Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Elliot Ballpark Jim Calhoun Way Storrs, CT 06269 Connecticut Huskies website Elliot Ballpark website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 1,500 New Home for Husky Hardball Baseball has been played at the University of Connecticut since 1896. The school has been a major regional power in New England over the years, reaching the NCAA Tournament 21 times and the College World Series five times. Their most recent appearance in the CWS was in 1979. 22 UConn alumni have played in the Major Leagues. Elliot Ballpark is named for former UConn baseball player Doug Elliot and family, who provided a major gift towards the completion of the facility. Both Doug and Sheila Elliot graduated from UConn in 1982. Their son Doug also played for the Huskies. Both Doug and Doug Jr. were named team MVP during their senior seasons. Elliot Ballpark replaced the Huskies’ longtime home, J.O. Christian Field , which served as home to the Huskies from 1968-2019. The new ballpark stands across the street from the old park, which has been repurposed as a practice field for the soccer and lacrosse teams. Elliot Ballpark was scheduled to open for the 2020 season, but the COVID-19 shutdown ended the Huskies’ season before they were able to play any home games. Food & Beverage 2 This score is speculative, as there were no concessions available during Stadium Journey’s visit. UConn fans and staff both mentioned that there are plans for a concession stand next season (2022), but that there was no chance to have any concessions ready for this last-minute, full-capacity game. In exploring the grounds, it appears there is ample room for pop-up stands or food trucks on the left-field patio. Fans were welcome to bring in their own snacks and drinks during Stadium Journey’s visit. Atmosphere 3 The new ballpark contains many features missing at Christian Field, including artificial turf (a must for playing early-season games in fickle New England Aprils), lights, a video scoreboard, and suites. The large locker room contains a player’s lounge and showers, while the coaches have their own offices in the adjacent building. It is hoped that these amenities will help the Huskies in recruiting players from beyond Connecticut’s borders. Elliot Ballpark features a livelier atmosphere than what is common in other northeastern college ballparks. The scoreboard shows game stats and some graphics. Expect the gameday staff to get better at operating this board with practice. The new sound system is state of the art and is put to good use throughout the game. The fans that come to Elliot Ballpark are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their Huskies. Neighborhood 3 It’s a short drive from Elliot Ballpark to downtown Storrs. Storrs is a village within the town of Mansfield, with a population of just over 15,000 residents, which pales in comparison to UConn’s total enrollment of almost 33,000 students. It’s no surprise that this 4,000-acre campus dominates this small town. Visitors to Storrs can still find some solid dining options in town. Geno’s Grille, owned by legendary coach Geno Auriemma, is an upscale Italian bistro with some nice options. Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza Shop, featured in an episode of Man vs. Food, is another popular gathering spot. A must-stop for visiting fans is the UConn Dairy Bar. The Dairy Bar, operated entirely by students, has been in operation since 1953. All products are made fresh on site. While enjoying your ice cream you can see the cows grazing in the adjacent fields. Since there aren’t a ton of options for lodging near UConn, many fans coming to the area will move on to Hartford, located about a 45-minute drive to the west, or the twin casinos of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, located about 45 minutes to the southeast. Fans 4 When the state of Connecticut announced they would be lifting capacity limits late in May of 2021, UConn opened Elliot Ballpark to full capacity for the Huskies’ final series of the 2021 season. Fans responded by filling up the new ballpark. Attendance figures for the weekend series were not released, but Stadium Journey attended on a Saturday afternoon and the ballpark looked to be filled to about 2/3 capacity, with many additional fans seated on the large berm. The fans who come to Elliot ballpark are knowledgeable about the team and enthusiastic in rooting on the Huskies. This is a livelier atmosphere than you usually see at a college game in the northeast. Access 3 Elliot Ballpark is located on the southwest edge of campus alongside many of UConn’s other athletic facilities. Gampel Pavilion is about a half mile up Jim Calhoun Way. The ballpark is right across the street from J.O. Christian Field and next door to Frietas Ice Forum . It stands behind Morrone Stadium, home of the Husky soccer and lacrosse teams. Fans who haven’t visited the UConn campus in a while may be surprised by how the area looks now, as the baseball, softball and soccer teams have all gotten new homes, and ground was just broken on a new on-campus hockey arena. Parking is available in the lot next to the Freitas Ice Forum and at South Garage across the street from Gampel Pavilion. The seating bowl at Elliot Ballpark stretches from first base around to third base. Individual blue stadium seats make up the lower sections, while aluminum bleachers without backs make up the upper sections. A walkway separates the upper and lower seating sections. There are accessible seating areas for those fans who require such accommodations. A large berm down the right field line contains plenty of room for fans who wish to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs and set up shop apart from the seating area. Adirondack chairs line the top of the berm seating area. There is standing room available down both foul lines. Views from these areas right at field level feature views not obstructed by netting. Restrooms are located underneath the stands at Morrone Stadium next door. Return on Investment 5 There is no charge for admission at UConn baseball games. Parking in the lot next to Freitas Ice Forum is free of charge. Parking in South Garage may require a nominal charge depending on the day of your visit. With no concessions on site yet, catching a Husky game means you will not have to reach for your wallet even once. . Extras 2 Retired numbers, Husky World Series appearances and NCAA Tournament appearances are memorialized on the façade of the Rizza Family Performance Center beyond the left field wall. Photos of all 22 Husky alumni to make it to the Major League are posted on the rear side of the seating bowl. Some recognizable names include Walt Dropo, Charles Nagy, Matt Barnes and George Springer. Final Thoughts To be able to compete for recruits on more than just a regional scale, it was clear that UConn needed an upgrade in their facilities. With Elliot Ballpark, this is a mission accomplished. The Huskies now have a home field packed with amenities as good as any ballpark in the northeast. From a fan perspective, the upgrade is just as impressive. Storrs may be off the beaten path, but it’s now a path worth traveling. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Conaty Park 1150 Douglas Pike Smithfield, RI 02917 Bryant Bulldogs baseball website Conaty Park website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 500 Bryant Bulldog Baseball Bryant University is a private university located in the Providence suburb of Smithfield, RI. Founded in 1863 as Bryant College, the school was traditionally known for its business programs. The school now boasts an enrollment of over 3,700 students in 27 majors. Conaty Park is located on the northern edge of the Bryant University campus, adjacent to the school’s other athletic facilities, including Bierne Stadium . Situated adjacent to Sutton Field, the site of the New England Patriots’ training camp from 1976-2002, the ballpark is named for Bill (class of 1967) and Sue Conaty, benefactors of the university’s baseball and softball programs. The Bulldogs joined Division One in 2009. They will be moving from the Northeast Conference to the America East Conference in 2023. The team has qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times in Division One (2013, 2014, 2016) and five times while in Division Two. The Bulldogs reached the D-II World Series once, in 2004. Two Bryant alumni, Keith MacWorther and James Karinchak, have played in the Major Leagues. Food & Beverage 0 There are no food or beverage options at Conaty Park. Fans are welcome to bring their own items into the ballpark to enjoy during the game. This being New England, you can expect to see lots of Dunkin’ coffees on those cold spring afternoons. Atmosphere 2 As you might expect at a small ballpark like Conaty Park, there is not an elaborate gameday presentation here at Bryant University. If you are a fan who enjoys being able to hear managers barking instructions to their players, the chatter going on down on the field and being able to talk to your neighbors in the stands, you’ll enjoy your time here. There’s not much going on at Conaty Park to distract one’s attention from the game. Music plays between innings and for the Bulldog hitters, but it’s not turned up too loud. There’s a scoreboard in right field that displays basic game information. The PA announcer does his job unobtrusively. Conaty Park Scoreboard, Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 2 Bryant University is located in Smithfield, RI, a Providence suburb about a twenty-minute drive from downtown. Although Smithfield is a very nice place to live, it’s certainly not a destination location, and there is not much to see or do in the immediate vicinity of the Bryant campus. Dining options near Bryant University are few. J’s Deli serves up an impressive variety of grinders (that’s what we call submarine sandwiches in these parts). You’ll likely see a few of their sandwiches being enjoyed in the stands at Bryant. Parente’s and Blackie’s are popular local spots offering traditional neighborhood pub grub. Several national chain restaurants and shopping options are located about a 10-minute drive away on Route 44. Fans visiting from out of town may prefer to take the 20-minute drive to Providence, which has no shortage of top-notch restaurants. The same can be said for lodging options in Smithfield. There are a few decent options on Douglas Pike near campus, but visitors may be better served to check out Providence or Boston for places to stay or things to do. Twin Rivers Casino is in nearby Lincoln. If spending time in a casino is on your agenda, you’d be better served to visit the twin resorts of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, located about an hour away over the Connecticut state line. Fans 2 The crowd at a Bulldog game can accurately be described as a “friends and family” type of crowd. While Bryant often lists their attendance as 500 fans or more, these figures appear to be greatly inflated. A typical crowd at Conaty Park is more accurately described as between 100-250 fans. It’s not a bad crowd by any means, and certainly in line with other schools in the area. Many of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players on the field, and as a result are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic in their support. With many of Bryant’s opponents located near Bryant’s Rhode Island campus, it’s not unusual to see many visiting fans taking in the action. There’s usually a modest turnout from the student body, particularly when the weather breaks and students wander around campus enjoying a warm weekend afternoon. Access 5 Bryant University is located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, 13 miles from downtown Providence. The campus is most easily accessed by car. Visitors to Bryant will simply take exit 15B off Interstate 295. The campus is just over a mile away from the Interstate on Route 7. Fans using public transportation to arrive at Bryant will find a Rhode Island Public Transportation (RIPTA) bus stop on the Bryant campus, offering service every 40 minutes to downtown Providence. T.F. Green Airport is 20 miles away, with Boston’s Logan Airport an hour’s drive away. Train service to the area is provided by Amtrak, which has its downtown Providence station 20 minutes away. Conaty Park is located on the northern edge of the Bryant campus alongside the school’s other outdoor athletic facilities, including Bierne Stadium . Parking is available in the large lots a short walk from the ball field. Bryant used to primarily be a commuter school, so there is a lot of room for parking here. The Chace Athletic Center is on the opposite end of these large lots. To get to the ballpark from the parking lot, fans will have to follow a paved path around the soccer field, or simply walk across it. Seating at Conaty Park is contained in an attractive brick grandstand that seats 500. Center sections consist of molded plastic seats, with metal bleachers in the outer sections. All seats are behind netting, but still have excellent views of the action. There is a terraced area down the right field line where fans can set up lawn chairs and take in the action. Some fans opt to hang out on the hill beyond the outfield fence in left field. Restrooms are located in the Conaty Field House a short walk from the field. The grounds are nicely maintained and easy to traverse. Return on Investment 5 There is no charge to attend a Bulldog baseball game. Parking is also free in the large lots near Conaty Park. With no concessions at the ballpark, you won’t spend a single cent at a Bryant game. Extras 2 Bryant’s conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances are commemorated on the outfield walls at Conaty Park. In a nice touch, the team’s Division Two titles are also posted. A second extra point is awarded for the Bulldog’s mascot, Ironclad Tupper II, who frequently shows up at Conaty Park to mingle with the fans. This pup’s first ever appearance was at a Bulldog baseball game four years ago. Final Thoughts Conaty Park is frequently mentioned among the nicer small ballparks in the northeast. While a trip to Smithfield, Rhode Island may not be on the radar of many ballpark travelers, If you find yourself in the area, you’ll be glad you made a visit to Bryant. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Delta Center 301 West South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Utah Mammoths website Delta Center website Year Opened: 1991 Capacity: 16,200 (12,000 unobstructed seats) Arriving At The Delta Center The 2024-2025 NHL season found a longtime NHL team now operating out of a new home. This is a result of the relocation of the former Arizona Coyotes franchise to Salt Lake City, Utah. The relocation agreement results in the Arizona Coyotes name being protected in case a future franchise comes to the Valley of the Sun. The new management of the team decided to keep the team’s new name simple during its first year of operations in Salt Lake City. This means the team will use the Utah Hockey Club name during the 2024-2025 season. The team will conduct a name-the-team contest during this season, to involve its fans in the naming process. This means the blue and white color scheme of the uniforms and the use of the generic team’s name will be changed at the end of the season. The new team in town will play in the Central Division of the Western Conference in the NHL. The Delta Center will serve as the new home ice for the Utah Hockey Club. It opened in 1991 and has gone through several renovations over the years. There was some suggestion of building a new arena to house the hockey team, but this was seen as impractical, as no building sites were available in the downtown area, and the city did not have the funds to buy and build such a new facility. Due to a short timeline, the Utah Hockey Club will undertake a remodeling process in the off-season to bring the facility up to a much larger and more functional level. This should be easy to accommodate, as the Utah Jazz and the Utah Hockey Club are owned by the same individual. Food & Beverage 4 The Delta Center offers a good mix of both local and national vendors in the concessions program. Pizza slices are available at both the Little Caesars and the Maxwell’s pizza stands. Ice cream and dairy products are offered at the Farr Better Ice Cream stand, Dippin Dots kiosks, and the Spilled Milk Ice Cream and Cereal Bar. Food with a 50’s fare is served at the Ice Berg Drive Inn stands. Alcoholic drinks are served at the Hop Shop and Craft Shop concession stands. The Salt City Smokehouse serves delicious BBQ. South of the border specialties are offered at the Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill and at Chile Verde. The J. Dawgs stand serves typical stadium/arena fare. This includes hot dogs ($9), fries ($6), Coca-Cola brand sodas ($8.50) and water ($5). The Delta Center recently announced a limited set of “fan favorite” menu items that will be available at reduced prices. Popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, and Farr’s ice cream bowls will each be priced at $3, while Dasani bottled water is being marked down to $2. Most of the food and beverage items are available by using the mobile ordering function on the Delta Center app. You order from your seats and are notified when your order is ready. This minimizes any time lost from watching the game and shortens the lines experienced at the concession stands overall. Atmosphere 3 After a gypsy existence in the Phoenix area over the last few seasons, the former Arizona Coyotes have settled into their permanent home at the Delta Center. While the Mullett Arena had nice amenities, it was severely undersized for a major league sports franchise. The Delta Center has been around for nearly 35 years, but it has undergone several major renovations over the years to keep up with the changes in the sports facilities industry. It offers comfortable 20-inch-wide seats, a state-of-the-art scoreboard at center ice, and a video board in each of the four corners of the facility. The concourses are open towards the ice, so you do not miss much of the action when you visit one of the concession stands. The atrium at the front of the Delta Center is expansive enough to hold the large crowds upon arrival so that fans can get in from the wintry elements very quickly. We would give an even higher score to this element of the Delta Center, but there is one glaring negative, which will be addressed at the end of the 2024-2025 hockey season. The seating bowl has never been used in a hockey configuration before, resulting in some obstructed views for seats at the two ends of the ice. There was not sufficient time when the franchise was moved to address this issue. However, immediately after the inaugural hockey season ends, the Delta Center will make the needed adjustments in time for future seasons. Neighborhood 5 The Delta Center is located just west of downtown Salt Lake City. It is located at the corner of West Temple and John Stockton Drive. It is surrounded by several older buildings, some small shops, and some city services. The owner of the team is working closely with city officials to redevelop the district with more residential properties, as well as amenities like banks, shops, and schools. The area around the Delta Center offers many activities within walking distance of the venue. Lodging is available at the Radisson Hotel/Salt Lake City Downtown, the Hyatt House Salt Lake City Downtown, or the Courtyard Downtown Salt Lake City. Nearby attractions include the Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, as well as Temple Square, the world headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Utah Sports Hall of Fame is just a short walk from the Delta Center. The neighborhood around the arena also offers a wide variety of dining options before or after the game. Restaurants within walking distance of the arena include the Copper Canyon Grill House and Tavern and the Adelaide Urban Brasserie. Both the Squatter Pub Brewing Company and the Red Rock Brewery are located within a few blocks of the Delta Center. Fans 4 The fans in Salt Lake City have welcomed the former Coyotes with open arms. Typically, a new city comes into the NHL via the expansion route, which takes years to build a competitive program. Since the team arrived through relocation, the Utah Hockey Club bypassed the longer developmental route and has a team of veterans who have played together for years. The quick sellout of season ticket packages is indicative of the high level of interest in hockey in Salt Lake City. The team has also benefitted from the fact that it is only the second professional team in the city. It only faces the NBA Utah Jazz as competition for the major sports dollars in the area. Another positive aspect of the team’s fanbase is that a sizable portion of the local population has grown up playing the game and is knowledgeable about the sport. Salt Lake City is a winter sports city, as evidenced by hosting the Winter Olympic Games twice in the recent past. This means there is not a major learning curve for the fans with the arrival of an NHL franchise. The team’s decision to let the fans get involved with the naming of the team has been very well received. The team has “ballot boxes” and other voting options available to fans to voice their support for one of the many names proposed for the team. This has created a definite feeling of “buy-in” between the team and its fans. The Delta Center has a longtime reputation as one of the loudest venues in professional sports. Access 5 Utah uses the Seat Geek ticketing system for entry into the Delta Center. No matter what vendor you purchase your tickets from, the seats must be available on the Seat Geek app at the door. Doors at the arena open 90 minutes before the opening puck drop. The Trax light rail system has a station practically at the front door of the Delta Center. The station serves both the blue and green lines. It is the most cost-effective way to get to the arena, as the system is free within the downtown zone or only $2.50 per ride if coming in from the outside areas of the city. The Delta Center is just a couple of blocks from the intersections of I-15 and I-80 for fans coming from outside the Salt Lake City area. Return on Investment 3 Attending a Utah Hockey Club game during the 2024-2025 season is an expensive proposition. The team almost immediately sold out their season tickets package when they went on sale. More than 11,000 season ticket packages were sold in just four hours. This left just over 5,200 single-game tickets available per game. As a result, the tickets are extremely expensive due to the laws of demand. These premium-priced tickets result at the end of the ice seats going for $230, with seats in the lower-level corners being priced at $552. Center ice tickets are $210. You should avoid buying tickets in sections 107-137 and 117-127, if possible, as these sections will only have a partial view of the ice. This issue will be addressed after the 2024-2025 season through a restructuring of the seating bowl that will address the sight lines for people seating in the above sections. Another cost of attending a Utah Hockey Club game is getting to the venue. The Delta Center’s immediate parking area is reserved for season ticket holders. There are more than 10,000 parking spaces located within a few blocks of the Delta Center. These lots can be found at the City Creek Center, Park Place, and the Triad Center. These lots operate on a prepurchase basis, with reserved parking available through the Delta Center app. A much more convenient and cost-effective solution in getting to a game is to take the TRAX light rail system. There is a TRAX rail station located in front of the arena. The TRAX system operates within a free fare zone; this would allow you to ride free of charge if you did not leave the immediate area. Rides for fans that do go outside of these zones will only pay the $2.50 standard fare. Extras 4 The Delta Center hosted several events during the 2002 Olympics. Among the competitions held were the U.S. Figure Skating Championship and the short-track speed skating event. Salt Lake City has hosted two minor league hockey programs in the past. These include both the Salt Lake Golden Eagles and the Utah Grizzlies , who play in the Maverick Center in West Valley City. The Delta Center is energy efficient, as there are more than 2,500 solar panels on the roof of the arena. Salt Lake City will once again be hosting the Winter Olympic Games in the winter of 2034. It was chosen because it already has most of the facilities in place, offers excellent air connections from around the world, and has the support of more than 80% of Salt Lake City residents. Final Thoughts Salt Lake City has welcomed the former Coyotes with open arms and an arena that is much better suited to handle the large crowds the Utah Hockey Club is attracting in its new hometown.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Centrium 4847B 19 Street Red Deer, AB T4R 2N7 Red Deer Rebels website Centrium website Year Opened: 1991 Capacity: 6,000 The Rebel Alliance Nestled almost exactly halfway between Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, the residents of Red Deer share a healthy split of allegiances between the two major Alberta cities’ NHL clubs. Both the Oilers and Flames are well represented in Red Deer, however, when it comes to Junior Hockey, there is no question as to who is king. The Red Deer Rebels have been members of the Western Hockey League since 1992. Founded by Terry and Wayne Simpson, the Rebels have seen quite a few future NHL players walk through the doors and also enjoyed some team successes. The ultimate team successes for the Rebels came in 2001 when the Rebels, led by future NHL players Jeff Woywitka and Colby Armstrong, saw Doug Lynch score the biggest goal in Rebels history, an overtime goal to defeat Val d’Or in the Memorial Cup Final. Red Deer is the third largest city in Alberta. At a population of 90,000 it is the perfect kind of city for junior hockey. Home for the Rebels is the ENMAX Centrium. Built in 1991, the Centrium looks like a rather large facility for the city, with a capacity of 6,000 for hockey. The naming rights for the Centrium were purchased by energy company Enmax Consolidated. The Simpsons would sell the Rebels to former NHL player Brent Sutter, who follows an increasingly common Canadian Hockey League formula, acting as majority owner and head coach. The Centrium is located on Westerner Park, Red Deer’s local fairgrounds, and owned and operated by the non-profit Westerner Exposition Association. The Rebels have done a great job in developing an identity for themselves in Central Alberta and developing NHL caliber talent. They also boast one of the best logos in all sport. If you are in Alberta, then the Rebel Alliance, then a trip to the Enmax Centrium to see the Red Deer Rebels will be a worthy experience. Food 4 Food options at the ENMAX Centrium are about what you would expect from a junior hockey facility. Options at the Centrium for food are what you would expect. Burgers ($4.75), hot dogs ($4), grilled chicken, chicken fingers, fries ($3.50), onion rings, poutine, chocolate bars, chips, licorice, candy, nachos and soft serve ice cream are all available at the various concession stands. Pizza is provided by local favorite Buster’s Pizza and a variety of concoctions are available. ($6) The quality of food items are decent and the prices are what you would expect for junior hockey. For something a little more unique, give the cheese smokies a shot. For beverages, a pretty good variety of Pepsi products are found throughout the Centrium ($2.50/$3.50/$4.50). Other soft drinks are also available, including coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate, Gatorade, iced tea and bottled water. The Centrium offers a decent selection of beer also including Budweiser, Bud Light, Shock Top, Alexander Keith’s IPA, Corona, and Stella Artois ($6.75). Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Smirnoff coolers and Keith’s Cider are also available. Atmosphere 4 The ENMAX Centrium offers a great atmosphere to watch a Western Hockey League game. Approaching the Enmax Centrium immediately surprises patrons. The sheer size of the arena from the outside makes it feel as if you are heading to a major league event. As compared to many other Canadian Hockey League venues, the Centrium just looks like one of the biggest, outside of the NHL or former NHL venues. The exterior features brown brick and siding which is nice enough looking. The front of the Centrium offers a nice meeting area with ticket windows. The exterior has loose brick and the longhorn skull logo in a very smart looking exterior. There is not much in the way of glass for the arena itself but that is to be expected considering the age of the building. The entry is where you will find the honoured players who played for the Rebels. The entry has large banners hanging from the ceiling honouring Colin Fraser, Martin Erat, Boyd Gordon, Mathew Dumba, Martin Hanzal, Colby Armstrong, Brandon Sutter, Dion Phaneuf, Jim Vandermeer, Cam Ward, Darcy Kuemper, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, James Reimer, Kris Versteeg, Jeff Woywitka, Derek Meech, Alex Petrovic, and coach Brent Sutter. Upon entering the arena itself, patrons are immediately met with the 360 degree open concept concourse. The ice-surface is in an east-west configuration. Above centre ice hangs a nice, four-sided videoboard with a ribbon ring below it. On top of video board are four, red goal lights, which are used when the Rebels score. Above the ice on the west side of the arena hang 10 division, conference and league championship banners. The centrepiece is the 2001 Memorial Cup Championship banner. Above the ice on the east side are a variety of other banners with links to the ENMAX Centrium including banners for games played in Red Deer for the World Junior Hockey Championships in 2011 and the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canadian Womens National Curling tournament of 2012. The seating bowl features two levels. The lower level is a complete bowl with approximately 12 rows. The north and south sides of the rink also feature an upper bowl. The seats are all plastic green, which matches the iron work throughout the arena, specifically the ceiling. The green is almost a light mint green, which looks out of place compared to the team colours and the rest of the arena. There are a few luxury boxes between the upper and lower levels on the north and south sides. There are also luxury boxes on two levels above the concourse on the west side. The east side of the arena features an open bar with a curious large curtain behind it. If you are looking for the perfect picture with the centre ice logo, then the south side of the arena is where you want to be. A great spot to sit is in the first few rows of the upper deck. It offers a great view of the entire ice surface, and is not too far. The in-game promotions are what you would expect from a Canadian Hockey League game. The 50/50 draw is pretty significant here and the live 50/50 tracker definitely helps bring in more dollars. The Rebels do not overpower fans with promotions. A nice little preview of the game is offered before the game on the videoboard. The music that is played through the evening is the typical mix of pop and classic rock with a little more country music peppered in. The Rebels mascot is Wolly Bully and travels through the arena interacting with fans. Neighbourhood 4 The Centrium offers quite a few interesting options in the immediate neighbourhood. The Centrium is located on the grounds of Westerner Park, at the southern end of the city of Red Deer. Nearby Gaetz Avenue offers a huge variety of bars and restaurants for pre and post game meals. Numerous national chain restaurants are in the immediate area including Montana’s, East Side Mario’s and Five Guy’s Burger and Fries. Other options you may want to consider include Taphouse Bar and Grill, Fionn MacCool’s, Toad ‘n Turtle, Earl’s Kitchen and Bar and Rusty Pelican. There are a number of events that also take place at Westerner Park including camping and horse racing, which may be of interest. It may be out of the way a bit, but a trip to this area is not complete without heading to the Alberta Badlands and the town of Drumheller. The terrain is very interesting and a trip to the Royal Tyrell Museum is a must for anyone interested in dinosaurs. Other sporting options are pretty much relegated to a trip to either Calgary or Edmonton, which is not too much of a burden. A number of hotels are also in the immediate area. The Holiday Inn & Suites Red Deer and the Howard Johnson Inn Red Deer are pretty good selections. Fans 4 The Red Deer Rebels have a pretty strong following in the WHL. Over the past three seasons the Rebels have seen a pretty decent increase in fan support. The 2013-2014 season saw the Rebels average just under 5,000 fans per game. This ranked 7th in the league. The Rebels have been trending in the right direction and by the time the 2015-2016 season rolled around the Rebels had bumped themselves up to 5th in the WHL, averaging over 5,600 fans. Considering the top three teams in the WHL, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, all play in much larger markets and NHL sized arenas, the Rebels are in a great spot. A deffinit factor in the increased attendance numbers has to be the hosting of the 2016 Memorial Cup, which also guarantees the Rebels a spot in the tournament. The fans in Red Deer are fairly typical of Canadian junior hockey. They are not over the top excited, but are well educated, sophisticated, and make noise at all the appropriate moments. Access 5 Getting to Red Deer and the Centrium are no problem at all. ENMAX Centrium is located on the grounds of Westerner Park, at the south end of the city of Red Deer. The park is just east of the Queen Elizabeth Highway, highway 2 and getting into the park is no problem at all. If you are interested in taking some public transit to the Centrium, there are buses that run on 49 Ave and 19 Street. check out the Red Deer Transit website for maps, fares, and schedules. For those entering Westerner Park by car, there is plenty of parking on the grounds. At $5 a visit, it is not the greatest deal in the Canadian Hockey League but is absolutely affordable and cheaper than their Calgary and Edmonton rivals. The main entry into the ENMAX Centrium is on the east side of the building. It is large and spacious and offers a great place to meet friends and family. Ticket windows are inside the main entrance. Inside the arena there is plenty of room to get around. Intermission are understandably mormore crowded but much better off than many other facilities. The washroom facilities at the Centrium are also adequate. Return on Investment 5 The Canadian Hockey League experience offers one of the best returns on Investment in all of sport and the Red Deer Rebels are no exception. Ticket prices for the Red Deer Rebels remain under $20 at $19.75 a piece. There are also discounts for seniors, students and children. Parking is $5 and concession prices are pretty good. Combine that with the high pace of play and the opportunity to see future Hockey Hall of Farmers, and you have the opportunity to bring out the entire family for some top notch entertainment. Extras 3 An extra mark for Red Deer hosting the 2016 Memorial Cup. An extra mark for the numerous kids in attendance who found corners of the concourse to play mini-sticks. An extra mark for the great location of Red Deer, smack dab between Edmonton and Calgary. Final Thoughts The Red Deer Rebels offer patrons a great product in a great facility. The Rebel Alliance will assuredly do a fantastic job hosting the 2016 Memorial Cup. Their stability in the Western Hockey League has been an attribute that other teams strive towards. If you are making an Alberta stop, the a trip to Red Deer for the Rebels is a natural and you won’t regret it. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Andrew Kulyk, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Energizer Park 2100 Market St. St. Louis, MO 63103 St. Louis City SC website Energizer Park website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 22,432 St. Louis SC Soccer Editor's Note: On October 31, 2024, St. Louis City SC announced that CityPark will be renamed Energizer Park starting in 2025. Energizer, a St. Louis-based company that manufactures batteries, signed a naming rights agreement for an undisclosed fee and length of time . The city of St. Louis has a rich and storied soccer tradition spanning over a century, both at the amateur and professional levels. So it was a no-brainer that as the MLS was rapidly expanding and in search of new markets, it would be St. Louis that would be high on the priority list. In the early 2010s, plans were put in place for a stadium featuring a hybrid NFL field and soccer pitch, with the primary goal of keeping the NFL St. Louis Rams from relocating. That effort fizzled, and the Rams did indeed move back to their original home in Los Angeles. The focus then became a soccer-specific venue, and a long sought-after site on the western fringes of downtown, adjacent to historic Union Station, was presented to the MLS expansion committee. When the league expanded to 30 teams in 2019, St. Louis was awarded one of the new franchises, aided by a strong presentation with renderings of a gleaming new stadium, and a solid ownership group led by Carolyn Kindle Betz, making this team the first major franchise with a female controlling owner. CityPark opened its doors in the spring of 2023, ushering in a new and exciting era in St. Louis sports history. Food & Beverage 5 Oh, where to begin? The entire array of concessions presentation involves locally sourced products and eateries, not a single corporate chain here and the choices are endless. Union Loafers Café and Bread for the Bavarian pretzel. Nudo on the club level for crab Rangoon. Mayo Ketchup sells empanadas. Pie Guy and Dewey’s offers pizza by the slice. There are no fewer than three taco eateries here, Malinche, La Tiendita, and Padrino’s, even adding frozen margaritas. Amighetti’s, a well-known bistro located on The Hill in St. Louis, brings their classic sandwich loaded with ham, roast beef, salami, and Provel. Even the hot dogs and burgers here aren’t boring. Stands named Farmtruk and The Block add bacon jam and even a burger topped with brisket mac. But what caught our eye was the unveiling of technology we have not encountered on any previous stadium visit anywhere. Several concession stands employ overhead scanning technology. Swipe your credit card for entry to a secured browsing area, grab beverages, handhelds, or chips from serving areas or coolers, and simply walk out. Your purchase is tracked overhead and automatically billed. Atmosphere 5 The jolt of electricity that makes this place roar is a specially designed supporters section in the north end stands. This general admission section features a higher-pitched seating arrangement than the rest of the sections in the stadium, with standing rails in front of each row of seats, and fans practically cascading onto the pitch. The full-throated fans, the drums and instruments, the chants, and the flags, are all in full gear, and that energy spills into the rest of the stadium. It is a complete Euro soccer experience here which is fast being replicated in the newer peer MLS venues. Neighborhood 4 The Downtown West Neighborhood can best be described as a work in progress. The anchor for the district is the historic Union Station, no longer a functioning train station but has been restored and renovated into a mixed-use entertainment hub with a hotel and numerous restaurants and amusement destinations, including a giant Ferris wheel. It looks like this development has gone past its prime, with several storefront vacancies and a lack of substantial foot traffic. The stadium has also leveraged additional adjacent investments, with a good number of hotels, and mid-rise condominiums and housing. Mixed into this are several classic and historic brick structures, many already renovated. St. Louis SC also maintains an adjacent practice field and a team store called CITY Pavilion across Market Street. Local recommended pubs and eateries near CityPark include Maggie O’Briens on Market Street, Syberg’s On Market, which is a local chain, The Schlafly Tap Room on Locust Street, where pre and post-game tailgating outdoors is the norm, Hellcat Pub on Olive Street. Our favorite is the Pitch Athletic Club and Tavern which is part of Union Station, with an entry to the outside street curbside. This soccer-themed tavern is replete with MLS and other soccer memorabilia, lots of big screens, and comfy seating areas. A definite top-tier hangout for fans. Fans 5 It is easy to give the St. Louis City SC fan base top grades, as they have welcomed their new team to their city with open arms. They have sold out their allocation of season tickets for the 22,500-seat venue and have established a waitlist. Fans can purchase a membership for $55 on the team’s website which places them on the waitlist and provides presale access for single game tickets and other perks. In the inaugural 2023 season, this ticket is a hot one, with all games sold out and a robust resale market fetching premium prices. The team’s hot start and winning record in 2023 are further fueling team interest and box office sales. Access 3 We already referenced the neighborhood, but now add that surface parking and ramp parking are pretty ample throughout the district. Spot Hero is a good reference to find a lot in an appropriate price range with $13-$25 being pretty much the norm. There is public transportation access, via bus lines 4 and 94, which will drop fans right at the park. St. Louis has a light rail system called Metrolink, with the nearest stop to the stadium at the Union Station station, which means a roughly ten-minute walk to CityPark. Highly recommended for fans of trains and subways. Legal parking spots on the street are in abundance, with kiosks accepting card payments. On Sundays, street parking is free, so early arrivals can snag a spot and save. Return on Investment 2 St. Louis SC has one of the most expensive pricing structures in MLS, with window prices for most games running anywhere from $85-$175 per ticket. The league has partnered up with SeatGeek as an official ticket supplier, so that site is also the top destination for resale tickets. For the bargain-hunting fan, resellers offer little respite to the wallet. Be prepared to pay. Concessions, while offering a tempting array and selection, are also going at hefty prices. Some examples include domestic beer for $9.50, craft beer for $11, and water for $6.50. A bottomless soda that fans can refill at any self-serve station is $9. The food examples include steak or chicken tacos for $16, smoked sausage with peppers and onions for $16, pepperoni or sausage pizza for $10, and beef kebab for $18. A plain old all-beef hot dog will cost $10. Extras 5 Club seating… St. Louis SC offers three distinct club seat experiences, but the one that caught our attention is the Ultra Club, located in the south end zone. This area has floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the pitch on one side and into the St. Louis West neighborhood on the other side. What is most distinctive is the array of LED light panels buttressing the ceiling, visible from the outside as well, and offering fans a superb sensory experience. Pillars of the Valley… St. Louis soccer fans still talk about how five of their local lads helped power the United States soccer team over England in that year’s World Cup, still regarded as a huge upset. But another story emerges from the 50s… when urban renewal projects came into that very same neighborhood, displacing tens of thousands of residents and destroying neighborhoods. This sad story from that era has been replicated in many American cities during that time. So outside the stadium, they built a pocket park and urban sculpture to commemorate the people who were affected during that time. As part of the “Brickline Greenway”, this park delineates property parcels by house number amongst the brick pavers, anchored by the Pillars of the Valley art installation and surrounded by plaques and displays which retell the story. It is poignant. It is moving. It is a must-see for the first-time visitor to this stadium. Final Thoughts What makes a game day here at CityPark is a perfect storm of several elements… a gleaming new stadium with excellent sightlines, comfortable seating, and stunning visuals. An adjoining neighborhood that offers ancillary food, entertainment, and lodging for the visitor. Proximity to the rest of downtown St. Louis, a very walkable and fun city, of course, the MLB St. Louis Cardinals and the adjoining Ballpark Village a must-stop for the sports traveler. Remember too that no trip to St. Louis is complete without a trip to the famed Gateway Arch, a true piece of Americana. Citypark joins some of its other peer newer MLS peer venues in offering a true Euro-style soccer experience in an intimate setting, and it is venues like this one which is helping to grow the sport.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.71 Inter&Co Stadium 655 W Church St Orlando, FL 32805 Orlando City SC website Exploria Stadium website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 25,500 Vamos Orlando! Editor's Note: On June 4, 2019, it was announced that Exploria Resorts (a timeshare entity based in nearby Clermont) had acquired naming rights to the stadium. On January 18, 2024, Brazilian digital bank Inter&Co secured the naming rights to the stadium. Orlando City SC is everything the MLS wants its teams to be: a team with a beautiful stadium in the middle of a downtown district with nearby restaurants, shopping, and public transportation; an incredibly passionate fan base that shows up and sells out games regardless of the team’s record; and a vibrant city that has embraced its growing sports culture – this is the blueprint the league has asked teams to follow from here on out. Orlando has produced one of the most impressive game day experiences anywhere and continues to do so every game. From the never-ending songs at the wall to the march into the stadium, Exploria Stadium has everything you could imagine wanting in a soccer stadium. Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverages at Exploria Stadium for MLS games echo what you will find at Orlando Pride matches. The standards are all there, from pizza ($12) to burgers to hot dogs ($5-$9.50) and nachos ($7.25), and fans can choose from this traditional stadium fare. However, thanks to fan feedback the team has added concessions from local restaurants in Orlando, such as 4 Rivers, The Coop, and Cholo Dogs. Additionally, the price of each item goes down by a few dollars if you are a member of the Orlando City fan club rewards program, or are a season ticket holder. Exploria Stadium has concession stands throughout the entirety of the main concourse on all sides during games, meaning you won’t usually have to wait too long or go too far to get something to eat or drink. Beer and cocktails range from $10.50 to $19.50, while water ($5), soda ($6.25), and Gatorade ($6.25) are all available. Tacos from Black Rooster Taqueria are $14, with loaded nachos ($15), chips and salsa ($7.25), and chips and guac ($7.25) on offer as well. BBQ from 4 Rivers is the big hit, with pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches and nachos all running for $15. Atmosphere 5 There is nothing like Orlando City soccer in the whole state of Florida – from several hours before the gates even open the party begins. Supporters groups march en masse down the streets of Orlando, singing, banging drums, and popping purple smoke bombs as they make their way to the main gates. Once inside, the north end zone transforms into The Wall, the standing-room-only supporters section that is reminiscent of English football pitches. What is nice about this area for regular fans who aren’t members of the fan groups is that each standing-room-only space includes a cup holder, plus marked lines for each person to stand in. The entire stadium’s seats are individual chairs with backs, making every seat from the first row downstairs to the upper-level corners a comfortable one. Exploria Stadium itself is beautiful and easy to navigate. All around the concourse, you can find people holding signs that say they can answer any questions you have. This means no matter how lost you get you can always find your way back. The stadium also utilizes a non-paper ticket method, meaning every ticket is digital – fans simply download the Orlando City or Ticketmaster app and access their tickets that way to get into the stadium. The entire game sees the supporters groups sing in unison from The Wall, keeping the energy up the whole game regardless of the score on the field. Whenever goals are scored by Orlando, the whole stadium erupts, and The Wall fills with purple smoke and waving flags as “Purple Haze” plays throughout the stadium. After each game, the team locks arms and walks to The Wall to salute their fans. Neighborhood 5 What can you say about downtown Orlando? Exploria Stadium is a few blocks from the popular Church Street district, the hub of Orlando’s rebirth as a foodie and entertainment destination. The City of Orlando has become a sports-thirsty destination over the last few years – with the explosion in popularity of Orlando City SC and a renewed interest in the Orlando Magic and Orlando Solar Bears , the City Beautiful loves sports. The immediate area around Exploria Stadium includes suburbs to the west and the downtown city center to the east. There are tons of hotels nearby, and since the stadium sits two blocks away from I-4, getting to other resorts and hotels in the greater Orlando area is not hard to do either. Fans can easily stay at the Crowne Plaza Orlando-Downtown, Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, or the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Downtown, and still walk to the arena with ease. Aside from those, there are numerous hotels and resorts in the Orlando area, both downtown and to the south towards the theme parks – Disney’s resorts, arguably the farthest from Exploria Stadium, are just 30 minutes away without traffic. If you want to see the sights, Lake Eola Park is just a few blocks away – this park is an Orlando landmark that is also home to a weekly farmer’s market on Saturday mornings, and you can also find another quality farmer’s market on weekends outside of Exploria Stadium. Also, being in Orlando you are just a short drive from either Walt Disney World, Sea World, or the Universal Studios theme parks. Fans 5 The fans are beyond passionate in Orlando – not enough can be said about their love for their team. From the first kickoff to the final whistle the fans can be heard singing supporters group songs. Whenever a bad call is made, fans erupt with chants of “Ref You Suck!” or “The ref belongs on OBT” (a local reference anyone in Orlando can help fill you in on when you arrive). That said, there is rarely a curse word uttered in the song lyrics, and the fans are all polite to visitors – even fans from the other team are treated with respect and courtesy by all in attendance. But the best thing is that nearly every game is either sold out or near capacity, regardless of the team’s record, which means the experience and enthusiasm will not be any different throughout the season. Access 5 Exploria Stadium, and all of Orlando’s professional sports stadiums downtown, are refreshingly easy to get to. Driving on I-4 you pass within a few yards of Amway Center , and can easily see Exploria Stadium just two blocks beyond, so not finding the facility is almost impossible. But if you do somehow get lost, signs all around downtown point the way to Exploria Stadium. There is no parking garage nor any parking lots at Exploria Stadium itself. The team owns and/or rents several lots in the area, however, and parking passes can be purchased (usually through third-party sellers) to park there. The Amway Center ’s Geico Garage is also open for parking on game days. That said, there are also countless parking options in the lots and fields around Exploria Stadium on game day in every direction. The City of Orlando also sells parking passes at a special rate for games to various lots in and around downtown Orlando. In addition to the parking, several bus lines pass by Exploria Stadium, and the hub for Orlando’s Lynx bus system is right downtown, a mere 10-minute walk from the stadium’s gates. Fans also can take the Sunrail train from the north and south, usually for free, on game days. Some stations drop you off right near the Amway Center , so a walk from the station to Exploria Stadium is short. All of that said, if you get to Exploria Stadium and can’t find somewhere to park or an easy way to get there, you simply aren’t looking. Once inside, fans should note that the team uses a clear-bag policy, so bringing items into the game is going to be extremely limited. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Orlando City SC games start at $23 for the standing-room-only supporter's section; upper-level end zone tickets start at $23, while sideline seats can range from $36 to $65 and upwards. This means that the investment for a family of four will be upwards of $100 for tickets alone, and one must also add the price of parking and concessions as well. That said, the experience at an Orlando City SC game is incredible, and arguably a must-see whenever visiting the City Beautiful – everything here is well worth the price of admission. Extras 4 Exploria Stadium features 49 rainbow-colored seats in the lower bowl, as a tribute to the 49 lives lost in the Pulse Night Club shooting, and the team also has a mascot that roams the stadium and concourse, greeting fans and young kids in attendance. The Supporters March is also something worth seeing whenever the home team is in town, as a massive crowd takes over the roads in Orlando with smoke and songs en route to their home stadium. In addition, Exploria Stadium features various seating options and vantage points throughout the stadium for fans to watch, including the Disney World Lion’s Den and the Sun Pass seating. Final Thoughts Orlando City SC is what soccer in America is trying to become, and it is a great sight to see. This team has found the perfect formula for fan involvement, stadium location, and overall atmosphere to capitalize on the moment – going to a game at Exploria Stadium is less of an afternoon at a sporting event and more of a life experience. For the truly soccer faithful in America who yearn for the passion and electricity of European fans, this is your next best thing. Few stadiums combine everything needed to make a world-class experience as Exploria Stadium does – it is easy to see why the US Men’s National Team had such high praise for the facility after their World Cup Qualifying game there last year.

Photos Courtesy of Inter Miami CF Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Chase Stadium 1350 NW 55th St Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 Inter Miami CF website DRV PNK Stadium website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 18,000 Miami CF’s Soccer Stadium is in the Pink Editor's Note: Inter Miami CF's home stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was renamed from DRV PNK Stadium to Chase Stadium in a naming rights partnership with JPMorgan Chase. This change was announced on February 20, 2024 .  One of the newest teams in the MLS has a home venue that is hard to forget. Inter Miami CF joined the MLS and began to play in the DRV PNK Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 2020. The stadium features a pink and gray color scheme in partnership with Auto Nation’s DRV PNK campaign. This program raises funds for research and patient programs in the fight against breast cancer. The team fully supports this program, as their kits and crest feature pink as well. The color pink was also chosen by the team as it is a color that is often seen in the art deco architecture in the Miami area. The 18,000-seat venue is designed to serve as an interim home for the team while their permanent home is under design in the Freedom Park development located near Miami International Airport. Soccer icon David Beckham is part of the ownership group and serves as the team’s President of Soccer Operations. He is also the driving force behind the Freedom Park development. The team reflects Miami’s unique cultural makeup. The official name of the team is Club Internacional de Futbol Miami, as the vast majority of the team’s supporters come from the many Latin communities found in the Miami area. First time attendees to a Miami game could easily feel they are in a stadium in South America. Food & Beverage 3 At the time of our visit, there were stringent COVID protocols in place. The concession stands were offering only prepackaged items, such as candy and bottled drinks. We do not feel that we got a true feel for their regular food and beverage offerings. For this reason, we are scoring this segment as a “3” or average. The price boards did not list the usual offering or prices. Atmosphere 5 The energy level coming from the stands at DRV PNK Stadium is much more passionate than you typically find at an MLS game in other cities. The fans feel the team represents them at a personal level. The game day managers keep this energy level high with Latin music being played during a break in the action and frequent promotion of events that affect the community. A game at DRV PNK Stadium is a community celebration in addition to a sporting event. Neighborhood 2 DRV PNK Stadium’s biggest drawback is the neighborhood surrounding it. It has a private plane airport on the west side of the property, and an industrial area located to the east side of the stadium. The nearest places to eat include Chili’s Grill and Bar and the Moonlite Diner, which are both just off the I-95 exit. Two hotels located near the stadium are the Holiday Inn Express and Suites off of West Commercial Boulevard and the LaQuinta Inn and Suites off of West Cypress Creek Road. There are no attractions near DRV PNK Stadium. Fans 4 There are three main supporter groups for the team. The Siege is very passionate, both in cheering for the team and in taking part in programs that support the community. Vice City is made up of the hard-core supporters who have relocated to the Miami area from locations throughout South America. The third group is the Southern Legion and is probably the most family-friendly of the three groups. This section is made up of parents with kids who proudly wear the jerseys of their youth soccer program. Attendance at Inter Miami games was hurt early in the season, with season ticket holders only and social distancing in place. However, in mid-June 2021 these restrictions were removed, and the team has had capacity crowds. Access 3 The Inter Miami CF staff does an excellent job of creating a smooth flow throughout your visit to the stadium. All parking is by prepaid passes, with your parking lot assignment correlating with where you are sitting in the stadium. This is very important, as there are only four main entrances into the stadium, and the parking assignments keep the flow of fans into the stadium at an even pace, so you should not experience any long lines. Gates open one hour before the kickoff. The concourse beneath the stands is wide enough to allow easy passage going in both directions. Concessions locations are frequent enough that you should not encounter any lines there either. All transactions at DRV PNK Stadium are done digitally, which really speeds up the process. Return on Investment 3 A day or a night out at an Inter Miami game can prove rather costly. This begins in the parking area, where the parking passes run for $25 – $30. There are no neighboring parking lots in the area, so the stadium lots have a captive audience. Ticket prices reflect where you are sitting in the stadium. Seats on the VIP side of the field feature more suite-like accommodations, including suites at field level. Seats on the VIP side of the field start at $70 and can run into the hundreds depending on what type of accommodations you want. The grandstand seats across the field run from $60 – $115, with the prices going up the closer you are to midfield. The North stands at the end of the pitch are reserved for the supporter groups and general admission seats, which cost $35. Tickets in the South end of the pitch cost $40. The one thing that is priceless at the stadium is that fans on the sides of the pitch are covered by a cantilevered roof. Fans at the ends of the pitch are advised to bring a hat and lots of sunscreen, as South Florida experiences hot weather throughout the MLS season. Extras 4 The Freedom Park development will include a 25,000-seat stadium, hotels, several public soccer fields for area youth teams to use, and a park. The completion date for the development has not yet been released. The crest on the team’s kit uses the styles and colors that recall Miami’s architectural tradition. The logo features two great white herons, which are native to this part of Florida, their interlocking legs form an “M.” Once the Freedom Park stadium opens, the Ft. Lauderdale CF team, which plays at the USL One level, will become the primary tenant at DRV PNK stadium. CF Montreal is playing its home games at DRV PNK Stadium until the Canadian border reopens in conjunction with the COVID pandemic. Final Thoughts Even though DRV PNK Stadium is an “interim” stadium as far as the MLS team, we felt that it surpassed many of the permanent stadium experiences we have had in the league. Once we learned the reasoning behind the shocking pink color scheme, we salute the team and Auto Nation for promoting a noble cause in this fashion. Auto Nation contributes to breast cancer organizations every time there is a home shutout by the Inter Miami CF.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 PHX Arena 201 E Jefferson St Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phoenix Suns website Footprint Center website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 18,422 House Of The Rising Suns Editor's Note: The Phoenix Suns' arena is currently being referred to as PHX Arena. This is a temporary name while the team seeks a new naming rights partner, replacing the previous name, Footprint Center . Footprint will remain the official sustainability partner, but the arena name will change once a new naming rights deal is reached.  The Phoenix Suns and the Footprint Center recently celebrated their 30th Anniversary as the outpost for NBA basketball in the Southwest. The facility opened in 1992 as the America West Arena and has gone through numerous name changes over the years. It became the Footprint Center in 2022. The arena holds 17,071 in its basketball setting. The Footprint Center hosts a wide variety of events in addition to the Sun's games. It serves as the host facility for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA and the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). It has also hosted boxing matches, rodeo competitions, UFC events, WWE events, and music concerts, featuring such stars as Rod Stewart, Billy Joel, and Elton John. Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage program at the Footprint Center also benefitted from the recent renovations. Many have relocated to the Eatery food court area of the arena. The Footprint Center also has diversified the food selection available at Suns games. Grab and Go – Standard stadium favorites including hamburgers, hot dogs ($7.99) chicken tenders ($13.49), a popcorn bucket ($15.99), and sodas ($9.99) Gorilla Grill – Gorilla Burger w/fries ($17.49), Footprint Burger w/fries ($12.49), Suns Hot Chicken ($14.99) and Chicken Tenders w fries ($13.49). The Gorilla Grill was by far the most popular concession stand during our visit. It is in The Eatery food court at the arena. Tostitos Cantina - Doritos Nachos walking taco ($15.99), Frito scoops Walking Taco ($15.99). Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers – Full Court Hot Dog ($13.49), All Beef Suns Dog ($7.99), Beer Brats ($10.49) and a Popcorn Bucket ($15.99). Dos Equis Beer Garden - Craft beers ($14.99), draft beers ($14.99). The Beer Garden is located on an outdoor patio that can only be accessed from inside the arena. Beverages sold at the Footprint Center include Coca-Cola brand sodas including souvenir cup sodas ($9.99), fountain sodas ($7.49), lemonade ($7.49), and bottled water ($7.49). Adult beverages include Souvenir Cup drafts ($17.49), Premium drafts ($14.99), Domestic cans ($14.49), Premium cans ($15.99), and seltzers ($15.49). Atmosphere 4 The Footprint Center underwent a $245 million renovation in 2019-2020, which has greatly enhanced the atmosphere at Suns games. These upgrades touched nearly aspect of the fan experience. The lobby added new space to allow fans a more roomy experience when they arrived at games, and concourses were widened and made open to the court so that fans did not encounter any bottlenecks or miss any of the game while standing in a line at the concession stand. An 8,500-square-foot LED board was added to the lobby, and it provides fans with game statistics and information on upcoming events. The concourse features wall displays outlining the career highlights of Suns elite players Kevin Johnson, Paul Westphal, and Dan Majerle. The electronics package inside the seating bowl was enhanced with new ribbon boards and a larger video board ( six times larger than its predecessor) over the court. Theater-style lighting is used once the game gets underway. All seats within the seating bowl were updated to enhance fan comfort. Neighborhood 5 The Footprint Center is in the Legends Entertainment District in downtown Phoenix. The district includes the major sports and entertainment venues for the city, including the Footprint Center (Suns, Mercury, Rattlers), Chase Field (Diamondbacks), Cityscape, the Collier Center, Symphony Hall, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and the Phoenix Convention Center. The District is also known for its great selection of restaurants, including Majerle’s, which is owned by a former Sun, Dan Majerle. The closest hotel to the Footprint Center is the Residence Inn Phoenix Downtown. Fans 4 In a city with multiple major league sports teams, the Suns have by far the most loyal and vocal fan base. The arena seating bowl is filled with fans wearing the purple and orange colors of the Suns. They arrive early and even cheer nice shots by the Suns during the warmups. Once the game starts, the fans act as the “sixth man”, creating as much noise as possible when the Suns are on defense or the visitors are at the foul line. They also coordinate their activity with the Sun's Gorilla, who has an array of signs that he displays, leading the fans in a variety of cheers. The Suns have been in the playoffs on a regular basis in recent seasons. Even though the Suns may not have the “star” power courtside of their neighbors in Los Angles, the locals provide the “Sun Power” to guide their team to victory. Access 4 The Footprint Center is easily reached by car or public transportation. It is located close to many of the main highways in the Phoenix area. It has a 700-car garage on South Fourth Street. There is also a garage on South Fourth Street. The rideshare area for pickup and delivery is located at the Footprint Center Plaza (corner of First Street and Jefferson Street.) Valley Metro , the Phoenix area transit provider, provides a very attractive and cost-efficient alternative for fans going to the Footprint Center. Your game ticket serves as your free ride passes on the light rail system (must be used on the day of the game). Take the train to either the Third Street/Washington or the Third Street/Jefferson Station. The Footprint Center doors open 90 minutes prior to tipoff, leaving you plenty of time to get to your seats. Both the lobby and the concourses are easy to navigate due to recent renovations. Return on Investment 3 Going to a Suns game can be a very expensive proposition for a family of four. Seats are available at several price points. The cheapest tickets are $27 (behind the basket in the upper level of the seating bowl). Tickets along the sides of the court are $32 on the upper level or $133 on the lower level. Center court seats on the upper level are $40, while lower-level midcourt seats are $299. These are standard ticket prices… not resale prices. The concession stand prices are also high, even by NBA standards. Parking is $25 prepaid at the garage on Fourth Street or $20 prepaid for the parking lot on Third Street. Extras 4 The Footprint Center hosted the NBA Finals in 1993, as well as the NBA All-Star game in 1995 and 2009. The Footprint Center and the resident teams are committed to making the facility as “green” as possible. Steps have included eliminating plastic wherever possible in its concession stands. This has been achieved through the use of paper where possible, and bamboo or fiber cutlery is now in use. The venue also encourages fans to use public transportation or bicycle to get to games. The Phoenix Suns Gorilla is a legend within the world of sports mascots. He was the first mascot inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame, and he has entertained Suns fans since 1980. He is especially known for his dunking ability. The rafters are filled with banners denoting championship seasons for the Suns, as well as the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) and the Arizona Rattlers (Arena Football League). Final Thoughts A trip to the newly renovated Footprint Center provides a much-improved fan experience for the Suns faithful. They can relax in the new seats that have been installed while keeping up with the game stats via the new video board and end zone displays. The one thing that remains the same is the antics of the Sun's Gorilla, one of the NBA’s top mascots.

Photos by Meg Minard and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Rocket Arena 1 Center Court Cleveland, OH 44115 Cleveland Monsters website Rocket Arena website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 10,025 Lock Erie Monsters Editor's Note: On Feb 18,2025, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the home of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and AHL's Cleveland Monsters, rebranded to  Rocket Arena . The change aligned with the brand restage of naming rights partner Rocket, which has unified its mortgage, real estate and personal finance businesses under the "Rocket" name. Professional hockey has been played in Cleveland since 1929. The Cleveland Indians, later renamed the Falcons and then the Barons, were members of the International Hockey League and then original members of the American Hockey League. The Barons won nine Calder Cups as AHL champions before being forced to move with the emergence of the World Hockey Association’s Crusaders in 1972. In 1976 the California Golden Seals relocated to Cleveland, taking the Barons’ name. After just two seasons, the team merged with the Minnesota North Stars, leaving Cleveland without hockey until 1992, when the Lumberjacks joined the IHL. When the Lumberjacks folded in 2001, the Kentucky Thoroughblades relocated to downtown Cleveland, and took the name Barons once again. In 2006 these Barons relocated to Worcester, MA. Dan Gilbert, who owned the Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena, purchased the defunct Utah Grizzlies and brought the Lake Erie Monsters to town in 2007. The Monsters won the Calder Cup in 2016. Quicken Loans Arena, originally named Gund Arena, opened in 1994 as part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex along with adjacent Progressive Field . The building is also home to the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League. In December 2017 plans to renovate Quicken Loans Arena were announced. The overall square footage of the concourse will be increased, open spaces will be added to the facility, and other improvements throughout the facility will be made. The project will cost $193 million, with $100 million paid for by county taxes. Note: In April 2019, Quicken Loans Arena name was changed to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Food & Beverage 4 While not every concession stand at Quicken Loans Arena is open for Monsters games, there is still a great variety of options available for hungry Cleveland hockey fans. All the arena basics can be found here, with combo meals available for younger fans. Bottomless buckets of popcorn are available for $7.50, and are a popular item at Monsters games. Souvenir cups of Coca Cola products are sold at these stands, which feature a free refill. Quaker Steak and Lube sells their legendary chicken wings both at a stand on the concourse and at a full-service, sit down restaurant behind section 133. The Za! Stand sells slices of local favorite Georgio’s pizza. Fans looking for nachos should head to Nacho Loco for a wide variety of this stadium favorite. Fans looking for more nutritious options will certainly head towards the Healthy for Life stand, where gluten-free options anchor a healthy menu. Monster fans looking for an adult beverage will gravitate towards the Jack Daniels or Cheers and Beers stands, which offer a variety of draft beers and mixed drinks. The Soucy Brew Works stands features craft brews from local favorite Soucy brewery. A complete listing of all of Quicken Loans Arena’s concessions can be found here . Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere at Quicken Loans Arena is dominated by “The Humungotron,” Cleveland’s enormous video board. The board stretches beyond each blue line, and is put to great use throughout the game with replays, crowd shots, advertisements and game stats. Veteran minor league hockey fans will find much that is familiar here, from the mascot who roams the crowd interacting with fans to the Monster Hockey Girls, who perform throughout the game and lead some of the giveaways. Younger fans can get their faces painted and make signs at the Express Yourself tables on the concourse, and veteran fans will gravitate towards the booster club tables, where jersey raffles and 50/50 tickets can be purchased. Be sure to check out the arena’s pro shop. Despite sharing the arena with the NBA’s Cavaliers, a decent amount of Monsters gear can be found here. Neighborhood 5 In the late 1800s Cleveland’s Central Market area was the center of the city. Just a few blocks from the growing commercial district at the Public Square, Central Market was a bustling residential neighborhood with a busy bazaar. The entire neighborhood was destroyed in a fire in the 1940s. By 1990 the neighborhood consisted of mostly empty commercial buildings and surface lots. City leaders had long eyed this part of Cleveland for a new stadium project. In 1984 voters rejected a ballot issue to fund a 72,000 seat domed stadium for baseball and football. In 1990, the issue was again brought to the voters, and this time the measure passed, providing funding for Jacobs (now Progressive) Field and Quicken Loans Arena. The building of the stadia has spurred a complete revitalization of the Gateway district. There are close to 60 bars and restaurants within a short walk of Quicken Loans Arena, along with a number of major hotels. A few blocks from the arena is the JACK Casino. There are numerous historic structures in and around the area, including the Soldiers & Sailors Monument at Cleveland Public Square and The Arcade, which opened in 1890 as the nation’s first indoor shopping center. Check ClevelandGatewayDistrict.com for a full list of shops, restaurants and parking lots/garages in the area. The site also contains information on walking tours of the historic buildings located in the Gateway District. Fans 4 The Monsters are annually among the AHL’s leaders in attendance. However, sharing a home with a major league team in a large city means that the Monsters have more weekday games on their schedule than most teams in the circuit. Visiting fans will see a great disparity in the size of the crowd between weekday and weekend games. As is typical in minor league hockey, the games are marketed as family entertainment, and you will see many families mixed in the crowd with the diehard fans. Access 4 Located in downtown Cleveland at the intersection of Interstates 90 and 77, Quicken Loans Arena is easy to find. Parking in the area, designed to accommodate full-stadium Indians or Cavaliers games, is more than ample for any Monsters game. Getting in and out of the downtown area is fairly easy. Fans will enter Quicken Loans arena onto a wide concourse. Since the building is designed for much larger crowds than typically attend a Monsters game, getting around is not an issue, even during intermissions. The concourse empties about halfway up the seating bowl. All the seats in the arena are maroon folding stadium seats. Only the lower level is sold for Monster games, as the upper level is curtained off. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Monsters games range in price from $11-$42, with most tickets priced at $25 or less. A two dollar discount is given to AAA members at the ticket booth. Parking in the many garages and surface lots surrounding Quicken Loans Arena range in price from $10-$15. The Monsters offer many specials to reduce the cost of heading downtown, including 1-2-3 Fridays, featuring one dollar sodas, two dollar hot dogs and three dollar select beers. Kids Games, featuring free tickets for youths, and College nights, featuring discounts for students, also dot the schedule. Be warned that you will be paying major league prices for concessions at Quicken Loans Arena. Extras 4 An extra point is awarded for the banners honoring Cleveland hockey history, dating all the way back to the original Barons. A banner honoring Hockey Hall of Famer Johnny Bower is conspicuous among them. A free program is given to all fans who enter the game, which contains info on Cleveland’s hockey history, activities for the kids, quiet spaces and more. Interesting facts about Cleveland’s history are posted above every vomitory at Quicken Loans Arena. A final extra point is awarded for the Humungotron, the gigantic scoreboard which instantly makes every other scoreboard in the world obsolete. As large as it is, it doesn’t seem to interfere with enjoying the action on the ice. Final Thoughts You would think that sharing your home with a major league basketball team would be a less than ideal situation for a minor league hockey team. This hardly seems to be the case in Cleveland, where the Monsters are regularly among the American Hockey League’s leaders in attendance. While Quicken Loans Arena is clearly too big for the Monsters, the melding of major league amenities with minor league enthusiasm makes a trip to downtown Cleveland a trip worth taking. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter @PuckmanRI .

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Rocket Arena 1 Center Ct Cleveland, OH 44115 Cleveland Cavaliers website Rocket Arena website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 20,562 Cavaliers Home Rockets into a New Era Editor's Note: On Feb 18,2025, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the home of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and AHL's Cleveland Monsters, rebranded to  Rocket Arena . The change aligned with the brand restage of naming rights partner Rocket, which has unified its mortgage, real estate and personal finance businesses under the "Rocket" name. When the Cleveland Cavaliers opened their 2019-2020 season, they sported a new name for their home court as well as a massively renovated house. Rocket Mortgage Company took over the naming rights from Quicken Loans over the summer, and the arena completed a two-year, $185 million renovation designed to open the arena up more to the surrounding area, and to provide wider concourses and more concession offerings to its fans. The most readily apparent change is the adding a large glass enclosed atrium, which reflects the downtown skyline and brightens up the inside corridors of the facility. A large concession and social area with seats and tables has been added at the south end of the arena. In addition, the upper concourse is now opened up to allow fans to go 360 degrees around the arena for the first time ever. Previous renovations have included the installation of new seats throughout the seating bowl, the adding of a center-hung video board nicknamed “Humongotron” due to its immense size (31 feet high and 56 feet wide on the side panels) and new graphics and signage. This marks the third change in name for the arena, which opened in 1994 as the Gund Arena (1994-2005) and the Quicken Loans Arena (2005-2019). The 19,432-seat arena is one of the largest in the NBA based on seat capacity. This includes 88 luxury suites. Food & Beverage 4 The concession programs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse received a great deal of attention during the renovations. They were redeployed into 8 different “neighborhoods” throughout the arena. This was a major design element in creating better flow on the concourses. The individual food vendors are now located in recessed areas away from the concourse, so that lines do not cause gridlock during busy periods of the game. The concessions areas are mini food courts which feature tables and drinking rails so that fans are not forced to balance their food and drinks in their laps back at their seats. A second major change was to pick food vendors who were easily identified with the area. Among the new stands at the arena are local favorites Flour (wood-fired pizzas), Bandito’s (Mexican dishes), Rocco’s (tacos and nachos), Symon Burger Joint (gourmet burgers, kielbasa and milkshakes), Greenhouse Kitchen (salads, sandwiches, rolls, Market at the Fig (deli selections), Elmore Smith’s BBQ (a BBQ concept started by a former Cavaliers player), and the Launch Test Kitchen, a revolving set of local vendors who have competed in a local culinary competition. The more generic arena fare can be found at the Fan Fuel stands throughout the arena. Adult beverages can be found at the Budweiser Brewhouse located in the Loudville area of the arena. Craft brews from Bell’s Brewery, Fahrenheit, and Saucy Brew Works are also available. Atmosphere 5 When you enter Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, you will have no doubt in your mind that you are in Cleveland and are there for a basketball game. The Cavaliers and Cleveland taxpayers help foot the bill for the renovations, so the facility is filled with unique features that relate to both the city and the team. Upon entering the arena through the Sherwin Williams gate, you will continue through a short tunnel featuring ever-changing video displays on three sides showing Cavalier and Cleveland imagery. As you make the loop around the concourse you will see art and photos depicting life and landmarks around the Cleveland area. There is also a display of basketballs hung on the wall that feature the logo of each high school located in the metro area. The glass exterior of the building provides fans with great views of downtown Cleveland and the Cuyahoga River from the upper levels of the facility. The Cavaliers also add to the atmosphere of their remodeled home with a large exhibit covering their championship season. The display includes a large section of the arena floor where the deciding game was won, as well as the championship trophy. A separate point of interest for Cavalier fans is the team’s Wall of Honor with plaques featuring the star players who have worn the Cavaliers jersey over the past 50 years. The Cavaliers create a great atmosphere from the pregame activities to the end of the games… even without King James. They will first catch your attention during the pregame introductions, as the sabers attached to the gigantic video board spew fire out all sides above you. Once the game starts Kevin Love and company play an entertaining game of roundball. Over the years the Cavaliers have been very successful in this building, going to the playoffs ten out of their twenty-two seasons. This includes three NBA Finals Series, including the 2016 Series that brought Cleveland its first professional sports title since 1964. There is never a dull moment at a Cavaliers game. During timeouts and changes of period you will be entertained by a variety of performers unlike any other NBA arena. You’ll be thrilled by the Slam Squad and their dunking exploits, enjoy the moves of the Wine and Goldies Dance Squad or the Cavs Dancing Dads, enjoy the beats of the 216 STIX drumline or be laughing at the antics of the team’s two mascots, MoonDog and Sir C.C. Neighborhood 5 The Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is in the Gateway District of downtown Cleveland. This area features Progressive Field , the home of the Cleveland Indians, as well as five hotels, sixty restaurants, movie theatres, the Fifth Street Arcade, Gateway Center and the JACK Casino. Among the restaurants in the area are The Corner Alley, Pickwick and Frolic, Boney Fingers BBQ, Butcher and Brewer and the House of Blues. Adult beverages are available at Flannery’s, City Tap, the Greenhouse Tavern and the Clevelander Bar and Grill. Two hotels, the Hotel Cleveland Gateway and the Holiday Inn Express Downtown Cleveland, are right across the street from the FieldHouse. Information on all the Gateway district has to offer is available at www.clevelandgatewaydistrict.com . Fans 4 Some of the most passionate fans the Cavaliers have can be found in the top tiers of the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. This area is designated with good reason as Loudville. The cheapest tickets in the arena can be found here, and folks sitting in the area are regulars. They routinely spontaneously start a cheer, which little by little filters down to the lower levels until the whole arena joins in. Even though the seats are as far as you will find from the court, the Loudville residents miss very little of the action thanks to the vast size of the video board at midcourt. Access 5 The arena is easily accessed via one of Cleveland’s many freeways or by public transit. From the east: Take I-90/Rte. 2 West. Remain on Rte.2 as I-90 curves left. Exit at Ninth Street and turn left on East Ninth. The parking garage will be on your left. From the south: Take I-77 North and exit at East Ninth Street. Take East Ninth Street north to parking garage. From the west: Take I-90 East to East Ninth Street exit and proceed north to parking garage. Public transit is available via the RTA light rail system. Take the Red Line train to the Tower City Station. Proceed to the arena via the enclosed RTA Skywalk. This will deliver you directly to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Once at the arena you will find the access and flow of the crowd to be excellent. The recent renovations were specifically targeted towards enlarging the concourses and adding the space in the glass atrium. This is a major improvement, as you no longer stand outside in the frigid Cleveland winters before the doors open. Food vendors now are in areas located back from the concourse, so the food and drink lines do not create gridlock. If you are seated in the upper level of the arena you will be able to encircle the entire arena on the concourse for the first time ever. The FieldHouse is also using technology to improve access within the arena. Tickets will now include a portal number to make it easier for fans to locate their seats. The portal number identifies your seat by location so that you will enter at the portal closest to your row seat. If you are in a seat at the left end of the row, that portal number identifies that end of the row. A separate portal would identify the seat at the right end of the row. This will cut down dramatically on people having to cross in front of their seatmates during a game. Another technological innovation is the addition of self-serve concession areas where you simply scan the item you are purchasing and pay for it with your credit/debit card. Return on Investment 3 The Cavaliers use the AXS/Flash Tickets ticketing system. The average cost for a ticket to a Cleveland game is $48. Parking is available in the Gateway East or the JACK Cleveland Casino Garages for $20-$30. You can save money by taking the RTA light rail system to the Tower City Transit Station. You would then take the RTA enclosed skywalk to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The cost for an all-day pass is $5.50. The concession prices at the Fan Fuel stands are very reasonable, while the more specialized product stands are more expensive. Extras 5 Anyone who has experienced a Cleveland winter will give an extra to the RTA Walkway for protecting you from the elements. In addition to pro basketball, the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse serves as the home to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. Other sports events that have occurred in the arena are the MAC Basketball Tournament, several stages of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the 2007 Women’s Final Four Basketball Tournament, and the US Figure Skating Championship (2000, 2009) The in-game entertainment staff deserves an extra for its wide variety of performing groups, games and activities during lulls in the action. The Cavaliers are league leaders when it comes to taking care of their fans with special needs. Real-time captioning of all public address announcements is shown on each of the four corner video boards for persons with hearing impairments. Sign language interpreters may also be requested in advance. For persons with sensory impairments, the team provides earphones, sensory bags, weighted lap pads or access to sensory quiet rooms for guests who become overstimulated. The 2019-2020 season marks the 50th anniversary of the team’s arrival in Cleveland. Numerous special events and promotions are planned throughout the year. Final Thoughts The renovations at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse have all been directed towards improving the fan experience, as the seating bowl and playing court remained the same throughout the latest changes. If you have not been to a Cavaliers game or the former Quicken Loans Arena recently, you need to come and check out all the changes. It is a virtually new facility that is well designed to meet the needs that fans have come to expect in the 21st century.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park 1500 N. Patterson Street Valdosta, GA 31698 Valdosta State Blazers website Billy Grant Field at Tommy Thomas Park website Year Opened: 1979 Capacity: 800 Red & Black, All Hail Valdosta State’s baseball program began in 1955, playing as the Valdosta State College Rebels, competing in the Georgia Conference against teams like Piedmont College, Georgia Teachers College (now Georgia Southern), Oglethorpe, and North Georgia. The program transitioned to the Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference before joining the Southern Athletic Conference in the mid-1970s. In 1972, Valdosta State changed their name from the Rebels to the Blazers. Originally members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Valdosta State made the jump to NCAA Division II in 1979 and would promptly capture the national championship in their inaugural season in the NCAA. Since 1981, the Blazers have competed in the Gulf South Conference.   Food and Beverage   3 Concessions at Billy Grant Field are limited but standard for basic ballpark food, such as nachos with cheese sauce, hot dogs, sausages, popcorn, and various types of candy. Coca-Cola products are available, as are Powerade and Dasani bottled water. Beer is sold, but only on weekends, with options limited to common domestics and Georgia Beer Company’s Amber Ale.   Atmosphere   3 Billy Grant Field has an open design. Surrounded by brick pillars and iron fencing, fans enter through a brick archway into grounds decorated with flowers and shade trees. The main seating area includes three separate aluminum bleacher sections with backrests. The upper rows behind home plate offer some relief from the intense South Georgia sun, via the press box which runs the entirety of the center section of seating. In addition to the bleacher seating, fans also use tailgating chairs in the shade of live oaks along the third base line. The scoreboard beyond the left-center wall displays basic game information such as the game’s line score, outs, and ball-strike-out counts. There is a also center-mounted screen, but it doesn’t appear functional. Mid-inning breaks are refreshingly uneventful, primarily just filled with music until play resumes.   Neighborhood   3 Billy Grant Field is located among several of Valdosta State other athletic facilities, about a mile north of main campus. The surrounding area is a mix of residential neighborhoods, strip malls, and fast-food spots. Downtown Valdosta is a combination of locally owned shops, restaurants, and boutique hotels. Though the city may seem like a pass-through along the I-75 corridor, a short trip off the interstate shows it is much more than just the cluster of fast food and hotel chains that can be seen from the interstate. For added entertainment, the Lowndes County Historical Society Museum includes a display on the city’s professional baseball history, played at nearby Pendleton Park from 1939 – 1958. Wild Adventures Theme Park and the Grand Bay Wetland Education Center offer options for thrill-seekers and nature lovers, while the Georgia Beer Company near downtown is a great stop for craft beer fans.   Fans   2 Fan support is scattered throughout the stadium, with minimal student turnout. Most attendees are player families or local community members. While there is not a lack of enthusiasm from those there, as those in attendance are engaged, the overall atmosphere does not seem to have much of a home field advantage created by the fans here.   Access   3 Valdosta is most directly accessible from Interstate-75 that runs to the west of the city, roughly the halfway point between Macon and Gainesville, Florida. There are multiple Valdosta exits, all which leave roughly a 10-minute drive to the field. Once there, a parking lot runs the entirety of the third base side of the field, which can get a bit crowded if there is a softball game going on at the same time. The parking lot is just a short walk to Billy Grant Field’s gates. With the walkway directly in front of the first few rows of seating, fans passing by on their way to their seats can disrupt the view of the game. If possible, sitting higher up in the stands should help limit this distraction – the upper rows are also where most of the shade can be found.   Return on Investment   4 Admission runs $5, but the caveat is it is cash only. The price of admission is more than reasonable, but the lack of ability to pay with a card is a bit inconvenient. Nevertheless, concessions are fairly priced, so the all-in cost is very affordable.   Extras   2 Near the ramp to the bleachers is a plaque which recognizes the 1979 NCAA Division II Championship team. In addition, attached to the side of the concessions stand is a leaderboard of the pitching and hitting statistics, which is updated on a regular basis.   Final Thoughts Like many of the college baseball facilities that are scattered throughout the countryside of South Georgia, there is not a lot by way of amenities when it comes to baseball at Valdosta State. The overall experience is rather laid back and a bit of a relief, however, from the constant bombardment of ad reads and sounds effects that are commonplace at many other baseball experiences.

Photos Courtesy of Google Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Forest Glen Park 2303 College Ave. Huntington, IN 46750 Huntington University Foresters website Forest Glen Park website Year Opened: 1950 Capacity: 700 Indiana’s Baseball Best Kept Secret Forest Glen Park on the campus of Huntington University might be the best-kept secret in Indiana. It is a ballpark unlike any other in the state; small in size, it has an ambiance that is different than others in NAIA up to Division 1. The team's media guide mentions that “Forest Glen Park has developed into one of the finest and most unique baseball facilities, not only in the state but also in the midwest.” The ballpark is surrounded by three sides of the water, a scenic incline, lush forestry during the spring and summer, and the walkable trail leading down to the third-base side entrance. The Huntington Foresters are members of the Crossroads League, an athletic conference composed of NAIA private Christian colleges in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The university was founded in 1897 and has an enrollment of slightly over 1,000 students. The baseball team called the site home well before renovations began in 2007. In 2015, several major upgrades were made from dugout to dugout, including new stadium seating, a modern press box, a new concession stand, and restrooms. A new turf, laser-graded outfield, and bullpens were added in time for the 2022 season. Food & Beverage 3 The ballpark has a small concession stand behind the main grandstand. The kitchen offers the basics one would expect at a baseball game, including hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, soda pop, and candy. It isn’t a wide variety of food, but enough to keep you from going hungry during a game. Atmosphere 4 The diamond is down a small hill surrounded by trees, trails, and a small creek behind the grandstand. Fans enter the ballpark on the third baseline, and a series of picnic tables dot the area towards the main grandstand. The stadium feels like it was built in the middle of the woods;  the sounds of the babbling brook add a soothing south near the concession stand. The grandstand has stadium-style seating along with bleacher seating and is decorated with past championships and retired numbers. The school’s name is bright and bold on top of the press box. Fans in their seats have a wonderful view of the field, despite being behind fencing. There is more bleacher seating behind the left-field corner wall. The area has a small hill that provides views behind the centerfield wall but also borders a private residence. A ten-inning scoreboard and a small wooden bridge used to retrieve foul balls across the creek complete the ballpark’s aesthetics that hold a capacity of 900 persons. The game-day atmosphere offers music between innings, a PA announcer, and plenty of fans making noise for the boys on the field. There isn’t a lot of advertising or above-the-average promotions blasting from the speakers. Everything about the ballpark is relaxed and pleasant, especially from behind the grandstand near the babbling brook. Neighborhood 3 Huntington, Indiana, has a population of 17,000 plus and a downtown that is slowly rebuilding with a series of independent shops and restaurants. It is recommended to visit either, or a few, of them after you visit a Foresters ball game to complement your trip. Antiqology has a collection of memorabilia from the past century but is known for its homemade ice cream, milkshakes, cola, and root beer. There is also a 100-bottle craft soda available at their shop. Ice cream flavors include cinnamon churro and Jacked Up Tennessee Toffee, but milkshakes include Nutella, Rice Crispy Treat, and peanut butter brownie. A few feet away is The Party Shop, a candy store rich with decadent confectionaries. Nick’s Kitchen is a small diner that is known for inexpensive dinners and giant tenderloin sandwiches. Brick House Grill offers pub-style food and signature steaks. Pizza Junction is located in the old train depot and has some of the best pizzas in the area. There is quite a bit to see in town including the Dan Quayle Vice-Presidential Learning Center, Two-EE’s Winery (their Plonqé is a delicious sweet red wine), historic settlements at the Forks of the Wabash, and scenic walking trails at the Sunken Gardens. Timber Lake offers camping grounds and zip-lining. Fans 3 The fans at the game support both clubs as you can see the colors of both schools in the grandstand. This is not shocking since most of the colleges are within reasonable driving distance for weekend games. Fans are focused on the game and many are friends and family, but there are also quite a bit of local fans and students who make their presence felt throughout the nine innings of play. Access 3 The ballpark is located down a hill and will be hard to access for fans with limited mobility. Although not seen, a golf cart brings fans to the entrance of the stadium, but there is still a walk to the main grandstand. However, once inside the stadium, bathrooms and concession stands are directly behind the grandstand. There is only one entrance in and out of the stadium. Return on Investment 4 A ticket costs $7 for adults, $3 for children, and free for students. Many NAIA baseball teams do not charge admission, but this one is nice enough that you might not mind paying a small fee. Parking is free and each ticket comes with a complimentary game day program/yearbook. Extras 4 Forest Glen Park earns several points including its beautiful setting at the bottom of a tree-covered hill featuring a creek and walking trails. The ballpark earns a second point for the small bridge over the creek to retrieve foul balls. The third and fourth points are for the outfield bleacher seating, a rarity in college ball in the state, and the free seating on the hill overlooking the playing field. The final point is for the free gameday program that’s included with the price of admission.  Final Thoughts Huntington University’s Glen Park in Huntington, Indiana might be the best ballpark you've ever heard of in the state. I say this because no other ballpark is quite of the Huntington University baseball program. Trust me, I've been to almost all of them in the Hoosier State. However, this one stands out among the list of other great baseball stadiums.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Riddle-Pace Field Luther Dr Troy, AL 36081 Troy Trojans website Riddle-Pace Field website Year Opened: 1931 Capacity: 2,000 One Troy Baseball has been played at Troy University since 1911, but the school would not have a dedicated baseball facility until 1931, when Pace Field was built. Originally members of the Alabama Intercollegiate Conference, which would later become the Southern States Conference, the Trojans joined the NCAA in 1970 as part of the College Division, which eventually evolved into Division II in 1973. Troy quickly emerged as a Division II powerhouse, making seven College World Series appearances and winning back-to-back national titles in 1986 and 1987. The Trojans transitioned to Division I in 1995, playing first in the Mid-Continent Conference, then the Atlantic Sun, before settling in their current home, the Sun Belt Conference. From the late 1930s and throughout the 1940s, the then-simply named Pace Field was home of minor league baseball, serving as the home to the Class D Troy Trojans, who were also known as the Troy Tigers and Troy Dodgers, of the Alabama-Florida League and Alabama League. The most notable player to play at Pace Field at this time was Joe Dobson, who enjoyed 14 major league seasons with the-now Cleveland Guardians , Boston Red Sox , and Chicago White Sox .   Food & Beverage   4 While the concessions options are not really eye-popping here, the burgers, hot dogs, sausages, and brats are all hand-grilled, providing a nice extra touch. Other staples like soft pretzels, popcorn, chips, candy, and the always-welcome stadium pickle round out the menu; off-menu items such as BBQ pork nachos also make an occasional appearance. Beverages include Coca-Cola products, Powerade, and Dasani bottled water. Beer offerings are limited to Bud Light on tap, as well as Michelob Ultra, Bud Light seltzers, and the Troy-branded Trojan Ale.   Atmosphere   4 Riddle-Pace Field’s brick exterior and glass rotunda complement nearby Trojan Arena  and the student recreation center perfectly, really giving the baseball stadium a classy appearance. The field’s layout is similar to that of Sun Belt rival Georgia Southern’s J.I. Clements Stadium – the 30-foot right field wall protects the short 310-foot line, before widening out to a standard 400’ to straightaway center. What right field gives up, left field then takes back with a monster 340-feet down the left field line. A large scoreboard which provides extensive game and player information is melded with the right field wall. When considering seating options, there is not a lot of relief from the hot Alabama sun, but the higher you sit in the grandstand, the better. Field level seats are cushioned and much more comfortable, but offer little relief from the sun. Mid-inning breaks are filled with music and an occasional contest played with a selected fan or Troy baseball trivia question. There are occasional ad reads, but they do seem to be kept to a minimum.   Neighborhood   3 Riddle-Pace Field is nestled in the athletics cluster of Troy’s campus on the northeastern edge, directly neighbored by football’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadium , which can be seen just beyond the third base side of the stadium. There is not a lot nearby in terms of entertainment, but Troy and surrounding Pike County have over thirty historical markers that recognize the birthplace of congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, as well as war memorials and the area’s historical story. The Troy town center has a small collection of shops and eateries. Even though the downtown area is not all that expansive, it does offer quite the collection of options; B Graves’ southern dishes, Burgers at The Corner, Franchesca’s Italian cuisine, Cajun food at Bayou la Roux, and popular southern college town chain Mama Goldberg’s deli can all be found. In addition, BBQ at Moe’s, plus casual American dishes at Flo’s Kitchen, are all within a block of Troy’s town square.   Fans   4 Attendance numbers might not completely tell the story of fan involvement at Troy baseball games, as the fence from center field to the left-field foul pole is chain-link, allowing fans to watch the game from outside of the stadium. This gathering is affectionately known as "Doubles Alley". Here, tailgaters in golf carts and UTVs gather to take in the game, heckle the outfielders, and honk in celebration of Trojan runs. This set up does encourage students to remain outside the stadium, taking a bit away from the in-stadium fan involvement. Inside the stadium, much like the “Yankees’ Roll Call”, Trojan fans have a unique call for each of the players, which they chant at the top of the 1st inning and again when the players come to the dish for their first plate appearance.   Access   3 Troy, Alabama is in a bit of an oasis when it comes to interstate access. US Highway 231 has the most direct access to town from I-85 east of Montgomery, or you can use US-29 if coming from the west on I-65. A decently sized parking lot sits outside the front gate of Riddle-Pace Field, while two smaller lots are just beyond the right field fence. Lines begin forming outside the lone stadium entrance an hour before first pitch, but after the initial push entry is quick and easy. The concourse under the grandstand is spacious and allows for easy movement of fans, as well as enough space for fans to navigate and others to wait in line for drinks or concessions. The seating area is easily navigable, but due to barriers for premium seating in the RBI Club, some rows do seem to be a bit more challenging to get in and out of than necessary.   Return on Investment   4 General admission seats run $10, with home plate tickets going for $15 and field level seats going for $25, before a $3 service charge per order. When factoring in the lack of parking fees, it does seem to balance the overall cost of attending a game at Riddle-Pace Field, though general admission ticket prices can fluctuate depending on the opponent – some non-conference games can have general admission tickets as low as $1, while games against SEC foes begin at $30. Concessions prices are very reasonable, possibly even a touch under what might be expected at most college ballparks.   Extras   3 A historical marker just outside the stadium’s main gate recognizes the history of Riddle-Pace Field. In addition, under the grandstand, banners and graphics recognize the team and individual accomplishments of past Trojan teams and players – banners pay tribute to the program’s conference championships, NCAA Regional and College World Series appearances, and many other honors, while support pillars display photos of Troy’s All-Americans. The left-center field gap, dubbed Doubles Alley, keeps a running total of the number of doubles the Trojans have hit throughout the season.   Final Thoughts When considering college baseball at what is typically considered the “mid-major” level, the Sun Belt likely is the most competitive conference, with its top teams able to compete with many teams from larger conferences. The atmosphere that fills the air at Riddle-Pace Field is without a doubt an extremely festive college baseball experience, that would be enjoyable for even the most casual baseball fan to experience.

The University of New Haven announced today that it has accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference. The school, which currently competes in Division Two, will begin their transition on July 1. Northeast Conference Commissioner Noreen Morris and University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen announced Tuesday that New Haven would become the conference's 10th full member. The Chargers will become full Division I members in 2028-29. "Making the move to Division I is a bold step, and we're honored that New Haven chose to take that step with us," Morris said. "From the start, it was clear that they share our values -- putting academics, competitive excellence and the student-athlete experience at the forefront." The University of New Haven, whose teams are known as the Chargers, sponsors 20 sports and will be integrated into NEC schedules beginning this year, with the exception of football. Football's addition to the conference schedule is still to be determined. UNH’s home field, Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium, is best known for its blue turf field. Photo courtesy of University of New Haven Athletics The University of New Haven, which is located in West Haven, Connecticut, has all of its athletic facilities in a compact complex across Boston Post Road (Route 1) from its main campus. Yale's athletic facilities, including the Yale Bowl , Yale Field and Reese Stadium , are about two miles away. During its transition, New Haven will immediately be able to participate in conference championships in sports that do not have automatic qualifiers for NCAA championships. The Chargers will become eligible for NCAA championship competition in 2028-29. The Northeast Conference now contains three teams who are in transition to Division One from lower levels. Stonehill College began their transition period in 2022 and Le Moyne College began theirs in 2023.

Photos by Matt Fiedler, Stadium Journey The NCAA Tournament returned to Providence for the first time since 2016. Amica Mutual Pavilion played host to first and second round games in the West and Midwest regions. The atmosphere was electric especially since local favorite St. John’s was one of the participants. The campus of St. John’s is less than 3 hours from Providence so it was just a short drive up I-95 or a trip on the Amtrak away. Providence is certainly an ideal host for the early rounds of the tournament. The city has a wide variety of great restaurants and bars to pre/post game and also has a great basketball history. Amica Mutual Pavilion is also very easy to get to and centrally located within Providence. The city is also located close to areas like Boston and Newport for fans who want to extend their trip and see some of the other sights of New England. If you’re looking to grab a bite to eat I would recommend somewhere outside of the arena. One area where Amica Mutual Pavilion falls short is its concessions. They mostly carry the staples like popcorn, hot dogs, peanuts, pizza, sausages, and nachos along with candy and pretzels. There are a plethora of options around the arena and in the surrounding neighborhoods. The atmosphere at an NCAA tournament venue is very dependent on teams that get picked for that specific region. This year Providence got very lucky to have St Johns in the bracket which attracted many of their fans. However, Providence is also home to Providence College so there is certainly a built in knowledge and enthusiasm for college basketball in the area. The NCAA tournament is unlike any other event, especially in the first and second rounds because you have fans from several different schools in attendance at once. This provides a unique environment with fans who are dialed into the game and other fans who are waiting for the next session when their school plays. All in all, Amica Mutual Pavilion is a great site for the initial rounds of the NCAA Tournament and when it comes back in a few years it will certainly be worth attending. If you haven’t attended an NCAA tournament it should be on your sports bucket list.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Woodsboro Bank Arena at the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center 601 Blazer Trail Frederick, MD 21701 Frederick Flying Cows website Woodsboro Bank Arena at the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 1,600 Moo-rvelous Basketball at the Barn The Basketball League, known as TBL for short, is a low-level minor league basketball league, a step below the G-League, with 40 teams competing across the United States. One such team, the Frederick Flying Cows, was founded in 2023. began play in 2024, and plays their home games at Woodsboro Bank Arena on the campus of Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. Although the quality of play on the court in the TBL isn't anywhere near the NBA, nor is it even on par with the G-League, the teams are independently owned (unlike the G-League clubs which are owned by their NBA affiliate) so the experience is often more similar to what you would see at the minor leagues in other sports. TBL teams often have zany uniforms, similar to what you saw in the NBA in the 90s, and family friendly entertainment. Food & Beverage 4 There are several concessions options at Flying Cows games, and while the selection isn't the widest, the food is quite food. A food truck from Glamourview Creamery is parked right outside the arena, and fans are allowed to leave and re-enter to get food from the truck and bring it in. Of course, being a creamery, it offers frozen custard and floats, with slushies and a blendi (a mix of slushie and custard) also available. It does offer meals as well. Walking tacos, a prime rib burger (two beef patties with cheese) and a frenchie burger (with swiss cheese and grilled French onions) as well as grilled hot dogs and chili dogs are available. Custard will cost $5-$8 depending on the size and comes in a cup or cone. The burgers will range from $10-$13 but are delicious, juicy, and worth the money. A selection of Glamourview Creamery products is also available at a stand inside the arena, including hard serve ice cream (different from the frozen custard they sell at the truck), and milkshakes, dubbed Milkshake's Milkshakes after the mascot. The milkshake is also fantastic and very rich, sweet, and creamy. We would recommend it to fans. The same stand also sells soft drinks, bottled water, and assorted candy and chips, including Milka, an imported Swiss chocolate bar. An adjacent stand sells ice cream cookie sandwiches made with Glamourview ice cream. The menu proclaims the ice cream and milkshakes to be "Udder-ly Sweet", one of many cow puns you will experience at a Flying Cows game. Alcoholic beverages are available in a bar upstairs on a balcony overlooking the court, but must be consumed while standing there. They cannot be brought back downstairs. Many of them have cow-related punny names such as the Mooscow Mule. Atmosphere 5 Woodsboro Bank Arena is a small gym on the campus of Hood College, a Division III school. However, the Flying Cows have managed to leave their own mark on the arena, something that does not always happen in these shared gyms. There are a handful of chairback courtside seats, with the remainder of the seating are being general admission plastic bleachers. You will have a great view of the action wherever you sit, as this is a small and intimate venue. The team does not let you forget that they are the Flying Cows, with a mooing sound being heard over the PA system at big moments and the PA announcer unleashing a hurricane of cow puns. From telling fans to "moo-zy on down to the concession stand" for food to reminding fans of how udderly fantastic a Flying Cows game is, this will be a recurring theme all night. During breaks in the action, the team holds fan contests on the court, including some quite unique ones such as seeing who can do the best Chewbacca impersonation and who can slide a mattress furthest down the court in a relay race by jumping on it and sliding down.. Kids really enjoy participating in these, and fans enjoy watching. Just as you would see in an NBA arena (but unlike in college) instrumental music is played during the game itself over the PA system. The Cows have a mascot named Milkshake, who is a cow in a cape, as well as a dance team called the Cow Belles (yet another cow pun.) Two scoreboards in the corners of the venue show player stats in addition to basic information such as the clock and score. Neighborhood 3 The Hood College campus is located adjacent to a residential neighborhood about a mile from Downtown Frederick. Downtown offers a range of different options, from Maxwell's Burgers and Shakes to the popular brewpub Brewer's Alley. Francis Scott Key's grave is also located in Frederick, and history buffs may want to check it out. Fans 4 Although the Flying Cows don't typically sell out the arena, they do draw good crowds,, particularly considering this is a low-level basketball league. The fans in attendance will come dressed in Flying Cows merchandise and bring their cowbells to ring during big moments in the game when they want to make some noise to urge the team to victory. The cowbells can get quite loud and contribute to the unique atmosphere at a Flying Cows game. Some fans here are season ticket holders who come to every home game. Others are checking out the Flying Cows for the first time. As they are still are still a relatively new team, they continue to grow their fan base, but they have already developed a large and passionate following. Access 3 Frederick is located just off of a major highway (I-70), and Hood College is located within a residential neighborhood. Parking is available in several lots on campus, with signage pointing you in the right direction to park for a Flying Cows game. You may have to walk a few minutes to get to the arena, but no more than that. Entering Woodsboro Bank Arena will put you in a lobby, with Flying Cows banners high above your head and a team store offering cow-themed and team merchandise on your left. You will walk down to the end of the hall and go through the doors on your right to enter the gym. Restrooms are available by the door you enter the gym through and are clean, spacious, and more than sufficient for the crowds. Keep in mind the arena is cashless so be prepared to pay by credit card. Return on Investment 5 General admission tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for children. Discounts are available on gameday only to military, seniors, and Hood College students and faculty with ID. Military and seniors get in for $12, Hood faculty for $10, and Hood students for $5. Concessions are typically priced and are of high quality so you get good value for your money. Parking is free as well. The team store features low prices and regularly offers discounts on top of that. Overall, a Flying Cows game offers an excellent value for a family-friendly basketball experience. Extras 3 One bonus star here for the giant inflatable cow outside the arena welcoming fans as they come in and providing a popular photo spot. A second star for the team store in the lobby, selling Flying Cows merchandise, including the ever popular cow onesie, a favorite of fans of all ages. A third and final star for all the cow puns you will experience here. From the PA announcer unleashing them constantly, to the concession items mentioned earlier, to promotion names such as "P.J. & Moo-vie Night" and the "Moo-au", the Flying Cows certainly have fun with the cow theme. Final Thoughts A Frederick Flying Cows basketball game can be great fun for the entire family at an affordable price. While the quality of play on the court is not the greatest, that is of little importance to those who attend. The whole crowd has fun ringing their cowbells, rooting for the Cows, and taking in a game here. Fans of basketball, those looking for a family friendly entertainment experience, and even those who just like cows will all want to moo-zy down to a Frederick Flying Cows game for a moo-velous, udderly fantastic experience.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Bulldog Field Memorial Parkway Normal, AL 35762 Alabama A&M Bulldogs website Bulldog Field website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 500 Be a Dog The Alabama A&M University Bulldogs are one of twenty Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) competing in NCAA Division I. The Bulldogs first sponsored baseball in 1947, playing in NCAA Division II as members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), where they remained until 1998. The following year, Alabama A&M transitioned to Division I and joined the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), one of only two conferences composed entirely of HBCUs – the SWAC includes schools from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Alabama A&M has produced a handful of professional players, with the most notable being Cleon Jones, an All-Star and key member of the 1969 World Series champion "Miracle Mets".   Food & Beverage   1 There are no dedicated concessions at Bulldog Field. Occasionally, a food truck may provide options, but fans should plan ahead if they want snacks, or something more substantial, during the game.   Atmosphere   2 There is not a lot to Bulldog Field, a rather modest facility. There are no exterior gates, no press box, and no permanent concessions – just a pair of bleachers set atop a small hill behind home plate. The two sections of bleachers are positioned rather far from the field, creating a noticeable distance between the fans and the action. Barriers stretch from dugout to dugout around the backstop, limiting how close spectators can get. As a result, fans hoping for a closer view often bring tailgating chairs and set up just behind the barriers, for a more intimate game-watching experience. The playing surface is natural grass, with field dimensions relatively short at 315 feet down both lines. A uniform 8-foot fence encircles the outfield, and some interesting fence angles add a bit of character to the ballpark. A functional scoreboard in right-center field displays player photos, stats, and standard game information. The game experience itself is rather unremarkable, with little more than walkup songs played, though this is a refreshing break from the constant bombardment of ads and sound effects that seem to have become common. The game is definitely kept as the focal point. Late afternoon games could create some difficulties, with the sun directly in the face of fans seated in the bleachers; this does create a challenging sun field to contend with. Bulldog Field does not have any lights, so games do have to start early enough to avoid playing in the dark.   Neighborhood   4 Alabama A&M is situated on the northern side of Huntsville. The area surrounding A&M’s campus is within Huntsville, but was named Normal, Alabama in reference to the school’s original name, the State Normal and Industrial School of Huntsville. This area is where the city begins to give way to more suburban and rural surroundings. Bulldog Field is clustered with the rest of Alabama A&M’s athletic facilities, just across Meridian Street from main campus. The university is about four miles from downtown Huntsville and seven miles from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, one of the city’s most popular attractions. Downtown Huntsville has an immaculate city center with many locally owned restaurants and shops, built around Big Springs International Park, a popular location for many to enjoy the cherry blossoms, feed the koi and ducks, or just enjoy the spring weather. The park is also home to the Huntsville Museum of Art, as well as several hotels. Huntsville is also a hub of minor league sports – the college baseball season overlaps with the final third of the SPHL schedule of the Huntsville Havoc , as well as the start of the season for Minor League Baseball’s Rocket City Trash Panda s (AA - Southern League) and Huntsville City FC in MLS Next Pro. Despite none of these teams not playing in the immediate vicinity of A&M’s campus, they are all just a short drive away.   Fans   3 The Bulldog fans are extremely supportive, especially the students in attendance. Students will call out the steps of strikeout victims, “left-right-left-right” until they reach the dugout, before letting out a collective “OOOOUUUUUUUTTTT!” as the opposing player walks away – the students might be on the small side in terms of numbers, but it is nice to see their contingent at games.   Access   3 Alabama A&M’s campus is accessible via US Highway 431, which runs north-to-south though Huntsville. Bulldog Field does not have lights, so games must be played during the day, though this does help in alleviating traffic during Huntsville’s rush hour. On the other side of the equation though, fans leaving the game will likely have to contend with the evening rush. Bulldog Field is a walkup facility, accessible directly from the adjacent parking lot. There is not much of a physical stadium to navigate, but seating is up a small hill, which can be a bit tricky to navigate for those with mobility challenges.   Return on Investment   4 Admission to Alabama A&M baseball games is free, and there is no charge for parking. The only investment fans make is their time, making it an affordable and relaxed way to enjoy college baseball.   Extras   1 The proximity of the baseball and softball fields allow those in the upper row of seating to be able to look over the back of the bleachers to check on the game on the adjacent field, if they are going on at the same time.   Final Thoughts There is not a lot to an Alabama A&M baseball game when considering the overall game experience, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable one, by any means. There are early plans in place to begin upgrading Alabama A&M’s baseball facilities, and partnerships have been formed to help guide that vision – this is a first step in improving the overall experience for both the players and the fans of the Bulldogs.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Woodsboro Bank Arena at the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center 601 Blazer Trail Frederick, MD 21701 Hood Blazers website Woodsboro Bank Arena at the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 1,600 The Blazers Hood College is a private college in Frederick, Maryland with around 2,000 students. Hood was started in 1893 by the Potomac Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States as the Woman's College of Frederick. An all-female institution until 1971, the college initially admitted men only as commuters. This continued until 2003 when male students were extended the option of residential status. Hood College has consistently been ranked in the U.S. News & World Report list for Best University in the Northeast. Hood has had athletics as far back as 1898 (women’s basketball). The Hood Athletic Center opened in November 2011. In March 2015 it was renamed the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center in honor of the former president. There are markings inside of the arena noting it as the BB&T Arena, but no other markings mention that name. The college’s website doesn’t even currently mention the corporate name. The Hood Blazers mainly compete in the Middle Atlantic Conferences as part of the Commonwealth sub-conference, which is in NCAA Division III. The Blazers nickname started in the 1920s when the campus elected a rising senior as the "White Sweater" girl as someone who possessed the most sportsmanship and school spirit. Currently, the nickname is represented by a horse with a "blaze" mark on its forehead. Food & Beverage 1 There seems to usually be a small stand located in the lobby selling the most basic of items. You will want to use this for snacks and quick drinks only, so please plan on eating before or after the game. Atmosphere 4 The arena is a small gym that is similar to many high school gyms. It is a simple affair with four stands that surround the court. Currently, the stands behind the benches are not being used. There is a small upper deck stand behind the benches that seem to be for VIPs and is a fairly unusual look for a small gym. There are two very nice scoreboards in the opposing corners of the arena. There is no video presentation but the scoreboards do their job well. The fans are very close to the floor and the atmosphere is pretty good for the level of play. Neighborhood 4 Frederick has a lot of things to offer fans who are visiting. There is plenty of Civil War history, antique shops, great restaurants, wonderful parks, covered bridges, performing arts and culture, and unique shopping. Shopping, lodging, and restaurants are abundant at nearby Francis Scott Key Mall and its surrounding area. Downtown Frederick may offer even better choices. The surprising renaissance of downtown Frederick means that there is an ever-growing selection of restaurants and shopping in the area. Brewer’s Alley Restaurant & Brewery, one of the beer providers in the stadium, has a location on North Market Street if you are on the lookout for a local brewpub. The Roy Rogers fast food is still thriving around Frederick. You must stop in and enjoy the roast beef sandwich, you will never want to have one at Arby’s gain. Also, don’t forget to use the Fixin’s Bar and get a holster of fries. You can also choose from Double-R-Burgers, Gold Rush Chicken sandwiches, or fried chicken. Francis Scott Key is buried across town. The lawyer and poet wrote the lyrics to the United States National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The Appalachian Trail is also nearby for outdoor adventurers. Frederick is also fairly close to both Baltimore and Washington, DC. Fans 4 The fans are pretty vibrant and engaged in the action of the game. The arena can get loud and lively during gameplay. The student section was pretty well-filled and active for the weeknight game we attended. We are unsure if students show up for weekend games as well. The rest of the stands seem to be filled with locals and family members of the players. Hood Blazers Student Section, Photo by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Access 3 Frederick is located just off of a major highway (I-70), but Hood College is located within the neighborhoods of a fairly old city, with some small roads accessing it. There is also limited parking on this small campus so you may have to search a bit for decent parking. Visitors do not need a parking permit at night, but if attending a daytime event here during a normal school day you may wish to check on parking regulations. Return on Investment 4 The cost of attending a Hood game is $5, cash or check, for adults. Children, Ages 6-17, are $3. Parking should be free. The return on investment is sound and fair for this level of play. . Extras 3 Francis Scott Key’s Grave gives Frederick a pretty interesting extra for the area. The unique upper deck seating, even if reserved for VIPs makes for an interesting look for the arena. Carroll Creek Park, within walking distance of the campus, is a world-class urban park and there are restaurants, live music, public art, and a scenic pedestrian path. Final Thoughts The Woodsboro Bank Arena at the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center is a simple gym that has engaging fans and offers a great small college atmosphere for the sports fan.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Babb Field at Stromberg Stadium W University Parkway Baltimore MD 21210 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays website Babb Field at Stromberg Stadium website Year Opened: 2015 Capacity: 650 Blue Jays Baseball in Baltimore Johns Hopkins University is often known for its successful lacrosse programs but it has many sports teams that are very successful. Although the men's and women's lacrosse programs are allowed to compete in Division I under a grandfather clause, the remainder of Hopkins' teams compete in Division III, the lowest level of NCAA athletics. The university was named after its first benefactor, the American entrepreneur, abolitionist, and philanthropist Johns Hopkins. The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays baseball team plays its home games at Babb Field at Stromberg Stadium, a small but modern ballpark which opened on the Hopkins campus in 2015. Its name honors legendary Hopkins baseball coach Bobb Babb, who won over 1,000 games and led the Blue Jays to 18 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances and reached the College World Series three times. It also honors Bill Stromberg, a university trustee and former baseball and football player. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Babb Field at Stromberg Stadium, but fans are free to bring their own. Atmosphere 4 Babb Field at Stromberg Stadium is an intimate venue, seating only about 650 fans, but it is just the right size for the team. All seats are chairbacks (always a plus at this level) and are very close to the action. You will have a great view of the field and of the beautiful brick buildings of Baltimore across University Boulevard. There is a scoreboard in left field which looks like it should have the capability of showing videos, or at least graphics. However, such functionality was not enabled when we visited. It does show the linescore, count, and other basic information. Neighborhood 5 The University is located in the Charles Village and Homewood neighborhoods of Baltimore. There are numerous bars and restaurants in the Charles Village area where Hopkins is located, such as THB Bagels, Gertrude’s at the BMA, and One World Café. You can also check out the Baltimore Museum of Art right down the street from campus. A short walk or drive away is Miss Shirley’s Café on West Cold Spring Lane. They are well known locally for their numerous breakfast options and generous portions. This is one of the nicest parts of Baltimore, with great restaurants and many attractions to visit before or after the game. Fans 4 Johns Hopkins draws a couple hundred fans to a typical baseball game, but since the stadium only seats 650, this is a decent crowd. The crowd can get into the game when the Blue Jays are doing well, and clearly know a lot about the team and the players. Some are friends and family of the players, others are Hopkins alumni or other locals who have been coming to games for years. Regardless, they are into the team and focused on the action on the field. Access 3 The Hopkins campus is a short drive off I-83. Once you arrive, there are several garages you can park in, with the San Martin Garage the closest, around a five minute walk away. There is a small lot next to the stadium, but fans are unable to park there. The cost to park in the garages will vary depending on when you are visiting and what else is going on on campus that day as well as how long you are parked for. Typically, you take a ticket when you enter the garage and pay when you exit. On weekdays this could cost up to around $16, while on weekends it will be less. When normal parking rates are in effect, you can pay by credit card as you leave. However, if the baseball game is going on at the same time as a lacrosse match, event rates at the garage will likely be in effect. This will range from $10-$20 and is payable by cash only upon entering. We would suggest coming prepared to pay via both methods, as it is possible only one will be accepted when you visit. Once you get to the stadium, getting to the seating area is easy enough. A walkway wraps behind the concourse's brick back side, and steps and ramps will take you to the seating area. Restrooms are available all the way down the right field line in the corner by the tennis courts and are of a sufficient size for the crowds that typically attend. Return on Investment 4 There is no charge to attend regular-season Johns Hopkins baseball games. However, the high cost of parking brings this score down a notch. For the best value, we suggest attending a game on a weekend when there is no lacrosse match going on. (That being said, if you also want to see a Hopkins lacrosse game, attending a baseball game on the same day can improve the value since you'll only need to pay once for parking.) Extras 1 Look for the signage on the outfield fence honoring Johns Hopkins' conference titles and NCAA postseason appearances. Final Thoughts Although Johns Hopkins is best known for its lacrosse program, it has many other sports teams whose games are worth attending. Babb Field at Stromberg Stadium is a modern ballpark, nicer than many you would see at Division I, and a Hopkins baseball game here is definitely worth the visit.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Fitton Baseball Field 1 College St Worcester, MA 01610 Holy Cross Crusaders website Fitton Field website Year Opened: 1905 Capacity: 3,000 A Good Fitt   Baseball has been played at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester (pronounced “Woo-stah” by locals), MA since 1876. The Crusaders have played on the site of Fitton Field since 1905. The ballpark is named in honor of the Reverend James Fitton, who donated the land on which the baseball and adjacent football stadium  is located.   In addition to the Holy Cross baseball team, the Futures Collegiate Baseball League’s Worcester Bravehearts  play here. Fitton Field has also hosted professional baseball in the past, as the Can-Am League’s Worcester Tornadoes spent eight seasons in the Heart of the Commonwealth before folding in 2012. During their time at Fitton Field, the Tornadoes installed lighting and permanent seating, bringing the venue up to professional standards.   Over their long history, the Crusaders have qualified for 11 NCAA Tournaments, reaching the College World Series four times. Holy Cross won the national championship in 1952, remaining the only northeastern school to ever win the title in history. 79 alumni have appeared in the Major Leagues, the majority of whom played in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Declan Cronin made his major league debut in 2023, becoming the first Crusader alumnus in almost 50 years to play in the Majors.   Food & Beverage 0   There is no food available at Fitton Field for Holy Cross baseball games. The concession stands along the first base side of the field remain boarded up. Fans are welcome to bring in their own snacks during Crusaders games. You’ll see a lot of Dunkin’ products in the stands on chilly Massachusetts spring afternoons.   Atmosphere 2   The Crusader game day staff put on your standard, no-frills game presentation at Fitton Field. The ballpark has an excellent sound system, which is put to good use with music in between innings. The PA announcer is professional and unobtrusive. A new scoreboard in right-center field (the old scoreboard exploded - yes, exploded - in 2023) displays basic game information. There’s little going on at Fitton Field to distract your attention from the game. The football stadium ( also named Fitton Field ) located just beyond the right field fence makes for an interesting backdrop, as does Interstate 290 just beyond the left field fence. You may find yourself wondering if anyone has reached the interstate with a long home run. It has happened, most recently when Zach Tower hit one out there in 2015. Jeff Bagwell also reached the interstate when he played for the University of Hartford. It is rumored that Jose Canseco took regular aim at the interstate, but since he hit only one home run in his 20 games in Worcester, we'll call those rumors unconfirmed.   Much of the noise you will hear at Fitton Field comes from the players on the field and the fans in the stands. If you enjoy a low-key ballpark atmosphere, where you can hear the chatter on the field and the crack of the bat on the ball (well, since this is college baseball, the ping of the bat), you’ll enjoy an afternoon at Fitton Field. Neighborhood 3     Worcester is the second largest city in all of New England, but has never enjoyed much of a reputation as a destination location. That all began to change when the city announced that the Pawtucket Red Sox would be moving to the brand-new Polar Park , located just 2.5 miles from the Holy Cross campus.   The Holy Cross campus is located in southwestern Worcester about three miles from downtown. There isn’t much in the immediate area of campus in terms of dining or lodging options, but the city of Worcester contains many excellent options.   Worcester’s acclaimed “ Restaurant Row ” on Shrewsbury Street is home to over forty different eateries, shops and salons. It’s a favorite destination for locals looking to enjoy a night on the town. Fans will find additional options in the downtown area around the DCU Center . The up-and-coming Canal District, anchored by the new Polar Park , is rapidly growing and worth a look. Likewise, fans looking for lodging options should head downtown, as there is nothing around Holy Cross.   Traditionally overshadowed by its neighbors in Boston and Providence, Worcester is carving out its own niche as an affordable, attractive alternative to those cities.   Fans 2   As is the case with most schools in the northeast, a Crusader baseball crowd can accurately be described as a “friends and family” type of crowd. Generally totaling between 150-250 fans, the fans that do come to Fitton Field generally have a close connection with the players down on the field and are very much into the game. With the close proximity of many of Holy Cross’ opponents, it’s not unusual to see some fans of the visiting teams descend on Fitton Field.   There is not much of a turnout by the student body, but the students who do show up are ardent rooters of the Crusaders. Access 4     The Holy Cross campus is located in southwest Worcester, near the junction of Interstate 290 and Route 146. Driving is the primary method for getting to the Holy Cross campus. The Worcester Regional Transportation Authority’s 29 and 42 buses stop near Fitton Baseball Field on Southbridge Street.     Fitton Field is located on the northern edge of the Holy Cross campus, at the foot of Mount St. James. Also located nearby are Fitton Football Field  and Freshman Field . While somewhat isolated from the rest of the campus and from the center of the athletic complex, Fitton Field is still easily accessible.   Fans will enter the ballpark on the first base side of the field, at the top of the seating bowl. Concessions and merchandise stands flank the sides of the entrance, but unfortunately these are closed for Crusader baseball games. A building housing the bathrooms is located on the third base side of the ballpark.   The seating bowl at Fitton Field stretches from medium right field around to medium left field. The majority of the seating at Fitton Field is made up of individual stadium seats. There are a few sections of metal bleachers with backs down either foul line. There is plenty of standing room and accessible seating along the entirety of the top of the seating bowl. The field is visible from almost all points on the concourse. With the small size of the typical Crusader crowd, getting around is not an issue. For seats without a net obstructing your view, choose seats further down the lines.   Return on Investment 5   There is no charge for admission or parking at Crusader baseball games. With no on-site concessions, fans will not have to reach for their wallets once while at Fitton Field.   Extras 2   Holy Cross has an impressive baseball history, as they are the only northeastern school to ever win the College World Series, back in 1952. This accomplishment is immortalized in giant letters along the left field fence. The Crusaders’ 2017 Patriot League championship is commemorated on the right field wall. A giant poster commemorating Declan Cronin being named as the Miami Marlins’ Rookie of the Year in 2024 is hung on the façade of the building containing the restrooms.   Ted Williams hit his first home run as a member of the Red Sox at Fitton Field during an exhibition game.   Ted Williams at Fitton Field, 1939. Photo courtesy of Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Final Thoughts Fitton Field is a solid, no-frills facility that fits the needs of the Holy Cross baseball team perfectly. While the crowds of 20,000 that used to visit Worcester for baseball games are a distant memory and the glory days of this program are a thing of the past, you can’t ask for more than catching some quality baseball in this charming little park. And the chances of another scoreboard exploding have to be minimal.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Glenn Warner Soccer Facility Cooper Road Annapolis, MD 21402 Navy Midshipmen website Glenn Warner Soccer Facility website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 2,500 Soccer on Severn Shores The Glenn Warner Soccer Facility is located on the campus of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and is home to the Navy Midshipmen men's and women's soccer teams. Opened in 2002, the stadium is located on the bank of the Severn River near its confluence with Chesapeake Bay. The stadium seats about 2,500 fans and is named after longtime Navy soccer coach Glenn Warner. Food & Beverage 2 There is one small concession stand at Glenn Warner Soccer Facility, located at a window near the restroom and marketing table. The menu is limited but affordable Bottled Pepsi products and water cost $4, with hot cocoa and coffee going for $3 on cold days late in the season. Hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, and popcorn are all $4, while candy is $2 and chips and flavored ice cups are a dollar each. The menu here is quite limited, so it is best to eat before or after the game. Atmosphere 5 Glenn Warner Soccer Facility's location on the grounds of the US Naval Academy and the shores of the Severn River makes for one of the most picturesque settings in all of college soccer. The stands offer gorgeous views of boats going by on the river, everything from small motorboats to sailboats to double-decker tourist boats and more. Everything about this maritime setting reminds you of where you are, from the river views to the masts of sailboats in the boat yard sticking up above the locker room roof and swaying in the wind, to the sound of "Anchors Aweigh" playing over the PA system at halftime and the end of the game. Before the game, you may hear a recording of the Naval Academy Glee Club performing the national anthem, and while it isn't quite the experience it would be if they were there in person, it still sends chills down your spine. All seats at the facility are bleachers along one sideline - there is no room on the other side since that's where the river is. Wherever you sit, you will have a great view of the field and the river beyond. Some seats are in the shade of the press box during a day game, so this can be a nice benefit on those hot days early in the season. Many fans also stand along the fence separating the walking path from the field. There are often promotions before the game and at halftime - anything from youth soccer players getting to play on the field to the Navy parachute team entering the stadium from above before the game. Of course, there are no breaks in the action during the game for promos, because soccer is constant action. A small scoreboard in the far right corner shows the score and clock, as well as shots on goal and corner, kicks for each team. Oddly enough, it also has a place for time remaining on penalties, even though soccer does not use timed penalties, and the outdoor sports Navy sponsors that do - rugby and lacrosse - play elsewhere. Neighborhood 5 Annapolis is a small city of about 40,000 people, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. There’s a shopping center located across from the football stadium where you will likely park (more on that later.) It has a few basic restaurants, but you can find far better food a short drive away. Annapolis is located on the Chesapeake Bay, there are plenty of great seafood restaurants nearby, including Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs, The Boatyard Bar & Grill, and the Sailor Oyster Bar, all located within a couple of miles of the stadium. If you want an authentic sweet treat after your meal, The Boatyard sells the official state dessert of Maryland, Smith Island Cake, which is made fresh on Smith Island daily and brought up by ferry. The real attraction, though, is the U.S. Naval Academy itself. The grounds are beautiful, and there’s so much history, so be sure to take a tour while you’re in town. Keep in mind the stringent access requirements that will be discussed in that section, however. Fans 4 Navy draws pretty well for college soccer, especially outside the powerhouse programs, with hundreds of fans in the stadium for a typical home game. The Midshipmen attend in good numbers despite their many responsibilities - by our estimate, there were about a hundred of them at the game we were at, though not all of them were there the whole time. The fans can be passionate at times, especially the midshipmen, but are usually not so rowdy. Unlike many college soccer venues, this is not just a friends and family crowd. Alumni, locals, youth soccer players, and more, all show up to cheer on the Mids. While the crowd here may be dwarfed by that at a professional game, it is on the high end for college soccer, especially a college soccer program like Navy which is not usually regarded as an elite team. Access 2 Getting to the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility is quite complicated. Although Annapolis is conveniently located off US 50/US 301, getting onto the Academy grounds is another story. Vehicular access is prohibited to anyone without the appropriate DOD permit. Instead, you have two options. The most convenient one is to park at the football stadium (punch 550 Taylor Avenue into your GPS) and take the shuttle bus to the stadium. Parking here will cost between $10 and $20 via the Parkmobile app, although there is no cost to ride the shuttle itself. There was a sign saying to pay the attendant, but no attendant was on duty when we went and we were told to pay via the app. Note that on days Navy has a home football game, parking is instead at the Navy Health Clinic. Check the Navy athletic website to confirm. There is no charge to park here on days when this is the location. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes or so, so be sure to allot extra time. Alternatively, fans can park in downtown Annapolis in one of multiple garages (some of which are free on weekends) and walk onto Academy grounds and to the stadium. Regardless of how you access the Academy, anyone over the age of 18 will need to show a photo ID and anyone under 18 will need to either have one or be accompanied by someone who does. Effective May 7, 2025, all photo IDs will need to be REAL ID compliant . This requirement is not in effect yet as of the time of writing in the fall of 2024, so any state driver's license or other photo ID should be fine as long as it does not explicitly say "Not For Federal Use" or similar. (This last part will only apply to a very small number of IDs.) If you are visiting from out of the country, you will need to provide a valid passport - Canadian and other foreign driver's licenses are not accepted. Once you get to the soccer stadium, you will walk down the path, past the concession stand and marketing table, to the bleachers. Restrooms are located near the concession stand and are sufficient for the crowds that typically visit. Be sure to leave in time to catch the shuttle after the game, if that is how you came, or you may be waiting 20 minutes for it to return. The shuttle stops one hour after the game ends unless there is another event going on that day. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Navy soccer games is free, and concessions are affordable if limited. However, the high cost of parking for most games takes this score down a bit. Extras 4 One bonus star here for the sweeping views of the Severn River and the passing boats and ships upon it, quite possibly the best view in college soccer. Look for the cornhole board near the marketing table - it is always a popular play area for families. The Navy soccer program puts on various gameday promotions, ranging from merchandise giveaways to free food to a pregame performance by the Navy Parachute Team. You do not always see this level of fan engagement in college soccer. If attending an evening game, be sure to take in the Evening Colors Ceremony, which occurs every day at sunset at the Naval Academy, like it does on every United States naval base or ship at sea anywhere around the world. Approximately five minutes before sunset, a bugle will play "First Call" to alert everyone to what is coming. This will be heard throughout the academy grounds. At sunset itself, the bugle plays "Retreat" as everyone in attendance stops what they are doing, stands, and faces the flag. Midshipmen and other military personnel salute, while civilians place their right hand over their hearts. The ensign is lowered from the flagpole over the grounds (though this is not visible from the stadium), and when that is finished, everyone returns to watching the game. The Evening Colors is the traditional symbol of the end of the day for military personnel. Final Thoughts It is hard to imagine a more gorgeous setting for college soccer than the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. With a strong fan base and a wonderful maritime setting, a Navy soccer game is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening in the late summer or early fall.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field 400 South Orange Ave South Orange Village, NJ 07079 Seton Hall Pirates website Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 700 Pirates Softball in South Orange Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field has been home to the Seton Hall University Pirates softball team since 2005. The stadium features a turf field and a capacity of 700. Technically it is located not on the Seton Hall campus but in Ivy Hill Park, a county park adjacent to the Seton Hall campus. Mike Sheppard, Sr. whose name is also on the adjacent Mike Sheppard, Sr. Stadium at Owen T. Carroll Field, home of Pirates baseball and soccer , was the longtime baseball coach at Seton Hall University and led the Pirates to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including College World Series in 1974 and 1975. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field. Fans are free to bring their own with the exception of alcohol. Atmosphere 3 Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field consists of a small set of elevated bleachers running from the inside of one dugout to the inside of the other. Fans sitting here will be up close to the action and have great viewing angles, though they will be behind a net due to how close they are. Some fans also choose to stand down the foul lines by the bullpens. There is no netting there, but no place to sit either - standing will be your only option. There is not a whole lot going on here other than the game itself. Music is played between batters and during other breaks in the action, and the PA announcer makes the standard announcements, but that is about it. Neighborhood 5 The Seton Hall campus is located in South Orange, New Jersey, which may be the best college town in the Big East. The downtown area around South Orange Avenue is filled with local businesses. Bunny's Sports Bar is very popular with the locals, but you will find many options here, from Italian to Chinese to bars, pubs, and whatever else you might want. Just keep in mind if you head too far east on South Orange Avenue towards Newark, the neighborhood gets a lot worse. You should be safe if you drive through here in your car on the way to or from campus, but you don't want to do too much walking around here. Still, as long as you stick to the part of South Orange Avenue near campus, this is a great neighborhood. Fans 2 Seton Hall only draws a few dozen fans to a typical softball game, most of them friends and family of the players. Those who do attend are very knowledgeable about the team, the players, and even rival Big East Teams who Seton Hall plays. During the game we attended, we overheard fans having knowledgeable discussions comparing the Pirates' opponents that day to Big East opponents they had previously faced. While the Pirates' fanbase isn't large in number, they do know their stuff. Access 4 Seton Hall is located on South Orange Ave., which runs through Newark into South Orange itself. Although Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field is technically located in Ivy Hill Park, your best bet is to park on campus in the large parking garage. Then, you will walk through a gate marked "Ivy Hill Park" and the stadium will be right there. Parking is free in the garage, but may be challenging on weekday afternoons as it is also used by faculty and others at the college. Many GPS apps will try to take you to the wrong place if you enter the stadium name, but if you can just get to the college campus, tell the guard at the entrance checkpoint you are going to the softball game and they can direct you to parking. The South Orange train station is also located a short walk away from the Seton Hall campus. Restrooms are located down the third base line and consist of two single person bathrooms. There are also port-a-potties down the right field line. Keep in mind that the restroom on the right (as you are facing the entrance) has its lock mislabeled from the inside. When it is locked, it will say unoccupied, and vice versa. It works fine from the outside, and the restroom on the left works fine from both sides. This can cause confusion where people think their door is locked when it isn't. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Seton Hall regular season softball games is free. So is parking and you won't pay anything for concessions because there aren't any. However there isn't enough here to earn the top score. . Extras 1 Look for the banner on the right field fence honoring Seton Hall Big East titles and postseason appearances. Final Thoughts Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field is a simple softball stadium, but is still a nice place to take in a game. You will sit up close and personal to the action, and it's hard to argue with the chance to see a live sporting event for free given everything seems to be going up in price these days.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Fitton Field 1 College St Worcester, MA 01610 Holy Cross Crusaders football website Fitton Football Field website Year Opened: 1924 Capacity: 23,500 Fitton Field Football In 1843 Father James Fitton donated a large parcel of land in Worcester, Massachusetts to the Archdiocese of Boston. This land became the site of the College of the Holy Cross. The college later named its sports complex, containing a football field and baseball stadium, after Father Fitton. The College of the Holy Cross is a small school with an enrollment of under 3,000 students possessing an impressive sporting history. With a football history dating back to the 1800s, the Crusaders rank 64th in the nation in all-time victories. Football has been played at the College of the Holy Cross since 1884. After playing at various sites around Worcester, including what is now Fitton Baseball Field , the Crusaders football team moved to the current location of Fitton Field in 1908. Originally, wooden stands surrounded the field. In 1924 steel structures were erected, and in 1986 the wooden seats were replaced by the metal bleachers in place today. As a result of the piecemeal expansion over the decades, Fitton Field is a hodge-podge of irregularly sized metal bleachers. For a time, this tiny school competed among the national powers, finishing in the Associated Press top 20 rankings five times and appearing in the Orange Bowl in 1946. Today, Holy Cross is a member of the FCS’ Patriot League, a league proud of its high academic standards. The Crusaders have won ten Patriot League titles and have appeared in the Division 1AA/FCS playoffs six times, reaching the national quarterfinals in 2022. Six Holy Cross alumni are enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Food & Beverage 3 A rotation of local food trucks provides the concessions at Fitton Field on fall Saturdays, covering all the basics and making sure there is a solid variety week in and week out. During Stadium Journey’s most recent visit, eight trucks were counted, serving all your stadium favorites from hot dogs, hamburgers, and nachos to tacos and mac and cheese. Other food trucks offered fried dough and ice cream while another sold slushies. Permanent stands tucked under the grandstand offer beverages. Pepsi products are featured at Fitton Field, along with wine and beers from local favorites Harpoon and Greater Good. Fans preferring national brands can enjoy a Coors Light or Blue Moon instead. Atmosphere 3 The game day atmosphere at a Holy Cross football game can be a bit of a hit-or-miss experience. There are many solid features present throughout the game, but some aspects do remind you that Holy Cross is indeed a small school playing in a big venue. Tailgating begins well before the game in the Freshman Fields to the north of the stadium and in the outfield of Hanover Insurance Park adjacent to the stadium. The tailgating seemed to be going strong well into the game, as many fans appeared to spend their whole afternoon in the parking lots rather than in the football stands. There is a video scoreboard in the south end zone that is put to good use with replays, features, and game information. There are games and contests during play stoppages, and t-shirts are tossed into the stands every time the Crusaders score a touchdown. The tiny pep band and cheerleading squad perform throughout the game but don’t add a whole lot to the game-day atmosphere due to their small size. The students in attendance tend to spread out throughout the stadium rather than congregating in their assigned sections, minimizing their energy somewhat. The PA announcer seems to be performing as much as delivering game information. Neighborhood 2 Fitton Field, located on the northern edge of the Holy Cross campus, sits adjacent to a residential area outside of downtown Worcester. As a result, there are not many dining options to choose from near the ballpark. If visiting Worcester from out of town, there are other neighborhoods more worthy of your attention. As you may expect, a great deal of attention is being given to the Canal District , the site of the new Polar Park , as a great deal of development is happening in that area. Located less than two miles from Holy Cross, there are several options for dining in that neighborhood. Shrewsbury Street is home to “Restaurant Row,” where over 40 eateries ranging from fine dining to diners, from brew pubs to Italian bistros are lined up along a two-mile stretch of road. Located less than a ten-minute drive from Fitton Field, it’s a great place for a stroll on a nice fall afternoon. Visitors will find lodging options nearby in the downtown area. Fans 4 The Crusaders enjoyed a remarkable season in 2022, finishing the regular season 12-0 and reaching the national tournament quarterfinals before bowing out to the eventual champion South Dakota State. Local fans responded in a big way, packing Fitton Field with an average crowd of just under 12,000 fans per game, ranking them in the top twenty in the national attendance rankings. Stadium Journey visited Fitton Field for the 2023 home opener, with an announced crowd of over 13,000 in the house. Holy Cross fans are knowledgeable about the team and enthusiastic in their support of the Crusaders. Fitton Field can be a sea of purple on game day. While supporting the home team strongly, Crusader fans are welcoming to visiting fans. With the Crusaders featuring several local teams on their annual schedule, there’s often a good turnout from visiting fans as well. Fitton Field is a place where you can feel comfortable sporting the colors of the opposition. There’s a solid representation of the student body for football games at Fitton Field. While the students are known to leave early consistently, they make their presence known while at the stadium. The “White-Out” game has become a popular event on the schedule, with thousands of students descending on Fitton Field wearing all-white outfits. Access 3 The College of the Holy Cross is located in Southwestern Worcester, at the junctions of Interstate 290 and Route 146. Fitton Field is located on the northern edge of campus, directly off Interstate 290. Easily accessed by car, there is ample parking near the stadium. While the Holy Cross campus is not accessible by public transportation, it is a short 5-minute drive from downtown for those who arrive in Worcester via bus or train. Fitton Field has a cold, industrial feel to it. The large facility, which seats over 20,000, is made up almost exclusively of steel and aluminum. From the metal bleachers that make up all of the seating to the exposed grandstand structure underneath, Fitton Field certainly harkens back to an earlier time. Small buildings housing concession stands, locker rooms, facility sheds, and restrooms are tucked into every available corner underneath the grandstand, giving the place a temporary feel even though it is close to a century old. Restrooms, while dated, are more than plentiful enough for a typical Crusader crowd. As you might imagine in a facility that is approaching a century of use, it’s not the most accommodating place for those with accessibility issues. There is a small seating area for those requiring handicapped access. Much of the area around the stadium consists of stairs and hills, making it difficult to traverse for those with special needs. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Holy Cross football games are sold in three tiers: Reserved seats (sections 3-9 and 23-28) which cost $25, and general admission seats priced at $20. Premium “cushioned” seats in the center sections will cost an additional five dollars. Since Fitton doesn’t come close to filling up on game day, it seems that most fans sit pretty much wherever they want. Parking is plentiful in the parking garage directly adjacent to Fitton Field, the Freshman Fields to the north of the stadium, or the lots on the far side of Hanover Insurance Park. Parking costs $35 in the garage and $25 on the grassy lots. Frugal Crusader fans can find limited on-street parking around Fitton Field. Concession prices, while a bit pricey, are in line with other similar facilities in the area. Extras 2 An extra point is awarded for the sense of history at Fitton Field. Several honored numbers are present along the top of the visitors’ bleachers. For a team that has been playing intercollegiate football for over 100 years, more such touches would be a welcome sight. Crusader conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances are commemorated on the façade of the north end zone. Final Thoughts Fitton Field harkens back to the school’s glory days, and much like Holy Cross football, has seen better days. Holy Cross would be better served by a much smaller, more modern facility. There is not anything necessarily wrong with Fitton Field, it just feels too big and too cold for the needs of the program today. ----- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos courtesy of Holy Cross athletics (photo #2 ) and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey (all others) Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.00 Freshman Field 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610 Holy Cross softball website Freshman Field website Year Opened: 1981 Capacity: 500 'Sader Softball   The College of the Holy Cross is a private Jesuit liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1843, it was the first Catholic college in New England and is one of the oldest Catholic institutions of higher learning in the country. Today Holy Cross boasts an enrollment of over 3,000 students who study in 64 academic programs. The 175-acre campus is a registered arboretum and features spectacular views of the city of Worcester below.   Freshman Field has been the home of Holy Cross softball since the program’s inception in 1981. Freshman Field was the name of the large, open, grassy area behind Fitton Field. Historically, the field was used as a training ground for the school’s less experienced athletes (i.e. the freshmen), providing them for a place to practice and compete. The softball team became regular visitors, and as the program grew, they were given a permanent spot in the corner of Freshman Field. And the name stuck.   Since 1985 the Crusaders have competed in Division One and have been a part of the Patriot League since its inception in 1991. The Holy Cross softball squad has not experienced much success over their history, winning only two conference titles (one shared, one outright), and making no appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Entering the 2025 season, the Crusaders sported an all-time record of 481-1113-6, a meager .303 winning percentage.   Food & Beverage 0   There are no concessions available at Freshman Field. Veteran Crusader fans will bring their own food and drinks to enjoy during the game. You’ll be sure to see a lot of warm beverages from the local Dunkin’ here during chilly March and April afternoons.   Atmosphere 2   As you would expect, the game day experience at Freshman Field is a very basic one. Most of the noise and energy comes from the players themselves. If you’ve never experienced a college softball game, it’s really a lot different from what you would find at a baseball game. The players sing and chant throughout their game, with different songs for each player and for different situations throughout the game. The battle between the dugouts can be as entertaining as the action on the field.   The Holy Cross staff do their best to augment the action with the limited resources they have at hand. Music plays over what is, frankly, a substandard sound system, while the PA announcer makes lineup and sponsor announcements while trying to add a little energy to the proceedings. Having a sound system that seems to cut in and out throughout the game does not help these efforts. A scoreboard in left field provides fans with basic game information.   Neighborhood 2   Worcester is the second largest city in all of New England but has never enjoyed much of a reputation as a destination location. That all began to change when the city announced that the Pawtucket Red Sox would be moving to the brand-new Polar Park , located just 2.5 miles from the Holy Cross campus.   The Holy Cross campus is located in southwestern Worcester about three miles from downtown. There isn’t much in the immediate area of campus in terms of dining or lodging options, but the city of Worcester contains many excellent options.   Worcester’s acclaimed “ Restaurant Row ” on Shrewsbury Street is home to over forty different eateries, shops and salons. It’s a favorite destination for locals looking to enjoy a night on the town. Fans will find additional options in the downtown area around the DCU Center . The up-and-coming Canal District, anchored by the new Polar Park , is rapidly growing and worth a look. Likewise, fans looking for lodging options should head downtown, as there is nothing around Holy Cross.   Traditionally overshadowed by its neighbors in Boston and Providence, Worcester is carving out its own niche as an affordable, attractive alternative to those cities.   Fans 2   College softball isn’t a big deal in this part of the country, but Holy Cross appears to draw crowds very comparable to other area schools. A quick scan of box scores show crowds in the 100-200 fan range. From this writer’s perspective, those figures seem accurate, if maybe a bit inflated. This is the type of crowd we at Stadium Journey like to refer to as a “friends and family” crowd, meaning that virtually everyone in attendance has a connection with a player on the field.   A drawback to the design of Freshman Field is that the only available permanent seating consists of a set of metal bleachers located far down the right field line. Most fans will opt for the standing room along the right field fence, where they can duck into their cars to escape the cold Worcester March and April weather for a bit. Other fans choose the hill that overlooks the field on the left field side. There aren’t a lot of prime vantage points for fans at Freshman Field. Still, the fans are enthusiastic in their support of both teams, as you are likely to find family members of the visiting fans here at Holy Cross as well. As you might imagine, crowds increase over the course of the season as the weather warms up.   Access 3   Freshman Field is located on the northern edge of the Holy Cross campus, at the foot of Mount St. James. Also located nearby is Fitton Football Field  and Fitton Baseball Field . While somewhat isolated from the rest of the campus and from the center of the athletic complex, Freshman Field is still easily accessible.   The Holy Cross campus is located in southwest Worcester, near the junction of Interstate 290 and Route 146. Driving is the primary method for getting to the Holy Cross campus. The Worcester Regional Transportation Authority’s 29 and 42 buses stop near Fitton Baseball Field on Southbridge Street, a short walk from the softball field.     There is ample parking inside the Freshman Field complex or along Kimball Road, which runs along the third base side of the field. Those fans who are worried about protecting their windshields can park in a small grove across the street.   There are no permanent restrooms at Freshman Field. A row of port-a-johns behind the bleachers will have to suffice. Thick chain link fencing and the presence of dugouts, equipment sheds and batting cages obstruct views from many spots around the ballpark.   Return on Investment 5   Admission to Crusader softball games is free of charge, as is parking. With no concessions on site, you will not have to reach for your wallet even once while visiting Freshman Field.   Extras 0   There isn’t much happening at Freshman Field that can be considered extra. This is a pretty bare-bones game day experience.   Final Thoughts   Freshman Field is a basic facility that does just what it is asked to do, and little more. But if you’re looking for an inexpensive and entertaining place to spend a weekend afternoon, a Crusader softball game will certainly fit the bill.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Fitton Baseball Field 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01604 Worcester Bravehearts website Fitton Field website Year Opened: 1905 Capacity: 3,000 A Great Fitt for Ten Years Baseball has been played on the site of Fitton Field at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, since 1905. The ballpark is named in honor of the Reverend James Fitton, who donated the land on which the baseball and adjacent football stadium is located. In addition to the Holy Cross baseball team , the Futures Collegiate Baseball League’s Worcester Bravehearts play at Fitton Field. The name “Bravehearts” refers to the hearts in the city’s official seal and the city’s nickname as “the heart of the commonwealth.” Fitton Field has also hosted professional baseball in the past, as the Can-Am League’s Worcester Tornadoes spent eight seasons here before folding in 2012. The Bravehearts joined the Futures Collegiate Baseball League in 2014. The team instantly became one of the more successful teams in the circuit, annually leading the league in attendance by a wide margin and winning championships in 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019. Despite the success experienced by the Bravehearts, there was real concern about the viability of the team once the city of Worcester committed to build Polar Park and move the Red Sox’ AAA team to town. Despite the presence of the top Red Sox farm team just two miles away from Fitton Field, Worcester continues to be one of the better draws in the Futures League. Food & Beverage 5 For a small ballpark like Fitton Field, there is a really good variety of food items available at a Bravehearts game. Concessions are sold out of a stand on the first base side of the ballpark near the entrance. All your ballpark staples can be found here, including ¼ pound hot dogs and burgers, BBQ chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers, and sausage and pepper sandwiches. Fans looking for a more unique item will find grilled chicken Caesar salads on the menu and on Friday and Saturday games, lobster rolls. Portable carts serve up fried dough and some of the largest, freshest servings of cotton candy this writer has ever seen in a ballpark. An ice cream truck sets up shop behind home plate serving assorted treats. Pepsi products are featured at Fitton Field, in both bottles and fountain varieties. A good selection of adult beverages are also sold at Braveheart games. National brands, including Coors Light, Sam Adams, Bud Light, Budwieser and Miller Lite are sold in both cans and draft. In addition, local brews from Wachusett, Wormtown and Greater Good are sold at the beer stand. Sparkling wine, White Claw, Del’s Shandy and Carlson Cider are also available. Atmosphere 4 While most summer leagues in New England tend to put on a minimal show and let the game itself be the focus, teams in the Futures League tend to present the game in a fashion similar to their minor league counterparts. The Bravehearts are no exception, with lots of distractions presented throughout the game geared towards the younger fans in attendance. The team’s mascot, Jake the Lion, is a constant presence throughout the game, both roaming the stands interacting with fans and taking part in between-inning shenanigans. T-shirt tosses, pie eating contests, races with the mascot and hot dog tosses are just some of the things that go on at Fitton Field. At one point every game, all the kids in the stands get a chance to run across the outfield. After each Bravehearts run, the entire stadium, players included, clap their hands to the team’s victory song. Neighborhood 3 Fitton Field, located on the northern edge of the Holy Cross campus, sits adjacent to a residential area outside of downtown Worcester. As a result, there are not many dining options to choose from in the immediate vicinity of the ballpark. Historically Worcester has not been considered a city to spend a whole lot of time in, but that is changing as the city experiences a revival. As you may expect, a great deal of attention is being given to the Canal District, the site of the new Polar Park , as a great deal of development is happening in that area. There are many options for dining in that neighborhood, which is located a short drive from Fitton Field. Visitors to Worcester would be well-advised to check out Shrewsbury Street, home to “Restaurant Row,” where over 40 eateries ranging from fine dining to diners, from brew pubs to Italian bistros are lined up along a two-mile stretch of road. Located a five-to-ten-minute drive from Fitton Field, it’s a great place for a stroll on a nice summer afternoon. Fans 4 There was a great deal of consternation around the Bravehearts when the Worcester Red Sox announced they were moving to town. After all, the Bravehearts were annually among the national leaders in attendance for all summer collegiate teams, averaging over 2,000 fans per game. The team energized the baseball community and had a dedicated fan base, but would the mom-and-pop Bravehearts be able to compete with the juggernaut Red Sox organization? Since the arrival of the WooSox, attendance at Fitton Field has declined, but has not bottomed out as feared. The team is averaging about 1,300 fans per game in 2023, holding steady since the arrival of the WooSox and good for the top half of the Futures League attendance rankings. By positioning themselves as a more affordable, family-friendly alternative to the big-money WooSox, the Bravehearts continue to attract both die-hard fans and families to Fitton Field. Access 3 Out of towners may be surprised to learn that Worcester is the second largest city in all of New England, behind only Boston. Worcester is centrally located in New England, less than an hour's drive from Boston and 45 minutes to Providence. Four major airports are located about an hour from Worcester, and the city is served by Amtrak train service, Greyhound Bus Lines, and Peter Pan Bus Lines. Both train and bus terminals are located in downtown Worcester, a five minute drive from the Holy Cross Campus. Fitton Field is located on The College of the Holy Cross campus in Southwestern Worcester, at the junctions of Interstate 290 and Route 146. Fans using public transportation can catch the 25 bus to city hall or the 42 bus downtown. Both bus routes stop at Southbridge Street at the bottom of College Hill adjacent to Fitton Field. There is ample free parking near the stadium in a parking garage adjacent to the ballpark. Fans will enter the ballpark on the first base side of the field, at the top of the seating bowl. Concessions and merchandise stands flank the sides of the entrance, and a building housing the bathrooms is located on the third base side. The majority of the seating at Fitton Field is made up of individual seats. There are a few sections of metal bleachers with backs down either foul line. The concourse can get a bit crowded with all the tents and tables set up all over the place. Fans requiring accessible seating will find Fitton Field easy to navigate. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for Worcester Bravehearts games are priced at ten dollars for general admission seats and twelve dollars for premium box seats. Tickets for children under 12 are discounted by two dollars, with seniors and veterans admitted for $5. Members of the Kids Club are admitted for free. Fans can purchase all you can eat tickets for $25. Parking is free in both the garage next door to the ballpark, as well as on the streets near the campus. Add in affordable prices for food and beer, and a night at the Worcester Bravehearts will certainly not break the bank. Extras 1 The connection between the team and community is strong, as several longtime fans who have passed away are memorialized on the wall behind the press box. Outside the box features such as a post-game home run derby and the annual “fans make the rules” games are popular additions to the schedule. While not worthy of an extra point, if you are going to Fitton Field during the latter part of the 2023 season you should get a kick out of the scoreboard, which caught on fire during the early days of the season, but still overlooks the field. A temporary scoreboard is located at ground level behind the center field fence. Final Thoughts When the Worcester Red Sox moved into the city and built their $159 million ballpark a mere two miles from Fitton Field, everyone wondered what would become of the Bravehearts. Central Massachusetts baseball fans need not worry. The Bravehearts are alive and well and continue to thrive in the Heart of the Commonwealth. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Sports Illustrated Stadium 600 Cape May St Harrison, NJ 07029 New York Red Bulls website Sports Illustrated Stadium website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 25,189 Running With The Red Bulls Major League Soccer (MLS) started in 1995, and one of the founding teams was the New York/New Jersey MetroStars which played in Giants Stadium. The New York Bulls are the successor to that franchise having been purchased directly by Austrian company Red Bull GmbH, producers of the Red Bull Energy Drink. After briefly being Red Bull New York they changed to the more American style New York Red Bulls name. The soccer venue opened in 2010 after a lot of political activity and is now the home to the Red Bulls. Located in Harrison, New Jersey, just on the other side of the Passaic River from Newark, Sports Illustrated Stadium seats 25,000 seats and is also owned by Red Bull GmbH. The stadium has also been home to other events such as the Premier Lacrosse League, local commencements, and many concerts. In December of 2024, New York Red Bulls and Sports Illustrated Tickets , a fan-first, live event ticketing marketplace, proudly announced a landmark, 13-year partnership. Food & Beverage 4 SI Stadium offers a variety of food options at a variety of concession locations. You will not go hungry at a Red Bull match. Soft Drinks can be found at most stands and you can fill and refill your drinks fairly easily on your own. A $40 season-long free refill cup can be purchased, as well as single-day cups. Red Bull Energy Drinks are also found throughout the stadium and are sold at the same general price as outside of the stadium. There is a wide variety of beer available inside the stadium. Atmosphere 5 SI Stadium offers a great atmosphere for fans. The enclosed nature of the stadium offers decent protection from the weather for fans, as well as keeping the sound loud and enclosed. The loudness of the venue is pretty great and you should expect to hear the Rage Against The Machine song “Bulls on Parade” quite often. This writer didn’t complain, although some may not enjoy the reliance on loud and aggressive music. There is also a live DJ spinning the tunes. On the west side of the stadium before the gates open, BULLevard, the Red Bulls pre-match activity area, is a place for kids to get their energy out. You may also find this a place for some giveaways from various companies. We enjoyed a unique peanut butter confection we had never heard of before (and forgot its name already) by some food company. There are stairs that will immediately take you up to the tight concourse as soon as you enter. There are elevators also available, but not escalators. There is a great deal of team history displayed along that concourse including the Metrostars greats. The supporter sections keep the sounds loud even without the PA system. Neighborhood 3 The area of Harrison that soccer-stadium is located within used to be solely an industrial area, but it has become better over the years. That is partially due to the stadium, but also due to it’s proximity to Newark as well as a nice, new PATH train station that can get you to New York City in minutes. In the local area, there is a Five Guys Burger and a good Korean taco restaurant, named Takorea, that are worth a stop before or after the match. There are a few other restaurants in the area, as well as an Element Hotel. Newark is also a quick walk away via a bridge. You could even park there at a place like Iberia Tavern & Restaurant and walk over after enjoying a nice meal. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and the Prudential Center are also close by. Fans 4 The Red Bulls have a great following and have good attendance averaging over 20,000 fans per game. Red Bull fans are led by the three main supporter groups. Empire Supporters Club, Garden State Ultras, and the Viking Army. Access 4 This writer was expecting the worse in accessing the Harrison area, but it was better than expected. Parking in Harrison is pretty easy if you follow to this exact address on your GPS: 890 S 3rd St, Harrison, NJ 07029. This will take you to the back way into the Harrison Parking Center where parking is a decent $15. Walking from the garage to the stadium is a little funky due to construction but it will be easy to figure out. There are closer lots for $20 but expect to wait in them as traffic is worse closer to the building and there are many tailgaters and parties there. The PATH train station is located between stadium and the Harrison Parking Center and is a great option to get to the stadium. The construction in the area is mainly because of the updated PATH station but it looks like that will all be worth it when finished. As mentioned before, parking in Newark at one of the many public lots or the Iberia Tavern & Restaurant lot is an option. We would recommend you check the Prudential Center or NJPAC calendar of events before doing so. Return on Investment 5 Tickets can be had for under $20 making the New York Red Bulls a great value. With parking for $15, this is shockingly a great value for a sports event in the New Jersey/New York area. There are more expensive seats, depending on the experience you desire from the SI Stadium experience. Extras 4 The supporter sections are a great extra as they are very active and loud. We enjoy the various rivalries for the Red Bulls (the I-95 Cup with Philadephia Union, the Hudson River Derby with New York City FC, and the Atlantic Cup with DC United) The Red Bulls are an original MLS franchise and they do not forget the great players from the Metrostars days. Watching Harrison, NJ change to a different city is a bit fascinating on its own. Final Thoughts A trip to Sports Illustratd Stadium for a New York Red Bulls is a great way for a sports fan to see high-level teams at a decent value.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Walt Kammann Baseball Field 2020 S Ave 8 E Yuma, AZ 85365 Arizona Western Matadors website Walt Kammann Baseball Field website Year Opened: 1964 Capacity: 150 (Approx) AW Matadors The Arizona Western Matadors play their baseball games as an ACCAC (Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) member and an NJCAA participant.  They play their home games at Walt Kammann Baseball Field on the campus of Arizona Western College in Yuma, AZ. Walt Kammann was a notable figure in Yuma, AZ, who was known for his famous sausage recipe. In 1958, he participated in the Yuma Rotary Club's "International Buffet" competition and won multiple times with his sausage recipe. This success led to the creation of the annual Walt Kammann Sausage Fry, an event that has grown significantly over the years and continues to be a cherished tradition in Yuma. The event supports community initiatives, including school scholarships and youth programs. The Matadors competed in the 1996 NJCAA Div 1 Championship in Grand Junction, CO.  They were Conference Champions in 1995 and 1996, Region 2 Champions in those years, and in 2017 and 2018. Food & Beverage 2 The stadium has a small concession truck that sells basic baseball snacks:  hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, chips, and non-alcoholic drinks ranging from $2 - $4.  It’s inexpensive, and the selection is enough to hold you over till dinner.    Fans can bring their own snacks and drinks into the park area. Atmosphere 2 Walt Kammann Baseball Field provides a typical ACCAC game day experience with the focus on the game.  The field has one set of shaded bleachers behind home plate, 10 rows high, with four steps to get up the seating.  The infield perimeter has plenty of places to park a wheelchair and a few yellow park benches for fans to sit.  Smart fans even bring their lawn chairs and umbrellas and sit in the shade on the first base side. Smart Fans Sitting in the Shade at an AW Matadors Baseball Game, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey A scoreboard in left-center field shows balls, strikes, outs, and the line score.   Some advertisements are on the left and right outfield walls, indicating strong support from the city and its businesses.  Fans get a distant glimpse of the Gila Mountains or Laguna Mountains beyond the outfield, making a pleasant, natural backdrop.  The venue does not have lights; the team only plays day games here. A medium-thick net (no chain link fence) runs dugout to dugout to protect fans from foul balls. The Matadors have an announcer though he is hard to hear if you're not sitting near the speakers. Check the weather before attending a game, as it can get brutally hot later in the season.   We recommend visiting in the early part of the season when it’s a little cooler; bring an umbrella to block the sun. Neighborhood 2 Yuma is in the southwest corner of Arizona, bordering Mexico and California on the banks of the Colorado River.  Walt Kammann Baseball Field sits next to the school’s soccer and softball fields and across the street from Mary A. Otondo Elementary School.  There are no hotels and restaurants within five miles of the park; however, downtown Yuma is just ten miles west, and plenty of choices are found on the way there.  Mexican fare is the way to go when in Yuma.  Eduardo's Mexican Food downtown and Chretin's Mexican Restaurant are good choices, though there are plenty more.  Prison Hill Brewery (Yuma’s only brewery), Pint House Bar & Grill (American), The Garden Café (excellent for breakfast or lunch), Burgers & Beers , or Lutes Casino are other recommended places for food. Popular attractions in the area include Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park and Colorado River State Historic Park.  Yuma has plenty of hiking trails with the West Wetlands Loop the easiest, and it is also dog-friendly.  For places to stay, the Homewood Suites by Hilton (a team sponsor) is seven miles west of the college campus.  A Comfort Inn & Suites and a Best Western (about five miles from the ball field) are a little closer.  Yuma has almost every brand of hotel and a multitude of RV parks if bringing your camper. Fans 3 The fans at Matadors games tend to be those in the friends and family category.  Plenty of fans show up and usually fill the bleacher set behind home plate.  They support good plays by either team and subtly comment on the umpires’ questionable calls.    Access 3 The college is a few miles off I-8.  Parking at the ballfield is in a small dirt lot on the first base side, just across from the elementary school.  The school is seven and a half miles from the Yuma Airport (YUM) , a small regional airport with commercial flights to and from Phoenix and Dallas.  Fans can take the YCAT Bus 2 to the school; remember to check return and weekend times.  It's a short walk from the parking lot to the bleachers, with a small, slight decline on an uneven surface. Restrooms are available in a separate structure a short distance away. Return on Investment 5 Attending an AW Matadors baseball game is free and worth a visit if you simply enjoy the game of baseball.  There’s no charge for parking, and concession prices are minimal.   You spend what you bring for snacks and the cost of transportation to the field.  That’s it. Extras 3 The ACCAC uses wooden bats for its baseball games, creating the satisfying crack of the bat rather than the metallic ping.  Among the notable MLB players who have worn a Matadors jersey are Benjie Molina and Sergio Romo.  Interestingly, the flagpole stands near the visitor’s dugout instead of the traditional location in the outfield. Flag Pole by Visitors Dugout at Walt Kammann Baseball Field, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts Attending an Arizona Western Matadors baseball game is a no-frills event.  If you enjoy the game for the game, we recommend visiting if you live in or near Yuma or are traveling through during the springtime.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Fishers Event Center 11000 Stockdale St. Fishers, IN 46037 Indy Freight website   Fishers Event Center website Year Opened:  2024 Capacity:  7,500 Fishers Freight Bring the Muscle to the Indy Market The Fishers Freight are members of the Indoor Football League and play at the Fishers Event Center. The team was officially announced in October 2023 and is owned by Jim Hallett, who also owns the ECHL Indy Fuel . The football team announced their name on December 15, 2023, opting for a city name instead of Indianapolis. The Freight is an expansion franchise in the IFL, and began its inaugural season in 2025. The team has played only four games as of this writing but has attracted impressive crowds to their home arena. The team’s colors of high visibility yellow, steel blue, and black make for a picturesque color combo that should be a hit for fans of the football team. Food & Beverage 4 The Fishers Event Center offers multiple food and beverage spots on the first and second floors. The Fuel Zone locations offer fans grab-and-go options for food and beverages. Customers pick up their items and pay for them with their credit card. There are a few kiosks where cheesesteaks and supreme nachos are prepared to order. The arena’s food court is divided into two sections: District Eats for quick bites like freshly made burgers and pizza held individually under warmers, and District Drinks for refreshing beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Other items include giant-sized brats, barbecue pork sandwiches, ham and cheese kolaches, burgers, and hot dogs. Kickin’ Chicken prepares fried chicken and pork tenderloin sandwiches in front of customers for their sandwiches. There is plenty to wash down all the food with Coke products, beer, wine, hard seltzers and ciders, and mixed cocktails. The historic railyard of the town inspires the Railyard Pub. The elevated bar offers packaged beers and signature cocktails: Kentucky lemonade, margaritas, and Moscow mules. The local beers include Full Day Ray, Sun King, and King Jugg varieties, within 3 miles of the arena. King Jugg makes the official Fishers Freight Crew Ale . All of the beer comes by the can and is available in the grab-and-go from the refrigerators.  Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere at The FEC for Freight game is lively and engaging. Fans have an open view from a majority of the second level above the seating bowl. It is phenomenal, noting that games are enjoyable even for those who may not typically follow indoor football.  The sleek and modern design of the building, most notably its sound system and wide open concourses, is impressive. The seating bowl is near capacity, the aisles are packed during intermission, and when a goal is scored, the entire building cheers in unison. The team has non-tradition football field that is colored grey with navy blue endzones. The venue features a standard four-screen scoreboard that is basic compared to others across the league Bandit, the team’s official mascot, walks around the concourse, providing photo opportunities to all fans, young and old. The Garage Team Shop offers an impressive selection of Freight merchandise from jerseys, caps, t-shirts, and foam fingers. The arena features a premium club and suites on the west side and large club seating on the southeast corner of the upper concourse. There are also two bars on opposite ends of the arena: The North Club Market and the Nickle Plate Market. Fans enjoy a drink or two during intermission or take a break from the action during the game. The bag policy includes clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC. It does not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”. Bags cannot be tinted with color or include oversized content that prevents visibility into the clear bag. Only non-clear bags that are smaller than 4.5” x 6.5” will be permitted into the stadium. Any type of non-clear bag exceeding 4.5” x 6.5” in size will not be allowed. Overall, attending an Freight game at the Fishers Event Center promises an exciting and memorable experience with a vibrant atmosphere that appeals to newcomers of the indoor sport that has been absent for two decades in the area. Neighborhood 4 The FEC is in Fishers, Indiana, off of I-69. The arena is within a 15-minute walk to   The Yard at Fishers District,   which features a variety of restaurants and bars. They include quick bites such as Shake Shack, Chicken Salad Chick, Torchy’s Tacos, and Bibibop Asian Grill. However, if desiring a little more ambiance, the 1933 Lounge, The HC Tavern and Kitchen, and Sangiovese Ristorante are fine choices. Sun King Brewery is located at The Yard and includes The Fishers Test Kitchen, local chef-inspired cuisine, and rotating test concepts. A few blocks across the interstate are a few more choices, including Full Day Ray Restaurant and Brewery, Parks Place Pub, and King Jugg Brewery. Indiana’s only IKEA and Top Golf locations are within eye-sight of the arena, along with Portillo’s, a spot for iconic Chicago food: Italian beef, Vienna beef hot dogs, sandwiches, and ribs. Fans 4 The fans are not here for curiosity of the football game, but want to see a win. The chants are loud on first down plays for the offense and third down plays on defense. They applaud the rough and tumble play on the field and are becoming knowledgeable of iFL rules that include the two-point deuce and out of bound kick-offs coming back to the 20-yard. Access 4 Like its predecessor, fans cannot walk around the upper concourse, as the premium club and suites take up the majority of the western portion of the building. Fans enter from the ground floor and access staircases to the upper concourse. There is enough room to walk around, but it narrows out at the North Club Market bar area. There are a few standing-room-only spots towards the northern part of the concourse that have slightly obstructed views of the ice. Fans can either prepay to park or scan their phones on signs in the lot to make a payment, eliminating the need for gates and minimizing traffic congestion. There is signage where fans can scan a code to access the website and pay $10 or $20, depending on location. Many of the concession stands are grab-n-go, providing easy access in and out. When purchasing a beer, staff members open up your cans at the point of purchase. The longest lines are for the cheesesteak and nacho kiosks, where items are made in order. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices are $24 and $38 before fees on the team’s website, while parking is $10 in the general admission lot and $20 in the VIP lots closer to the arena's entrance. Menu prices include $6 for a hot dog to $13 for a chicken sandwich with a fry basket. Macro beers are $10, and microbrews are $13. The team shop offers plenty of merchandise: jerseys, caps, t-shirts, and mini-footballs.  Extras 4 The FEC earns a point for convenience with its parking fees, freshly made chicken sandwiches at the Kickin’ Chicken stand, and sensory kits for fans with sensory sensitivities.  The arena also earns an extra point for the grey and blue football field. Final Thoughts The Fishers Freight returned indoor football to the Indianapolis area after a 20-year hiatus. The product, game day atmosphere, and half-time show are what fans expect in the IFL. The crowd and atmosphere are here to see their team win and not just for a night out with friends and family. The franchise is off to a great start at the Fishers Event Center. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 TD Station 99 Station St Saint John, NB E2L 4X4 Saint John Sea Dogs website TD Station website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 6,308 Maritime City of Champions? The Saint John Sea Dogs were founded in 2005 as an expansion team to the QMJHL, now known as the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.  In 2011 they won their first Memorial Cup as Major Junior Champions across the Canadian Hockey League and in so doing, became the first Atlantic Canada team to achieve the feat.  The Sea Dogs would hang a Memorial Cup Championship again in 2022 as well as posting the curious moniker “City of Champions” in the arena.  It is undeniable that the Sea Dogs have enjoyed a great deal of success in New Brunswick, but does it warrant the self-proclaimed “City of Champions” title often used in reference to Edmonton, Alberta or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?  The previous era of hockey in the Maritimes saw plenty of American Hockey League teams take residence, including the Saint John Flames, who brought home a Calder Cup banner in 2001. All of these banners hang in the home of the Sea Dogs, TD Station.  Built in 1993 as Harbour Station and owned by the municipally owned Harbour Station Commision, TD Station currently has a capacity of over 6,300.  The naming rights were purchased by TD in 2019.  TD Station is the central arena for the city of Saint John and has been the home to the local hockey and basketball teams as well as concerts and shows. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions at TD Station are decent for a venue of this size, but they are not overly spectacular.  All of the expected arena items can be found including pizza, hot dogs, chicken fingers, poutine, burgers, ice cream, pretzels and popcorn.  A Tim Hortons stand offers coffee and Timbits.  Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice and local favourite, Moosehead products are the go to beers. Atmosphere 4 TD Station has a very attractive exterior with plenty of brown brick and large glass windows when viewed from the main entrance at the south.  A concrete arch gives the main entrance a bit more of a grand feeling.  Banners celebrating the Sea Dogs’ 20th anniversary and famous players who wore the blue and silver are found outside of the arena and on the entry doors.  Entry into the arena brings fans to a smallish lobby which is dominated by the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame.  Some scouring by fans will bring them the entries for former NHL players Randy Jones and Andrew McKim.  Further entry brings fans into the main concourse, which wraps around the arena and is a comfortable size. The main seating features two seating levels; a lower level with blue seats and an upper level with less attractive green seats.  The ice surface is west to east oriented and the best spot to get that perfect centre logo picture is from the north side. The concourses are open and the ice surface can be seen while traversing around the arena.  A four-sided videoboard hangs above centre ice and is of decent quality.  The infamous “City of Champions” sign is by the press box on the north side.  To go with traditional, plastic arena seats, the Moosehead Light Ice Bar is available at ice level on the east side, and thirteen luxury boxes are found above the upper deck.  Three conference championships, five division championships, four regular season championships and the 2011 and 2022 Memorial Cups are memorialized by large banners that hang on the east side, above the ice.  There are plenty of markings for former Sea Dogs around the arena as opposed to retired numbers, including Charlie Coyle, Mike Hoffman, Thomas Chabot and Jonathan Huberdeau.  The gameday production at a Sea Dogs game is not overly spectacular.  The PA system had some issues at the game that was reviewed and was inconsistent at best.  The announcements are done in both English and French and the mascot, Fleaburn, can be found on the ice for pre-game festivities, and moving around the arena, interacting with fans. Neighbourhood 3 TD Station is located in Uptown Saint John.  There are a number of places for pre and post game food and drink.  Some options include Vito’s, Mix Resto Bar, Rocky’s Sports Bar, Saint John Ale House, Churchill’s Pub and Steakhouse, Uptown Pub Down under and Cask & Kettle.  The Sea Dogs are really the only game in town.  There is not even a USports presence in Saint John, although Fredericton and Moncton are both not too far away.  As far as other tourist options go, The Saint John City Market, Partridge Island Lighthouse and New Brunswick Museum are all options.  Fans wishing to stay close to the arena may choose the Chateau Saint John or the Delta. Fans 3 Fan support for the Sea Dogs has taken a pretty significant dip in recent years.  At the game that was reviewed, the Sea Dogs welcomed over 3,000 fans, a decent increase on the 2,500 average for the 2024-25 season.  This ranked the team 11th in the eighteen team QMJHL in a venue that is larger than many in the league.  This is also a far cry from the championship years.  The fans in attendance are knowledgeable and supportive.  It must be noted that the 2024-25 Sea Dogs finished at the bottom of the league and the game that was reviewed was one of the final games of the season.   Access 4 TD Station is located in Uptown Saint John.  It is found on the north side of Station Street, at the confluence of Main and New Brunswick Route 1.  It is not terribly difficult to get to the arena, although the area is very hilly and walking the area can be a bit challenging.  There is parking on site.  For fans wishing to take public transit, there is a Saint John Transit stop an 8 minute walk away from the arena at Mercantile Centre.  Fans should consult the Saint John Transit  website for fares, maps and schedules.  TD Station is also attached to the Saint John pedway system, which offers tunnels and bridges connecting a number of uptown facilities and protecting patrons from the harsh winter elements.  Getting around TD Station is not too difficult and the washroom facilities are adequate for the building. Return on Investment 4 Saint John Sea Dogs tickets start at $20 with discounts for fans under 25 years old and under 9 years old, a clear attempt to lower the age of the fanbase.  Concession prices are decent in TD Station.  Fans will have a good time and the product on the ice is solid.  Extras 3 An extra mark for historic banners remaining in the rafters of TD Station including retired numbers of the Saint John Mill Rats, a former member of the Canadian Basketball League, and the 2001 Calder Cup Championship for the Saint John Flames. An extra mark for the unique name, TD Station. An extra mark for TD Station being connected to the Saint John pedway system. Final Thoughts Whether or not fans agree that Saint John is the “City of Champions,” taking in a Saint John Sea Dogs game is a must for all hockey fans and can easily be paired with catching other QMJHL teams in the Maritime area. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Lloyd Rothwell, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Jubilee Stadium Jubilee Ave Carlton, NSW 2218 Australia St George Illawarra Dragons website Jubilee Stadium website Year Opened: 1936 Capacity: 20,500 The “Red V” at Kogarah The St George Dragons and Illawarra Steelers merged in 1999 to become the St George Illawarra Dragons. Given the uncertainty around the future of stand-alone NRL clubs at the time, it was felt that the history and financial backing of the Dragons would combine well with the expanded geographical footprint and traditional player nursery of the South Coast and create a more sustainable and successful entity. That being the case, the current-day Dragons now have three home grounds; Jubilee Stadium, WIN Stadium Wollongong, and ANZ Stadium (which they share with South Sydney, Canterbury, and the Wests Tigers). The original Dragons, the “Red V,” formed in 1920 and are of course, one of the most successful clubs in rugby league. Indeed they hold a record that is unlikely to ever be matched in professional sport; 11 straight premierships from 1956 to 1966. The Steelers entered the competition in 1982 and despite a strong history of the Illawarra producing great players, never experienced a great deal of success. The merged entity is billed as a joint venture, however arguably skews towards the St George side, especially to the casual observer. Jubilee Stadium opened in 1936 but didn’t officially become the home of St George until 1950. The current capacity is 20,500 following several improvements over the past 20 years. The Dragons sometimes technically host one game each season at the Sydney Cricket Ground for a heritage round and one at Allianz Stadium against the Sydney Roosters for Anzac Day, but otherwise play a minimum of four games at both Kogarah and Wollongong, with the remainder at ANZ Stadium. Food & Beverage 3 No surprises here, standard offerings at quite high prices. Expect to pay in the order of $15 for a meal combo with hot chips and a drink with your choice of meat pie, sausage roll, hot dog, or chicken nuggets. Individually each item is a minimum of $5.50. Beers are a choice of either Cascade Light ($6) or Great Northern ($6.50). Wine is also $6 while pre-mixed spirits are $10. You’ll have to fork out $1.20 for your carry tray so don’t throw it away after you’ve bought the first round. Atmosphere 4 Jubilee Stadium is dominated by a grandstand that runs the length of the western touchline and flows into a seating bowl at the northern end of the ground. The eastern sideline has perimeter seating and a grass hill. A video board and separate scoreboard are located at the northern end of the venue. As the sole tenant, visitors are left with no doubt that they are in Dragons territory. There is plenty of red and white, with some additional nice touches such as a photo opportunity and an honour board. There is also a Walk of Fame. Jubilee Stadium is a suburban stadium and as such is a smaller venue, although regular upgrades over the years mean it fares well when compared with similar stadiums around Sydney such as Remondis Stadium , Penrith’s Pepper Stadium , Leichhardt Oval, and Brookvale Oval. Average crowd sizes are between 12,000 and 15,000. Neighborhood 2 The suburb of Carlton is located around 15km south of the Sydney Central Business District. There are not a lot of exciting opportunities for action in the immediate area adjacent to the stadium. However, worth mentioning are the St George Leagues Club (124 Princes Hwy Beverley Park) on the other side of the highway which has several restaurants and bars. Much of the area around Jubilee Stadium is residential, although there are some shopping strips further back towards the Carlton and Kogarah railway stations. Fans 4 The Dragons are one of the best-supported clubs in the NRL. As well as having a large pool of local fans, they draw supporters from all over Sydney and even have registered supporter groups in Melbourne and Brisbane. The most passionate area of home team fans is at the scoreboard end of the hill, with most standing for the entirety of the game chanting, holding banners, and waving flags. The grandstand is dominated by season ticket holders and members, many of whom have sat in the same seats for many years. The atmosphere is largely cordial although there is some level of profanity in the general admission areas. Access 2 While Jubilee Stadium does not score well in this category it is not a reflection of the stadium. Entering the stadium and moving around is not an issue at all. Jubilee Stadium has quite wide and accessible concourses for a suburban stadium. However, the gridlocked surrounding streets and lack of parking are an issue. Hint: get there early if you want to be able to score a parking spot anywhere nearby. Take your pick of streets and hope for the best. Traveling by train is an option, although the nearest station at Carlton is still a 10-minute walk. Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices at Kogarah are fairly comparable to other NRL stadiums, with General Admission starting at $25 for an Adult and ranging up to $50 for “Gold level” reserved seating. Having said that, the only GA area is the hill so you will likely be fighting for space. I’d be likely to spend a little more for a reserved seat in front of the hill to get the best atmosphere but still be relatively comfortable. The usual discounts for families and pre-purchase apply. There is little money to be saved on food but not having to pay for parking if you chance driving is always nice. Extras 2 There is some level of fan engagement inside and outside the stadium along with various stalls and merchandise stands, however, the real strength of a visit to Kogarah is the fans and the game itself. Final Thoughts With suburban stadiums potentially being phased out of the NRL, Jubilee Stadium is one venue that should continue to survive. The facilities are pleasantly up to standard and the fans help make a Dragons game an exciting and fun experience.