs in front of the seating behind home plate, but that has even less space and does seem a bit disruptive to the pitcher, so is even less inviting as a way to access the opposite side of the field. Return on Investment   3 In a conference where several programs offer free admission to baseball games, the $10 starting point for general admission tickets here does seem a bit high. Granted there are no parking fees at Mike D. Lane Field, so slightly higher ticket prices might be expected, but the get-in-the-stadium coste does seem a touch high. Concession prices are as would be expected at most stadiums, so the slightly higher prices than what would be found outside the stadium should not come as much of a surprise. Extras   4 As fans enter Mike D. Lane Field they are greeted with billboards listing the accolades of Lions who have earned All-American and Academic All-American honors, or have gone on to careers in professional baseball. The most notable name on the list would be that of 15-year MLB veteran closer Sergio Romo who pitched for the University of North Alabama in 2004. A large billboard just beyond the left field wall reflects on past UNA baseball accomplishments, from conference titles, NCAA Regionals, and the Lions’ 1999 Division II College World Series appearance, from their days as an NCAA D2 program. In addition, the wall fencing just below the billboard displays the retired numbers of the field’s former head coach and field’s namesake Mike Lane (1) as well as Mike Keehn (6), who was on staff at UNA for 33 years and headed the Lions for 13 season following Lane; former Major Leaguer Josh Willingham (15) is also featured. North Alabama might be the only campus in America with a live lion mascot visitors can get a glimpse of as they walk around the school – the George H. Carroll Lion Habitat in the center of campus is home to Leo III. A live lion mascot has been part of the University of North Alabama since 1974 when then President Dr. Robert M. Guillot first brought a lion cub to live on campus. Final Thoughts Following the 2024 season, Mike D. Lane Field will be torn down and the field reoriented, due to the new on-campus football stadium, Independent Bank Stadium, taking shape beyond the center and right field fence; the baseball stadium’s home plate will swing around to the northwest corner of the same parcel of land it currently sits on as part of the baseball facility’s rebuild. Rendering courtesy of UNA Athletics The entertainment value of baseball is not always tied up in mid-inning games, strobing stadium lights, and all the technology in the world that can make for a highly entertaining baseball experience; sometimes highlighting the simplicity of the game is all that is needed. The beautiful thing about baseball is that the experience comes in so many forms – baseball proves that the game does not need to feel like a three-ring circus to be entertaining. Baseball at North Alabama is refreshingly simple where the entertainment value comes from the game itself.

Photo by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Baylor Ballpark 1612 South University Parks Dr Waco, TX 76706 Baylor Bears website Baylor Ballpark website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 5,000 Baylor Ballpark In 2024 Baylor Ballpark is celebrating 26 years as home of the Baylor University Bears baseball team. The ballpark is located on the campus of Baylor University, and is constructed of red brick and green steel beams, keeping with the décor and architecture found all around Baylor University. The stadium has a capacity of five thousand, but the largest crowd ever (during a game versus Texas A&M) far exceeded that number, with a record crowd of 5,911 on April 21, 2021. The ballpark’s surface is Bermuda grass with dimensions of 330-400-330. The Baylor program has been successful over the last two decades since the ballpark opened in 1999 – the team has close to a 70% winning percentage over that time period, which has helped Baylor host four regionals and three super regionals during Baylor Ballpark’s history, including a 14-8 record during the post season. Food & Beverage   3 Baylor Ballpark has the basic fare expected at a sports venue. There are two permanent concessions stands, with one located behind home plate at the entrance of the park, and the other near third base. The concessions stand by third base offers Mr. Beast Burgers and cheesesteaks, with cheesesteaks costing $11 and burgers costing $10. The menu at Baylor Ballpark is limited, but the prices are not outrageous – the most expensive items are the burgers and cheesesteaks. The pricing for some of the other items are nachos for $6 and hot dogs, pretzels, candy, and peanuts at $4. The popcorn might be the best option at $3, but if you want to eat before the game that is also an option, as there are plenty of restaurants in Waco to satisfy any food craving. In terms of drinks, Baylor Ballpark offers fans both Pepsi products and of course Dr Pepper products, Waco being the birthplace of the latter beverage. The largest drink here is the souvenir cup at $6, but unfortunately this 32 oz souvenir is the one sold at Baylor football games, and not a baseball-themed cup. The smaller drinks at Baylor Ballpark are 20 oz of soda for $4, with other choices for the same price, being bottled water and Gatorade. There is also lemonade sold at a mobile stand on the concourse, along with funnel cakes, corn dogs, and fruit ice chills. Atmosphere   3 Baylor Ballpark is a wonderful ballpark for college baseball fans to take in a game. The ballpark is architecturally simple and complements the surrounding campus. The park seems to be a visit to the past, yet is very well maintained for a ballpark built in 1999. The unique part of Baylor Ballpark is the grass berm along the first baseline, where fans can throw down a blanket or set out lawn chairs, and the berm also provides kids with entertainment as they slide down the grass. The seating area has 3,200 basic green seats, with the box and reserved seating wrapped around home plate from first to third base, with a total capacity of 5,000 fans. There are several access points to the seats, including a walkway between the box seats and reserved seats. In addition, the scoreboard in left center field includes a video replay screen, and the fences are covered with local business advertisements just like you would see at a minor league ballpark. Between innings, the scoreboard will show highlights of Baylor Bears who are currently in the major leagues. The staff also does t-shirt tosses, and music being played can also be expected during breaks in the action. Behind home plate, a strikeout counter is manually kept for fans that want to keep track of how the pitchers are performing that day. The ballpark seating faces northwest to give a view of the Brazos River and McLane Stadium beyond the outfield fence. There are also two bear statues near Baylor Ballpark’s main entrance, which can be a great photo opportunity for fans. Games also feature the typical contests and music between innings, and after every inning, Baylor’s slogan of “Sic ’em” is shown on the videoboard, and Baylor’s song “Baylor Line” is played whenever the Bears have a meeting on the mound. Overall the atmosphere is what is expected for a college baseball game, but the atmosphere can easily be heightened when a rivalry series with Texas or Texas A&M comes to Waco. Neighborhood   3 Baylor Ballpark is part of Turner Athletic Complex on University Parks Drive, next to Ferrell Center and Gutterman Stadium (Baylor softball). Buzzard Billy’s Restaurant is along the Brazos River, near McLane Stadium, and is the closest restaurant. However, the city of Waco has numerous restaurants to enjoy, especially BBQ, while attending a Baylor sporting event – BBQ places to choose from while in town include Rudy’s Country Store BBQ, located off the interstate exit on Circle Drive, and Coach’s Smoke, located in downtown Waco on Austin Avenue; Coach’s Smoke is a good choice for beer as well. However, the most popular BBQ restaurant in Waco is Vitek’s BBQ at 1600 Speight Ave, which is on the south side of Baylor’s campus. Vitek’s BBQ is home of the Gut Pack, a dish which includes brisket, sausage, Fritos, and beans; if you decide on this dish you won’t need to eat for the rest of the day, as it is heavy and filling, as well as delicious. You should plan on arriving early, however – Vitek’s does serve outside as well as inside, but the wait can be long no matter which one you choose. If you aren’t in the mood for BBQ, George’s Restaurant is another popular place to meet before, during, or after the game. This restaurant has been serving Waco since 1930, and the crowds here are large, so be prepared to get there early. But the newest craze in town is Magnolia Table, a lunch spot created by TV personalities Chip and Joanna Gaines. Of course, being in Texas there is also Tex-Mex cuisine, and a strong recommendation in that space would be Trujillo’s Comedor Y Cantina on La Salle Avenue. All these choices mean Waco has great options besides fast food, so you’ll easily be able to find something that suits you. If you’re looking for something to do while in town, Waco is home to the Dr Pepper Museum, which is open on Saturdays. You’ll get to see how the popular Texas soft drink is produced, walk through its history, and even get your own Dr Pepper drink. Or, if you want to stay closer to the ballpark, on campus you can visit the Bear Habitat; this exhibit is home to Judge Indy and Judge Belle, Baylor’s two live black bear mascots. Another option is the Texas Ranger Museum – the Texas Rangers are a law enforcement treasure, and the museum does a great job chronicling their history. And of course, the gift shop has plenty of fun items for the kids to commemorate their visit, from Ranger badges to toy shotguns. If these options do not sound appealing, a short drive west from downtown is the Waco Mammoth Site, a re-creation of an on-site mammoth dig, or you can visit Cameron Park Zoo, either of which would mean a great time for the family and ensure unlimited memories of your trip to Waco. Fans   3 Baylor Bears fans are what you would expect at a college baseball game – the average attendance at the stadium is about 1,800, which ranks Baylor in the top 50 for college baseball home attendance. The university is a 14,000-student undergraduate private school, and the fan base reflects this, with its makeup of alumni, students, friends, and player family members. The fans can get loud at certain points during the game, especially when Baylor scores or makes a good defensive play. Access   5 Baylor Ballpark is one of the most accessible stadiums around, with parking available just outside the entrance. Parking is free and the lot is large enough to hold fans for both baseball and softball games being played at the same time. The ticket booth is just outside the main entrance, and buying a ticket is quick to do. There are four entrances into the main grandstand, plus an additional ramp for disabled fans, and all seating has green chairback seats, except for the metal bleachers behind left field. There is also a grass berm hill, on the first base side near right field, where you can have blanket or chair seating (but bring your own). The ballpark does have an awning for protection from the weather, covering the upper portion of the reserved seating, so remember that when choosing whether to sit in the more expensive box seats. The small number of bathrooms at Baylor Ballpark is interesting, but the one set of bathrooms in the main concourse seems to have no issues with long lines. The seating area also has a walkway between the box seats and reserved seating, and the signage is very good around the ballpark. Return on Investment   5 Baylor Bears baseball single game tickets could be the best bargain in the Big 12 Conference – the closest seats are $20, these being the box seats in the first five rows around the dugouts and behind home plate. However, a better choice is the reserved seating around the infield for $10, which is the upper portion of the seating area. Baylor also offers mid-week game specials on their website. The low cost tickets, free parking, and inexpensive concessions all make a day at Baylor Ballpark a highly scored return on investment. Extras   4 Baylor Ballpark has a great relaxing setting, with the Brazos River and McLane Stadium visible just beyond the outfield. The ballpark has been home to Baylor Baseball for the past 25 years, and continues to be an impressive ballpark, with only a few small renovations over the years – the most recent was before the 2024 season, when Baylor installed a 24’ by 68.4’ digital videoboard. This Daktronics videoboard has a 13HD video display on a 560x1596 pixel screen, with capabilities for instant replay and video highlights. Baylor Ballpark is located on the site of Ferrell Field, Baylor baseball’s home from 1977–98, thus continuing the program’s baseball history, as seen throughout the concourse. The remarkable return on investment here provides a wonderful day at the ballpark. Final Thoughts Baylor Ballpark is certainly a great place to take in some college baseball action. The ballpark is very accessible, the atmosphere is relaxing, and the fans are knowledgeable, respectful overall, and consistently inject themselves into the game; Baylor Ballpark, Baylor Baseball, and Waco combine to make beautiful trip for everyone.

Photos by Richard Smith Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Evelyn Dyke Schroedl '62 Tennis Center 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd. Towson, MD 21286 Goucher Gophers website Evelyn Dyke Schroedl '62 Tennis Center website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 250 Home Of The Gophers Goucher College is a former all-women’s college located in Towson, Maryland, a northern suburb of Baltimore. The college opened in 1885 as the Women’s College of Baltimore City changed its name to its current name in 1910 and went coed in 1986. Goucher moved to its present suburban location northeast of the county seat of Towson in Baltimore County in 1953. The college is named in honor of its founding member, John Goucher, and his wife, Mary Fisher Goucher. Goucher College is a private co-educational liberal arts college. It was originally affiliated with the Baltimore Conference of Methodist Episcopal Church but currently has no real church affiliation. The college has approximately 1,480 undergraduate students studying in 33 majors and 1,200 students studying in graduate programs. Notable alumni include Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps Margaret G. Kibben, Maryland State Delegate John A. Olszewski, Jr., and frequent John Waters actress Mary Vivian Pearce. Goucher athletic teams are known as the Gophers. The college competes in NCAA Division III as part of the Landmark Conference. The Evelyn Dyke Schroedl '62 Tennis Center opened in 2021. It is the home of men’s and women’s tennis teams. Funded by a donation from former Goucher registrar Evelyn Dyke Schroedl, the facility features a total of 12 courts, allowing for men's and women's tennis matches to occur simultaneously.  Four courts are lighted allowing for nighttime play. There are also additional recreation courts and a couple of courts that have been transformed into outdoor roller hockey or box lacrosse. Food & Beverage 0 There is no permanent food stand at the tennis center. Fans should make certain to eat before or after the game as this arena is not a good place for food concessions. Atmosphere 4 There are a couple of simple grandstands but most people will just stand and watch the various game actions. There is not much else in terms of atmosphere. There is no PA or scoreboard to keep track of action. Neighborhood 4 The Goucher College campus has been used for a few scenes in the Netflix series House of Cards, so expect to recognize the stone buildings from a few scenes there. Towson is a semi-urban environment with a large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Some other great options are The Crease, Glory Days Grill, Sushi Hana, and Zia’s. Baltimore is also a quick drive away. Check out the Federal Hill neighborhood, south of the Inner Harbor. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here. Fans 3 There will be very few fans at most meets as the complex is behind the Decker Athletic Center. Expect most fans to be friends or family. Access 4 Goucher is located right off the Baltimore Beltway/I-695. The only negative is that Towson is a busy area and traffic can be bad at some times. The college itself is pretty and quite suburban. You will find plenty of parking close to the complex, although a night game may mean that parking could get tight at times. Return on Investment 5 There is no admission charge so the return on investment is quite good. Extras 2 Goucher College has a little athletics hall of fame located in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena lobby. The pretty little campus is a nice extra in itself. Final Thoughts The Evelyn Dyke Schroedl '62 Tennis Center is not a place you will normally search for an amazing sports experience, but if you happen to be in the area it is a cheap way to enjoy a game of tennis.

Gary Noll Gary Noll, born Deaf in a New Jersey Deaf household, is a huge New Jersey/New York Sports fan.  He proposes and raises awareness of Deaf and ASL (American Sign Language) sports events.  Gary is an advocate of accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion, including promoting captioning and ASL communication technology during NJ/NY metropolitan sporting events. Metropolitan New Jersey/New York Sports Stadiums and Their Efforts to Host Deaf Awareness Events 1. New Jersey Devils NHL pro hockey (Prudential Center, Newark, NJ) recently hosted its fourth annual ASL night (group events) twice within 12 months (March 12, 2023 and March 7, 2024). They plan to host it again next season (2024-2025).  Kean University ASL, Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf MKSD), and Ocean County ASL group participated with NJ Devils on March 7, 2024.  NJ Devils ASL t-shirts spell out Devils. Devils t-shirt in ASL ASL on Prudential Center video board 2. New York Islanders NHL pro hockey  (UBS Arena, Belmont Park, NY) hosted its second annual Deaf Awareness Night in a year (February 24, 2023, and December 7, 2023)   using an array of ASL communication technology.  It included live ASL interpreters via public announcements and broadcasters, provided by Mill Neck ASL, family services and foundation.  In 2023, UBS Arena added closed captioning to their in-house program at the concession areas. They offer an application called Isles+, where you can view the scoreboard videos with closed captioning. To use, when you get to the arena, type islesplus.com into your phone’s browser (ensure you have location services turned on).  Isles+ is only available in UBS Arena (source: Islanders game presentation team). The Islanders had a scarf with Islanders spelled out in ASL for the February 24, 2023 game.  On the December 7 game, they offered a hat with “LGI” spelled out in ASL (Source: NY Islanders hockey game presentation team). They plan on hosting a third annual Deaf Awareness Night next season (2024-2025). Sign Language Interpreter on UBS Arena Video Board 3. New York Mets MLB pro baseball (Citi Field, Flushing, NY) hosted a Deaf Awareness Day on July 30, 2023.  They used ASL communication technology through live ASL interpreters via public announcements and broadcasters.  SignNexus, an interpreter service provider from NYC, delivered the ASL interpretations. So far this season (2024), the Mets hosted the New York School for the Deaf (Fanwood) on April 17, 2024, where they distributed 290 tickets. Bravo to John Plata, Deaf employee, for his great leadership and being the point of contact during the April 17, 2024 event. NY School of Deaf Signing the National Anthem at Citi Field There is a possibility the Mets will have a Culture Day for all on Aug 13 and 14, 2024, and a Deaf Awareness Day may be incorporated into that.  But Gary and staff hope there is a separate Deaf Awareness Day. 4. New York Yankees MLB pro baseball (Yankees Stadium, Bronx, NY) will host its first Deaf Awareness Day Sunday, September 29, 2024.   The Yankees plan to have an ASL group event ticket package and a T-shirt that spells out Yankees in ASL.  The Yankees are reaching out to some foundations, including Gallaudet University Athletics  for assistance and education on ASL communication technology.  Gary encourages all fans to come, visit, and support the effort. Closed Captioning on Yankee Stadium Scoreboard with Gary in the Foreground 5. New York Liberty WNBA pro women’s basketball (Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY) will host its first annual Deaf Awareness Day this coming June 30, 2024. 6. Brooklyn Nets NBA pro men’s basketball (Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY) was supposed to host its first annual Deaf Awareness Day on March 2, 2024, but that did not happen.  A team at the Barclays Center is currently working on getting real-time captions in the arena for all its sporting events.  Once they finalize an agreement with a closed captioning provider, they will look to host a Deaf Awareness Day.  Gary expects this to be announced sometime in May or early summer 2024. 7. New York Knicks NBA pro men’s basketball (Madison Square Garden MSG, NYC) has not yet hosted a Deaf Awareness Day.  They have celebrated an All Abilities Night, which included the ASL signing of the National Anthem.  MSG has captioning on its ribbon boards for all sports and has mobile captioning QR codes for scanning for Knicks and Rangers games.  Gary expects when the arena hosts a Deaf Awareness Day, it will be for the Knicks because of Mike Glenn, a former Knicks and NBA great who runs a successful NBA camp and is an ambassador for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing campers and the community. 8. New Jersey/New York Gotham FC pro women’s soccer, 2023 NWSL champions (Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ) has not yet had an American Sign Language or Deaf Awareness event.  Red Bull Arena does have large live captions on two of their video boards. 9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights football (SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ) has small print closed captioning on its ribbon boards; the team has not yet had an American Sign Language Day during its Big Ten conference football games. 10. Billie Jean King USTA (US Open Tennis Center, Flushing, NY) offers excellent accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing tennis fans, and it continues to improve those efforts.   The US Open tennis officers are looking into a possible ASL event this coming summer (2024). Gary has already provided ASL logistics and guidance to various departments in New Jersey’s and New York’s stadiums and teams.  He continues advocating ASL interpreters be available for live broadcasting and public address announcements throughout Deaf and ASL awareness events.  Gary continues requesting dedicated Deaf Awareness Days/Nights to teams and stadiums who have not yet held them. What criteria make attending an ASL or Deaf Awareness sporting event successful for deaf and hard-of-hearing fans? The arena provides functioning live caption boards throughout the venue for fans who cannot hear the announcements.  Display information like the plays-by-play, referees, and other messages from the announcers and broadcasters. The team offers ASL (American Sign Language) interpreters on the site throughout the arena. - On the Jumbotron (national anthem, public address announcements, in-game contests, trivia, safety information, and etc. - On the main concourse at a designated table or booth The Jumbotron and/or ribbon boards supply a mobile captioning QR code for fans to scan for messages. The team offers special event day promotional items like t-shirts, scarves, hats, etc., where fans can pre-order and pick them up at an ASL sponsor table before or during the event. The game is well attended. Thanks to those who host these events, and thanks to Deaf and ASL fans for your ❤️ support. Thanks to stadium and arena staff and departments for everything ❤️ What is missing with ASL at Awareness Games: 1.       The events have not used Certified Deaf interpreters (CDI) 2.       The ASL national anthem and ASL group performances should be broadcast on live TV, streamlined, or on social media platforms during the Awareness Day 3.       The sports arenas need to hire more staff who can communicate via ASL 4.       A mechanism for the organizers to identify high-talented National Anthem Deaf performers, signers, and artists to participate in a Deaf Awareness Event Lastly, in 2023 and 2024, sports venues in the NJ/NY metropolitan area have shown good progress in including the National Anthem ASL performers.  Recent sports events in the NJ/NY Metropolitan area where ASL performers signed the National Anthem: New Jersey Devils ASL night (March 12, 2023 and March 7, 2024) New York Islanders Deaf Awareness Night (February 23, 2023 and December 7, 2024) New York Mets Deaf Awareness Day (July 30, 2023) New York Mets (NY School for the Deaf - Fanwood (April 17, 2024) Seton Hall University men’s basketball game (vs Rutgers) at Prudential Center, Newark, NJ (December 9, 2023) NHL Stadium Series - Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils at the MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (February 17, 2024) NHL Stadium Series - New York Islanders vs NY Rangers at the MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (February 18, 2024) Rutgers vs Virginia Tech football game at SHI Rutgers Stadium (September 16, 2023) Big East men’s basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden (March 16, 2024)

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Keesler Federal Park 906 Beach Blvd Biloxi, MS 39530 Biloxi Shuckers website Keesler Federal Park website Year Opened: 2015 Capacity: 6,067 Shuck Yeah!!!! In 2005 the Mississippi Gulf Coast received a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina – the destruction of the 20-foot storm surge and 150 mph winds was catastrophic. With the coast practically wiped off the map on that day it was a wonder if the coast would ever recover. Flash forward 17 years and the coast is thriving again, perhaps better than before, and if coming to Biloxi today you would have a hard time saying that anything happened on that fateful day in August 2005. One symbol of hope and resilience for the region is the Biloxi Shuckers, born in 2015 when the Milwaukee Brewers moved their Double-A team from Huntsville as the first affiliated minor league baseball team to ever play in Biloxi. The Shuckers name is fitting for a team in an area like this, as the Gulf Coast is known for its oyster harvesting; ‘shucking’ is the slang word for picking oysters. The Shuckers play at Keesler Federal Park, which opened midway through the 2015 season. This 6,000-seat ballpark is situated less than 100 yards from the beaches of the Gulf Coast. Biloxi is also known as a casino destination, and the ballpark sits right in the middle of all the casino action. The luxurious Beau Rivage Casino, a giant lit-up guitar, and Hard Rock Casino line the backdrop at the stadium, providing a scene of glitz and glamour that remains unmatched at any ballpark in the country. A night game at Shuckers Ballpark will almost make you feel like you are in a mini-Vegas, and it’s almost a surreal feeling knowing this was the scene of so much destruction back in August 2005. From 2015-2023 the ballpark was known as MGM Park, but in 2024 was renamed Keesler Federal Park after Biloxi-based Keesler Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in Mississippi, and the credit union itself is so named because it originally served soldiers stationed at nearby Keesler Air Force Base. Food & Beverage   4 When you play in a city known for such great seafood, you can expect nothing less when it comes to the food options here, which feature six permanent concession stands, each selling a different themed menu, as well as several temporary stands open for select games. Each stand is located on the open concourse so you will never miss a pitch. Down the first baseline you will find two full-service permanent stands, as well as one grab-and-go stand – Shipwreck Grill and Catch of the Game offer the usual grilled items such as hamburgers and hot dogs, as well as fried chicken tenders and fries, plus nachos. If you don't want to wait in the line, however, the grab-and-go stand offers pizza, peanuts, candy, and drinks. Also with a name like Shuckers, of course, they have oysters on the menu – down the first baseline toward right field is the Aw Shucks Grill, which sells southern-themed food items; you can buy jambalaya in a souvenir baseball helmet, grilled or fried oysters, fried shrimp, and boudin sandwiches. Unfortunately, the Aw Shucks Grill is only open for select games, usually during weekend games. The third baseline features a broader selection of concessions, with two permanent stands on that side, namely Biloxi Breeze Tacos, which offers more than just tacos, as you can get the Shuckers signature crawfish queso or red beans and rice, and Lighthouse Pier, featuring some of the Gulf Coast's finest seafood, as you can purchase a shrimp po’ boy or get the seafood basket with hush puppies. In addition, each stand offers a different kind of po’ boy – on my most recent visit they had alligator. For beverages Coca-Cola is the official soft drink provider, and an interesting fact about Biloxi is that Barq’s Root Beer was founded just a couple of blocks from Keesler Federal Park. To honor this fact, behind home plate you can find Barq’s Creamery serving root beer floats and ice cream out of mini baseball helmets. The Shuckers also have two beer gardens, one on each side of the concourse, both offering different draft beers (domestic and local) for $10. The good thing about the Shuckers is they promote local Gulf Coast breweries, serving beer brewed on the coast. At the beer gardens you’ll find many different local breweries, with beers served on draft such as Lazy Magnolia and Southern Prohibition. The Shuckers also partnered with a local brewery to develop their “Let’s Go Shuckers” brand beer. Atmosphere   4 Situated less than 100 yards off the beach, Keesler Federal Park has perhaps one of the best views in all of minor league baseball – just beyond the outfield wall sits the 32-story Beau Rivage Casino plus Hard Rock Casino, providing a beautiful view that no other ballpark in the Southern League has. In addition, the recent stadium renaming brought several changes to the ballpark; the right field berm has been transformed into a beach paradise for the 2024 season, so you'll feel like you never left the beach, as a boardwalk now occupies the outfield complete with a tiki bar and splash pad. The tiki bar features four TVs and bar seating overlooking right field. Walk down a couple of steps and you'll be walking on a makeshift sandy beach, complete with beach chairs and a giant lifeguard station. Schooner the seagull mascot can often be found at the top of the lifeguard station observing the field. From the outside the ballpark seems kind of small; the park was built right next to an interstate overpass to the west, and with the casinos towering over the stadium to the south the ballpark can easily be overlooked if you are driving by on Highway 90. They recently built a parking garage on the south side of the stadium, so that takes up a lot of the view now from the highway as well. Because of frequent hurricanes and flooding, the concourse at Shuckers Ballpark is elevated. There are two entrances into the park, and unlike most minor league ballparks, there is no entrance behind home plate. Instead the main entrance and ticket booth are both beyond the center field fence, but there is another entrance down the third baseline. Take note of the beautiful grounds outside the stadium when you enter – a lush rose garden greets you as you enter at the center field entrance. The park's beige exterior also ties into the giant Beau Rivage across the street, making it seem like it's a part of the casino. Furthermore, something new added for 2024 outside the stadium at the left field entrance is Shuckers Plaza, a gathering area that includes inflatables, food and beverage options, and a wiffleball field. Bats and balls are even provided; kids and adults alike will enjoy being able to take a swing or play catch before the game. Once inside the ballpark the concourse is wide and open, but there is a noticeable lack of shade inside; with no covering over the concourse it's not so fun when the frequent summer thunderstorms pop up. However, behind home plate sits the new and improved Shuckers Team Store, which was upgraded before the 2024 season. The upper level features a third-base party deck – the party deck has seating for about 30 people and offers a buffet. During summer games you’ll also get excellent breezes coming off the Mississippi Sound, as well as beautiful views of the Gulf Coast waters. The upper level features Kloud7 Sky Box, which offers indoor and outdoor table seating, as well as a full-service bar with televisions and a full restaurant-style menu. In terms of suites, Keesler Federal Park features 12 of them; each can hold up to 12 people and features food and drinks, television access, and indoor and outdoor seating. One of the suites is even themed after the Milwaukee Brewers, and features various Brewers-themed artifacts on display. Neighborhood   4 Biloxi is a pretty small city of about 48,000 located off the beaten path, about 90 miles east of New Orleans. Biloxi still retains that small-town feel evident in most towns in Mississippi, but the city is also a nightlife destination for the state as well – Biloxi is an extremely popular gaming destination that attracts millions of visitors every year, and is often referred to as the Vegas of the South. Biloxi features nine high-rise casinos, each offering its own themes and amenities. You cannot put a ballpark in a more prime location than Keesler Federal Park; the stadium sits less than 100 yards from the waters of the Mississippi Gulf, conveniently located right downtown near most of the attractions in Biloxi. If you are into gambling you can go from the ballpark to playing whatever casino game you want in less than 10 minutes. Mississippi also recently legalized sports betting, so you’ll be able to bet on almost any sporting event you can imagine before the game – but ironically, minor league games are not available to bet on. Even if you aren’t into gambling, however, I would recommend giving yourself time to walk around the two casinos before or after the game. The inside of the Beau Rivage is stunning – the first floor features an upscale shopping center and restaurants, as well as beautiful, lush tropical gardens that you must see for yourself. The Beau also features plenty of restaurants and entertainment options, as it regularly attracts big-name acts, and even has a virtual top golf area where you can hit a golf ball at a virtual screen. Hard Rock Casino next door is a pretty cool casino as well, and attracts the younger mid to late-20s crowd. Hard Rock features numerous restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, and features a nice display of famous memorabilia from top-name music acts in the lobby. All the casinos in Biloxi have their own unique features, and there is a trolley stop right out in front of the baseball stadium for travel from casino to casino. Even if you are not into gambling, it’s something fun for people to do while in Biloxi. There are also plenty of restaurants in the downtown area within walking distance of Keesler Federal Park – Half Shell Oyster House, Fields Steak & Oyster, Patio 44, Mugshots, Sal & Mookie’s Pizza, The Fill Up, and the oldest restaurant on the Gulf Coast, Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, are just some of the restaurants in the neighborhood within walking distance. For bars you can walk to Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club, Adventures Pub & Spirits, The Sandbar, Mermaid Bar, and The Fillin’ Station, located in an old 50s-style gas station. If you want to stay near the park there are plenty of hotels along the Beach but the closer you are to the water the more expensive they’ll be. For a cheaper alternative I’d recommend driving up the interstate a few miles to D’Iberville and staying at one of the hotels there. Fans   3 For the Shuckers, the first nine seasons' attendance has not been as great as hoped for. The Shuckers average about 2,400 fans per game, which places them near the bottom of the Southern League. One thing hurting the team is that college sports dominate the area, so minor league baseball takes a backseat for most people in the area. When the Shuckers play it's hard to get a full house, but when Southern Miss or Mississippi State play a neutral site game here, expect a standing room only crowd where you can barely walk the concourse. The games with the biggest attendance will be the summer weekend games when they capitalize on the weekend casino and beach crowd, while if you go on Sunday or during the week you should have no problem getting tickets. The Shuckers organization does a great job entertaining the fans; the mascot is a giant seagull named Schooner and is a constant presence interacting with kids and taking part in various games on the field in-between innings. The crawfish race is always a hit with the kids in attendance – crawfish is a Southern delicacy, and the main things you boil with crawfish are potatoes and corn, so in the bottom of the 5th inning mascots dressed as crawfish, corn, and potatoes race from right field to left field, hence the crawfish race. The Shuckers also have a wide variety of promotions and giveaways throughout the season. For example, they’ll wear different color jerseys to match the theme of that night’s promotions. Biloxi is a huge military town, so for military-related promotions they’ll wear camouflage unis, while for Jackie Robinson Day they’ll wear the old yellow and blue Biloxi Dodgers uniforms from the Negro League. But my favorite jersey combo is on New Orleans Saints Night when the Shuckers invite several current and former Saints players to the game, and the team wears black and gold Saints-inspired jerseys. Also new for 2024 the Shuckers will rebrand themselves with two different identities for eight home games: four games as the Biloxi King Cakes and four games as the Biloxi Beach Chickens, King Cakes paying homage to the Coast's Mardi Gras tradition, and Beach Chickens as the 'slang' word for Seagulls. King Cake and Beach Chickens gear is also sold throughout the season in the team store. Access   3 The best part about coming to Keesler Federal Park is just how easy it is to get here – the park is conveniently located right on the beach at the corner where the I-110 overpass meets Beach Blvd. I-110 is a north/south branch of I-10 about five miles north of Biloxi, so if coming from out of town just take I-10 to exit 22 onto I-110 in D’Iberville, and then go south for about ten minutes until you get to the beach. The first view you’ll get when you arrive in Biloxi is the giant Beau Rivage in front of you, and you can’t miss the ballpark to the left of the overpass. Unfortunately, the Shuckers do not have a public parking lot on site. However, there are over 8,000 parking spaces within a 15-minute walk to the stadium – parking directly across the street to the north is $5, and under the overpass on Howard Ave they also charge $5 to park. But the best place to park is across the street at the Beau Rivage parking garage, where it’s free to park, and there is even a covered walkway that crosses busy Beach Blvd. Return on Investment   3 Individual tickets for Shuckers games are priced as follows – General Admission for $15 (three sections down the third baseline and five sections down the first baseline); Dugout Box Club seating for $17 (four sections behind each dugout); and the Home Plate Box Club for $19 (three sections behind home plate). Most games won’t come close to a sellout, though, so you shouldn’t ever have trouble getting tickets. There aren’t very many places where you can go to the beach, go to a casino, and then walk across the street to watch a baseball game, so I consider this a great experience. You won’t have to fight traffic and crowds, you will get a great view of the game, and you can park for free – you can’t beat that. Extras   5 One extra for the unprecedented trials the Shuckers had to go through during their first year as a franchise in 2015 – due to political, financial, and environmental issues the opening of Keesler Federal Park ended up being delayed until mid-way through the season, so the Shuckers had to go on a 54-game, eight city, 2,800-mile road trip playing all their games on the road, as well as some games in their former home in Huntsville. By mid-June Keesler Federal Park finally opened to great fanfare, though, and the Shuckers even ended up making it to the Southern League Championship that first year, and were named Minor League Baseball’s Team of the Year in 2015. Another extra for Biloxi’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina; if you come to Biloxi now there is no sign of the deadly storm, which is quite remarkable considering how it looked then. If you have some time to walk around before the game I recommend the Hurricane Katrina Memorial, which is located about a block east in the town green – there is a water marker there that shows just how high the storm surge was. Also scattered throughout the park are tree stumps with various coastal art inscribed; these are the remains of dead trees that were destroyed during Katrina. Another extra for the great marketing job the Shuckers have done. Some minor league teams have generic nicknames and mascots, but the Shuckers have a nickname that is unique, charming, funny, and specific to the Gulf Coast. It’s a shame that more people don’t attend games here because the Shuckers have capitalized on the culture of the Gulf Coast region as a whole. Keesler Federal Park is the only ballpark in the country where you can watch baseball on the beach while eating fried oysters or jambalaya, all while a giant seagull entertains fans and a giant crawfish runs around in-between innings. Everything here ties into the culture and uniqueness that makes the Mississippi Gulf Coast so special; this is a great job of local branding by the Shuckers. Also, of course, one extra for the beautiful view of the casino skyline at Keesler Federal Park – on a clear day from different vantage points of the stadium you can see all of Biloxi’s eight casinos. In addition, you can go from the stadium to the beach or to gamble in less than 10 minutes, and I can’t think of any other ballpark in American where you can do that at.

Photos by David Welch and Lance Sutehall, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Pete Mathews Coliseum 775 Park Ave NW 735 Jacksonville, AL 36265 Jacksonville State Gamecocks website Pete Mathews Coliseum website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 2,300 Fear The Beak! Roughly halfway between Birmingham, AL, and Atlanta, GA lies the campus of Jacksonville State University, a school in northeast Alabama with an enrollment of over 9,000 students. The athletic teams are known as the Gamecocks and while football gets the most notoriety, the basketball program is also a proud program with a Division 2 national championship in 1985 as well as a couple of March Madness appearances in 2017 and 2022. The Gamecocks moved to Conference USA in 2023 after being in the Ohio Valley Conference for many years as well as a brief stint in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Gamecocks basketball program hopes the move to C-USA will improve their prestige as well as make them more competitive. Food & Beverage 2 The food options at the Pete only include stadium basics such as hot dogs ($4), chili dogs ($5) nachos ($4), chips ($2), popcorn ($3), candy ($2), peanuts ($3), and pretzels ($4). Beverages include Coke branded 32oz. soft drinks ($4), Gold Peak sweet tea ($3), and Dasani bottled water ($3). Alcohol is not sold at the venue and the concession stand is cashless. I would recommend stopping by a local restaurant before or after the game rather than getting any concessions. Atmosphere 4 When entering the main entrance of the Pete you walk into a lobby with a wall showing a mural about the history of the Gamecocks basketball program and a trophy case containing the 2017 OVC Championship trophy. The hallways leading to the seating area have images of Gamecock players and a picture of the Gamecocks' appearance in the 2022 tournament. The seating areas by each sideline only have 16 rows total so a seat in the last row is relatively close to the court. The first 12 rows are chairback seats while the last 4 rows and each baseline section is bleacher seating. One baseline is reserved for the band and student section. There is a lot of red in the venue due to the fact that the Gamecocks' primary color is red. The out-of-bounds area on the basketball court is red, the scoreboard that hangs over the midcourt line is red, and most of the seats are red. Two of the corners have a classic scoreboard while the other two corners have video boards. I want to give a shout-out to the pep band for keeping the energy up throughout the game. They had chants reminiscent of European soccer matches going, their music was loud, and they gave the Pete an intimidating atmosphere. The cheerleaders also did their part and Cocky the Gamecocks mascot made sure everybody had a great time. Neighborhood 3 Jacksonville, Alabama is a very beautiful town to visit if you are looking to get a bit off the interstate. If you are in Jacksonville in the evening take a short drive up Mountain Street to the Chimney Peak Lookout Tower to see amazing views of the area. For dining in the area, I would recommend Cooter Brown’s Rib Shack, The Rocket for burgers, or Yamato Japanese Steakhouse for Hibachi. If you are staying in the area overnight Jacksonville lodging is limited and I do not recommend staying in Anniston. Instead, I would find a hotel in Oxford which is right next to the interstate and about a half hour south of Jacksonville. Fans 4 Jacksonville State fans are passionate about their Gamecocks and while it’s not the largest fanbase it is certainly an intense one. The Pep Band does an amazing job at leading the charge in making life difficult for any opponent that challenges the Gamecocks. Access 3 From I-20 you would get off on exit 185 and drive north for about a half hour to the campus of Jacksonville State University. Turn left onto Nisbet Street and the Pete Mathews Coliseum will be on your left with a large and free parking lot. If you are coming from the north you are taking some backroads to Jacksonville State. Use a GPS to make your way to the Pete. Once inside there are enough restrooms but the concession stands are only on one side of the arena and the hallways get cramped during halftime. Return on Investment 4 Tickets start at $10 for General Admission seats by the baselines or the top rows of the sidelines. You could upgrade to a reserved seat for just $13 which I think is a great deal. With free parking and $10 for a meal combo, you are only dropping $20 for decent D1 basketball and a great Pep Band. Extras 3 In the lobby is a mural about the band Alabama (Randy Owen, the lead singer, attended JSU). They performed a concert for JSU after a tornado in 2018 ripped through the heart of the campus damaging the roof of the arena and destroying the business building. The lobby contains murals commemorating other Gamecock sports achievements, not just basketball. There is a banner in the rafters commemorating Danny Willett’s Masters golf tournament win in 2016. Final Thoughts Jacksonville, Alabama is a beautiful college town that is a bit out of the way. Jacksonville State has come a long way on both the academic and athletic sides. I have a feeling you are going to keep healing about Jacksonville State University for a lot of years to come. Fear the beak! While Jacksonville State’s game presentation is a more traditional experience than most schools are putting on today, there are just enough of the bells and whistles to keep fans from having a feeling that the evolution of the game experience has passed them by. Anyone going to a game at The Pete will be hard-pressed to say that it isn’t an exciting college basketball experience.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Southern Miss Beach Volleyball Complex Hattiesburg, MS 39406 Southern Mississippi Sand Eagles website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 300 Sandy Eagles to the Top Beach volleyball is the NCAA's newest officially sanctioned sport, with the first year of sponsorship beginning during the Spring 2016 season – as of the 2024 season there are 68 NCAA Division 1 schools that sponsor beach volleyball. Southern Miss is one of these teams, with their first year of the sport on campus beginning in 2019. Entering the 2024 season the Sand Eagles haven't had that much success, with only an overall record of 112-198 after five seasons. For the first four seasons the Sand Eagles competed in C-USA, but in 2022 Southern Miss began the transition to move all sports to the Sun Belt Conference. Food and Beverage   2 There is one small snack stand on the far end of the complex, which just offers the basics, as there is no grill or anything to cook hamburgers and hot dogs on, hence you are stuck with the basics of candy, peanuts, and popcorn. Bottled Coca-Cola products are available as well, but the score is higher for this section because alcohol is available at Southern Miss Beach Volleyball Complex – Miller Lite, Coors Lite, and Yuengling canned beers are available for $6, while Truly and Dos Equis are offered for $8. Also make sure to try the Eagle Rush beer, available for $8; this popular Southern Miss themed beer is brewed locally in Hattiesburg by Southern Prohibition. Atmosphere   3 In between Southern Miss Wellness Center and Reed Green Coliseum lies a little beach oasis called Southern Miss Beach Volleyball Complex, which opened in 2019. Each Spring season the complex hosts the Beach Burg Invitational, a two-day, all-day tournament featuring 10-12 of some of the local college beach volleyball teams – most years these matches have been the only home contests for the Sand Eagles during the regular season. If you didn't know this place was here you would have a hard time finding it, as the complex is nestled among some huge old oak trees with a fence that wraps around the facility, with a black Southern Miss windscreen wrapping around the fence. The layout is simple but quite interesting, as they basically just added some sand and a wooden elevated plank style boardwalk overlooking the sand. There are four beach volleyball courts facing north and south, with the boardwalk taking up the south side. There are three sets of metal bleachers on the boardwalk for fans to sit in, but for the most part people just stand or sit in folding chairs. The small snack bar is located on the covered walkway at the far end of the facility, while on the east side the courts are overlooked by a huge wooden structure with a covered area, where the teams gather while the matches are underway. The Southern Miss indoor volleyball arena overlooks Southern Miss Beach Volleyball Complex from the north side, while the campus recreation center, Payne Center, provides the backdrop from the south side. Neighborhood   3 Southern Miss Beach Volleyball Complex is located on the back side of campus, tucked away next to most of the other Southern Miss athletic venues. Hattiesburg is a medium sized college town of about 50,000 people, so you should be able to find everything you need – however, you may have to drive to get to many of the attractions and restaurants. In terms of places within walking distance, you can get on the Long Leaf Trace and walk east, and the first place you will come to is 4th Street Bar. The owner is a huge Southern Miss fan, and on the walls you can find tons of Southern Miss memorabilia; everything you can think of is on the wall, including old programs, t-shirts, banners, and signed items relating to Southern Miss. Another popular spot just down the Trace from 4th Street Bar is Colludium Brewing Company – located in an old train depot warehouse, this popular brewery has over 30 craft beers, and is a popular stop for cyclists riding the Trace. For other attractions to check out in the area, the Hattiesburg Zoo is located about a mile away, while to get a feel for beach volleyball and the beach theme you can also check out Serengeti Springs Water Park, which opened in Spring 2024 right next to the zoo. There are also a lot of restaurants and other nightlife options located downtown and along Hardy Street. Fans   3 The Beach Burg Invitational matches usually begin early on Friday morning, and last all day and into the evening on both Friday and Saturday. From a fan perspective it can get kind of confusing watching this event, as all four courts are being used at the same time, most of the time with different schools playing on each of the courts – you kind of just have to pick a court and watch the action. There are no PA announcers, as music plays at all times, which I thought was relaxing to just watch the players while listening to music; it reminded me of being at the beach. They play a wide mix of classic rock, country, and current hits over the speakers while the matches are underway. There are also no scoreboards or video boards here; instead a scorer just sets up a table with a flip-style scoreboard like you would see at a youth or rec league volleyball match. With there only being one home tournament played on campus every year, the athletic department usually schedules the Beach Burg Invitational to coincide with the big Spring weekend for Southern Miss sports, so you can catch a baseball, softball, and spring football game on the same weekend as the beach volleyball contests. That said, as the tournament progresses into Friday and Saturday afternoons, you'll catch a lot of people heading from the baseball game just stopping by to watch the beach volleyball action. The afternoon contests are usually pretty packed with a couple hundred fans, but it is harder to get a seat in the bleachers the later the day gets, so most fans stand. Access   3 Hattiesburg may be one of the more accessible towns in the state of Mississippi – nicknamed the Hub City, it used to be a prominent railroad hub back in the day for people wanting to get from the coast to Hattiesburg. Conveniently located about an hour and a half from the coast, New Orleans, Jackson, Meridian, and Mobile, Hattiesburg sits right in the middle of it all. You will not miss the USM campus when coming to town, as the campus is located right on the corner of Highway 49 and Hardy Street, two of the main roads through the city. Interstate 55 runs to the west of the city, and you could take that as well, but you may run into considerable traffic on Hardy Street. Southern Miss Beach Volleyball Complex sits on the back side of campus on 4th Street, directly across the street from Pete Taylor Park, but it is nestled in such a way that you may not be able to see it from the road. During the Beach Burg Invitational, parking for beach volleyball conflicts with the baseball game going on – many of the lots are reserved for baseball season ticket holders, so more than likely you will have to walk. There is a parking garage nearby with plenty of free parking, however, and you can also park near the Student Union and walk from there. Return on Investment   3 Tickets are free to Southern Miss beach volleyball matches, and parking is free on campus when you attend. This is also a unique niche college sport that you can't help but want to watch if you happening to be coming for a baseball game at Pete Taylor Park, so I definitely recommend checking it out even if just for a little while. Extras   4 Even though the Sand Eagles usually only host one home tournament per year, Southern Miss Beach Volleyball Complex still gets constant use throughout the year, as the complex is also home to the William Carey Crusaders Beach Volleyball team, an NAIA school located on the south side of Hattiesburg. In addition, the complex hosts volleyball camps and youth tournaments throughout the year. Another plus for Southern Miss beach volleyball being the only NCAA D1-sanctioned beach volleyball program in the state of Mississippi, as well as another point for the Beach Burg Invitational being scheduled the same weekend as other Southern Miss sporting events. My recommendation would be catching a little bit of the volleyball action when the gates open at 8 am, then venturing over to M. M. Roberts Stadium for the Spring football game. After that cross 4th Street and hop on the Long Leaf Trace to visit Southern Miss Softball Complex and Pete Taylor Park for some softball and baseball action, before finishing up your evening back at Southern Miss Beach Volleyball Complex. If you have a chance to come here in the Fall for an indoor volleyball match, I recommend checking out the brand-new Southern Miss Wellness Center as well, which is located right next to Southern Miss Beach Volleyball Complex – the indoor complex also opened in 2019, and is one of the finest volleyball-only facilities in the country.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Lois T. Murray Field 1700 E Cold Spring Ln Baltimore, MD 21251 Morgan State Bears website Lois T. Murray Field website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 150 Home of the Bears Morgan State University was founded in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute, a Methodist Episcopal seminary. Later it changed its name to Morgan College. The name changed once again in 1939 to Morgan State College when it became a public university. The school was granted university status in 1975, thus becoming Morgan State University. Morgan State is not a part of the University System of Maryland; the school opted out and possesses its own governing Board of Regents. Morgan is a well-known Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Famous alumni include actress Mo’Nique, singer Deniece Williams, former Mayor of Baltimore Catherine Pugh, and Kweisi Mfume, former President of the NAACP and current U.S. Congressman. Athletically the school competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). MEAC members are HBCU schools located in the Southeastern and the Mid-Atlantic United States. After more than a decade of talks and planning for an upgraded on-campus softball facility, the dream became a reality, when Morgan State debuted its newly refurbished home field on Saturday, April 1, 2017. Lois T. Murray Field is named for the former elementary school located that was located on this site. Lois T. Murray Elementary/Middle School is now located about a mile away in a new building. Food & Beverage 0 There is no permanent food stand at the field. Atmosphere 4 Lois T. Murray Field is a simple facility with a nice atmosphere. After the school moved to its new home the dugouts were built, as well as a new backstop and fence around the playing surface were installed and topped off with a windscreen along the entire outfield fence. Before this, it was likely a standard school playfield. There are two bleachers at the field. Many fans will watch from other places around the field as the bleachers hold a small amount of fans. Neighborhood 3 The area right around Morgan State is essentially residential. It is not a bad area, but neither is it overwhelmingly welcoming. You will probably want to venture away from campus for food, lodging, and entertainment. A personal favorite for food is Miss Shirley’s at 513 West Cold Spring Lane. They are known for their great breakfast and down-home food. Venturing further from campus, one may want to try out the suburb of Towson with its variety of shops and restaurants. Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Some other great options are Glory Days Grill, Sushi Hana, and Zia’s. For slightly more upscale cuisine a visit to the 1100-1200 blocks of North Charles Street where The Brewer’s Art and Sammy’s Trattoria offer good food at decent prices. Baltimore is home to many tourist attractions such as Harborplace, Fells Point, and Fort McHenry. The American Visionary Art Museum on Key Highway is located on the way to Fort McHenry and should not be missed, although its unique collection will not be for everyone. Fans 4 The fan atmosphere will depend on the game. As with many college softball games, the bulk of the fans tend to be family or friends of both teams. Student attendance at games seems to be pretty low, although it is higher when Coppin, Howard, and Delaware State come to town. Access 3 Morgan is not too hard to find. If on the Baltimore Beltway, I-695, one can take exit 30A (Perring Parkway/MD-41S) south until it becomes Hillen Road. Lois T. Murray Field is located at the corner of Hillen Road and Arlington Avenue. Limited spectator parking is located at Lois T. Murray Field next to the playing field. You can also park on a few of the streets around the stadium but depending on the crowd it could be difficult to find a spot. Return on Investment 5 You are not going to be watching the highest level of softball competition, but the cost is about the best you can find. That’s right, there is no admission cost. Combine that with free parking, and you have a pretty great night out. Extras 1 The location alone is a nice extra. They took an unused plot of land, close to campus, and turned it into a nice softball field that has a great atmosphere. Final Thoughts Lois T. Murray Field is a nice little facility that has its small seating capacity as its only real downpoint.

Photos by Lance Sutehall, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Williams Assembly Center S Prentiss St Jackson, MS 39203 Jackson State Tigers website Williams Assembly Center website Year Opened: 1981 Capacity: 8,000 Jackson State Tiger World Roughly halfway between Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana sits the city of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. Within the town is the campus of Jackson State University, an HBCU with an enrollment of over 7,000 students. The Jackson State University Tigers athletic program plays in the SWAC conference and their basketball programs have played at the Williams Assembly Center since 1981. Food & Beverage 2 There is one concession stand in the corner of the arena selling the usual stadium fare such as hot dogs ($5), nachos ($5), popcorn ($3), candy ($2), chips ($2), and peanuts ($4). Pepsi provides soft drinks with 20 oz drinks ($4), water ($3), and Gatorade ($3). The concessions only take cash, so remember that when attending a game. We recommend grabbing a pre-game or post-game meal rather than stopping by the concession stand. Atmosphere 3 The exterior of the arena was refreshed a couple of seasons ago and fans enter the arena by a sign that reads “Tiger World” with an illustration of a tiger head. The entrance includes a trophy case showcasing some of Jackson State’s athletic accomplishments over the years. Once your ticket is scanned, you notice the seats are in four separate sections. The seats by the sidelines are split between season ticket holder seats in the front and the main seating bowl between blue yellow and red sections. The seats behind the reserved seats by the baselines are bleacher seats. There are banners commemorating Jackson State’s athletic accomplishments including Jackson State’s three NCAA tournament appearances. I will give an extra point for the four-sided scoreboard that was added in 2024. Each screen is 10x23 feet and hangs over the center of the court. It replaced a scoreboard that seemingly had been in service since the arena’s opening (the old scoreboard had the vintage NCAA logo). Unfortunately, the game I attended happened before I could see the new scoreboard in person. I was disappointed to not see the band during my visit to Jackson State. A band would have made the atmosphere significantly better given that Jackson State has one of the best bands in the country. Neighborhood 3 Jackson is the largest city in Mississippi as well as the capital of the state. The campus is only a couple of miles away from downtown attractions such as the Russell Davis Planetarium, Mississippi Museum for Art, and the Old Mississippi State Capitol Building. If you drive north on Highway 51, you can stop by Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, which is the home of the Jackson Tigers football team. Restaurants include Basil’s for pizza, Bettina’s Soulfood Kitchen, and the Farish Street Burger Bar. If you want a drink, bars include Ole Tavern, Martin’s, and One Block East. Lodging options include Westin, Hilton Garden Inn, and the Old Capitol Inn. Fans 4 The fans were engaged throughout the game with cheerleaders and an emcee helping to keep the energy up. The fans are knowledgeable about the game and have pride in their school. The passion for their school is immediately noticed. The fans will get behind the Tigers regardless of whether they win or lose. Access 3 From I-20 Westbound turn off exit 45A onto S Gallatin Street. Turn left on Dr Robert Smith Pkwy then make another left at the third roundabout. The Williams Assembly Center will be on your right. From I-55 Southbound turn off exit 96A onto Pearl Street. Pearl Street becomes Dr Robert Smith Pkwy. From here follow the same instructions as above. Once at the arena, there should be enough parking, although you may need to walk up some steps to get to the arena. Once inside the arena, there is plenty of room to walk around and there are enough restrooms. Return on Investment 2 Tickets go for $15 and typically include both a women’s and men’s game. If you pay $10 for concessions that means you pay $25 for a day of SWACtion. That would have been a great deal if the band was performing. Extras 2 The court is a parquet floor similar to what the Boston Celtics play on. Walter Payton played football for the Tigers. Final Thoughts Jackson State has a very passionate fan base that gets behind their Tigers regardless of how the teams are performing. The Tigers are investing in the basketball program as seen by the recent renovations to the arena.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Jack Turner Softball Stadium 2330 S Milledge Avenue Athens, GA 30605 Georgia Bulldogs website Jack Turner Softball Stadium website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 2,000 How ‘Bout Them Dawgs The University of Georgia athletics has always been known as one of the powers of college football, and with good reason, as the recent successes of Georgia football has moved them from an annual contender in the SEC and nationally to the odds-on favorite each season. As Georgia football has all the makings of the next football dynasty, many other of the University of Georgia’s athletic programs have experienced their own high level of success on the national level as well. Lu Harris-Champer has been referred to as the architect of Georgia softball, but credit for the groundwork upon which the foundation was built upon needs to go the Bulldogs’ original leader, Alleen Hawkins. It would be Hawkins, who in 1997 when the Southeastern Conference (SEC) began sponsoring softball as a varsity sport, would lead the early years of Georgia softball. It would be under Harris-Champer, however, when UGA softball would take off – she would lead the Dawgs to over 950 wins in her 21-seasons in Athens, including two regular-season championships, one SEC tournament title, and five trips to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series. Georgia softball rose out of modest beginnings, starting play at the UGA intramural fields for their first two seasons. The Dawgs would find a home at the site of their current stadium in 1998, but it wouldn’t be until the 2004 season that Jack Turner Stadium was built. Food & Beverage   3 At first impression, concessions seem to be rather lacking here, with the stand under the bleachers serving mainly beverages and snacks. A second concession stand, under the bleachers of the neighboring soccer stadium, sits behind the third base side of the grandstand – this stand provides a bit more of the stadium staples, with choices including hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, nachos, and soft pretzels. The sleeper of the menu is probably the uniquely southern treat of boiled peanuts. Soft drink selections include offerings from the Coca-Cola family, along with Powerade and Dasani bottled water. For those seeking alcoholic beverages, common domestic beers, Twisted Tea, High Noon hard seltzer, and craft beer from Athens brewery Creature Comforts are also available. While concessions are as expected, the options are a bit less than inspiring. There is an ice cream stand that does help in expanding the choices, but it can only be so enticing during cold weather. Atmosphere   4 Jack Turner Softball Stadium is mostly an open, aluminum structure that rises high above the field of play.  Aluminum bleacher seating is concentrated between first and third base, with the section of seating directly behind home plate made up of 12 rows of individual folding seats, while the rest of the seating runs from first base around to third. Temporary bleachers and standing room sections flank the bullpen areas on each side of the field. The nature of a fully aluminum grandstand is that stomping is amplified throughout the stadium, and the in-game presentation makes full use of this, playing sound drops throughout the game that encourage fans to stomp and make noise. The main scoreboard in right field gives fans a plethora of information; typical inning-by-inning line score, ball-strikeouts, lineup, and pitcher and batter stats, along with pitch speed.  The future of player development for UGA softball is also taking shape over the left field wall, as a new team facility is currently being built, which will house meeting rooms, training spaces, locker rooms, and a weight room. Although lacking an in-game host, Jack Turner Softball Stadium's PA announcer introduces mid-inning fan interaction activities and inflatable character races around the outfield warning track. In addition, throughout breaks in the game the heavy use of the Georgia cheers, fight song, and other traditions goes a long way in setting the tone of college athletics. When it comes to seating options, there is a short reaching roofline that extends over the upper most rows of seating, providing a bit of relief from the elements. The sun sets beyond the corner of left field, so there can be a challenging sun field for those along the first base side, however. Neighborhood   4 Jack Turner Softball Stadium is just under 2 miles from the southernmost reaches of the University of Georgia campus in Athens, where the city starts to transition from college town to rural Georgia countryside. Not only is the complex home to Georgia softball, but the Bulldogs soccer stadium is also directly behind the third base stands, just around the corner from University Golf Course, home to Georgia golf (which is open to the public). The immediate area is a bit lacking when it comes to food choices, with a Waffle House, Athens Pizza, and Butt Hurt BBQ being the primary options. Broad Street, the epicenter of UGA’s entertainment district, is roughly a 15-minute drive away, but virtually has something for everyone, at nearly any hour of the day. Fans   4 Averaging over 1,000 fans a game, University of Georgia softball ranks in the top 25 nationally in attendance; fans will frequently line up at the stadium an hour before they are allowed to access the seating area. Compared to most of Georgia’s other athletic programs, the fan base at softball games tends to be more centered around families with younger children. There are a smattering of students who sit in the section behind the Dawgs dugout, but they tend to be rather reserved for what might be expected from students. Even if the students might not be the core of the fan experience, families and their young children are the biggest backers of Georgia Bulldog softball and create much of the spirit in the stands. If there is one thing that can be said about Georgia fans, it is that they love and hold dear the traditions of the university, ready to burst into song at the drop of the first note of any of the popular spirit songs. Access   3 Getting to Athens can present some challenges, especially for any weekday contests. Located roughly 70 miles from Atlanta, the route to Athens uses some of metro Atlanta’s most traveled interstates and highways. The most direct route is via Interstate-85 to Georgia 316, which leads directly to Athens. Those coming from the north on I-85 may encounter slightly less traffic passing through Jefferson, while accessing Athens from the east is most convenient via I-20 to US-441N. Jack Turner Softball Stadium is less than a mile from US-78, which encircles Athens. There is a good amount of parking around the stadium, which continues to an adjacent grassy area. With the complex being off the main concentration of campus, it is nice that there is a campus shuttle that services the athletics complex. Fans are held at the entry drive to the stadium until an hour prior to the first pitch. Once allowed into the stadium, most fans use the stairs up the first base line to enter the seating area.  Bleacher seating runs right down behind the dugouts to an awkward row of seating that has enough space for fans to try to pass by, but there really is not enough space where this pathway is advisable. There are four staircases that lead to the upper level of the seating bowl, as well as an elevator for those with mobility challenges. Return on Investment   5 With free parking and free admission, it would be hard to ask for much more when it comes to the cost of attending Georgia softball games. The only true cost at the stadium is from the concessions, which are reasonably priced when considering the typical price of stadium food and drinks. Even so, making concessions prices more affordable has been a focus of the university in recent years. Extras   3 Georgia athletics is a carefully crafted brand, in that there is consistency throughout the athletics programs in their use of the school’s fight songs, as well as the use of other traditions to get fans on their feet and cheering – from the first pitch thru the visiting team getting the “Calling of the Dawgs,” with a “Goooooooo Dawgs, Sic’ ‘em…*woof* woof woof”, as is tradition for Georgia football kickoffs, to the “Krypton Fanfare” as the game heads into the final inning, and finally the use of “Glory, Glory to Old Georgia” for highlight-worthy plays. Following the game the Georgia players gather in front of the home bleachers to recognize and thank the fans for their support. In addition, placards lining the facade of the press box recognize the Bulldogs five appearances in the College Softball World Series. Final Thoughts Softball at the University of Georgia might be one of the most family friendly experiences on campus; it would be difficult to find an outing around Athens where a whole family can attend an event for free that has the same air of excitement UGA softball. The experience at Jack Turner Softball Stadium wonderfully highlights the traditions and school spirit that college athletics was built on. Surrounded by passionate Georgia fans and their willingness to “Commit to the G” running so deep, it is hard not to get caught up in the excitement that drives so much of the experience of University of Georgia softball.

The good and not-so-good when attending baseball at a minor league, independent and a summer collegiate ballpark! Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page. Join us live as we record every other Monday on our social media streaming channels.

The Stanley Cup playoffs are underway, so Stadium Journey felt it was time to do what we do best - rank the NHL hockey rinks. Stadium Journey ranks arenas based on their unique FANFARE rating scale, which incorporates a venue’s food, atmosphere, neighborhood, fans, accessibility, value, and other factors to create an overall score.  When two or more venues are tied, Stadium Journey consults its Council of Elders to break the tie.  It’s a different way of looking at venues and produces some variability in our lists that you don’t see elsewhere. As usual, we predict that this list will garner a great deal of debate. We welcome your input by joining discussions on our Facebook and Twitter pages.  We’re sure your NHL Arena ranking list differs from ours, and isn’t that what makes these lists so engaging? 1. Amalie Arena – Tampa Bay Lightning 4.57 Chris Green - The Tampa Bay Lightning have broken all expectations for a Florida hockey franchise, and their game day experience has become one of the best in the league. From the spotless interior of the venue to the bounty of food options, there is plenty to love at Amalie Arena. 2. Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle Kraken 4.43 Lloyd Brown - The Climate Pledge Arena is much more than just the newest rink in the NHL. It is an experiment in using the most current “smart” technologies to minimize (hopefully to zero) the carbon footprint the facility leaves after each event it hosts. 3. Bridgestone Arena – Nashville Predators 4.43 David Welch - Hockey in Nashville is an amazing experience, including both the in-game entertainment and the excitement of the game on the ice. But what sets Bridgestone Arena apart is the vibe of Nashville’s Broadway, which has been brought in just steps from the front doors – this feeling helps bring the party atmosphere of the area into the game. 4. Rogers Place – Edmonton Oilers 4.43 Jim Flannery - Rogers Place is a worthwhile place to visit even if you’re not there for a hockey game. There is so much to see and do in and around the building without ever walking through the gates that you could spend a couple hours just checking the place out. Once you’re through the gates, this is a beautiful building with truly state-of-the-art features that should impress most everyone. 5. Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles Kings 4.43 Andrei Ojeda -With Crypto.com celebrating its 25th season, the Kings have had their share of great moments, rewarding their loyal fanbase with a contending team during most seasons as well as their two Stanley Cup triumphs. 6. Bell Centre – Montreal Canadiens 4.29 Dave Cottenie - Without a doubt, a trip to Centre Bell to see the Montréal Canadiens needs to be near the top of any hockey bucket list.  Although the arena itself is not earth shattering, the Canadiens put on a terrific product, even when the team is down. 7. PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh Penguins 4.29 Patricia Beninato - As far as NHL venues go, PPG Paints Arena gives hockey fans a top-of-the-line game experience. Due to its semi-northeastern location, it attracts hockey fans from all over the U.S. 8. Scotiabank Arena – Toronto Maple Leafs 4.14 Dave Cottenie - All hockey fans should consider making a pilgrimage to see the Toronto Maple Leafs and extend the trip to see the city of Toronto and especially the Hockey Hall of Fame.  Scotiabank Arena remains among the premier venues in the league and MLSE has done a spectacular job keeping the arena relevant for the last two decades. 9. Nationwide Arena – Columbus Blue Jackets 4.14 Greg Venuto - Nationwide Arena is clearly a beautiful and fan-friendly arena to watch an NHL game. Despite being over 20 years old, it seems new and up-to-date. It is definitely worth a visit if in town and the benefits are reasonable prices and plenty to do just outside its doors. 10. UBS Arena – New York Islanders 4.14 Ken Thorp - UBS Arena is a decent venue. The arena has enough bells and whistles to provide an adequate game day experience. They have a ridiculous amount of food choices as well as concession stands.  Stadium Operations work extremely hard to keep the fans engaged in the game. 11. Madison Square Garden – New York Rangers 4.14 Greg Venuto - MSG is certainly a must-see venue not just for avid hockey fans but for casual and non-sports fans too. The Arena sells itself plus the Garden produces a worthy day or evening of entertainment. 12. Capital One Arena – Washington Capitals 4.14 Gregory Koch - While the experience of a Capitals game at Capital One Arena has diminished somewhat since the Stanley Cup run a few years ago, it is still one of the better experiences in the NHL. Hockey fans will want to Rock the Red and check out a game here. 13. Prudential Center – New Jersey Devils 4.00 Steven Kee - The Prudential Center is a stunning facility, offering almost everything the hockey fan could ask for in the 21st century. The arena is accessible via mass transit, close to great restaurants, and provides a variety of services and features throughout the game. 14. Amerant Bank Arena – Florida Panthers 4.00 Chris Green - All-in-all, FLA Live Arena is family friendly and provides a quaint atmosphere. The last few seasons are proving that this quaint atmosphere can also swell into a roaring crowd, thanks to successful records. 15. TD Garden – Boston Bruins 4.00 Paul Baker - The TD Garden is only the third venue that the Bruins have called home in close to a century of competition, after the Boston Arena (now called Matthews Arena) and the Boston Garden. Built just nine inches from its predecessor, it is named for its sponsor, TD Bank. 16. Xcel Energy Center – Minnesota Wild 3.86 Greg Venuto - The Minnesota Wild continue to play before hockey-crazed, sellout crowds at Xcel Energy Center.  The building, while 23 years old, continues to shine as fans rock out to Shout after every Wild goal. 17. KeyBank Center – Buffalo Sabres 3.86 Robbie Raskin - KeyBank Center is a solid place to catch a hockey game in one of the best American hockey markets. Sabres fans are welcoming and friendly, the arena is comfortable and has been updated pretty well over the years. 18. Honda Center – Anaheim Ducks 3.86 Paul Baker - While hockey may not be the first thing on your mind as you wander around southern California during a warm winter day, a trip to the Honda Center provides a mighty good experience for any fan, whether you are coming from the frigid north or not. 19. United Center – Chicago Blackhawks 3.86 Greg Venuto - United Center is a must-see venue for sports fans and hockey enthusiasts alike.  If the Hawks can trend upward, a Stadium Journey to the Windy City will be even more memorable and could ignite the United Center to madhouse status once again. 20. T-Mobile Arena – Vegas Golden Knights 3.86 Lloyd Brown - The Vegas Golden Knights “broke the ice” as the first major league professional sports team to set up shop in Las Vegas. The city sells out games and the team’s performance on the ice is far above what is expected, winning the ultimate trophy – the Stanley Cup – in 2023. 21. Rogers Arena – Vancouver Canucks 3.86 Lloyd Brown - In Canada, ice hockey reigns supreme, and Vancouver was the first Canadian city on the West Coast to receive an NHL franchise. This has led to a long history of sellouts throughout the club’s 50-year existence. Packed stands lead to a great environment in the seating bowl. The seating areas fill early as the crowds do not want to miss even the warmups. 22. Enterprise Center – St. Louis Blues 3.71 Greg Venuto - The Enterprise Center is a solid venue to take in an NHL hockey game.  The arena features good food and drink choices and favorable sight lines. The fans are warm, inviting and enthusiastic about their team which is now a St. Louis tradition for over 55 years. 23. Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia Flyers 3.71 Steven Kee - The Wells Fargo Center is still a first-class and modern building for hockey and sports fans. The atmosphere, energy, and festive spirit during the holiday season make it an ideal destination when it town. 24. SAP Center – San Jose Sharks 3.57 Dave Cottenie -The San Jose Sharks are a great experience for all NHL fans.  Their influence throughout the 90’s is undeniable and they have had great influence opening up the southern belt to NHL hockey.  A trip to the Shark Tank will be a memorable one for hockey fans everywhere. 25. Ball Arena – Colorado Avalanche 3.57 Greg Venuto - Ball Arena is a great place to visit while in Denver to take in a hockey game.  The fans are enthusiastic and the team is usually at the top of the standings. 26. Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary Flames 3.57 Jim Flannery -The Olympic Saddledome opened in 1983, constructed in anticipation of the 1988 Winter Olympics, and has been the home of the Calgary Flames ever since.  Over the years, the Saddledome has seen a few renovations, increased seating capacity, and a couple name changes; it is now known as the Scotiabank Saddledome. 27. Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg Jets 3.57 Lloyd Brown -Winnipeg has been given a second chance with an NHL franchise and there is no chance of the fans allowing the team to move elsewhere again. They fill the Canada Life Centre for every game, cheering loudly for the local boys while organizing chants to disrupt the visiting team’s concentration. The whole town turns out in their blue-best when the Jets are in town. 28. American Airlines Center – Dallas Stars 3.57 Michael Davis - American Airlines Center is one of the finest sports venues in America, located in a great city and home to a hockey organization that seems committed to being in Dallas for a long time.  A visit to American Airlines Center to watch the Stars play is a wonderful way to spend an evening in Dallas. 29. PNC Arena – Carolina Hurricanes 3.57 Joseph Oakes - PNC Arena is routinely sold out and offers a great environment to watch Carolina Hurricane NHL hockey.  Even though the venue is approaching 25 years old, it is still a modern arena for NHL hockey. 30. Little Caesars Arena – Detroit Red Wings 3.29 Meg Minard - The NHL’s Detroit Red Wings moved from its aging Joe Louis Arena to the new, technologically-advanced Little Caesars Arena in 2017.  The new arena has many great features while still maintaining the Hockeytown history. 31. Canadian Tire Centre – Ottawa Senators 3.29 Dave Cottenie - It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Ottawa Senators and their much maligned building in Kanata.  It must be said, however, that regardless of the situation with the Canadian Tire Centre, the Ottawa Senators are still an NHL experience and fans will still have a great time during the game. 32. Mullett Arena - Arizona Coyotes 2.86 Greg Venuto - For what it is, Mullett Arena offers a charming setting for fans who can get close to the action and see and hear everything up close.  It is not an NHL venue, but seeing top-flight players in such an intimate setting is fabulous.

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

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Oriole Park at Camden Yards West Camden St Baltimore, MD 21230 Baltimore Orioles website Oriole Park at Camden Yards website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 48,876 “O” Say Can You See Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992 and has been considered one of the best Major League Baseball stadiums in the league. Before its opening the landscape of professional baseball was littered with boring, multipurpose bowl stadiums. Now nearly every team has a great baseball stadium. Luckily Oriole Park has kept up with the experiences. Out were lackluster parks and in were fan-friendly stadiums that were designed for the optimum fan experience. If Baltimore had built a standard, boring facility, baseball may not look and feel the way it does now. The current Baltimore Orioles began in 1954 when the St. Louis Browns moved to town. The Orioles had a very successful run at the well-loved Memorial Stadium. When it was obvious that Memorial was ending its usable life the current ballpark came into focus. The Orioles have been world champions three times (1966, 1970, and 1983) and have won the AL pennants seven times. Famous players have included the likes of Roberto Alomar, Luis Aparicio, Reggie Jackson, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Cal Ripken, Jr., Brooks Robinson, and Frank Robinson while Earl Weaver may always be the most beloved manager in team history. Food & Beverage 4 There is quite a variety of food offerings at Oriole Park, although it seems more limited than in previous years. There was a change of food companies in 2023 and some people have complained about the offerings not being as good as in the past. We didn't see the quality being lowered but it is something to think about and we will also update if we discover more on this front. Prices are not cheap, but not entirely unreasonable either. Hot dogs are an example of this. The basic dog available throughout the park is around $6. Spend just a few cents more than that and get a beer-soaked bratwurst. Boog’s BBQ is the biggest draw. Located on the iconic Eutaw Street section of the ballpark, the stand is run by Orioles legend Boog Powell. You get a good amount for the price. If you are lucky Boog himself will be on hand to serve up your meal. Dempsey’s Brewpub which was located inside the warehouse itself has been replaced by the Superbook Bar. Prices do need to get lower to stay with the current trend of lowered concession prices. Atmosphere 4 The only real major problem with the park is that the concourse is not within sight of the field. It has a more traditional concourse located behind the stands. When you start trends, you do expect that some things will have been tweaked by the ones to come after. It is still a great area for wandering and you never seem out of the game experience due to ever-present television monitors and game play-by-play announcements. The Star-Spangled Banner was written very close to where the stadium is located. The Orioles fans commemorate this and their love of the home team by shouting a loud “O!!!!!!” during the appropriate spot during the anthem. In other places, this would seem to be disrespectful, but in Baltimore, it shows the love of the country and the team. If you hear that yell at other parks throughout the country rest assured that there is a Baltimore fan in the house. A very unique Baltimore tradition is the playing of John Denver’s 1974 classic song, “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” during the seventh-inning stretch. It all started a couple of years after it was released when the Orioles were trying to add pop music into the lineup. For some reason, the song stuck. Even when then-owner Eli Jacobs tried to change songs during the late 1980s, the fans demanded it back. The traditional “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is played as a warmup to ‘Country Boy.’ Many a local fan still talks about Denver’s surprise September 1997 visit when he appeared on top of the dugout mouthing the song’s lyrics. He was in town for a concert at the nearby Baltimore Arena and decided to pop over. Sadly he died in a plane crash less than a month later. The expanded Kids Zone is becoming a nice, popular feature. Neighborhood 3 The ratings should be higher here, but the city has some issues that fans need to keep in mind before heading to the game. Baltimore is and has always been, an urban environment where you should make sure you are aware of your surroundings. Use common sense and all will be fine and you will have a great time. There are party-like options are across from the stadium. It might be better to find other options in the Harbor East neighborhood for a more relaxed experience. The Inner Harbor is a popular tourist destination and is a short walk from Camden Yards. There are numerous options here but it will be expensive and more touristy. Another option is nearby Federal Hill. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here. Another choice is just south of Oriole Park, the Horseshoe Casino. If you are the gambling type, this Harrah owned gaming establishment has a nice variety of dining and drinking spots. There is even a large parking garage offering deals for game day parking as well. Baltimore is home to many touristy attractions, such as Harborplace, Fells Point, and Fort McHenry. The American Visionary Art Museum on Key Highway is located on the way to Fort McHenry and should not be missed, although its unique collection will not be for everyone. Fans looking to get a taste of Baltimore sports history should also take time to visit the Babe Ruth Birthplace. Fans 3 The team has been faring better and the atmosphere is lively and fun again. The fans have always been strong but a string of mediocre management has not helped with consistency. The ownership situation is still a mess but as long as the management stays as is, expect the fans to respond with positivity. There is a very knowledgeable fan base at an Orioles game. People tend to make the game a family outing. But that does not mean these are not active fans. It is the kind of place where you will see a parent training their young children on the ins and outs of the game, as well as the history of Robinson, Robinson, Palmer, and Ripken. Fans cheer when they need to and support at all the right times. It is not a place where you will see a lot of booing, although at a Yankees game you just never know. Access 5 Oriole Park is extremely close to I-95, with only a couple of turns putting you on the highway home. Parking garages can be found in all directions from the stadium. Street parking is not a great option. Parking near the Inner Harbor is a good option. Check websites and apps such as SpotHero to find bargains that are a pretty close walk away. If you’re not driving to the game, the other primary mode of access is the MTA Light Rail. From points north and south of downtown Baltimore, you can take the train to the ballpark. The Light Rail is slow, so make sure you know that beforehand. Return on Investment 5 Prices are generally pretty reasonable, although they do vary by the opponent. The ticket aftermarket is always a good bet here. Prices can be found at a very reasonable rate for almost all games, except for maybe the Red Sox and Yankees. Extras 5 Babe Ruth was born here in Baltimore and his childhood home is mere blocks away. He attended school at St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys nearby and actually spent time on the very spot of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The B&O Warehouse is not an architectural creation just for the stadium. It opened in 1899 and served as merchandise storage and a distribution center for the nearby railroad. Camden Station is also adjacent and is one of the longest continuously operated train terminals in the United States. The Orioles in recent years rearranged the center field fan experience and added a statue garden of Oriole greats. This area also makes it easier for fans to walk entirely around the whole stadium. Eutaw Street itself offers a great experience for fans. Not just great food options, but it offers great people-watching, retail experiences, and great field views from the flag court, located above the right field scoreboard. A cool feature can be seen in some of the open stairwells. Lyrics to Orioles songs such as “Orioles Magic” and the aforementioned “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” can be found on the walls. Final Thoughts Oriole Park is still one of the most beautiful stadiums in Major League Baseball and does not show much age.