Photo Courtesy of the Grand Forks Spitfires The first season of the Grand Forks Spitfires wasn’t about just fielding a competitive softball team. It was about introducing the city to something it had never quite experienced before: summer collegiate softball. As the first independent standalone team in Northwoods League Softball, the Spitfires entered their inaugural campaign to a skeptical community spurned by previous summer collegiate ball clubs in the past. The team’s name honors the historic Spitfire World War II fighter aircraft, the local Air Force Base, and the UND Aerospace program. It beat out other finalists like the Flying Aces, Spudnikes, Sweet Beets, Voodoo, and Wingnuts. The Northwoods League Softball is composed of six teams in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. All but the Spiritfires operate in conjunction with a Northwoods League baseball team. However, it helped that the city had its own softball stadium. The University of North Dakota’s Albrecht Field opened its state-of-the-art softball-only venue in 2024. It has grandstand capacity for 500, a turf field, LED lighting, and a video scoreboard. The fancy digs gave the Spitfires a chance to fill a summer entertainment gap while tapping into the growing popularity of women’s sports. “We're the first ones to really start a softball team truly by ourselves”, said Roberto Lemus, Spitfires GM. “We chose Grand Forks because it's a market that, one, is big enough to do what we're trying to do, and the University of North Dakota as well; they just built a fantastic facility in Albrecht Field.” Photo Courtesy of the Grand Forks Spitfires His goal is to give fans a genuine softball experience while creating the energy and antics that are common in minor league baseball. There are between-inning activities, promotions, and all-you-can-eat food and waitstaff, and plenty of other events happening around the game. One of those promotional events is called “Home Run for Roots”. When a Spitfires player hits a home run, a tree is planted somewhere in the community. Fans nominate a public space or their own yard, along with hosting a tree-planting party. A softball game also takes about 2 to 2.5 hours to play due to the 7-inning time frame, about 30 minutes less than their baseball counterparts. The seven-inning format also offered a natural advantage for families, especially those with young children with short attention spans. Lemus enjoyed the shorter game times. “[It provides] fans and families to come out to the ballpark, have a good time, stay out for most of the game without having to sacrifice the kids' bedtime, or different things out there as well.” Opening night drew a crowd of 900 people, many of whom only a few months earlier were somewhat confused about what type of team was playing in town. Lemus fielded a few interesting questions from sponsors and season ticket holders. “I remember the first couple of times that I was out here trying to start selling sponsorships and ticket sales and all those different things, and I would tell people, I was like, we're a women's softball team. The first question I would get is like, " Oh, okay, so are you a youth baseball team, or a youth softball team, or a Little League softball team.” By the end of the 40-game season in late July, the Spitfires witnessed an average of 650-700 fans per game during the last couple of weeks, with coverage from the Grand Forks Herald and local TV and radio stations. There was even a partnership with the Chambers of Commerce and community partners. One thing that might have gone unnoticed by the fans was that the club only carried 19 players, including a pitching staff of four women, for the entire season. In comparison, a baseball team in the league could carry around 60 players. Photo Courtesy of the Grand Forks Spitfires Lemus is preparing for year two of the team and, with a true off-season beginning, renewing season-ticket and multi-game-plan memberships, with public ticket sales scheduled to follow. Theme nights, sponsorships, player recruitment and coaching plans are already being developed. “It's a growing league, and there are so many positives to it, while at the same time, it's all about the fun,” Lemus added. “I love what the Savannah Bananas are doing and all their antics, but we still stay true to the game. So, you can still enjoy being a true baseball or true softball fan while also enjoying all the in-game antics and all the fun in between.” The NWL is hoping to expand its softball league with potential markets outside of North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. However, Grand Forks might have been the ideal test market for a ball club. If it’s the new summer pastime, the Spitfires will be part of that tradition for the foreseeable future. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Ben Alkaly, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Estadio BBVA Av. Pablo Livas 2011 Colonia La Pastora 67140 Guadalupe Nuevo León, Mexico Map It! Club de Fútbol Monterrey website Estadio BBVA website Year Opened: 2015 Capacity: 53,529 Estadio BBVA – Monterrey, México “She’s a beaut, Clark!” That classic line from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation echoed through my head as I made my way towards Estadio BBVA under a hot Mexican sun for a 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 Match between the Netherlands and Morocco. Generically rebranded as “Monterrey Stadium/Estadio Monterrey” for the world’s biggest sporting event, this modern stunner set in the shadow of Cerro de la Silla frequently appears on lists of “World’s Best Stadiums” … and for good reason. Food & Beverage 3 Having attended for a World Cup match - instead of seeing Estadio BBVA’s usual tenants, Club de Fútbol Monterrey (nicknamed Los Rayados) - this is the first of several sections that will have an asterisk. FIFA orchestrated a full stadium takeover for its showpiece event (as evident by the name change), and that included concession options. The concourse offerings were adapted for an international palate, generally not straying too far from the hot dog, popcorn, and basic pizza options now found the world over. However, there were a few nods to the local, meat-centric food culture, as my buddy found a bag of chicharrones (deep-fried pork belly). Let’s just say he wishes he hadn’t finished the entire serving. Beverage prices appeared to be inflated by FIFA, matching the high ticket costs. A bottle of still water ran 80 MXN (around $4) but doubled in price if you wanted the luxury of carbonation (sodas included). Beers were in the 300 MXN/$15 range, which would be unheard of for matches in the local league. One thing that remained uniquely Mexican was the constant stream of concessionaires waltzing their way through the stands. Most anything available on the concourse could be had at your seat. And unlike a typical U.S. stadium, where alcohol sales are cut off at a certain point, a beer could still be purchased at the start of penalty kicks, after 120 minutes of fútbol. Atmosphere 4 The design of Estadio BBVA is intentional, with a dramatic dip in the roof and several rows in the south end zone. The reason is to afford visitors a perfect view of the emerald green Cerro de la Silla (“Saddle Hill”), which reaches a dramatic peak of 5,970 feet about a mile and a half beyond the stadium. The fútbol gods shone upon me as I entered from the north, randomly chose a tunnel towards the stands, and was bestowed with the perfectly-framed, jaw-dropping vantage point you see in the top photo. Beyond this signature landmark, Estadio BBVA impresses in other areas. It’s much more polished and well-maintained than your typical Latin American stadium, owing to Monterrey’s status as Mexico’s most prosperous city. It’s also one of the country’s hottest, making the expansive roof canopy especially welcome. Rows are steep, and prepare to be out of breath if hiking to your seats near the top of the venue. The stadium feels bigger than its 53,000+ seats, but sightlines are great throughout, with no obstructed views or quirky angles. That's the beauty of a modern oval. Neighborhood 3 Estadio BBVA is not technically in Monterrey, but rather about six miles slightly southeast of the city center in the suburb of Guadalupe. Most fans will approach from the north, where the local neighborhood is separated from the stadium by Río La Silla. Parallel to the riverbed is Avenida Las Torres, with restaurants, bars, stores, and street vendors increasing in number as you walk east. Another pre and post game gathering spot lies just south of the Exposición metro stop, in an expansive fairgrounds complex. Expect the smells of livestock stalls to hit you in the face, but further south towards the stadium are taco and souvenir vendors, as well as several open-air music venues where Norteño bands were keeping the party going well into the evening. Back in Monterrey proper, tourists tend to congregate in the Barrio Antiguo, its compact historic quarter with colorful colonial architecture and greatest concentration of nightlife. Fans 4 You would never know this was a neutral-site match, judging by the fervor of the primarily Mexican crowd. They mainly sided with Morocco, on account of the Netherlands’ controversial win over Mexico in the 2014 World Cup, coincidentally played 12 years ago to the day. The traveling Moroccan contingent was mostly clustered behind one goal, with Dutch supporters scattered throughout. Estadio BBVA Match Action, Photo by Ben Alkaly, Stadium Journey Mexican fútbol fans are simultaneously passionate and fickle. When the action slowed in the first half, with numerous back-passes, the crowd hissed and whistled their displeasure. On the flipside, when the action reached a fever pitch in the second half and extra time, with numerous scoring chances, they were on the edge of their seats, with “ooooh”s and “aaaah”s aplenty. Access 3 This is another area where the World Cup does not represent the typical experience at a Rayados league match. Several access points were closed, including along the aforementioned Avenida Las Torres. That said, regardless of competition, most fans will enter from the north, with many taking the metro line to Estación Exposición and walking 15 minutes due south. At approximately 35 cents per ride, the price can’t be beat, but on busy matchdays you may need to wait for a train back to the center, and it will be packed. Uber is prevalent in Monterrey, as is the local equivalent, DiDi. In numerous trips to Mexico, I’ve found DiDi cheaper but Uber more reliable, as DiDi drivers are more likely to cancel the ride after accepting it. For those bold enough to drive in urban Mexican traffic, there are lots to the east and south of Estadio BBVA, with Estacionamiento 4 the largest. Once inside the premises, wayfinding is rather straightforward; just note the entrance gate and access corridor on your ticket. The concourse circles the top of the 100 level, and for those in the 200s, there are escalators. The team shop is along the south side of the stadium. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Rayados home matches will vary quite a bit depending on the opponent, seat location, and whether it's a regular-season, cup competition, or playoff match. Expect to pay as little as 300 MXN pesos (approx. $15) for an upper-level seat, to 700-1,200 MXN for something in the corner of the lower levels, all the way up to 2,500 MXN for primo seats to an in-demand match, like the heated local rivalry vs. Tigres UANL. You may also find VIP packages that include a premium seat location with included food and drinks. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster, and unlike the U.S., where you can buy tickets as soon as a team’s schedule is announced, they are generally available about 3-4 weeks in advance. Extras 4 Northern Mexico is cowboy country, and meat is consumed in mass quantities. Try carne seca, which is a dry, thin beef jerky, and do not miss a visit to El Rey de Cabrito on the edge of Barrio Antiguo. Here, baby goat is the specialty, meant to be eaten communally in the restaurant’s ostentatious, chandelier- and mirror-clad dining rooms. El Rey de Cabrito, Photo by Ben Alkaly, Stadium Journey Owing to its location in a deep valley surrounded by mountains, Monterrey is a hiker’s paradise. You can climb (or drive to) Cerro de Silla, which is part of Cumbres de Monterrey National Park. Other scenic destinations within easy reach of the city are Chipinque Ecological Park and La Huasteca Ecological Park. The Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Mexicano (Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame) is on the western edge of Parque Fundidora, while the local team Sultanes de Monterrey – whose logo is very Yankees-esque – play in Walmart Park. Completed in 2020, Torres Obispado is the tallest skyscraper in Latin America at 1,002 ft. Final Thoughts Estadio BBVA is one of those bucket-list venues you'll be proud to check off, and Monterrey is an incredible city with attractions well beyond fútbol. Ignore the negative headlines and spend a few days exploring northern Mexico - you'll find top tier soccer, unforgettable food, and genuine hospitality. I can all but guarantee your trip will be less calamitous than any of Clark Griswold's vacations.

Photos by Andrew Kulyk and Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Lake Elsinore Diamond 500 Diamond Dr Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 Map It! Lake Elsinore Storm website The Diamond website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 6,066 A Storm By The Lake Prior to the Lake Elsinore Storm becoming the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres in 2001, the California Angels were the parent organization from 1981 to 2000, taking up residence in Palm Springs until the opening of The Diamond in 1994. Now in its 33rd season, The Diamond still attracts fans throughout the Riverside and Inland Empire region. One of The Diamond’s biggest draws is the surrounding views beyond the outfield walls of the Temescal Mountains and its surrounding hills. Food & Beverage 4 You will find some ample options here starting with your usual ballpark fare of hot dogs, jumbo dogs, smash burgers, chicken tenders, nachos, and personal cheese or pepperoni pizza. Mexican options are your standard tacos and burritos with meat choices of chicken, steak, or pork. Agua frescas and micheladas are some of the Mexican beverages available. Coke products, Coors products, and other domestic brews such as 805 and Golden Road are available for thirsty fans. Specialty Frappuccino drinks including horchata, chocolate-banana, and toasted marshmallow are also available for those cool summer nights. Cold Stone Creamery is the ice cream provider with several options including Oreo Overload and Strawberry Blonde. Other sweet treats include chocolate chip cookies, frozen chocolate bananas, and funnel fries. Atmosphere 4 There’s a fun atmosphere to be found at The Diamond. Children can be seen playing in the designated play area along the right field side, shagging foul flies on the grass berm to rolling down the berm. Most seats are in a rather uniform seating bowl, with spacious seats and plenty of legroom. Thunder is the large green mutt of a mascot. He is a member of the “Canis Thunderus” family and has no problem getting the Storm fans on their feet. Though he’s there to entertain the home fans, that lovable mutt is also very welcoming to fans of the visiting team as well. Meet Thunder. The Lake Elsinore Storm’s lovable mutt of a mascot. Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 4 One of the nicest things about the neighborhood around The Diamond is the natural scenery, ranging from the Elsinore Mountains to Lake Elsinore, the largest natural lake in Southern California, located just a few minutes from The Diamond for the water sports enthusiasts.. If you’re looking for a bite around the yard, the longtime SoCal favorite In-N-Out is nearby. One of the more highly recommended restaurants here is Jack’s BBQ Shack, located about 3 miles from The Diamond. Located along the lake, Jack’s BBQ Shack serves up some tasty ribs in a very casual setting with very reasonable prices. Fans 3 With the recent success of the parent club in San Diego, it’s easy to see why you will see a mix of apparel being worn in the stands of both the Storm and the Padres. As the Single-A affiliate of the Padres over the last 20-plus years, the Storm and the Padres have established a loyal fan following throughout Riverside County and beyond. Access 3 Lake Elsinore is centrally located between San Diego and Los Angeles. The Diamond can be accessed either via the 15 freeway or Route 74. Though The Diamond is not far from the 15 freeway, depending on where you will be driving from, you may want to allow yourself extra time to arrive. Southern California traffic, especially if coming from Los Angeles, is unpredictable. Upon entering The Diamond from the parking lot, fans walk through a tree-lined walkway toward the grand entrance behind home plate. Greeting the fans as they enter The Diamond is a brick tower, giving The Diamond a signature touch. As you approach the home plate entrance, you will notice a monument paying tribute to those who have served. Paying tribute to those who served, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Once inside the stadium, fans walk through a very spacious concourse, perhaps the widest of all the Single-A yards in Southern California. The concourse is so wide that should you attend a day game and choose to seek refuge from the summer heat, you could spend an inning or two strolling the concourse, which provides plenty of shade and shelter from the sweltering heat without losing view of the on-field action or impeding pedestrian flow. Return on Investment 4 With prices ranging from $8 to as much as $20 for four-top table seating, a day out at The Diamond is a very affordable day in the park. High Top seating, located behind home plate, offers bar stool-type seating along with a countertop to place your food and drinks as well. Should you want to take home a souvenir, the team store located just behind the first base side of the concourse offers a pretty vast selection. Apparel with the team’s iconic logo consistently ranks among the top sellers throughout all of minor league baseball. Lake Elsinore gameday hats, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Extras 4 As you enter the Diamond, in the concourse above the team store on the first base side is a list of former Angels and Padres prospects who passed through Lake Elsinore on their way to The Show. The list provides players' names from 1994-2014. Some of the future MLB prospects who passed through Lake Elsinore, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey If you look out toward right field, you will see that the outfield wall is 36 feet high. Yup, the exact height of the Green Monster in Fenway Park, paying homage to the original, adorned with advertisements aplenty. On the right field side of The Diamond is a children’s playground just outside the physical concourse. In addition, a huge grass berm is there for budget-conscious fans who prefer to view the game there atop your favorite beach towel or picnic blanket. Should you plan to view your game here, you may want to beware of kids not only rolling down the hill in every direction, but you must also be aware of the young ones running about that berm snagging foul balls. Lastly, we can’t forget the gorgeous views of the Temescal Mountains and the surrounding hills. Final Thoughts In its 33 seasons of operation, The Diamond has been the home to numerous future Angels, Padres, and other big leaguers. The organization proudly embraces its partnership with the big-league Friars, as evidenced by some of its apparel paying homage to the parent club.

Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Sport utcai stadion 1087 Budapest, Sport Utca Hungary Map It! BKV Előre SC website Sport utcai stadion website Year Opened: 1929 Capacity: 2,500 Historic Hungarian Ground Seeks Curious Visitors For stadium enthusiasts, when you hear of a sporting Mecca, off the beaten track, nearing the end of its natural life, curiosity stirs. Welcome to the Sport utcai stadion in Budapest, Hungary; aka BKV Előre SC Stadion, a ground that time forgot. If your sporting cathedrals of choice are the ultra-modern, padded seats, with artisan cuisine, two such super structures are within reach. The 60,000 capacity national ‘Puskas’ Stadium is 1000 yards to the north, and the sleek Hidegkuti Nondor Stadium, home of top flight MTK Budapest, is just across the road. The BKV Előre SC Stadion is like an ageing Budapest trolley-bus with peeling paintwork, sweating in the summer heat, between two brand new, air conditioned, energy efficient trams just launched for ultimate customer pleasure. The stadium, home of third division BKV Előre SC, can be found to the north east of this magical European capital city. Head up Sport Street and marvel at the century old grandstand that you came all this way to see. Food & Beverage 1 Very little sustenance seems available once inside the ground. However if you persevere, you will be rewarded. The inner facade of the vintage grandstand has a number of doors, largely without signage. One will be locked, the next a gents' toilet, and so on. Choose another, and an unlit corridor takes you down some stairs, back to the early 20th Century. Turn right, and you are in the inner sanctum, more stairs, old boardrooms, finally a bar appears, quiet as a library. The dimly lit bar has a fridge with soft drinks and confectionary. The barman, slow and steady, serves local beers, a large Dreher Gold costing around 800FT. Old stadium and team pictures are on the walls; you can imagine the room full of smoke populated by men in hats. If you are lucky, there are some filled rolls on the counter, hopefully not as old as the bar itself. The Bar at Sport utcai stadion, Photo by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey On your way back outside, any open door provides a glimpse into the past, if not carry your beer outside and begin to climb the steps at either end of the stand. Atmosphere 5 Work started on the ground a century ago, the first match was in 1929. Renovations followed at various points. Today it is all about the main grandstand. From the outside, it could be an old wharf building or even soviet style offices. Look closer, and broken windows and sealed doors suggest no one is maintaining this monster structure. However, there is also a hint of life, signage, a lick of paint and once through the entrance, the concrete brutality comes to life. A perfect symmetry, the centre piece has diagonal steps to a VIP guest area, with around 200 new blue and yellow plastic seats on either side. Further up, the cavernous main wooden stand climbs higher and higher with row after row of long wooden bench seats. The large roof on the main grandstand ensures even a paltry crowd of 300 souls can be well heard. Post war crowds numbered up to 20,000 and the club website laments; “When will visiting players again feel in hell? Not even knowing where to kick the ball due to the best acoustics in the entire country!” The views from the English-inspired grandstand are excellent, the high elevation ensures you can see the match and the tactics play out. You can also see a sunset to die for if the timings are right and views towards the Buda side of the Danube. Opposite you can see the Puskas Arena in the distance, look through the broken windows at the back in the stand and peer into the modern home of MTK Budapest. Old, long, wooden benches at Sports utcai stadion, Photo by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey The other three sides of the Sports utcai are currently inaccessible. A large terrace used to curve around the north end in days gone by. Now both ends are flat, empty and desolate. Opposite the grandstand there is no fence or stand at all, instead a jarringly new 4G pitch runs adjacent. There is a small electronic scoreboard, next to the goal, at the entrance end. Facilities-wise, that’s it. Neighborhood 5 The immediate locality is dominated by a 6-lane ring road, so it offers little for tourists. There is a bar opposite the Stadion tram shop called Netovább Söröző. Call in here for a beer and some simple snacks. You can also stroll up to the Puskas Arena, Hungary’s largest stadium and book a tour. Back into the centre of Budapest, the possibilities are endless. A stroll from Erzsébet híd (Elisabeth Bridge) along the Danube River, to the chain bridge is magical. Views of the citidel, castle, and fisherman’s bastion, and traffic re-routed in summer for pop up bars and music. For food, head to Gozsdu Udvar, a covered street adorned with fairy lights, bars, restaurants, karaoke and street music. Fans 3 Attendances are not always easy to find, but in the 25/26 season BKV drew an average of just 150. For the Nemzeti Bajnoksag 3 Delkeleti round 4 match v ESMTK in August 2026, around 180 were present with a handful of away fans in attendance. Those ESMTK fans brought the noise on the day with singing, drums, and large flags in support of their team. Trophies for BKV Előre SC have been hard to obtain. Three division two titles and three division three titles are the highlights. A cup run in the Magyar Cupa in 1933/34 saw Elõre beaten in the final. Access 3 The nearest tram stop is called Hidegkuti Nondor Stadion, found on the yellow line 1. From the centre of Budapest, take the M2 metro to Puskas Ferenc then 2 stops south on the tram. Alight from the tram and you will see the home of MTK Budapest in front of you. To the right of this footprint stadium is Sport street (Utca) and the entrance is on your right. Once inside, you will need to use a number of steps to climb up into the grandstand. Observing from ground level is allowed, but with a high fence, the view isn’t great. Sports utcai stadion steps, Photo by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Return on Investment 5 Entry is free, much like many lower league matches in Hungary. With no merchandise available and very simple refreshments, the ROI is simply unbeatable. Extras 0 This is no frills old-fashioned football viewing at its best, no extras, just a vintage grandstand, two goals and 22 players. Final Thoughts This gem of a football ground is a step back in time. A time perhaps when Hungarian football flourished, with the ‘Mighty Magyars’ of the 1950’s consistently beating the world’s best. Whilst there are no hints the ground is closing soon, the likelihood is it won’t be in its current form in another 100 years. The club and the ground have fallen on tough times, book your visit soon!

Gary Noll, born Deaf in a New Jersey Deaf household, is a huge New Jersey/New York Sports fan who received the 2019 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award, the 2024 New Jersey State Governor’s Volunteerism Award (as a “Community Pillar”) and a 2024 Russ Berrie Unsung Hero Award. He proposes and raises awareness of Deaf and ASL (American Sign Language) sports events. Gary is an advocate of accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion, including promoting captioning and ASL communication technology during NJ/NY metropolitan sporting events. Gary Noll at Big East Championship, MSG Gary has already discussed sports venues in New Jersey and New York with Stadium Journey and is excited to share the latest news about future Deaf or ASL awareness events. Please stay tuned for game announcements! The sports teams will be posting notices about the events online. 1. Madison Square Garden (MSG), New York City Unfortunately, there won’t be a New York Knicks American Sign Language (ASL) group event this season or in 2027. We hope we see it happen sometime in the future. This is because the team is limiting ticket availability, ticket costs have increased, and the NY Knicks have restructured their staff since winning the NBA championship in June 2026. We’re now focusing on hosting what could be their first-ever NY Rangers ASL group event in 2027 and beyond (keep your fingers crossed). Gary has already asked to include Deaf ASL anthem performers during some future NY Knicks and NY Rangers games. 2. Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York Yankee Stadium Closed Captioning, Photo by Gary Noll The NY Yankees baseball team is planning to host its fourth annual Deaf Awareness Event in 2026, but they’ve decided to hold it next year. Please keep an eye out for it. They’ve already reached out to schools and others, but they’re not ready to make a commitment at this time due to their new leadership. The New York Yankees still have plans for Deaf Awareness Events in the future. 3. Citi Field, Queens, New York Partnering with Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf, the New York Mets hosted a dedicated Deaf Awareness event in May 2026, held during their home game against the Cincinnati Reds. The Mets are considering hosting either a Deaf Awareness Day or a special Deaf group event by partnering with one of the best Deaf schools in NYC and Long Island for future seasons. This 2026 season, you’ll notice the Mets already have an ASL anthem performer for some or most of their games, which is a thoughtful way to promote inclusivity. 4. US Open Tennis, Queens, New York Closed Captioning at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Photo by Gary Noll The US Open Tennis at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (August 23 to September 13, 2026) will feature Deaf ASL anthem performers for the opening night and the men’s and women’s championship matches, which will be broadcast on TV again for the third consecutive year. 5. Met Life Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey We haven’t had a chance to chat with the NY Jets and NY Giants about an ASL group event yet. We’d love for them to consider having a Deaf ASL anthem performer during one of their games! If FIFA decides to award NJ/NY the 2031 FIFA World Cup women’s soccer matches, we’d be thrilled to have a Deaf ASL performance. You can read more about this idea in this article. 6. UBS Arena, Belmont Park, New York Deaf Awareness Night at NY Islanders, Photo by Gary Noll After having a successful Deaf Awareness Night in 2023, the NY Islanders have not yet duplicated that event. The team is still considering whether to host another Deaf Awareness Night or a first-time ASL night in future seasons. If this happens, we expect to have live ASL interpreters broadcasting on the Jumbotron. 7. Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey Prudential Center ASL on Videoboard, Photo by Gary Noll The New Jersey Devils hockey team is planning to host its 8th annual ASL night this 2026 - 2027 season on Oct 20, 2026. They’re hoping to feature a Deaf ASL anthem performer and a group performance. To help ASL fans, there will be ASL interpreters throughout the stadium, and they’ll use them to include trivia and other activities on the Jumbotron. Plus, they’ll continue to offer NJ Devils ASL T-shirts for those who buy tickets to the ASL event. 8. Sports Illustrated Arena, (formerly Red Bull Arena), Harrison, New Jersey There’s been talk about a Gotham FC, pro women’s soccer (NWSL) Deaf Awareness Event at the Sports Illustrated Arena, but it hasn’t happened yet. We haven’t discussed hosting a Red Bulls (MLS) pro men’s soccer ASL event there, but we should think about it in the future. 9. Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York We’ve already pitched the idea of hosting the first-ever WNBA New York Liberty and NBA Brooklyn Nets ASL nights at the Barclays Center to the BSE Global team (the ownership company). They’re still not ready for an ASL event yet, but we’re not giving up! We’ll keep trying every year. 10. Etihad Park, Queens, New York It would be great to have live captioning at the new Etihad Park, which will be the home of NYCFC’s men’s soccer team in Major League Soccer (MLS) and will welcome Gotham FC women’s soccer in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) starting in 2028. We’re also hoping to have a Deaf ASL anthem performer during the first soccer match! 11. Office of the Big East Conference, NCAA, New York City They plan to feature ASL anthem performances at both the men’s and women’s basketball championship games at Madison Square Garden in New York City and Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, marking the fourth consecutive season of this tradition. They’re also aiming to broadcast it on TV for the first time next March 2027.

Photos Courtesy of Brian Williams, Dune Coast Quillbacks Next summer, a new ballpark will open for baseball travelers along Lake Michigan, bringing summer collegiate baseball to a new community. ​ The Dune Coast Quillbacks of the Northwoods League will take the field in 2027, bringing summer collegiate baseball to Michiana. The expansion team will play at Bison Field in New Buffalo, Michigan, a high school venue that is now being upgraded with more than $750,000 in capital improvements. ​ Private contributions and a $150,000 Michigan Department of Economic Development grant were secured after half the amount was raised through local crowdfunding. All upgrades will come at no cost to taxpayers. ​ The Quills founders are Tom Rowland and Brian Williams, who wanted to bring something to connect the communities of northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan during the summer months. The ballpark will continue to be used by the New Buffalo High School baseball team and for other events in the off-season. ​ There are 150,000 people within a 15-mile radius of the ballpark, and the Quills hope to attract fans from as far north as Benton Harbor, Michigan, and as far east as Valparaiso, Indiana. The Dunes Coast name reflects the shared identity of the shoreline, not favoring any one city or community in the neighboring states. ​ “The area has seen an explosion of full-time residents in the past five years and is a tourist-friendly area,” Williams said. “We want them to have something to do after a day at the beach during the evenings.” ​ Bison Field will include a 600-seat grandstand, baseline bleachers, a press box, a social area, and special LED lighting to reduce glare to nearby homes. It has already been fitted with new dugouts and a backstop, along with artificial turf, sod, and a warning track that features crushed rock. ​ “We went with Pivot artificial turf by Geo Services,” said Williams. “The Pivot turf will play more like natural grass than the rubber infield turf where the ball bounces higher. It’s also safer for players because cleats won’t stick.” The stadium will have a unique outfield wall configuration because of the track around the adjacent football field. There is a curved 16-foot-high wall where the track is in right-center field. This will present a little creativity in the seating sections at the stadium. ​ There will be a party patio along the first baseline that will feature high-top tables and chairs. Picnic tables will be set up in right and left center field. The picnic tables idea was inspired by a visit to the home of the Portland Pickles, Walker Stadium. “We can fit up to six people at each table and are looking at painting them,” added Williams. “It will be a casual group environment.” The Quills will have similar-style picnic tables like at Walker Field in Portland, Oregon. Photo by Brian Williams However, the most interesting seating section is the terrace grass berm behind the right field wall, dubbed Warren’s Dune. It is named after the team’s mascot and nearby Warren Dune State Park. Fans will be allowed to bring in their own lawn chairs, and tickets will cost $5. Williams sees it as a way for families to enjoy a ballgame for around $20. ​ Game day promotions will include family-friendly entertainment, locally sourced concession items, live music, and an inviting small-town atmosphere to create a vibe for a tourist area known for its beaches, dunes, vineyards, and walkable towns. ​ “We’re slowly putting together something special in New Buffalo. It will be a celebration of the region and local businesses, from food trucks to local breweries and wineries.” ----- 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: 3.71 Daniel S. Frawley Stadium 801 Shipyard Dr Wilmington, DE 19801 Wilmington Blue Rocks website Daniel S. Frawley Stadium website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 6,404 Blue Celery in the First State Minor League Baseball returned to the largest city in the First State in 1993 when the Peninsula Pilots were relocated to a brand new ballpark in Wilmington, Delaware. The team was named the Blue Rocks after the blue granite found along Brandywine Creek. The Blue Rocks initially began in the Carolina League as the Single-A Advanced affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Blue Rocks would be affiliated with the Royals until 2004 and from 2007 to 2020 until the reorganization of Minor League Baseball. In 2021 Wilmington was moved to the South Atlantic League and affiliated with the Washington Nationals. Successful on the field, the Blue Rocks claimed five Carolina League titles. The home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks is Judy Johnson Field @ Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. Opened in 1993 to coincide with the new team, the stadium is named after the Mayor of Wilmington from 1985 to 1993 Daniel Frawley, who was integral in getting Minor League Baseball back in Wilmington. The field is named after Judy Johnson, a Negro League star and Hall of Famer who lived in Delaware for almost 75 years. One curiosity of the Blue Rocks experience is the fans' fascination with Mr. Celery, a stalk of celery mascot who emerges to celebrate each Blue Rocks run to the tune of “Song 2” by Blur. Food & Beverage 3 The culinary experience at Frawley Stadium is decent. The main concession stands offer popcorn, Cracker Jack, peanuts, pretzels, hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, and fries. A couple of other note spots include Grotto’s Pizza and the first base side Chickie’s and Pete’s stand. A Philadelphia staple, Chickie’s and Pete’s offers cheesesteaks and their famous Crabfries. Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice at Frawley Stadium. The beer selection in Wilmington is decent and includes Coors Light, Miller Light, Heineken, and Yuengling. Local brewery Wilmington Brew Works also offers a team-branded beer, Woo-Hoo Brew complete with the image of Mr. Celery on the can. Atmosphere 4 Frawley Stadium has an attractive exterior and looks more modern than its 30-year age. Brown brick with light accents and blue trim make for a smart-looking color scheme. The main entrance behind home plate is up a set of stairs and directly above the ticket window, which would be directly behind home plate. Blue Rocks markings are tastefully added to the exterior and a photo of the 2019 Carolina League Champions highlights many photos in recessed arches on the exterior. A bronze statue of Judy Johnson with a dedication plaque is a perfect meeting place for fans before the game. Also of note, two dedication plaques for pitcher Vic Willis and umpire Bill McGowan, both born in Wilmington and members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, sit in the flower beds outside the main plaza. Inside the park, the main concourse is covered yet open. Unfortunately, Frawley Stadium does not offer a 360-degree path around the park. The seating bowl is a split level with an exterior walkway. There are several different seating options. There is bar seating by the Chickie’s and Pete’s along the first base side and the Picnic Pavilion is in leftfield. The seating bowl does not offer much in the way of shade. Views of the Wilmington skyline and I-95 can be had from the main grandstand. The suite level to either side of the pressbox and behind the main seating bowl is full of blue highlights and has large baseballs and pennants as recognition for the championship teams and the retired numbers of Mike Sweeney, Johnny Damon and Robin Roberts along with Jackie Robinson. A display list of Blue Rocks players who have played in MLB is of note in the concourse. The game day experience in Wilmington is what one would expect in Minor League Baseball. There are plenty of on-field promotions between innings and promo items thrown into the crowd at times. Rocky Bluewinkle, the Wilmington mascot, interacts with the crowd and participates in the pregame activities. The most unique feature of a Blue Rocks gameday is the presence of Mr. Celery. A secondary mascot for the team has taken on a bit of a life of its own in popularity. The main appearance of Mr. Celery comes after a Blue Rocks run when he comes out of a gate behind the plate and celebrates Blur’s “Song 2.” Neighborhood 4 Frawley Stadium is located in the Riverfront neighborhood of Wilmington between I-95 and the Christina River. There are a few options for pre or post-game food and drink within walking distance of the ballpark. Some options include Iron Hill Brewery, Big Fish Grill, and Del Pez. Immediately southeast of Frawley Stadium is the Chase Center on Riverfront, which is the city’s event center. Further away, and across the Christina River, is the similarly named Chase Fieldhouse, home of the Delaware Blue Coats, an affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA G-League. From the exterior of Frawley Stadium, fans can enter the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame. Donations are accepted and there are several terrific displays, including an excellent Judy Johnson display which tells his story in his own words. Other tourist options include Nemours Estate and Hagley Museum. For fans wishing to stay near the ballpark, the Westin Wilmington and Hyatt are just steps away. Fans 3 In the 2023 season, the Wilmington Blue Rocks averaged over 2,500 fans per game. This ranks 87th in the 120-team MiLB. The Blue Rocks are also 8th in the South Atlantic League out of 12 teams. There is plenty of room for improvement here. At the game being reviewed, fans in attendance were very quiet and reserved. Interest in the game seemed waning. Access 5 Frawley Stadium is located in the Riverfront neighborhood of Wilmington, east of I-95 and west of the Christina River. The park is encased by Shipyard Dr., Matt Minker Way, Judy Johnson Dr., and Frawley Dr., nice nods to some of the important figures in Wilmington Blue Rocks history. Getting to the ballpark is very easy with I-95 located very close. There is plenty of parking on site both north and south of the ballpark and the majority of it is free. For fans wishing to take public transit, some buses stop on Judy Johnson Drive. Fans should check out the Delaware Transit Corporation website for fares, maps and schedules. The Amtrack station is also about a mile away. Getting around the ballpark is easy and the washrooms are adequate for the facility. Return on Investment 4 Blue Rocks tickets start at $13 for General Admission and go up to $15 for a box seat and $18 for field-level box seats. Parking is free and concession prices are what one would expect. The gameday experience in Wilmington is solid and fans will have a good time. In the end, the value of a Blue Rocks game is strong. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame and the excellent Judy Johnson display. An extra mark for the seemingly organic popularity of Mr. Celery, who has permeated much of the Blue Rocks promotion. An extra mark for the success the Blue Rocks have enjoyed on the field with five league titles, including four in their first eight years. Final Thoughts With an excellent acknowledgment of Delaware baseball and sports history, the Wilmington Blue Rocks have put together a good presentation of Minor League Baseball. Judy Johnson Field @ Daniel S. Frawley Stadium is a solid home for the team and offers plenty for fans. The popularity of the Mr. Celery character is curious and seems pretty organic. It is just something that needs to be seen in person to fully understand. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube, Twitter, Threads and Instagram @profan9. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey

Photos Courtesy of Richard Smith “The scoreboard is perhaps the best thing that we have ever done here,” former Nashville Sounds co-owner Walter Nipper said in 1993. ​ The guitar-shaped videoboard at First Tennessee Park in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of minor league baseball’s most iconic features and easily the focal point of the home of the Nashville Sounds Triple-A baseball team. ​ Sounds original owner, Larry Schmittou, came up with the concept after paying off the 15-year loan at the stadium; he figured the stadium needed something to stay ahead of the curve at the time, when it was still among the elite in the minor leagues. He submitted his idea to Fair-Play Scoreboards on a guitar-shaped scoreboard that would be the first of its kind. His original idea had the musical instrument standing upright, but Schmittou then turned it on its side. It could now keep score, welcome groups, announce birthdays and anniversaries, and provide information. The scoreboard’s neck displayed the line score. ​ “It was more popular than I ever dreamed,” Schmittou told The Tennessean in April 2013. “I wasn’t looking for it to become a historical monument; I was just wanting to get information to our fans using a design that would make a sort of a signature for us being the Music City.” The original guitar-shape scoreboard at Greer Stadium, ​File Photo. The $500,000 scoreboard was hauled into town by eight truckloads and put together piece by piece in the time of the home opener against the Iowa Cubs on April 8, 1993. It stood 53 feet tall and stretched 115 feet wide. An ad in The Tennessean invited people to come out to watch the new scoreboard “light up the sky with fireworks.” It quickly became one of the most popular scoreboards in all of minor league baseball. The stadium’s distinctive feature was hard to miss while attending games. ​ It grabbed my attention as a young teenager visiting Greer for the first time the following season. On a side note, the old scoreboard would be used to display out-of-town scores before being covered up for additional advertising space. It did need some upgrading, which could be tedious before the current ownership, a third-party vendor, was in charge of changing the copious number of light bulbs, which was rather costly. That changed during the $2.25 million upgrades to the ballpark in 2009 that resulted in a new paint job and the Sounds staff changing the lights- a combination of both 30- and 40-watt incandescent bulbs. ​ Roughly 5-10 bulbs would need to be replaced before each home stand, costing a few hundred dollars each season. However, the paint job, retouched before each season, took a little longer for staff members to complete. ​ When the Sounds announced that they were finally moving from Greer for the 2015 season, it was already past its due date as a minor league ballpark; it was hoped that the scoreboard would move to the new venue. ​ “Our wishful thinking is that we will figure out a way to take it down and move it to the new ballpark when the time comes,” said former Sounds GM Brad Tammen in The Tennessean in July of 2013. “It could be a stadium marquee or something else. But we wanted to be part of the new park.” ​Photo by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey The old scoreboard did not move with the club for a list of reasons. It was a 22-year-old structure that was rusting away, had no video capabilities, and was falling apart. It would have to be taken apart and put back together again, making it a rather difficult and costly project. ​ When First Horizon Park, then known as First Tennessee Park, debuted, so did a new, state-of-the-art guitar-shaped scoreboard. In June of 2014, TS Sports Panasonic constructed the new scoreboard that would be the largest in minor league baseball. Instead of changing light bulbs, a crew of 15 people operates it by capturing videos, keeping statistics, operating effects, and managing the audio. ​ The $2 million video board stretched 142 feet wide, stood 55 feet high, and was 12.5 feet above the concourse adjacent to The Band Box in the right-center field. It displays 860 32-inch television screens and engages fans through social media and display advertisements. It can even revert to the former scoreboard for Throwback Thursday games. ​Photo Courtesy of Studio Delger Today, the former guitar-shaped scoreboard has found new life and is the centerpiece of the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. It was purchased for $54,815 at an auction by Chicago real estate developer AJ Capital Partners in 2019. The piece of Nashville history is located in The Outfield, an area of repurposed shipping containers with art, and serves as an outdoor area for live music, movies, exhibits, food festivals, and yoga. There are also a couple of old shipping containers painted to look like giant amplifiers. ​ Both scoreboards will remain in town for the foreseeable future, and what started as a unique way to add identity to a stadium turned into one of the minor leagues' and one of Nashville’s most treasured symbols. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 TVA Credit Union Ballpark 111 Legion St Johnson City, TN 37601 Johnson City Doughboys website TVA Credit Union Ballpark website Year Opened: 1950 Capacity: 3,800 Having Fun with the Doughboys When Major League Baseball reorganized and contracted the minor leagues following the 2019 season, Johnson City, Tennessee, lost its short-season affiliate. The Johnson City Cardinals, a long-standing member of the Appalachian League, were one of the teams eliminated in the reorganization. Professional baseball has been part of Johnson City’s identity since 1911, with teams affiliated over the years with the Yankees and Phillies. But it was the city’s long-standing relationship with the St. Louis Cardinals that left the deepest mark – for 61 seasons, Johnson City served as a Cardinals affiliate, becoming a key stepping stone for future big leaguers like Vince Coleman, Ron Guidry, LaMarr Hoyt, Yadier Molina, and Terry Pendleton on their path to the majors. Baseball in Johnson City has been played at the same site since 1937, when the city built a wooden grandstand at Keystone Park and nicknamed it Cardinal Park when the team became affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1938. In 1950, a new steel structure replaced the wooden grandstand. It carried the Cardinal Park name until the Phillies placed a farm team in town in 1957. It reverted to Cardinal Park with the return of the Redbirds affiliate in 1975, later renamed Howard Johnson Field at Cardinal Park in honor of the director of Johnson City’s Park and Recreation Department in 1977. Eventually, after the naming rights were sold, it became TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Johnson City was one of 30 cities to lose its MLB affiliation after the 2020 reorganization, but the baseball void did not last long. The Appalachian League reemerged in 2021 as a collegiate summer league, with teams rebranding to better reflect their communities. Johnson City’s long-running Cardinals identity gave way to the Doughboys, a name inspired by the nearby World War I infantry statue in Veterans Plaza. Food & Beverage 4 Two separate concession stands feature slightly different menus, but together offer a well-rounded mix of traditional ballpark fare and locally inspired options. Fans will find staples like hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pizza, and nachos with cheese sauce, alongside heartier choices like cheeseburgers and boneless wing baskets with fries. Regional choices are available as well, with items like the Bojangles Cajun Filet Sandwich and Southern Craft BBQ Nachos. A few specialty offerings go beyond typical ballpark fare, including the Junkyard Dog (topped with chili, cheese, fries, and mustard), Firecracker Fries (drizzled with buffalo sauce and ranch), and funnel cake fries for a sweet finish. Snack options include pretzels with cheese, chips, peanuts, and candy. Beverage choices are straightforward: bottled water, Coke products, Powerade, and local favorite Dr. Enuf, a citrusy Mountain Dew-like soda. In addition to standard domestic and imported beers, the ballpark also offers a selection of local craft brews – options from Yee-Haw Brewing, Johnson City Brewing Company, Iron Forge, and Tennessee Hills include lagers, tart ales, and hefeweizens. For non-beer drinkers, hard seltzers and ciders like Truly and Angry Orchard are available as well. Atmosphere 3 TVA Credit Union Ballpark is a charming throwback to small-town baseball. The covered grandstand, overhead fans, and towering outfield walls lined with local advertisements evoke a classic, nostalgic feel. A modern scoreboard also sits in left center field, though it’s mostly used for basic player information and the game’s line score. The Doughboys lean into their military-themed branding with touches as Reveille played during big moments, adding energy to key parts of the game. In-game promotions are lighthearted and engaging, nothing groundbreaking, but also a welcome break from the tired gimmicks seen at some lower levels of baseball. The relaxed pace of summer collegiate ball contributes to a festive, easygoing atmosphere. The stadium includes several social spaces: a VIP bar down the left-field line, yard games and high-top tables along the right-field line, and a long drink rail beside the grandstand. These areas are popular and tend to stay crowded throughout the game. One downside of this historic stadium is that more attention was paid to functionality than convenience. For example, several roof support beams create rather significant obstructions when viewing the field. Neighborhood 4 Johnson City is a stealthy, hip town with a vibrant arts scene, several breweries, and restaurants in its downtown area, just over a mile from TVA Credit Union Ballpark. King Commons Park is a popular gathering area where adults can grab a pint, while kids play on the nearby playground or explore the stream that runs through the green space. W. State of Franklin Road is home to several renovated historic buildings, now housing popular stops like Burger & Barrel, Yee-Haw Brewing, and White Duck Taco, which backs up to scenic Founders Park. The downtown area has no less than a half-dozen breweries in the few city blocks that make up the area. The city has also done a wonderful job moving into the 21st century. While keeping its 19th-century charm. Fans 4 Johnson City is a passionate sports town, with strong support for ETSU athletics and deep roots in baseball. Before the minor league contraction, the city consistently ranked among the top draws in the Appalachian League, and that energy has not faded. Since joining the collegiate summer circuit, the Doughboys have led the league in attendance, averaging over 3,500 fans per game, more than 1,000 ahead of the next closest team. The fans are not just enthusiastic; they understand the game. Fans cheer for savvy base running, situational hitting, and productive outs. Others are a bit more festive in their support, leaning into the Doughboys’ military identity – some even show up in replica World War I infantry helmets. Access 4 TVA Credit Union Ballpark is easily accessible, located less than a mile off I-26, the main connector between Asheville, North Carolina, and Kingsport, Tennessee. The interstate also links up with I-81 about 15 miles north, making the stadium a convenient stop for travelers coming from eastern Tennessee or many of the eastern states. Parking is plentiful and located just beyond the first base side of the ballpark. VIP ticket holders can use a dedicated entrance off Legion Street, providing a more direct path into the stadium. Once inside, a wide walkway runs along the first baseline and narrows slightly as it approaches third. A low field-level concourse also wraps in front of the grandstand, stretching from first to third and offering fans a close view of the action as they walk around. Return on Investment 5 With general admission tickets starting at $8, reserved seating at $10, and free parking, Doughboys games deliver excellent bang for your buck. Concession prices are in line with similar stadiums, and the overall experience, from the lively atmosphere to the quality of play, makes attending a game feel like money well spent. Extras 3 A variety of inflatables are set up behind the grandstand, directly behind home plate, giving younger fans a chance to burn off some energy if they get restless during the game. Among the biggest stars at the ballpark is Rocky, the Doughboys beloved bat dog – the black lab draws some of the loudest cheers of the night as he dashes from the dugout to retrieve bats, then sprints back, all to the roaring approval of the fans. The team’s mascot, Private, also adds to the fun, roaming the stands throughout the game, interacting with fans, and posing for photos with anyone who asks. Final Thoughts Small-town baseball fosters a sense of connection and civic pride that is hard to replicate in larger markets. In Johnson City, that bond was built over decades, watching future big leaguers take their first professional steps, and rooting for the hometown team as if it were their own. That pride did not vanish when affiliated baseball left. Though the Appalachian League now focuses on college-level talent instead of rising pros, the passion in the stands has not faded. Even though professional baseball is no longer played in Johnson City, the excitement of the game and the surrounding atmosphere have not disappeared. While the reorganization of minor league baseball may have been a bit of a step back in the developmental chain of baseball, it has not dampened the spirit of the baseball community in Johnson City, Tennessee. Johnson City may no longer be a stop on the road to the majors, but its love of baseball is as strong as ever.

A mountain backdrop at Hermon Brothers Stadium in Palmer, Alaska. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Nothing says "summer" in North America more than taking in a ballgame in a small-town ballpark. In recent years, summer wood-bat leagues are exploding all across the continent, to the point where it's hard to even keep up with all the new leagues and teams sprouting up all in towns and cities everywhere. For many towns, summer ball has allowed their local ballpark to stay in use after being abandoned by affiliated baseball. In others, new ballparks have been built to accommodate the new team. Summer ball offers baseball fans an affordable entertainment option throughout the summer months and gives college players a place to showcase and develop their skills for pro scouts. Stadium Journey has visited 196 Summer Collegiate teams across 32 leagues. Our correspondents were able to visit 36 ballparks this summer, a mix of new to us parks and revisits to previously reviewed parks. Listed below, in alphabetical order, are some of our highest-rated and favorite ballparks. To see the full review, simply click on the stadium/team link. Hope you enjoy it! Crutcher Scott Field - Abilene Flying Bison - Texas League Terry McCutcheon - Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Park is an excellent place to spend a summer evening watching talented players continue their development, while enjoying one of baseball's most relaxed settings. Growden Field - Alaska Goldpanners/Midnight Sun Game Paul Baker - A game that started as a bar bet has become a Bucket List item for thousands of baseball fans around the world. Fairbanks may be far off the beaten path, but for one night (and morning) it’s the center of the baseball universe. Mulcahy Stadium - Anchorage Bucs & Glacier Pilots - Alaska League Paul Baker - Mulcahy Stadium is a quaint old ballpark located in a wonderful destination city. The back story of the Glacier Pilots and Bucs, who cannot exist in their shared ballpark, makes for a unique visiting experience. Throw in the fact that the Alaska League continues to be one of the premier summer college circuits in the nation, and you have found yourself a fantastic Stadium Journey. Shirley Povich Field - Bethesda Big Train - Cal Ripken Sr. League Gregory Koch - The Big Train have certainly succeeded in creating a top-notch community baseball experience in Bethesda. On a warm summer night (or the occasional 10 AM Sunday game), baseball fans in Montgomery County will certainly want to make the trip to Shirley Povich Field. It is baseball fun for seasoned fans, young families, and everyone in between. Bowen Field - Bluefield Ridge Runners - Appalachian League Lloyd Brown - Bowen Field is one of the treasures of minor league baseball. Though it does not have many of the bells and whistles of more modern stadiums, it more than makes up for it in small-town friendliness, a beautiful natural setting, and a community and their ball team putting their best efforts to ensure you have an enjoyable night at the ballpark. Veteran's Field - Chatham Anglers - Cape Cod League Paul Baker - In a league full of unique parks and postcard-perfect towns, Chatham offers an experience that may top them all. NelsonCorp Field - Clinton Lumberkings - Prospect League James Hilchen - FieldCorp Field takes fans back in time to when baseball was about taking in the experience of what was happening on the field, rooting for your players and against the opposing team. For a true baseball fan, this is a fabulous venue. Lowell Park - Cotuit Kettleers - Cape Cod League Paul Baker - Lowell Park is a jewel among summer league parks. In addition to Cotuit's picturesque location, Cape League lineups are loaded with future Major League players. This combination makes a visit to Cape Cod a must for any baseball fan. Just remember to put a few dollars in the kettle when it’s passed around, and “Have a Hit!” Danville Stadium - Danville Dans - Prospect League Marc Viquez - At one time, Danville Stadium was slated for the wrecking ball and left to rot after the Milwaukee Brewers relocated their Single-A team after the 1982 season. Aren’t we somewhat better off having baseball played at Danville Stadium and other buildings of its kind? It is good to know that there are still old-school parks left to watch baseball at these days. American Legion Field - Danville Otterbots - Appalachian League Gregory Koch - An Otterbots game is an enjoyable way to spend a warm summer night watching a baseball game. With an intimate stadium and a crazy mascot, it's affordable fun for the whole family. League Stadium - Dubois County Bombers - Ohio Valley League Marc Viquez - A wonderful and charming little stadium in southern Indiana that is somewhat of a drive for some in the state, but perhaps a drive that is well worth it since there is not quite another ballpark like it in the Hoosier State. Dunn Field - Elmira Pioneers - Perfect Game League Marc Viquez - The charm of Dunn Field would be enough to attract any ballpark traveler to Elmira. The amply-sized stadium has the look and feel of many great minor league ballparks that are no longer around. It is clean, spacious, and ideal for a relaxing day of baseball viewing. Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park - Harrisonburg Turks - Valley League Gregory Koch - It is indisputable that Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park is the most modern facility in the Valley League. While the older venues certainly have their charm in their own way, the Turks manage to create the same great atmosphere there is elsewhere in the league in a more modern stadium with all the amenities that come with. Capital Credit Union Park - Green Bay Rockers - Northwoods League Marc Viquez - Capital Credit Union Park is by far one of the most curious places to watch a baseball game during the summer months. Its design and features best suit a soccer match, but it’s full of popular areas and affordable food and concessions items that make it a nice destination for fans in the area. TVA Credit Union Ballpark - Johnson City Doughboys - Appalachian League David Welsh - Even though professional baseball is no longer played in Johnson City, the excitement of the game and the surrounding atmosphere have not disappeared. While the reorganization of minor league baseball may have been a bit of a step back in the developmental chain of baseball, it has not dampened the spirit of the baseball community in Johnson City, Tennessee. Johnson City may no longer be a stop on the road to the majors, but its love of baseball is as strong as ever. Sargent's Stadium at the Point - Johnstown Mill Rats - Prospect League Marc Viquez - Sargent’s Stadium at the Point is a nod to grand old ballparks of the past. The historic presence can be felt throughout the building, but modern additions provide comfort to the fans. Joe Becker Stadium - Joplin Outlaws - MINK League Photo Courtesy of Karen Staffileno Alex Mailes - Joe Becker Stadium offers the feeling of small-town baseball at a high level for an affordable price. There are plenty of promotions and games for fans to keep things exciting, and Joplin has plenty to offer if you find yourself bored after the game. Alumni Field - Keene Swamp Bats - New England League Paul Baker - It’s readily apparent once you set foot in Alumni Field why it’s one of the marquee venues in the New England Collegiate League. Take an unforgettable setting, add in great fan support, enthusiastic staff, and tons of extra features, and you have all the elements of a fantastic place to catch a ballgame. Simmons Field - Kenosha Kingfish - Northwoods League Eric Hasman - The Kenosha Kingfish have brought life back into the old ballpark. The recent renovations greatly improve the ballpark. According to some fans, there are more renovations planned for the upcoming off-season. This ballpark is a place one should visit. There is history and fun all over the park. Hunter Wright Stadium - Kingsport Axemen - Appalachian League Lloyd Brown - Each off-season, the stadium is evaluated for what can be done to improve the fan experience, and the changes are implemented. This is rewarded by the most loyal fan following in the league, multiple sellouts, and a definite desire to return for future games. Kapco Park - Lakeshore Chinooks - Northwoods League Marc Viquez - Kapco Park offers great concessions and an atmosphere that reminds me why I enjoy traveling around the country and visiting ballparks. The wait was worth it, a fine ballpark experience. Luther Williams Field - Macon Bacon - Coastal Plain League Lloyd Brown - Just as bacon has seen a renaissance as a food item, the Macon Bacon has brought about a renaissance for baseball in the Middle Georgia area. This Bacon recipe of baseball in a historic structure… seasoned with a few modern elements to meet the taste of today’s fans… is high in fun and low in cost. The Bacon Nation is sure to come back for a second helping. Edward A. LeLacheur Park - Lowell Spinners - Futures League Paul Baker - Creating a summer college team to replace a beloved professional baseball team does not always go as planned. But if the 2026 Futures League season is any indication, the Future is indeed bright in Lowell. No need to put a positive spin on it. Warner Park - Madison Mallards - Northwoods League Marc Viquez - The Madison Mallards might be the O.G.'s of packing in exciting crowds in summer collegiate baseball. Before the Savannah Bananas brought record numbers to their ballpark, the Mallards were among the leaders in baseball in average attendance numbers at Warner Park. Athletic Park - Medicine Hat Mavericks - Western Canadian League Jim Flannery - The Mavericks have been a consistent contender in the WMBL for most of their franchise history. Coming out to see a game in a lovely, relaxing environment, with friendly people is a great way to spend a summer evening in “The Hat.” Holman Stadium - Nashua Silver Knights - Futures League Paul Baker - Holman Stadium is a quaint ballpark that has likely seen the end of its days as a professional facility. With Northeast Delta Dental Stadium located 20 minutes to the north and LaLacheur Park located 20 minutes to the south, there are just not enough fans for the affiliated ball in the area. Rebel Park - New Market Rebels - Valley League Gregory Koch - For baseball fans in Virginia, the Valley Baseball League is a hidden gem, and the New Market Rebels are no exception. Those in New Market certainly know about the team and passionately follow it, but a trip to Rebel Park is well worth it for those who don’t live here as well. Cardines Field - Newport Gulls - New England League Paul Baker - They certainly don’t build them like Cardines Field anymore. This historic ballpark, filled with features not seen anywhere else, is a relic from another time. Cardines Field is frequently mentioned as one of the top places in the country to watch summer wood-bat baseball. Seaman Stadium - Okotoks Dawgs - Western Canadian League Richard Smith -Seaman Stadium is a wonderful ballpark, especially for the collegiate summer league level. There are likely to be affiliated minor teams that would be jealous of this fine facility. First Responder Field - Olney Cropdusters - Cal Ripken Sr. League Gregory Koch - The Olney Cropdusters have come a long way with their stadium since it opened in 2022. Even back then, they had an outstanding experience, but with all the renovations and improvements to the ballpark, this is truly a top-notch summer collegiate baseball venue. Eldredge Park - Orleans Firebirds - Cape Cod League Paul Baker - Baseball has been played at Eldredge Park since 1913. As a member of the Firebirds' staff put it, "We have three things going for us in Orleans. We have the best beaches on the Cape, we have the history, and we have the hill." War Memorial Stadium - Peninsula Pilots - Coastal Plain League Gregory Koch - There is no doubt that War Memorial Stadium is an old ballpark. While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of more modern facilities in the CPL and elsewhere in the area, the energy at Peninsula Pilots games is top-notch. Sinsheimer Stadium - San Luis Obispo Blues - California League Meg Minard - San Luis Obispo is a small but vibrant, entertaining town to visit and well worth a stop for any traveler. Attending a game at Sinsheimer Stadium provides an excellent baseball experience in a community that supports it well. John Moxie Memorial Stadium - Staunton Braves - Valley League Gregory Koch - What John Moxie Memorial Stadium lacks in flashiness, it makes up for in charm. Baseball has been played at this site for over a century. Although Moxie Stadium doesn’t have the amenities of modern stadiums, and it certainly would never be mistaken for one, it is a gorgeous, historic stadium to watch a game on a summer’s night at a great price. Trenton Thunder Ballpark - Trenton Thunder - MLB Draft League Marc Viquez - It seems like only yesterday that the team arrived and spearheaded a movement toward ballpark construction in the state. However, the ballpark still stands out as a beauty and provides a highly enjoyable baseball experience. Shepherd Stadium - Tri-City Chili Peppers - Coastal Plain League Gregory Koch - Although Shepherd Stadium is almost 75 years old, you wouldn’t know it from attending a Chili Peppers game here. The stadium has all the amenities and excitement of a newer stadium. Centennial Field - Vermont Lake Monsters - Futures League Paul Baker - Centennial Field, while an older facility, offers many modern amenities and enough comforts to keep today’s fan happy. With a decidedly small-town feel, this ballpark belongs on any baseball fan’s must-see list. Oregon Trail Park Stadium - Western Nebraska Pioneers - Independence League Meg Minard - It is so, so comfortable here. The seats are wide, there’s plenty of legroom, the fans are energized, and the Pioneers staff is ready to assist, if needed. It’s still more about the game than the extra stuff, but there’s enough of that to keep non-purists entertained. Historic Bowman Field - Williamsport Crosscutters - MLB Draft League Gregory Koch - Baseball has been played at Bowman Field for almost 100 years, and you can feel a part of the history when stepping in here. However, this very much feels like a modern ballpark as well, not an old decrepit one that is falling apart. Yakima County Stadium - Yakima County Pippins - West Coast League Richard Smith - The Yakima Valley Pippins and Yakima County Stadium is a perfect spot to watch a summer collegiate league team. The stadium is past its prime for minor-league baseball. but is perfect for this level of ball.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FAN FARE Score: 2.86 The Ballpark 7 Ballpark Way Old Orchard Beach, Maine 04064 GNCBL website The Ballpark website Year Opened: 1984 Capacity: 6,000 The Party of the Summer Time has a way of making something that one time seemed so grandiose become mortal. When it first opened in 1984, The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach, Maine was called, “the prettiest ballpark in creation” by Sports Illustrated, who likened the stadium to a hunting lodge due to the pine used throughout the facility. Fast forward to the present day, and it might be hard to link any of those adjectives to The Ballpark. The years that followed were unkind to The Ballpark. After nearly falling victim to decay, arson, and a planned demolition, the stadium was ultimately saved by Old Orchard Beach residents through a grassroots effort to bring baseball back to the facility. In 2010, American Legion teams and youth tournaments began using the field intermittently. A year later, The Ballpark welcomed its first summer collegiate baseball team, the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (2011–13). The independent Old Orchard Beach Surge of the Empire Professional Baseball League followed from 2015–18. The stadium also became a stop for the Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League (GNCBL), whose teams rotated among ballparks throughout southern Maine while playing their schedules. That format changed in 2024 following the sale of the league, when teams were assigned designated home fields. The Ballpark became home to the Old Orchard Beach Bugs, a role that lasted just two summers. In 2026, The Ballpark took on a new role as the home base for the entire GNCBL and branded it "Beach Ball." Although the league's teams carried the names of neighboring communities, including the Saco Bay Blues, South Portland Puffins, and York County Yonders, only the Old Orchard Beach Bugs represent the town in which they actually play. Food and Beverage 3 The Ballpark is one of just a handful of GNCBL fields that operates a concession stand and is the only venue in the league that sells alcohol. The food selection is fairly typical for ballpark concessions with pretzels, hot dogs, pizza slices, and popcorn chicken, along with a wide selection of snacks. The Ballpark also offers Maine’s signature Red Snapper, a hot dog served in a bright red casing. Soft drinks from the Pepsi family of beverages and Gatorade are also available. For those looking for an adult beverage, The Ballpark is the only GNCBL venue that serves alcohol. Beer and seltzer options include Bud Light, Modelo, Michelob Ultra, and Goose Island IPA, along with Twisted Tea and High Noon seltzers. Atmosphere 2 For better or worse, much of the original stadium remains largely as it was in the mid-1980s. There is a concrete structure topped with modest boxes that more closely resemble warming huts than what we would consider suites today. Baseball at The Ballpark has the feel of what might be expected from the lower levels of summer collegiate baseball. There is an effort to keep fans entertained between innings, but that is about the extent of the entertainment beyond the game itself. The league has touted its single-location Beach Ball concept as an opportunity to “build a lively atmosphere that goes beyond the game itself,” with a more entertainment-driven experience focused on community engagement and a stronger connection between fans and players. The game experience is certainly interactive, but the lack of fans in the stands leaves the overall atmosphere feeling somewhat underwhelming. That, however, is not due to a lack of effort from league staff. If choosing between a weekday night game and a weekend afternoon game, the latter may be the better option. A swampy area beyond left field provides an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, which are typically at their worst around sunset. Dealing with the heat and lack of shade is more manageable than enduring a constant barrage of nature’s bloodsuckers. Even those who played at The Ballpark 40 years ago are quick to bring up the mosquitoes when Old Orchard Beach is mentioned. The seating at The Ballpark consists of rather uncomfortable half-back seats that rest squarely in the small of the back for a typical-sized adult. Many of the seats are also hiding cracks beneath strips of duct tape, adding another reminder that this is a stadium that has seen better days. Neighborhood 4 Old Orchard Beach is every bit the vacation beach town. Though the immediate area is mostly local municipal buildings and high school facilities, the excitement of the beach and pier are just over a mile away. OOB, as it is referred to by locals, is a popular summer destination for both Americans and Quebecois, as evident by the numerous Canadian and Quebec provincial flags that fly around town. The Ballpark is just 1.5 miles from the iconic Old Orchard Beach pier that dates back to 1898, and includes a Coney Island-esque amusement park, Palace Playland. OOB, and southern Maine for that matter, is every bit the summer tourist destination, so be prepared to pay premium prices for rather modest accommodations. For those looking to enjoy the outdoors without the touristy-ness of the area, Biddeford/Saco Country Club and Dunegrass Golf Club definitely could be options, or you can just take a walk through the trails of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Old Orchard Beach is more than just the draw of the beachfront. Fans 2 With one centralized location for games, there is not a scenario where one stadium has a fanbase whose community just gets behind them and is so much more supportive than others. Of all the teams in GNCBL in recent years, Old Orchard has seen more fan support than most of the other teams in the league, but typical attendance only ranges from 75-100 fans. The Beach Bugs staff has been active in the community promoting the team with nearby businesses to draw out the vacationers and locals, but to this point, that has not seemed to carry over into fan turnout. Access 4 With its beachside location, the town is not right on a main interstate or US highway; it is just under 4 miles off US 1, which runs parallel with I-95 up the southern Maine coast. Old Orchard Beach is also serviced by Amtrak’s Downeaster rail that runs between Boston and Brunswick. Though the stop is beachfront, it is just a 1.5-mile walk from the beach to The Ballpark via pedestrian-friendly streets. A single gravel parking lot sits outside the main gates and ticket tent, which is just a short walk from the grandstand. There are several stairways that lead to the field concourse, which divides the upper and lower levels of seating. A ramp down the first base side of the stadium is available to assist those who might not be able to navigate the stairs. Return on Investment 3 In years past, admission to The Ballpark was just $5, but in 2026, that price has more than doubled to $10.55 for a single game. The league schedules two games per day, but for some reason, only the later game is open to the public. At $10.55, the price would make more sense if admission included both games, but for a single game it feels a bit more than would be expected. Concessions are reasonably priced and in line with what would be expected at little league concession stands, making food and drinks a more affordable part of the overall experience. Extras 2 An in-game host helps keep fans engaged with mid-inning trivia questions and on-field contests. Those old enough to remember the Triple-A days at The Ballpark will likely recognize several of the original structures that remain. These include the locker rooms, front office, maintenance facilities, and the stadium speaker tower in center field. Final Thoughts Baseball at The Ballpark may not be an especially impressive experience for first-time visitors, but those who understand the history of baseball in the area can appreciate the fact that the game is still being played in Old Orchard Beach. The fact that baseball is still played at The Ballpark is nothing short of remarkable. The stadium has endured foreclosure, abandonment, and arson, yet through it all, it has emerged on the other side – perhaps a bit worse for wear, but still standing. The Ballpark holds a special place in Maine baseball history. For those who grew up attending games here, it was the next best thing to Fenway Park for those who couldn't make the trip to Boston. Much of the credit belongs to the town of Old Orchard Beach and its residents, who have shown decades of dedication simply to ensure that The Ballpark remains in use today.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 La Moderna Field 1906 Brazzell Road Cleburne, TX 76033 Cleburne Railroaders website La Moderna Field website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 1,750 Next Stop: Cleburne's La Moderna Field La Moderna Field, formerly known as The Depot at Cleburne Station, is a multi-use facility for the city of Cleburne, Texas. The facility opened on May 18, 2017, at a cost of $20.7 million. The opening of the 1,750 fixed-seat ballpark brought professional baseball back to Cleburne after a 95-year absence. Cleburne, Texas, was an important hub for the Santa Fe Railway when trains would bring in cattle to push north along the Chisholm Trail to Kansas in the late 1800s. The history of professional baseball here dates to 1906 when the original Railroaders joined the Texas League. The 1906 Cleburne team won the Texas League Championship with the talent of nine Major Leaguers, including Hall of Famer Tris Speaker. The team left town after that season, but Cleburne would return in 1911 to win another championship, this time in the Texas-Oklahoma League. The city would then lose the team again for 10 years before a brief return as the Cleburne Generals, before losing the franchise for a third time in 1922. Cleburne professional baseball stayed dormant until the current Railroaders began play in 2017. La Moderna Field is a synthetic field with a dirt pitcher’s mound. The field size is asymmetrical, with left field being 335ft, while right field is shorter at 320ft. The power alleys are 383ft (left-center) and 375ft (right-center), with center field at 400ft. The home team occupies the third base dugout, and both teams’ bullpens are in right-center hidden behind the kids’ zone. La Moderna Field has held various college baseball tournaments over the years. Food & Beverage 4 The Depot has two main concession stands, one serving each side of the baselines. The concessions are a surprise for the size of the ballpark – there is plenty of ballpark fare, including peanuts, popcorn, and pretzels, to candy, nachos, and hot dogs, all under $7. The higher end food choices of Angus burgers, chicken sandwiches, and brisket sandwiches are each a few dollars more. A special mini boom stick hot dog (foot long) inspired by the Texas Rangers boom stick is the highest price on the food menu here at $15. Dr Pepper products are the featured soft drink – fountain drinks are $5, bottled water is $4, and sports drinks are $5. In addition, there are plenty of adult beverages at the reasonable cost of $7 for Coors Light, Bud Light, Shiner Bock, Michelob Ultra, and many more. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere can change on any given night as the crowds are a little larger on the weekend than during the week. All games start in the evening, as the Texas summer can be brutal on fans. The fans are decent and supportive of the Railroaders as the players become part of the community. The Railroaders are on target to provide a great atmosphere for fans. The ballpark is set to entertain young fans with the team’s mascot, Spike, or even younger fans with shorter attention spans via a kid’s play area located in right field. The Railroaders staff keeps the crowd engaged in between innings with various entertainment. Every game can give you a different perception of the atmosphere, but if you want to have a fun night while only spending a small amount of money, then a game at La Moderna Field is a wonderful place to spend an evening, seeing baseball at its purest. Neighborhood 2 La Moderna Field is located on the northern outskirts of the city, at the intersection of US 67 and Chisholm Trail Parkway. Cleburne is a city with a population of around 30,000; the city is named in honor of Patrick Cleburne, a Confederate general. Cleburne is approximately a 1-hour drive from DFW International Airport, 30 miles south of Fort Worth (45-minute drive), or 75 miles north of Waco. Cleburne’s downtown area features several chain restaurants on W Henderson Street. The best food option in Cleburne is sampling the local flavors, so Tex-Mex at La Cima Mexican Cuisine or a small-town American diner such as Heroes Cafe would be good choices. The lodging near the ballpark includes basic hotel chains such as Holiday Inn & Suites-Cleburne or La Quinta Inn. However, for a more unique recommendation, check out Liberty Hotel in the center of Cleburne. Attractions around Cleburne center on outdoor activities at the 498-acre Cleburne State Park or the 1,550-acre Lake Pat Cleburne. Or, on days when the Texas heat is not safe, the Layland Museum shows off the area’s historical relics with early Texana, comprehensive Indian artifacts dating from pre-Columbian cultures, fossils, and genealogy records. Fans 3 Cleburne baseball fans have embraced having professionals back in Cleburne, as the team is beginning its 9th season (missing 2020 due to Covid-19). The team averaged around 1,669 fans per game last season, ranking in the lower tier of the league, but with the smallest ballpark in the league, this does rank higher if you use the percentage capacity filled. Although the crowd at La Moderna Field may not be on par with larger ballparks’ attendance, the fans here are very vocal and engaged throughout the game. The fans at La Moderna Field are also very community-oriented, with the locals being either diehard baseball fans or families enjoying the summer at the ballpark. Local fans have waited almost a century for baseball to return to Cleburne, and the strong pride of having baseball return, coupled with an already proud connection to the past, has given professional baseball a solid foundation with a bright future to continue in Cleburne. Access 3 Cleburne is about an hour’s drive from DFW International Airport, towards the Fort Worth side of the metroplex, using Interstate 35W south from the DFW area. La Moderna Field is located off US Highway 67 at the Nolan River Road exit, or the south end of Chisholm Trail Parkway, 27 miles from Fort Worth, Texas. A large parking lot surrounds the ballpark, as Cleburne Station has yet to be fully constructed to its potential. Fans can enter the ballpark through the main gate behind home plate. This entrance is the center of the ballpark and contains a historic chief engine train, pre-game entertainment, and box offices. There is a second entrance for season ticket holders along the baseline. Just inside the main entrance are the pro shop and the Cleburne Baseball Museum. The other entrance is a small entrance that connects the parking lot to the first base side of the concourse. The concourse is located above the seating bowl and houses the concessions and restrooms for the ballpark. The seating bowl at La Moderna Field has safety netting that stretches from the right field general seating berm to the third base seating berm. The ballpark does have a party view patio and suites overlooking the lower bowl of seats and the concourse, and there is also a picnic patio along the right field line that has more trains. There is also a kid’s zone located beyond the right field fence that can be seen from the general seating areas, but the kid’s zone’s premier attraction is a Dallas Mavericks logo basketball court. The team’s bullpens are located beyond the kids’ zone. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Cleburne Railroaders games range in price from $16-$19 for reserved seats around home plate. There is plenty of parking surrounding the ballpark; the cost is $5. The concessions are reasonably priced for a sports venue, making the overall ROI on a Railroaders game on par with what would be expected, but there are also plenty of ways to get discounted tickets to provide a more affordable night out for the family, for example, the Family Pack with four game tickets and four meal vouchers, or the Date Night offer of 2 tickets and 2 meal vouchers. Military members can get tickets for a 50% discount, along with 25% off concessions. Extras 4 The Railroaders name connects not only Cleburne’s baseball past but also the history of this small Texas city, and the ballpark theme and future development at Cleburne Station is a great concept in continuing Cleburne’s history. Also, the Cleburne Baseball Museum located next to the ticket office at the main entrance is a great place to read about Cleburne baseball’s past teams. The Railroaders gift shop has a variety of Railroaders items, including a real nice selection of team jerseys. The ballpark itself is small, but is a perfect fit for Cleburne, and will give local baseball fans the enjoyment of watching the game for years to come. Final Thoughts La Moderna Field is the headstone of future development around Cleburne, and has the potential to keep professional baseball in Cleburne for many years to come. While Cleburne, Texas may not be a tourist hot spot, what it does have is an immaculate ballpark for any baseball fan. Any sports traveler in the Dallas-Fort Worth area should make a road trip to Cleburne and get aboard the Railroaders train at La Moderna Field.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FAN FARE Score: 2.00 Dave Hall Field 1665 Hampshire Pike Columbia, TN 38401 Columbia Jumpin' Jacks website Capacity: 500 (approximate) Jumpin' Jacks Baseball The Columbia Jumpin' Jacks are one of the newest summer collegiate baseball teams, competing in the inaugural season of the Volunteer State League. The Jumpin' Jacks are one of four VSL teams in Central Tennessee and play their home games at Dave Hall Field on the campus of Columbia State Community College. The VSL is a new league that is part of a network called The Players League that also includes leagues in North Carolina, Texas, and Maine and is looking to expand to other areas in future years. Food & Beverage 1 The concession situation at a Columbia Jumpin' Jacks game is incredibly disorganized, something that will become a common theme in this review. The team's social media says that Chick-fil-A is available for sale at all non-Sunday home games. However, when we visited on a Monday night, the Chick-fil-A was nowhere to be found. There is a concession window where kids can turn in foul balls in exchange for a snack or soft drink, but when we attempted to purchase items, this concept utterly bewildered the staff member, who had no idea how much to charge or if they accepted credit cards. While the team is new, we attended a late season game, so they had plenty of time to figure things out. Atmosphere 2 There are sections of chairback seat down both baselines at Dave Hall Field, with a press box and concession stand directly behind home plate. The sun will set behind the third base stands in the evening, meaning it will be at your back if you're sitting on that side and may be in your eyes if you're down the first base line. There is not much going on here besides the game itself, and even that is disorganized. The team does not control the lights, which are set by timer to go on at a certain time. Unfortunately, it gets too dark to play baseball before this time, which often results in a brief delay in the game until the lights come on. Other random delays are also not uncommon in this league due to things such as late-arriving umpires. Even baseball purists may find the experience baffling. Neighborhood 2 Dave Hall Field is located on the campus of a community college surrounded by a residential neighborhood, so there is not much to do in the immediate vicinity. There are some businesses located elsewhere in Columbia, mainly along Highway 50, but most of them are chain restaurants the likes of which dot many small towns in the South. The buffet at the Columbia Farmers Family Restaurant is one of the few exceptions. Fans 3 The Jumpin' Jacks draw decently well, with about a hundred fans showing up to a typical game. Columbia is a small town that has had several failed attempts to support independent baseball, so the summer collegiate team coming to town this year has managed to draw some interest. There are friends and family of the players in attendance, as well as Columbia State alumni who fondly remember playing on this field, and an assortment of random locals who just want to check out a baseball game. The disorganized fashion this league operates him, with games rescheduled, delayed, or moved around with little warning, probably hurts attendance. Access 3 Columbia, Tennessee, is located near Tennessee Route 50 and US Route 43, with Route 243 cutting between them to provide easier access to parts of downtown. Although it is far from any interstate, you can often make good time on the sparsely-traveled rural roads, hitting only an occasional traffic light or two when you come to a town. Once on campus, there is a large lot right next to the stadium which is more than big enough. Restrooms are located in a building in between Dave Hall Field and the Columbia State softball field, and are typically sufficient for the small crowds the Jumpin' Jacks draw. Return on Investment 3 Tickets to Jumpin' Jacks games costs just $10, which is certainly not too expensive. However, there isn't enough here for the experience to be of a more than average value. Extras 0 There are no real extras here, unfortunately. Final Thoughts A Columbia Jumpin' Jacks baseball game is a pretty basic experience. You can watch a game up close to the action with a small town community feel. Unfortunately, the league and team are still getting the hang of how to operate, and that significantly hurts the experience here. We hope they return in 2027 having managed to figure things out, as the gameday atmosphere here can significantly improve if they manage to do that.

Photos by James Clotfelter, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 HomeTrust Park 30 Buchanan Pl Asheville, NC 28801 Asheville Tourists website HomeTrust Park website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 4,000 Cozy Baseball in Appalachia Baseball in Asheville dates back to 1897, making it one of the South's oldest baseball towns. That year, the Asheville Moonshiners took the field at Allandale Park, the city's first home for professional baseball. Through the decades, teams have come and gone, leagues have changed, and nicknames have evolved, but one constant has remained: baseball has long been woven into the fabric of Asheville's culture. That tradition found its permanent home in 1924 with the opening of McCormick Field, one of the oldest active professional baseball stadiums in the United States. Known today as HomeTrust Bank Park, the historic venue has welcomed everyone from Hall of Famers to future major league stars while remaining one of Minor League Baseball's most cherished ballparks. Since 1959, the current incarnation of the Asheville Tourists has called McCormick Field home, and today the club serves as the High-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. Steeped in history, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, and fueled by a community that has embraced the sport for well over a century, McCormick Field offers one of the most authentic experiences in Minor League Baseball. Whether you're a lifelong fan or simply passing through western North Carolina, an evening with the Tourists combines historic charm, mountain scenery, and affordable entertainment into a ballpark experience that is difficult to replicate anywhere else. Food & Beverage 5 There is often a preconceived notion that a ballpark of HomeTrust’s age will offer only the bare essentials when it comes to food and beverages. Fortunately, the Asheville Tourists defy that expectation. Like many aspects of the fan experience, the age of the stadium has done little to limit either the quality or variety of its concessions. The main concourse along the first-base line is lined with a collection of food and beverage kiosks, each offering something different. Fans can choose from made-to-order smash burgers, cheesesteaks, tacos, popcorn, snow cones, and more. Traditional concession stands supplement these specialty vendors with classic ballpark fare, including hot dogs, pretzels, chicken tenders, and fries, while also serving elevated options such as chili nachos, grass-fed beef hot dogs, and soft-serve ice cream. During our visit, the made-to-order smash burger stood out as one of the best items in the ballpark, but the depth of the menu ensures there is something to satisfy every appetite. Overall, the Tourists' food selection rivals- and in many cases surpasses- that of their South Atlantic League counterparts. It would be almost criminal for a team playing in "Beer City, USA" to neglect its local craft beer scene, and thankfully the Tourists embrace it wholeheartedly. Fans will find an impressive selection from Asheville favorites such as Wicked Weed, Highland Brewing, Asheville Brewing Company, alongside regional staples like New Belgium, Foothills Brewing, and Sierra Nevada. Domestic beers remain readily available for those who prefer them, while non-beer drinkers can choose from Coca-Cola products, hard seltzers, cocktails, and other refreshments throughout the concourse. The beverage program is every bit as strong as the food, giving fans plenty of opportunities to sample Asheville's renowned craft brewing culture without ever leaving the ballpark. Atmosphere 4 I absolutely love when a team can preserve the history of an older ballpark while still delivering a first-class fan experience, and the Asheville Tourists have found that balance perfectly. HomeTrust Bank Park features a single concourse that begins near the left-field foul pole beside the team store and wraps around the entire seating bowl. Throughout the concourse are roster boards, South Atlantic League standings, historical displays, murals, and tributes to former Tourists who went on to reach the major leagues. Numerous tunnels lead directly into the seating bowl, helping preserve the classic feel of the stadium. The seating bowl consists of lower and upper seating sections, with the lower sections identified by single letters and the upper sections by double letters. A large awning extends over much of the seating area, providing welcome shade while leaving only the far ends of the grandstand (Sections AA-BB and LL-NN) exposed to the elements. Premium seating is available along both foul lines, while the Dugout Club offers some of the closest views in the park from directly behind the on-deck circles. A modern video board in left field provides player statistics, replays, and between-inning entertainment, while a smaller digital scoreboard in left-center handles the traditional line score. The field itself is notably compact, measuring just 297 feet down the left-field line and under 400 feet to straightaway center. Despite the cozy dimensions, towering outfield walls - overed almost entirely in advertisements - keep many would-be home runs in the park while adding another layer of personality to the ballpark. The seating is comfortable with generous legroom, and because of the intimate size of the stadium, there are very few bad views anywhere in the house. Beyond the outfield, a grassy hillside and the surrounding landscape provide a subtle reminder that you're in the heart of Appalachia. While the crowd may never reach the volume of a major league park, it generates more than enough energy to create an engaging atmosphere. The compact design makes every game feel personal, giving fans the quintessential small-town baseball experience. One final tip: while sightlines are excellent throughout the stadium, sun exposure is not. For afternoon games, the extra few dollars for seats beneath the awning are money well spent. Neighborhood 5 Being nicknamed "Beer City" would lead you to expect Asheville to have plenty of places to grab a pregame drink and bite, but the area surrounding HomeTrust Bank Park has far more to offer. Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville is surrounded by mountain trails ranging from quick, easy walks to challenging full-day hikes. If you have the time, I highly recommend the Art Loeb Trail toward Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain. The drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is spectacular, and the roughly four-mile portion of the hike offers sweeping 360-degree views as it follows the ridgeline. HomeTrust Bank Park sits in Asheville's South Slope district, just south of the heart of downtown. Despite being technically outside the downtown core, Asheville's compact layout means nearly all of downtown is within a comfortable walk of the ballpark. South Slope itself is home to several excellent breweries, including Green Man and Twin Leaf, as well as Urban Orchard Cider, an award-winning cidery renowned as one of the country's top destinations for craft cider. I'm not normally a craft cider guy, but even I came away happy with the visit. With dozens of breweries throughout the city, Asheville is a dream destination for craft beer and cider enthusiasts. Restaurants are scattered throughout downtown, with particularly strong selections of breakfast, Mexican, and Indian cuisine. For a pregame meal, however, Farm Burger is a can't-miss option. Between the breweries, restaurants, downtown attractions, and access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, there is enough to keep visitors occupied well beyond the nine innings. Fans 3 The South Atlantic League averages roughly 2,800 fans per game, while the Tourists are currently drawing a little over 3,000 per night. That represents a significant increase from last season and puts Asheville around the league average in attendance. Considering the relatively small capacity of HomeTrust Bank Park, there is nothing to be ashamed of in those numbers. On the Saturday night of my visit, the Tourists faithful showed up in solid numbers. Fans were decked out in Tourists gear, although surprisingly, I did not spot much Astros representation. A few Braves hats were scattered throughout the crowd, but for the most part, the stands belonged to the home team. What stood out most was the character of the crowd. Tourist fans were knowledgeable, welcoming, and enthusiastic without becoming overbearing. The atmosphere maintained that friendly, local Southern hospitality that makes minor league baseball so enjoyable. The crowd may not produce the overwhelming noise found at some of the best-supported minor league parks, but it provides a comfortable and authentic small-town baseball atmosphere. Access 3 Getting to the stadium is not anything too crazy. Asheville's downtown does not get too hectic with traffic, but there is no dedicated stadium parking lot. Instead, the city uses parking lots and decks around the stadium and offers complimentary trolley service from the popular decks to the ballpark. These rides begin 60 minutes before the game. I did not drive to the game, but I can see how parking could get a little hectic, so it is advised to have a game plan before arriving. Uber and Lyft are also readily available throughout Asheville, so getting a ride to or from the stadium should not be a problem. The concourse is surprisingly wide inside the stadium, allowing for easy movement around the ballpark, something that is not always the case with older parks. The team store is located beside the left-field foul pole, making it easy to access before or during the game. The entire stadium features chairback seating with plenty of legroom between rows, providing a comfortable experience throughout the seating bowl. Return on Investment 4 Like most of Minor League Baseball, the Tourists provide a quality night out without breaking the bank. Normal tickets range from $12 to $20, and with the compact size of the stadium, every seat offers a good view. Basic concession items such as hot dogs, pretzels, and sodas typically cost between $2 and $7, while premium options like smash burgers and cheesesteaks run from $8 to $12. Craft beer comes in at a little over $8, with domestic options slightly cheaper at around $6. Parking depends on which city deck or lot you use and is generally charged at an hourly rate, making parking one of the few costs that requires a little more planning. Extras 3 HomeTrust Bank Park is an old-school ballpark filled with quirky features, from the oddly high outfield wall to the giant grassy hill beyond the outfield. Together, these elements give the stadium a unique, cozy feel that is difficult to replicate in a modern ballpark. The team store is also one of the best I've seen at this level, offering a wide variety of merchandise and logos that embrace Asheville's culture. Even the mascot carries a piece of the city's baseball history, featuring a moon-shaped head as a tribute to the Asheville Moonshiners. Final Thoughts The city of Asheville, North Carolina, is an underrated summer destination. Of course, baseball is an integral part of any proper summer road trip. While exploring the mansions and breweries of this fine city, make sure to stop in at McCormick Field, a ballpark that manages to be old and new at the same time.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 ESL Ballpark One Morrie Silver Way Rochester, NY 14608 Rochester Red Wings website ESL Ballpark website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 13,500 Rochester’s Miracle The Rochester Red Wings are the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals and have been around since 1899. The Red Wings were saved in 1957 after their affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals ended, and it looked like baseball in Rochester was for naught. Morrie Silver led the "72 Day Miracle," which sold over 8,000 ownership shares to over 200 investors to purchase the team and stadium and keep Rochester baseball strong. Members of the Silver family still work for the Red Wings, and the street outside the Red Wings’ home is named Morrie Silver Way. Since 1989, the home for the Red Wings has been ESL Ballpark. Originally Frontier Field, the park replaced the venerable Silver Stadium and has entrenched the Red Wings as one of the cornerstone franchises in the International League. The county-owned ballpark is a perfect size for Triple-A baseball with a capacity of 13,500. In 2026, the naming rights were sold to ESL Federal Credit Union. Food & Beverage 5 ESL Ballpark offers some of the best concessions in baseball. There are numerous concession stands, and each one has a unique menu. All of the ballpark favorites are present, of course, and there are some local standards as well. Subs and deli sandwiches, ice cream, Zweigle’s hot dogs and sausages, and the Western New York favorite, Beef on Weck, are all available and should be considered. For something truly unique to Rochester, fans should consider the “Plate.” Rochester is known for the Garbage Plate, which is definitely unique, and versions can be found at ESL Ballpark. The 10th Inning bar area has a whole host of local craft beers, and local Genesee beer can be found throughout the park also. Labatt Blue, which is popular in Western New York, is also prevalent in the park. It is hard to fathom that there is anything that a fan would want to eat at the ballpark that can’t be found at ESL Ballpark. Atmosphere 4 ESL Ballpark will not awe fans with striking beauty or a bevy of unique features. That being said, ESL Ballpark is a solid ballpark that has everything that fans would want in a Minor League Baseball experience. The exterior of the stadium is not imposing. A simple design that features a sunken field and red brick is more functional than beautiful. ESL Ballpark incorporates what was once an old firehouse on the left field side of the stadium for offices. Fans who enter the front gate, behind home plate, will be welcomed first by Rochester baseball legend, Morrie Silver and a couple kids, in bronze statue form. Upon entering the stadium, fans will find more items to catch their attention. A horse made of baseball gloves and a large red wing bird sit right outside of the team store, which is on the left of the main gate. The Red Wings Hall of Fame can be found on the right field side and is worth some exploring for members of memories past. Upon exiting, on the left field side, fans can pass the bronze statue of Joe Altobelli. The seating bowl for ESL Ballpark is a separated, two tier seating area with some of the left and right field side seating covered with some sun protection. Alternative seating, including berms, pavilion and picnic areas, are also available. The sightlines at ESL Ballpark are excellent; there isn’t a bad seat in the house. ESL Ballpark has videoboards beyond both left and right Center field. They are probably coming to the end of their lives, but they do the job. Often, videoboards try to cram so much information on at a time that the result is text that is too small to easily see. The Red Wings are not guilty of this and feature pitching statistics on one board and hitting statistics on the other. The outfield wall in left Center displays the retired numbers of Jackie Robinson, Luke Easter, Joe Altobelli, and Morrie Silver. The number 8,222 represents the original number of shares in Rochester baseball that were sold to keep a Minor League team in the city. The ten Governors’ Cup Championships are on display on the wall in right center. The gameday atmosphere is not over-the-top in Rochester as it is in other Minor League venues. The staple promos are there, including the 50/50 draw and other promos. Organ music is still a staple at Red Wings games, and organist Fred Costello has been at it for a long time. Red Wings mascots Spikes and Mittsy interact with fans and the in-game host. Neighborhood 4 ESL Ballpark is located near Downtown Rochester, just outside of the Inner Loop in the Brown Square neighborhood. There are a few dining and lodging options that are close to ESL Ballpark, but the best bet is to hop in the car and take a two- or three-minute drive to the preferred destination. Some options fans may consider include the Genesee Brew House, 809 Sports Bar, and Rocky’s. Over by the Blue Cross Arena, fans will find the old train station that is currently home to the Stadium Journey favorite Dinosaur BBQ. Also, it may be of interest to hit up the founder of the Garbage Plate, Nick Tahou Hots. Other sporting options in Rochester would include the Rochester Americans of the AHL and Rochester Knighthawks of the NLL. Fans could also head to Henrietta to take in some RIT Tigers hockey at the Gene Polisseni Center. Other tourist attractions in Rochester include Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, RMSC, and Seneca Park Zoo. However, the must do tourist attraction is The Strong National Museum of Play, which is fantastic! For fans wishing to stay near the ballpark, the Holiday Inn and Hyatt are among options that are not too far away. Fans 4 The Rochester Red Wings are one of the oldest franchises in Minor League Baseball and have enjoyed prolonged success at the turnstile. At the time of writing, in the 2026 season, the Red Wings have averaged over 5,500 fans per game. The previous season, the Red Wings averaged over 5,800 fans per game. They ranked 11th in the 20 team International League and 8th previously, pretty much right in the middle. Fans in attendance are knowledgeable and loud at the appropriate times. Access 4 ESL Ballpark is located in Brown Square in Rochester, at the junction of the Inner Loop highway and I-490. Getting to the ballpark is pretty easy. If you are interested in public transit to the ballpark, the Rochester-Genesee Transit Authority has buses that travel on Broad, Main, Plymouth and State Streets. Check out the RTS website for maps, schedules, and fares. There is plenty of parking available for Red Wing games in the lots of the former Kodak Tower. Parking goes for only a few dollars, and the local police do a great job of making it easy to get in and out of the parking lots. The main ticketing gates are behind homeplate, in the main square by Morrie Silver Way. At times, lineups can be a bit of an issue for the late purchasing crowd, so being prepared is always a good idea. Another gate for entry is near the old fire station at Morrie Silver Way and Plymouth Ave, in left field. Getting around the stadium is no problem at all. There is a spacious inner concourse, where all of the concessions can be found and an outer concourse to travel by as well. There are also plenty of washroom facilities. Stadium Journey recognizes that security protocols are in constant flux for sporting events. Although at the time of writing security entailed walking through metal detectors and bag checks, Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Rochester Red Wings and ESL Ballpark websites for the latest security procedures, including prohibited items and bag policy. ESL Ballpark is a cashless facility. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for the Red Wings are $23 for 100 level seats and $19 for 200 level. Parking will cost a couple of dollars, and concession prices are what one would expect from a Minor League facility. The return is a great afternoon or evening of baseball in an excellent park. The math all seems to work out. Extras 4 An extra mark for organist Fred Costello, who has been the organist of the Red Wings since 1977, the longest-reigning sports organist in history. An extra mark for Morrie Silver and the 72 Day Miracle that saved baseball in Rochester and made the Red Wings a truly community team. An extra mark for the view of the iconic Kodak building beyond left field. Although Kodak is no longer, the building is currently used by Monroe Community College. An extra mark for Red Wings CEO and Rochester Royalty, Naomi Silver, daughter of Morrie Silver. She can often be found around the ballpark interacting with fans. Final Thoughts The Rochester Red Wings are one of the oldest franchises in Minor League Baseball and a cornerstone of the International League. Taking in a Red Wings game is everything that is great about Minor League Baseball in a simple, satisfying package. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube, Twitter, Threads, and Instagram @profan9. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena has been a central part of Greenville’s culture for years. Now, it is home to many of the city's most well-followed sports teams, such as the hockey team, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. It also hosts various concerts and major events, such as high school graduations, including JL Mann’s in 2024. But things are about to change. Greenville’s Wellness Arena is getting an upgrade starting this very year. The design plans have recently been revealed, giving us a glimpse into the future of the cultural center as the review from the city government lingers. The renovations will be expansive and extensive, expanding the 15,500-seat arena and its surrounding 12-acre campus in ways never before seen. The project was announced all the way back in April 2025, so these master plans have been more than a year in the making. And the thoughtful ambition is clear through the way the plans are laid out. It’s no surprise, with names like LS3P, Gensler, and Caldwell Constructors helping the Greenville Arena District with the plans for months. LS3P is an architecture company based in the Southeast, and its portfolio is diverse, covering everything from transportation, aviation, and education to faith-based projects. Like the Von Braun III complex, a project that was completed in 2011. The $193 million project measures 839,873 square feet across six stories and stands tall today as one of the most complex government buildings. LS3P has even worked on athletic programs close to Greenville. They helped with Clemson University’s Littlejohn Coliseum expansion and renovation, which they completed all the way back in 2017. “This is an exciting step for the future of our basketball programs and our athletic department,” said Dan Radakovich, director of athletics, on LS3P’s expansion. “Our desire was to update Littlejohn but respect the great structure that has served our university so well for almost 50 years. We are very proud of the results. Fans, alumni, students, and student-athletes will feel like they are walking into a new building.” Meanwhile, Gensler describes itself as a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 57 offices and 6,000+ professionals across the Americas, Europe, Greater China, and APME. And they have many great projects under their belt as well, such as their work on the Western Kentucky Amy and David Hall and LinkedIn's Munich offices in Germany, showing their multicultural expertise and knowledge. They also have a specialty in building memorable but minor parts of major buildings, like the Western Metal Supply Co. building in Petco Park or the Mars M&M’s store in downtown Shanghai, China, and Disneyland. Things like these are exactly why they’ll be so important to the upgrades to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. And Caldwell Constructors, a local company that’s had decades of contractor experience, has helped build up the Upstate SC area! With an impressive 854+ projects under their belt since they first opened in 2005, they’ve worked on everything from local and small projects like the Throneblade pool and tennis courts to bigger and much more ambitious projects like the Prisma Health Family YMCA Campus Expansion and the Cartwright Food Hall. The Caldwell brothers have been building Greenville into what it is today, and the Bon Secours Wellness Arena is the latest favor they’ve done for the community. With such an experienced group of companies behind the project, with all kinds of different areas of expertise, whether they be local infrastructure, small structures in much larger buildings, or massive renovations exactly like this, it’s safe to say it’ll go swimmingly. So, what will they all be working on? Well, on April 28th, the plans were revealed to the city council and went into depth on the renovations that were going to be made to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. “I think the design team has done a tremendous job and we’ve kind of taken everybody on the journey with us, from master plan level all the way down to where we are now,” Paul said. “It’s been really exciting to see the evolution of the project and the design.” With the enhancements that were proposed, they’ll be adding a new main entrance with a two-level lobby on the west side of the arena, facing Church Street, which will add a sense of grandeur upon entering the arena. It’s sure to add a sense of excitement and wonder to any event taking place at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. They’ll also be expanding the arena’s concourse level for better guest circulation, enhanced food and beverage services, additional restrooms, and improved ADA accessibility. This will ensure that the experiences at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena are as open to as many people as possible and that those people will have as great an experience as the arena can provide. Next, they’ll also expand the facility’s event level to strengthen back-of-house operations by adding a larger loading dock, marshaling area, freight elevator, storage space, and client locker room. These additions will complete the renovations that’ll improve the experience for customers and performers at the soon-to-be historic structure. And that’s not all, though! The men behind the renovations also focused on the outdoor experience outside Greenville’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena. They’re adding a brand-new, 7,000-seat outdoor amphitheater that they’ve gone all out on. It’ll have full artist amenities and back-of-house facilities, and the campus along Church Street is also planned. This would also include an expansion for the nearby city-owned parking garage on Church Street by adding 315 new spaces. Paul said they will work with the city on the timing and funding of the parking garage expansion. Then they’re not done there. Before implementing many of these changes, they first have to meet with the Greenville Arena District, which has also focused on confirming funding sources for the arena renovation. There’ll be big money put up to enrich Greenville’s cultural experience.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Little League Central Region Complex 7185 South Indianapolis Road Whitestown, IN 46075 Little League Central Region website Little League Central Region Complex website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 500 Little League Baseball in Whitestown, Indiana The Little League Central Region Complex is a 15-acre complex that serves as the headquarters and regional tournament home for Little League baseball and softball in the Midwest and Great Lakes region. It opened in June 2021 in Whitestown, Indiana, for close to $15 million. The complex is home to a stadium, concession stand, batting cages, a gift shop, a picnic area, lights, an electronic scoreboard, and league offices. The grandstand has seating for 500 people and includes an additional five rows of bleacher seats behind the right field wall. The complex was designed for major regional tournaments and hosts 50 to 60 games a year. It is used and maintained by Little League Baseball and Softball. The LL Central Regional Headquarters has been in the Indianapolis area since 1990. The first complex was built on the east side of town in Lawrence Township for $3 million. At the time, the 30-acre facility was the most up-to-date and expansive of its kind. It included five playing fields and three practice fields. It also had a dormitory to accommodate 204 people. The tournament relocated temporarily to Grand Park in Westfield for several years before moving to Whitestown. The former Lawrence ballpark is now home to Cathedral High School. Food & Beverage 3 There is a large concession stand that has a window for ordering and pickup. The stand's main items are all-beef hot dogs and nachos. You can top them off with chili and cheese, or pick up a nacho supreme with lettuce, tomatoes, and salsa. Other items include popcorn, pretzels, big pickles, chips, candy, and soft cookies. You can wash it all down with Pepsi products. A nice treat is Glover’s Ice Cream from nearby Frankfort, Indiana. Atmosphere 4 The stadium is packed with fans from both teams, which included, during our visit, teams from Hamilton, Ohio, and La Grange, Kentucky. The simple grandstand is made up of chair-back and bleacher seating that sits underneath a roof and protective netting. The views are best from the upper portion of the grandstand, free from obstructed views of the visitors' dugout. You will also find kids of all ages tossing a baseball or football outside the stadium in the grassy area, along with fans waiting in line for their concession items in between games or innings. A few more fans will stand against the fencing down the right field line to catch a glimpse of the action in between the camera cranes and ESPN crew. The most relaxed area is the bleacher seats in right field that are less crowded and perfect once the sun goes down. There is a lot of cheering, music, and fan interaction during the game. The PA announcer has each team member dance to the “Cha Cha Slide Dance” before the game, a tradition that has taken place at the Whitestown location for several years. There are also moments in the game where sing-a-longs take place to involve the audience. Neighborhood 4 The complex is adjacent to I-65 in a residential neighborhood. Across the interstate is a large shopping complex that is home to retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and fast food options. However, a few local restaurants and breweries are nearby. Moontown Brewery is three miles north of the stadium and inside a former high school and gymnasium. The brewery offers a full-service restaurant and multiple taps from lagers to stouts. Aspen Creek Grill is a casual restaurant with hand-cut steaks, baby back ribs, and seafood. Texas Margaritas specializes in Mexican cuisine and beverages. Paws on Tap is a dog-friendly location with 39 self-service pours of beer, hard seltzers, wine, and ciders, along with food options. Wally’s is a mega-travel center business model focused on clean restrooms, massive gas pump arrays, proprietary snacks, and road-trip merchandise. The Little League tournament takes place in early August, the same time when the Indianapolis Indians play at Victory Field, and the Indiana Fever take to the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Fans 4 The fanbases were equally divided and provided plenty of cheering, roaring, and hollering before and during the game. There was no shortage of team colors, banners, signs, and other devices to show support for their young heroes on the diamond. There is never a dull moment or even an ounce of silence throughout the night. Most importantly, both sides are respectful to one another. Access 3 The stadium offers a large grass parking area, along with two entry points into the grandstand. The concourse is narrow, but it's rather easy to get around; the seating does fill up well before the first pitch. The concession stands, team store, and restrooms are easily accessible behind the grandstand. Return on Investment 4 Little League Baseball does not charge admission to the games or to the park for any tournament games. Concession prices range from $1 to $4 for items and merchandise in the gift shop, and they are on par with minor league stadiums. Free is always good for visiting a ballpark, and that is the case with the ballpark in Whitestown. Extras 3 The stadium earns a point for free admission and parking. It earns a second point for additional bleacher seats in right field, and a final point for the covered grandstand. Final Thoughts The Little League Central Region Complex is a worthwhile addition to any ballpark road trip. Conveniently located just off I-65 in Whitestown, Indiana, and close to numerous restaurants, retail shops, and other attractions, it makes for an enjoyable stop during a summer baseball journey. Best of all, admission is free, concessions are reasonably priced, and the atmosphere is lively and welcoming, making it a fun destination for baseball fans of all ages. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Vinny Martin, Richard Smith, and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 loanDepot park 501 Marlins Way Miami, FL 33125 Miami Marlins website loanDepot park website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 36,742 Baseball in the 305 loanDepot Park, originally known as Marlins Park, opened in 2012 as the exclusive home of the newly rebranded Miami Marlins. The Marlins called SunLife Stadium (now Hard Rock Stadium) home from 1993 to 2011, and shared the facility with the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. loanDepot Park is located in the Little Havana neighborhood, about 2 miles west of Downtown Miami. It is one of MLB's smallest ballparks by capacity and features a retractable roof, an essential amenity during Miami's hot and humid summers. loanDepot Park is notably the first and only ballpark to be built under a contemporary architectural design, making it one of a kind among Major League Baseball stadiums. Food & Beverage 4 There are very impressive options for food and drinks at loanDepot Park, with a good variety of cultural options to represent the city. Sergio’s and Los Verdes offer a variety of Latin and Cuban options, such as empanadas, rice bowls, and Cuban sandwiches. Aside from the conventional ballgame options, hungry Marlins fans can find gourmet sliders, tacos, and barbecue, to name a few options. Miami’s party atmosphere is well represented with multiple bars scattered throughout the concourse, including the Blue Moon Brew Hall, the Budweiser Bar, and the Bacardi Bar. A rare experience at professional sporting events is being able to have a sit-down meal while watching the game. You can do that at loanDepot, with the Bullpen Bar and Grill offering great views of the game from left field, as well as a view right into the home bullpen. Atmosphere 4 The best way to describe loanDepot Park is unique. While many ballparks built during this era take inspiration from retro classic parks like Camden Yards, loanDepot is truly one of a kind. The venue's design is contemporary and modern, giving loanDepot Park a feel unlike virtually any other stadium in Major League Baseball. Stadium Journey recommends taking a walk around the entire exterior of the stadium to be able to appreciate its quirky design. Recent renovations replaced much of the stadium's original neon green and orange color scheme with the light blue featured in the Marlins' current branding. A fixture of the pre-renovation interior was a very colorful (and slightly odd-looking) home run sculpture. Fortunately, the Marlins moved this sculpture to the exterior of the stadium so fans can still take a look. The gameday atmosphere is very distinctly Miami. The Marlins do a great job of making the energy vibrant and fun despite a lack of fans on most nights. There are fun light and sound effects for home runs, as well as Marlins wins. Concession works also double as drummers, attempting to fire up the crowd with “Let’s Go Marlins” chants. The star of loanDepot Park is the left field walkway, with the aforementioned Budweiser balcony and the Norwegian Cruise Line deck being great general admission areas to watch the game, and the gigantic glass window offering stunning views of the Miami skyline. Neighborhood 3 loanDepot Park is located in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, about 10-15 minutes away from downtown. Little Havana is a vibrant part of the city, with Cuban-influenced architecture and parks. While Little Havana is filled with Cuban restaurants, bars, parks, and cultural attractions, much of the neighborhood's activity is centered around Calle Ocho rather than the immediate blocks surrounding the ballpark. Downtown Miami and Brickell, along with their hundreds of bars, restaurants, and entertainment options, are a short drive away. Fans 2 Excitement for baseball in South Florida has often been lacking, and with the Marlins struggling to compete for a majority of their existence, that remains as true as ever. Visiting team fans often swarm loanDepot park, often creating a fairly neutral atmosphere. The Marlins fans who show up are passionate about their team and make noise, but just don’t do so in large enough numbers to make an impact. loanDepot Park has yet to host a playoff game in its existence. It would be interesting to see how Marlins fans would show up for October baseball. Access 3 loanDepot Park is serviced by I-95 and I-395. Traffic getting into the stadium is usually manageable due to the lower crowds, but prepare for some delays on weeknights. If traveling from downtown Miami, the main access to Little Havana is by drawbridge, which can considerably delay you if the bridge is up. There are parking lots, as well as four parking garages surrounding the stadium. There are also Miami-Dade Metrorail stations within a mile of the gate. The stadium's main concourse is located on its second level, with multiple escalators and ramps bringing fans up from the street level. The concourses of loanDepot Park are very wide and easy to get around. Return on Investment 4 A Marlins game can be a very affordable experience. Depending on the time of year, day of the week, and opponent, tickets can be found fairly consistently for under $30. There are also some great deals on the secondary market, and parking is no more than $20 depending on the lot. The real investment is in the concessions, which are surprisingly priced very high. Food and drink prices are more representative of what you will find at Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park. The 305 menu is available for more affordability, but at very small portions. Extras 5 The bobblehead museum is located in center field. It is a huge display of hundreds of bobbleheads of Marlins players and other notable baseball stars. It is a very unique feature of this ballpark. Another point is the left-field glass offering a view of the Miami skyline. Seriously, it is one of the best skyline views you will ever find at a stadium. The view becomes even more impressive once the sun goes down. Despite hosting no playoff games, loanDepot Park has been home to multiple World Baseball Classic tournament games, as well as the WBC championship in 2023 and 2026. Miami also hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2017. loanDepot Park was named the “Greenest MLB Ballpark” after its opening in 2012, becoming the first MLB venue to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The site used to be home to the Miami Orange Bowl, before it was demolished in 2008. There is a very cool nod to the former stadium, as fans can see letters of the old Orange Bowl sign poking up from the pavement near the third base gate. Final Thoughts loanDepot Park is truly one of a kind. The Marlins and Jeffry Loria deserve credit for taking a risk pioneering the contemporary style of baseball stadiums. Despite a lackluster atmosphere and a location somewhat disconnected from Miami's major tourist areas, a gameday experience here is one of high quality. The World Baseball Classic showed us what this ballpark and this city's fans are capable of. If the Marlins franchise ever finds more success and fan interest grows, the potential of loanDepot is through the (retractable) roof. Follow Vinny’s stadium journeys on TikTok @vinnymartin_

Photos by Richard Smith, Jennifer Smith, and Emmy Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Tiger Field Auburn Dr Towson, MD 21204 Towson Tigers website Tiger Field website Year Opened: 2007 (Renovated 2020) Capacity: 600 Soccer With Tigers Tiger Field opened as the Tiger Soccer Complex opened in 2007 and is the home to the Towson Tigers women’s soccer team as well as the women’s lacrosse team. This location, adjacent to Johnny Unitas Stadium and SECU Arena, was home to earlier versions of soccer fields for the school. In 2011 a more permanent set of bleachers was added, but it was in 2018 when a more substantial renovation started. Finally, in 2020 a new grandstand was added as well as permanent concessions, restrooms, and a press box. The Tigers have had moderate success as a women’s soccer program. Towson has not had a men’s program since the end of the 2012 season, when the program was controversially discontinued, in part due to Title IX regulations. Food & Beverage 2 The new permanent concession stand is an improvement over the temporary one located here previously. The options are still quite simple and like many Towson athletic facilities do not offer a great variety. The prices are decent. Atmosphere 4 The hill between the pitch and the SECU Arena is a nice place to watch the matches and also provides a nice atmosphere. The “new” facility creates such a warm and comfortable environment to watch soccer matches. The permanent grandstand is not large but is much nicer than the older stands. Doc the Tiger, Towson’s mascot, is often in attendance at matches. Neighborhood 3 Besides Johnny Unitas Stadium and SECU Arena, nothing is right by the field. Even though you may have to drive to most places, Towson is a semi-urban environment with a very large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Try downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Baltimore is also a quick drive away. Check out the Federal Hill neighborhood, south of the Inner Harbor. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here. Fans 4 For many years, Towson was known as a commuter school. But in the last couple of decades, there has been an increase in residence students. Students are starting to come to games in more significant numbers. There are also many other fans who appear to be either locals or family of the players. Access 4 Towson is located right off the Baltimore Beltway/I-695. The only negative is that Towson is a maze of roads getting to the Osler and Auburn location of the sports complexes. Parking is free and plentiful, but be careful to check regulations for weekday matches. Return on Investment 5 There is no admission charge and the food is reasonably priced so the return on investment is quite good. Extras 3 Free programs are available for the matches. Doc is a great mascot who makes the atmosphere better. The hill overlooking the pitch is a great extra. Final Thoughts The changes to Tiger Field have taken a good location for soccer and made it into a very special soccer experience.

Minor league baseball names have had a long history of unusual nicknames that are have been connected to the city, geographic location, or the parent club. Many names have been lost in time, a blip on the radar, and one of them comes from Terre Haute, Indiana. From 1955-1956, the Terre Haute Huts were members of the. Three-Eye League, but how did they get their name? The city had quite the history of baseball dating back to amateur teams in 1870. By 1883, one of those clubs went by “Awkwards,” which meant at the time “someone difficult or dangerous to deal with.” Due to financial concerns, they merged that year with a ball club named the Blues and remained the “Terre Hautes”. Professional baseball would return1884 when Terre Haute joined the Western League. This team did not have a nickname, but by 1891, the name Hottentots, began being used for baseball teams in the city. The name would later be shorten to Tots in the following decade. It was a corruption from the term Terre Hautentots, a name historically used and found in countless articles around the state and the country to describe someone from Terre Haute. By the 1880s, the name was used in baseball articles describing teams from the city; then in 1891 referred to the professional club in town. However, the name would be replaced throughout the following years with new names either through fan voting or team management. Terre Haute ball clubs would be called the Stags, Browns, Highlanders, Terre-iers (yes, spelled that way), and Miners. Several times, newspapers used a combination of these names in one season. A headline in the Marion (IN) Leader-Tribune, July 24, 1913 Fortunately, the Tots name never disappeared, and the local media often refer to it in bylines. It became the official name in 1921 and would remain that way until the team disbanded in mid-1937. When baseball returned in 1946, it took the name of its parent club, the Philadelphia Phillies. The Three-Eye League club would leave town after the 1954 season, and it was time for a new name for its ball club, one that would have its own identity outside of its new parent club in Detroit. The Terre Haute Baseball Club held a name-the-team contest in the Terre Haute Tribune, soliciting hundreds of responses from fans of all ages. The winner received a $100 watch from Hillman’s Jewelers. The paper suggested names that are alive and in motion, along with ones that aren’t too long that would fit much better in newspaper headlines. “A lot of fans like the name of the Tigers, but others oppose this on the sole ground that they believe the city should have a permitted name for a team that would be suitable under all conditions, meaning it would fill the bill regardless of the big league affiliation that the city might have.” On April 13, the name picked for the team was the Huts. The newspaper did not provide a reason for the decision, and there does not seem to be a connection to the area, nor was it “alive and in motion”. The other top entries were the Tots, Browns, and Brownies. The winner of the contest was Ralph Nichols, a local barber, and awarded a $100 watch. The article added that another citizen, James "Hairpin" Walker, suggested Huts as well. Walker campaigned to have it adopted, and he rounded up as many votes as possible from city residents. He was an employee at Stran Steel and suggested the name due to the Stran Steel plant is noted for making Quonset Huts for the armed forces. A modern photo of a Quonset hut that were constructed in Terre Haute A Bob Nesbit column from the Terre Haute Tribune on April 19 shed some light on the Huts moniker. He penned the following blurb: “Those fans down at Stran Steel, who make Quonset huts, did a good job of putting up a campaign to name the new team in honor of their product. Since the name also fits well with the name of our city, everything worked out fine.” Did the Terre Haute Huts get their name from a local steel company and had its employees send ballots to the local newspaper? Has the mystery been solved after almost 70 years? A Quonset hut is a prefabricated structure in the shape of a semicircle that was mass-produced after World War II. There were 150,000 to 170,000 produced during the war and sold to the public after the fighting ended. They are still visible in many parts of the country as homes, businesses, and even military bases. Nesbit added that the name fit the city well and probably liked that it was short for print purposes. Terre Haute is French for "high ground" and the word "Haute" would be mispronounced by locals as "hut". The name was short and similar in sound to the former team name Tots, and it did make for great print in newspaper bylines. Surprisingly, more than 121 names were proposed and listed regularly in the newspaper. Many of these names were fascinating and hinged on modern branding in today’s game. They included the following: Wabash Valley Catapults, Vigo Gems, Candlelighters, Hoosier Pacemakers, Gold Cox, Hustlers, Bowcats, Bingos, Meows, Tiger-Cats, Cavaliers, Valley Cubs, Speeders, White Hats, and Atoms. There were many entries for the new baseball team in 1955, Terre Haute Tribune The Huts name would last a little over a year; the club folded after the first half of the 1956 season with a 40-26 record due to lack of attendance. It marked the end of minor league baseball in Terre Haute. A little over a decade later, the ballpark would be converted solely into a football stadium with artificial turf. In 2011, the summer collegiate Prospect League added a team in town. The name selected was Rex, and there was a good reason behind that decision. Besides being the Latin word for king, the name comes from Rex Coffee, produced, roasted, and packed downtown by Clabber Girl. The club also mentioned its unique name ties in with others from the past: Tots, Huts, Stags, and Terre-iers. The Huts name briefly shone in Terre Haute between 1955 and 1956, and before anyone began to pay attention to the ball club, it was gone. However, a look back at old newspaper articles of the era produces a possible reason behind its name. If Rex can pull out a retro jersey night, this reporter will be there. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Images from Bob Wilke and the YouTube Page/Matt Werner Michigan City, Indiana, sits on the coast of Lake Michigan, 54 miles east of Chicago. It is known for its miles of coastline, access to the Indiana Dunes National Park, lighthouses, and growing art scene. However, 70 years ago, the wheels were in motion to make it a professional baseball town. The city might have never had a franchise in the league if it weren’t for a 21-year-old player-manager, Al Shinn. In 1955, he was playing in Hannibal in the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League, which was on the verge of folding. Shinn had just married a girl whose family lived in Long Beach, Indiana. He had met her at a train stop the previous year while traveling to games in Kokomo and Lafayette. Long Beach borders Michigan City, and Shinn thought the town would make a good baseball town and convinced the New York Giants to relocate the financially struggling Hannibal club to Indiana following the season. At the time, Michigan City had a population of 30,000. On November 28, 1955, the league changed its name to the Midwest League and voted the city in as a member. Shinn and his brother-in-law Bob Hood became part-owners, and Shinn continued as player-manager for what was now the White Caps franchise. “Can Michigan City support professional baseball?” asked South Bend Tribune columnist Dick Micell. “The city’s proximity to Chicago and the high death rate of lower classification clubs are popular arguments used by the skeptics.” Michigan City Mayor-elect Francis Fedder was not keen on the announcement, as the ballpark was being used all summer long by various boys’ programs. Ames Field had been in use since 1922, but received a major uplift of $33,462 in 1939 due to WPA funds. The stadium was used for high school football and baseball programs, as well as various youth programs in the area. The home jerseys resemble those worn by the White Sox in 1987. There was also concern about the shores of Lake Michigan. The popular summertime destination for many in the Midwest would impact attendance at the ballpark. It was estimated that operating the club for the season would cost $50,000, with a minimum of 800 fans per game. The name White Caps was chosen from the foamy, white crests that form on waves when strong winds blow over the water from Lake Michigan. It was not the first time the name was used; a newspaper article from The South Bend Tribune from January 28, 1913, reported on a St. Florian indoor baseball (softball) victory over the Michigan City White Caps by the score of 16-8. Ames Field was spruced up before the arrival of the White Caps. It received a fresh coat of paint, a new press box, a 35-foot screen behind the backstop, covered dugouts, a large scoreboard displaying league standings, and an updated electronic scoreboard atop the left field wall. Ticket prices were set at 75 cents, and management aimed to attract 800 fans per game to break even. However, Ames was a traditional football field at the time. The press box was on the left field line, close to third base. The grandstand seats were not covered, and the left field fence appeared to be much farther from home plate than in right field. “Michigan City is fast becoming a baseball-minded town again, with large signs placed throughout the city and countryside, advertising 'Happy Days are here again' and to support the White Caps.” Team President Ralph Waterhouse announced that $14,000 worth of tickets had been purchased and that the goal of $20,000 sold would be reached by the opening night of April 29. A crowd of 6,000 was expected to attend the White Caps first game, a doubleheader where the team would play the afternoon game in Kokomo and the nightcap in Michigan City. However, Mother Nature washed out both games, leading to only 1,000 customers for the game the next night. A birds-eye view of Ames Field and action shots from Michigan City Red Devils high school games. During the inaugural season, Waterhouse passed away from a heart attack at the age of 50. Then, controlling stock in the club was sold by Shinn to a syndicate headed by B.M. Bergerson, the owner of the B&K Root Beer stands mentioned earlier at Stadium Journey. The move was made to ensure that the ball club remained in business until the end of the year. The Caps held special nights honoring local towns like LaPorte and South Bend. They also announced they would give away 1,000 silver coins if 4,000 customers showed up to a Wednesday afternoon game in May. A crowd of 3,300 showed up for a doubleheader against the Kokomo Dodgers in August. Future Major League Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal began his minor league career as a 20-year-old, recording a 21-8 record with 246 strikeouts and a 1.84 ERA for the Caps in 1956. He would be joined by 10 other men who made it to the big leagues, including Matt Alou and Manny Mota. The White Caps averaged 774 per game and lost $10,000 during the inaugural campaign. The attendance figures were impressive, but the losses were staggering. The ball club even threatened before the second season to drop out of the league in a dispute with the city park board over revenue. The next season, the club had a full working agreement with the Giants and hoped to improve on attendance figures. Cold weather resulted in crowds of 450 and 200 for the first two games of the 1957 season. Attendance dipped over the next three years to 28,775 (an average of around 456) in 1959. After the season, the Giants moved their affiliation to Quincy, Illinois, in 1960. There was sentiment for civic groups to back the club, but it failed to find a major league affiliation by a February 12th deadline. It also did not have an agreement with the Parks Department to use Ames Field, which had just installed new floodlights. The franchise continued playing in Quincy until 1973, when it relocated to Dubuque, Iowa, before folding after the 1976 season. Ames Field would continue hosting high school baseball for close to 50 years, but like the White Caps, it too would disappear. The old ballpark began being torn down in June 1994. The press box was the first to be knocked down, followed by the rest of the grandstand and walls. It was rebuilt as a football-only structure for the high school team and opened in 1995. It is impressive, but it's not a place to put a baseball diamond. High School baseball continued playing at Ames Field well into the pullover days of the 1980s. Shinn stuck around in the area promoting amateur baseball and sat down with The (Hammond) Times in 1993 to reminisce about his former team. He described that after World War II, the babies boomed, people made money, gas was cheap, and the new mass transportation system made travel the new American pastime. The White Caps were left choking on the fumes of that economic expansion. “It was a time in history that was not right for success in minor league baseball. People could easily drive to Chicago to see the game to the highest degree.” Shinn’s words remain true well over 30 years later and almost a decade after his death in 2016. Michigan City still attracts tourists throughout the summer months and is a short hop to the resort town of New Buffalo, Michigan, and about an hour's drive to Chicago. The White Caps were a strange anomaly in the history of the Midwest League, part of the failed Indiana expansion era that included other Hoosier towns like Lafayette and Kokomo. Those cities saw the return of summer collegiate baseball through the Prospect League, and it is unlikely that a baseball club will return to Michigan City. However, who knows when someone will eye the coastal town as a potential team there in the future. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Progressive Field 2401 Ontario St Cleveland, OH 44115 Cleveland Guardians website Progressive Field website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 34,820 Watching a Game at "The Jake" Progressive Field has been the home of baseball in Cleveland since 1994. It was the second stadium, after Camden Yards in Baltimore, to usher in a standard for ballpark design in Major League Baseball. After more than 30 years, the Cleveland Guardians continue to upkeep the venue and reinvent themselves for today’s baseball enthusiasts. ​ The building opened as Jacobs Field on April 2, 1994, for $175 million. The stadium replaced the massive Cleveland Stadium that had been regarded as one of the worst baseball stadiums in the league. Cleveland’s new home now had an intimate capacity of 42,865, but improved amenities. ​ Over the years, the ball club saw record attendance, three World Series pennants, and a slew of All-Stars and future Hall of Famers at “The Jake.” In recent years, renovations totaling $200 million helped modernize the stadium and reduce capacity to 34,820. They include new social areas, food options, lounges, new seating, and decorative art murals. These changes are hoped to provide a whole new game-day atmosphere for its fans. ​ Food & Beverage 4 Progressive Field is a cashless venue; all purchases for food, drinks, and merchandise must be made using digital payment methods. The stadium offers quite a few items from local favorites to ballpark classics at multiple stand-alone areas and kiosks. ​ Rally Burger offers double and triple burgers, Throwing Smoke is known for its barbacoa and chicken bowls, Batt’er Box is where you will find pastrami dogs, knishes, and po’ boys, and Happy Dog offers an array of brats, Italian sausages, and all-beef hot dogs. ​ Several new designated self-checkout areas are expected to reduce wait times. The Arcade Marketplace, located in Section 138, has been revamped into a grab-and-go market featuring items from Perry’s Ice Cream, Miller Bar, Market Garden, and La Cave Du Vin. The Landing, between sections 162 and 164, is also a self-checkout area featuring a wide selection of beverages and hot foods. Guardian’s Classic is on the upper deck and serves typical ballpark fare in self-checkout areas. ​ The team rolled out new items this season, including the Jackhammer sausage, Good Company Spicy Thai Fries, Sausage City Spicy Chicken, and Aladiib’s Med Dog. There are still old favorites: Kool Ranch chicken sandwich, fried bologna, Dante's Inferno pizza, and Barrio’s Mexican cuisine. Atmosphere 4 Progressive Field offers a lively, energetic atmosphere on most days during the season. The team puts out a winning product, and the numerous social areas, seating options, and family-friendly spots provide an epicenter for fans of all ages to enjoy a day at the ballpark. The Guardians replaced seating in several areas to create social spaces for fans. These areas are now known as the Paul Davis Pennant District, the Corner Bar in the Right Field District, the Terrace Garden area in the Left Field District, and the Home Plate Club in the Infield District. The Terrace Garden might have the best aerial views of the stadium and the surrounding neighborhood. It is an open-air rooftop social space and beer garden on Level 4 and open to all ticketed fans. The Corner Bar is another social spot in the Right Field District that offers around 40 craft and local beers and a rooftop deck. The Kid’s Clubhouse in Level 3 of the Right Field Concourse is a two-level activity for children that includes toys, games, interactive activities, and a two-story slide that wraps around a giant baseball bat. On Sundays, live music by Slider and the Hot Dogs is on the deck. Heritage Park in centerfield is home to the Guardians Hall of Fame plaques, in-game bricks that honor the club’s most memorable moments, and statues of Jim Thome and Frank Robinson. The park is also home to the bronze Ray Chapman plaque, who was killed by a pitch in 1920. Neighborhood 4 ​Progressive Field is located in Cleveland’s Gateway District, putting fans in the middle of a lively and walkable downtown entertainment area. The streets around the ballpark are packed with fans at numerous bars and restaurants. East 4th Street is a popular destination for accessibility to and from the stadium. ​ East 4th Street is a walkable, pedestrian-friendly block that includes favorites: Mabel's BBQ, Butcher and the Brewer, Barrio, Whistle Taproom & Pizza, and Flannery’s Pub. The Thirsty Parrot is the closest bar to the stadium. The Clevelander is a two-story bar with an outdoor seating area and plenty of games inside to keep the party going. ​ The Rocket Arena is right behind the left-field wall of Progressive Field, and fans can enjoy either a Cleveland Cavaliers or Cleveland Monsters game if the schedule permits it. About 2 miles west is the West Side Market, an impressive area for food of all sorts and sampling. They have some of the best beef jerky in the country. ​ If you are in town for the long weekend, check out more baseball action at ForeFront Field (Lake Erie Crushers), Classic Park (Lake County Captains), and the Baseball Heritage Museum and the Guardians former home, League Park. Adjacent to Progressive Field is Rocket Arena, home to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Monsters. ​ Fans 4 ​Guardians fans are loyal and dedicated but have been tested without their club winning a World Series since 1948. The ball club has made the playoffs 10 times this century, including an AL pennant in 2016. Due to the social areas, fans can be seen wearing jerseys and T-shirts, enjoying a day at the ballpark. ​ Access 4 Progressive Field is accessible by car, transit, and bike. There are multiple parking garages and lots within a 15- to 20-minute walk, along with on-street parking on certain days. Tower City Stadium is next to the stadium and is served by the Blue, Green, and Red Lines of the city's rapid transit system. There are three entry gates into the stadium, and they open an hour before the first pitch. The concourses are wide and wrap around the stadium. Escalators and elevators are clearly marked, and there are 41 restrooms, plus a sensory and breastfeeding room (located in the Kids’ Zone). Bags and soft-sided coolers are allowed as long as they don’t exceed 16”x16”x8”. They can include outside snacks; a single 20-ounce bottle of water and a juice box are allowed, but both must be factory sealed. Fans should be on the lookout for Slider, the club’s official mascot. ​ Return on Investment 4 Depending on the day or opponent, a ticket to a game can cost as low as $19 and as high as $37, according to secondary websites like TickPick. For fans 12 and under, tickets start at $10. Tickets cannot be purchased at Progressive Field; the ballpark uses a fully digital ticketing system. Since the ballpark is downtown, there are many parking options for the game. The parking garages around the stadium cost $20 to $30 per car, but much less if you park farther away and walk. The price for a 15-minute walk at a garage is $10-$15 on the SpotHero website. ​ There are two all-inclusive options. The Bottomless Bites package is available in the upper deck near Section 525 and costs $30 in addition to a single-game ticket. It includes unlimited hot dogs, chips, popcorn, peanuts, and fountain drinks. The Champions Club costs $45 when added to select tickets and provides a buffet that offers ballpark favorites and chef stations, along with unlimited soft drinks. ​ Extras 4 ​​Progressive Field earns extra points for its various social areas, along with its Kids’ Zone, which makes attending a game somewhat more festive for all types of fans. The stadium earns a second point for its Heritage Park, honoring the history of the ball club, and a third point for its decorative murals in and around the stadium. ​ The ballpark offers concession areas that feature local favorites and signature items. Barrio is a local taco spot, Sauce in the City serves its take on a hot chicken sandwich, Good Company introduced spicy Thai fries, and Aladdin’s Eatery sells the Med Dog, featuring beef kafta, hummus, and hot sauce. The Guardians earn a final point for the multiple revamped areas that have condensed concession areas into grab-and-go spots for shorter wait times and easier access. Final Thoughts Progressive Field offers everything you need at a major league ballpark, including a food selection, affordable tickets, social areas, and a nearby neighborhood worth staying in after the game. The Guardians fanbase is also fun to spend 9 innings with during the hot summer months. ​

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre 875 Morningside Avenue Toronto, Ontario M1C 0C7 Scarborough Shooting Stars website Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 2000 One Time for the Endsss “The Ends” is a slang term used to refer to one’s home. In Southern Ontario, it is often used to refer to Scarborough, the easternmost borough of Toronto. Scarborough has produced a number of famous people, including The Weeknd, Mike Myers and the Barenaked Ladies. When it comes to sports, Scarborough is usually forgotten as just being east of everything that is interesting. In 2021, Niko Carino and Sam Ibrahim set out to change that with an expansion team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Drake’s partner in founding OVO and a Scarborough businessman, respectively, brought the Shooting Stars to the east end with a specifically Scarborough identity rather than the typical Toronto identity. There was now a basketball team for the Endsss, the triple-s referring to the Scarborough Shooting Stars. The home for the Scarborough Shooting Stars is the fieldhouse in the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. The TPASC opened in 2014 and hosted fencing, diving, swimming, synchronized swimming, and modern pentathlon for the 2015 Pan American Games. The facility is a partnership between the City of Toronto and the University of Toronto Scarborough, whose campus is adjacent to the facility. The fieldhouse has a seated capacity of 2,000 for basketball. Food & Beverage 3 The concession options at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre are fairly simple. There are two main concession stands; one on the upper level and one on the court level. Hot dogs, pizza, and Jamaican beef patties are the main items available, with smaller snack items also available. Coca-Cola products are available in bottles along with water and juice. Beer, wine, and seltzers are there for those wishing for an alcoholic beverage, with a very limited selection. There is a Tim Hortons and Pizza Pizza in the lobby with some crossover operating hours. However, the lobby is outside the ticketing area and “outside food” is not permitted. Vending machines are also in the lobby and hall. Atmosphere 3 The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre has an attractive exterior with grey panelling and yellow highlights. The main entrance for basketball is on the east side of the building across from Pan Am Drive. The other entrances will actually be unavailable during Stars games. Above the canopy of the main entrance is a model of Pachi the Porcupine, the mascot from the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games. Upon entry, fans are brought into a huge atrium. There are a variety of facilities at the TPASC, including multiple swimming and diving facilities. Above the information desk, the mantra of the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is spelled out, and in the hallway, a display of Olympians and Paralymians from the TPASC can be found. There is also a display for the University of Toronto Scarborough’s athletic teams as well as the school also uses this facility. A line will form at the point of entry for the fieldhouse, where the Shooting Stars play. Inside the fieldhouse, the court is south-north oriented with the best view of the centre court logo from the east. Fans enter from the upper level, which is also the running track. There are plenty of partitions around, which shrink the size of the facility and create private boxes. Seating is on the east and west side of the court and consists of retractable bleachers with plastic benches with backs. A pair of courtside rows are placed around the court as well and are far more comfortable seats. The facility is more akin to a USports basketball venue rather than an OHL venue like the other Ontario teams play in. On the north side, the 2023 CEBL Championship banner hangs as well as a huge banner with the slogan “One Time For The Endsss.” Above the boxes on the south side is a small video board, which pairs with traditional score clocks on the east and west side. Translucent windows at the top of the west side allow in some natural light. The gameday production at a Stars game is decent, however, there are restrictions compared to the other Ontario CEBL teams. There are no fireworks or pyro. It is assumed that it is not appropriate due to the facility. The in-game host keeps the production moving and facilitates on court promotions. The Shooting Stars’ mascot, Endssso, interacts with fans and participates in the promotions. Music is a big part of the production, but it is overwhelming. All seats have a close proximity to the court and the sounds of the game are inaudible due to the constant stream of music played throughout the game. More balance is needed as, at times, it seems that the product on the court is secondary to everything else. Neighbourhood 4 Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is located in the Highland Creek neighbourhood of Scarborough on the east side of Toronto. Scarborough is east of Downtown Toronto, and there are a few spots for pre or post game food and drink. Some options include Zak’s Bar and Grill, Local Grill House, 1265 Bistro, as well as a number of fast food options and large chains. Toronto has a huge number of sporting options. In Scarborough, the Toronto Beaches of the OJLL are also found. Heading west to Downtown will bring fans to all of the traditional teams including the Blue Jays, Raptors, Maple Leafs , Argonauts, Toronto FC, Tempo, Sceptres, and Marlies. The CBL Maple Leafs have a similar seasonal schedule to the Stars. The main University of Toronto campus is where football, basketball, and hockey is played and is not far from Toronto Metropolitan University basketball and hockey. There are plenty of other tourist options. The Toronto Zoo is in Scarborough. Other spots close by include the Scarborough Museum, Scarborough Bluffs and Rosetta McClain Gardens. A wider net cast brings tourists to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, Ripley’s Aquarium and the iconic CN Tower. For fans who wish to stay near TPASC, the Super 8 Toronto is available as well as several BnBs and independent motels. A wider selection of international chain motels will require fans to journey closer to downtown Toronto. Fans 4 The Scarborough Shooting Stars have enjoyed a decent following relative to the size of their venue. With the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre as the smallest venue in the CEBL, the Shooting Stars have averaged a near capacity crowd for the season, at the time of writing. The Shooting Stars averaged 1,886 fans per game in the 2026 season, an increase of 28% from the 2025 average of 1,474. In the 2026 season, the Shooting Stars ranked 7th in the ten team CEBL in attendance, up from 9th the previous season. The game that was reviewed had over 2,300 fans in attendance. The fans in attendance are supportive and knowledgeable and make a sufficient amount of noise at the appropriate times. Access 3 Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is located in the Highland Creek neighbourhood of Scarborough on the east side of Toronto. It is on the southeast corner of Morningside Ave and Pan Am Dr. It is just ½ km from Highway 401, so driving through Scarborough will not be too arduous. However, Highway 401 is one of the most travelled highways in the world, and the Toronto corridor can get extremely congested. Fans driving to the game should ensure they have plenty of time to get to the facility. There are a number of parking facilities surrounding the TPASC. They are marked as pay facilities, however, on the day of this review, paying for parking was not necessary. The TPASC is also a very busy facility with plenty of other activities, so parking can fill up. For fans wishing to take public transit there are buses that run along Morningside Ave and Military Trail Fans should consult the TTC website for fares, maps and schedules. Getting around TPASC is not too difficult, however, there are a couple of issues. There is a single entrance to the ticketing area. With over 2,000 fans in attendance, the line to get in before the game is quite significant. Once the gates open, it does move fairly quickly. The fieldhouse is also not the most comfortable, with the retractable bleachers, not on par with the other Ontario CEBL teams. More expensive seating offers more comfort. Washroom facilities are good for the venue. Security protocols are not an issue for Scarborough Shooting Stars games. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is generally a cash-free venue. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for the Scarborough Shooting Stars are very reasonable. Regular tickets are $25. Standing room can be had for less and courtside for more. Concessions, although limited, are decently priced, and parking will be free or have a nominal cost. The product on the court is strong, and the “Elam Ending” featured by the CEBL makes the end of the game more exciting than a traditional basketball game. The music is a little over the top and does take away a bit from the full experience. Extras 2 An extra mark for the use of a legacy venue from the 2015 Pan Am games. An extra mark for the CEBL “Elam Ending,” which produces a target score with 4 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. Final Thoughts The Scarborough Shooting Stars have brought basketball to The Ends and have enjoyed success on the court and at the turnstile. It is good to see a continued, competitive use for a legacy venue from the 2015 Pan Am Games and a team the east end of Toronto can call their own. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube, Twitter, Threads, and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey & Nicholas Carey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Elmer Kelly Stadium Cs-1220 Madisonville, KY 42431 Madisonville Miners website Elmer Kelley Stadium website Year Opened: 1941 Capacity: 700 Baseball at Historic Elmer Kelley Stadium Elmer Kelley Stadium is home to the Madisonville Miners of the Ohio Valley League, a six-team summer collegiate loop. The stadium and park were constructed by the WPA and the city, with the city serving as sponsor for $200,000. It was dedicated on Memorial Day 1941, featuring a semi-pro baseball game. The Miners began operations as the Tidewater Pirates in 1999 in nearby Dawson Springs, Kentucky, and relocated to Madisonville in 2012. They changed their name to the Miners in 2014 to honor the region’s mining industry, which is still active. The name Miners has been used for many baseball teams since 1916, the last being a team in the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League from 1946-1955. That rendition of the ball club played at Elmer Kelley Stadium before the loop folded. Semi-pro and high school teams would utilize the stadium after its demise. The baseball plant was known as Municipal Park Stadium until it was renamed in 1976 to honor Elmer Kelley, who had passed away in 1973. Kelley was the former sports editor and advertising manager of the Madisonville Messenger and was instrumental in reforming the Kitty League after the war. The stadium has seen improvements since its first game that have included new aluminum bleachers and a roof in 1986, installation of new dugouts in 1995, new lighting and a scoreboard in 2002, and a new backstop that was built and painted by the Booster Club. The concrete outfield walls have remained untouched since their opening day. Food & Beverage 3 The stadium offers standard ballpark options, including hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, and soda. A small concession stand provides customers with quick and easy service during the game. There are enough items to snack on during the game. The prices are reasonably priced. Atmosphere 3 A Miners game encompasses a small-town feel that includes a laid-back night of baseball. Fans enjoy close-up views of top collegiate players with a relaxed social environment where locals, board members, and host families mingle. The stadium features a covered grandstand with eight rows of bleacher-style seating, a press box situated next to it on the third base side, and fencing to protect patrons from foul balls and splintered bats. There are a few fans who set up lawn chairs on the third base side of the stadium for a closer view of the field, which is slightly above concourse level. An electric scoreboard in center field lights up in red. Throughout the game, promotions such as 50/50, guess the song, and free giveaways take place. One of them is for the player on the Miners who can swat a home run over the Big Mac Land sign in left field; everyone in attendance gets a coupon for a free Big Mac. The team also hosts other promotional nights that give back to the community. Neighborhood 3 The stadium is inside Madisonville City Park, a 200-acre city park that features amenities like mini-golf, lakes, and walking paths. It is less than 2 miles from downtown, which offers an array of shops, eateries, and other attractions. However, check out the many murals from local artists and the famous Big Blue Chair. Ferrell's Snappy Service is a small diner that sells burgers, breakfast, and chili fries and has been a staple since 1929. The Crowded House offers American pub fare, while The Oasis Southwest Grill puts a spin on their menu for a local palate. Country Cupboard is known for its fried chicken, and Hobo Mickey's Pizza House is a place to go for pizza and good times. There are outdoor activities, including Mahr Park Arboretum, a 265-acre nature area with walking trails, gardens, kayaking, and Kentucky’s largest official winged elm tree; then head to Grapevine Lake & Bike Trails for a quieter getaway with non-motorized access via a boat ramp and about 8 miles of mountain bike paths. Glema Mahr Center for the Arts, a state-of-the-art regional theater and art gallery, offers concerts, theatrical performances, and visual art exhibitions. Fans 4 The crowds at Miners games draw well on weekend games, but many attend games throughout the week year after year. They enjoy the new crop of players coming up each summer and support them any way they can. Access 3 Elmer Kelley Stadium is inside Madisonville City Park. It can be reached by accessing McCoy Avenue and Park Avenue. There is ample parking outside of the stadium, and once inside, the small size of the venue makes it easy to access seating, restrooms, and concessions. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to games are $7, and children under the age of 9 are admitted free of charge. Concession prices are fairly low, with hot dogs at $3 and popcorn at $2. The club sells a line of high-quality merchandise at a table during the game. Extras 2 The stadium earns an extra point for its history pictures on the outside walls of the ballpark. It is called the Hopkins County Timeline, and it highlights former players, past citizens, and events that made the era famous. The second point is for a WPA building that still looks good all these years later. Final Thoughts Elmer Kelley Stadium is a nice way to spend an evening in Madisonville, Kentucky. The WPA ballpark is designed to enjoy the game the way it was meant to be, without overproduction of promotions and loud PA system sounds. Downtown is worth visiting and spending time in as well. It is a step back in time for some, but to many, it's business as usual. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey & the Paducah Chiefs Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Brooks Stadium 2400 Brooks Stadium Drive Paducah, KY 42003 Paducah Chiefs website Brooks Stadium website Year Opened: 1951 Capacity: 3,000 Brooks Stadium: Where Paducah Baseball History Lives The Paducah Chiefs of the summer collegiate Ohio Valley League club have called the historic Brooks Stadium home since re-forming in 2016. The team borrows the name from the previous minor league club that once called the ballpark home seven seasons after World War II. The stadium opened on May 8, 1949, to a record crowd of 3,500 patrons. Constructed for $75,000 and named for J. Polk Brooks, who worked relentlessly to bring baseball to Paducah. When funds were low to complete the project, Brooks did everything from moving dirt, laying concrete, acting as a welder, and handling the share of supervising business operations. The field is named after Dr. Frank “Doc” Hideg, whose key role was in the stadium’s revitalization and tending to the field for decades. His uniform number from his American Legion days was retired by the Chiefs. Doc was instrumental in saving the stadium when the city was contemplating razing it. He was officially named a Kentucky Colonel in 2026. The original Chiefs were members of the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League before switching to the Kitty League in 1951 due to proximity to other clubs. The team captured the 1955 championship but ceased operations along with the league a few months later, ending minor league baseball in Paducah. Besides summer ball, the ballpark is home to Tilghman High School and American Legion Post 31 baseball teams. The city still owns, and the stadium commission maintains, the 1,200-seat ballpark. Food & Beverage 3 Brooks Stadium has a nice selection of items for a stadium of its size. They include burgers, hot dogs, brats, chicken sandwiches, popcorn, pretzels, nachos, and the fan favorite BBQ nachos. You can wash it all down with Pepsi products, and for the sweet tooth, cotton candy and Dippin' Dots, headquartered in Paducah. The alcoholic options include Coors Light, Bush Light, Miller Lite, Budweiser, Bud Light, and Lexington-based Country Boy. The stadium also sells Truly Hard Seltzers and Cayman Jack can margaritas. Atmosphere 3 A game at Brooks Stadium is relaxing, inviting, and simple. It feels like baseball from decades ago, when the focus was primarily on the action on the field, while still offering enough on-field promotions and gimmicks to keep things entertaining. The ballpark’s layout features an uncovered grandstand with three separate press boxes. The seating section is separated with bleacher seating on top and box seating towards the field. Concessions, bathrooms, merchandise tables, and stadium entrances are located behind the seating bowl. The game day atmosphere includes on-field promotions in between innings, such as kid sack and dizzy bat races, community-sponsored events, and post-game fireworks. Players sign, mingle, and sign autographs after the game. Neighborhood 4 Brooks Stadium is in a residential neighborhood, a little over 2 miles from downtown and the waterfront. The historic area is highly walkable, blending Southern hospitality with Midwest ingenuity and offering a charming collection of shops, restaurants, and points of interest. There are many fine dining options: Grill 211, Stella’s, Tuscan Ristorante, and Cynthia’s California. A few casual places to eat include Kirchhoff’s Bakery & Deli, Branch Out Foods, and Gold Rush Cafe. A few places for a drink include Barrel and Bond and The FoxBriar Cocktail Bar. Downtown features plenty of murals and an expansive waterfront, a free trolley, and several craft breweries outside of downtown: Dry Ground Brewing Company, Paducah Beer Werks, and The National Quilt Museum. It is easy to make a weekend in town. Fans 3 The Chiefs rank near the top of attendance in the OVL. The fanbase is welcoming and inviting to anyone at the stadium. Weekend games and special events draw large crowds. However, fans at the stadium support the team by wearing official gear, cheering for their favorites on the field, and paying attention to the game. You will find a collection of die-hard fans, host family members, and the casual onlooker during a game at Brooks Stadium. Access 4 Brooks Stadium’s small size makes it easy to get around. The concessions and washrooms are underneath the grandstand, and there is plenty of seating at most games. A parking lot is available, and the location is 2.2 miles from downtown, best accessed by car. Return on Investment 3 The cost of a general admission ticket is $6 for bleachers and berm. The reserved chairback seats are $10. Parking is free for games, and concession prices are reasonably priced. The small and historic ballpark is worth checking out a game with family and friends. Extras 3 The Chiefs offer a few promotion nights that include select Monday games, during which General Admission, hot dogs, soft drinks, and beer are $2. The stadium is well maintained, painted in red and blue, and features a few new touches to keep it very modern for today’s audience. Some old ballparks never die. The Brooks Diamond Deck earns a final point. The private area is in the left-field corner and offers a VIP experience for fans during the game, with their own wait service, lawn chairs, and balcony views. Final Thoughts Brooks Stadium is a charming ballpark that is perfect for the Ohio Valley League. The size, staff, atmosphere, and small-time vibe are inviting for the first-time visitor. Its location in the historic riverfront area makes a trip worth making during the summer. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com

If there was a case study in league failure, the Mountain States League might be the perfect example. What started as an 8-team league in April of 1954 dwindled to three clubs less than three months later. Teams disappeared without much notice, and clubs threw in the towel one after the other. ​The league was organized in 1948, during the post-war boom in minor league baseball, with six teams. Virgil Q. Wacks, an energetic and successful promoter, served as the loop’s president. It operated with minimal change for most of its first seven seasons, with only four teams folding. However, when the 1954 season began, three new clubs were added to challenge its stability. ​Wacks sought to expand to 10 teams in 1953 and aimed to compel Major League Baseball to pay for TV broadcasts in the league's territory. Attendance that year, however, fell to 764 fans per game, the lowest among 8-team circuits. However, there were cracks this year that should have been a harbinger of things to come for the league. To spark renewed interest, the league considered splitting the season into two halves, and clubs organized special promotional nights for teachers, farmers, and lawyers. “Cash and Carry Nights,” where one lucky fan could haul away as many nickels, quarters, and dimes as they could carry, became a hit, while “Jackpot Night” handed out a $1,000 bill to a fortunate attendee. Then there was the Knoxville Smokies, where owner Byron Kitchen hoped to have enough money to make it to opening day. The club was forced to play outside of town while a new municipal stadium was being constructed, saw low attendance figures, forfeited a game due to a lack of balls, and almost transferred operations to Hazard in May. However, Wacks was confident as the league prepared for its seventh season. “The fans will see the best baseball this season that has ever been produced in the Mountain States League.” ​The league announced 8 teams would start the season on March 24: the Morristown Red Sox, Newport Canners, Hazard Bombers, Maryville-Alcoa Twins, Middlesboro A’s, Harlan Smokies, Kingsport Cherokees, and the Oak Ridge Pioneers. Newport and Hazard had both rejoined the league together on March 15, 1954. ​Sports columnist Tom Anderson of the Knoxville Journal wrote that “it would be a tribute to Wacks if he makes it through the season.” However, not even Wacks could foresee what would happen; in an era where there were many examples of league instability, the Mountain States League set the standard. The Morristown Gazette Mail promoted Newport Canners as the visiting team for the home opener. ​The first red flag was the Bombers dropping out of the league around April 1, leading Wacks to scramble to find a new team in Lexington, which was well over 100 miles from the nearest club. There was no official wording on why Hazard dropped out so suddenly, but the team had left the league after its 1952 pennant due to being in considerable debt. Newport was set to play at the new Nease Stadium for free. Local businesses collected around $10,000 to ensure operations for the season. The Canners had played in the league from 1948 to 1950 before relocating to Norton, Virginia. ​The closest Newport came to playing was an ad in the Morristown Gazette Mail for the home opener at Sherwood Park on April 24. Around this time, reports emerged of shaky financial ground. If Newport couldn't play, Wacks said Hazard would be reinstated as the 8th club. It was later reported that Newport couldn’t raise enough money to fix up its ballpark or pay its players. ​The Mountain States League became the only 7-team league in the country, with one team having to sit idle for the first two weeks of the season. It would affect the Morristown Red Sox, who lost $5,800 in 1953 and $25,000 during the first month of the current season. The Sox played only 7 home dates during their first three weeks, taking in $500, while paying out $3,000.​ With another year of running in the red, team president Fred Hartman withdrew his franchise on May 17. Morristown would eventually get another franchise the following month when our next team ran into financial troubles in their original market. Kingsport owner Sam Bray made national headlines on June 6 when he announced that he would give away his club, lock, stock, and barrel, plus $3,000 in cash, to anyone willing to operate the club for the rest of the year in town. The deal included team uniforms, equipment, team bus, players' contracts, concession stand stock, and being debt-free. ​The Maryville-Alcoa Twins entered the league in 1953 and played out of Hunt Field, 9 miles away from the Knoxville Smokies (Class B) brand-new $600,000 Municipal Stadium in 1954. The proximity to the Smokies hindered attendance; a May 12 game drew only 68 people to the stands. ​The Twins ceased operations on June 14 due to an $8,000 tax bill from the previous season, which required a $2,000 upfront payment to the federal government. The club then announced it would relocate to Morristown, but as quickly as the story made print, it was announced that the team was saved by its parent club, Cincinnati, and would temporarily remain at Hunt Field. After failing to secure additional funding, the Twins relocated to Morristown and renamed the Reds on June 20. Their stay was brief, lasting only 10 days. Cincinnati liked Morristown as a minor league city, but felt team quality and financial losses were prohibitive for continuing the season. ​The next team on the chopping block was the Lexington Colts, who had just joined 17 days before the season opener to replace the Hazard franchise that never got off the ground. Although the Colts had financial trouble of their own, they were committed to completing the season; their official demise was due to an odd league rule. When the Morristown Reds franchise folded, other clubs forced Lexington to fold to balance the schedule and reduce travel expenses. On July 6, Lexington was notified that it was no longer in the league, based on a rule that states if there is an odd number of teams, the newest member will cease operations. With four teams left in the league, Wacks was determined to finish the season with a new schedule, and the remaining clubs would start from scratch with a new set of standings. The last day of the season would be set for August 15, when a pennant winner would be announced. ​That would not take place when the Harlan Smokies, who exhausted their operating funds for the season, gave up the ghost on July 19. Smokies president Dr. Willard Buttermore said at the time of withdrawal that the club was “unable to make it financially.” The club had played to 10,000 people, with about 250-300 in attendance per game. ​A last-ditch effort was made to replace the Smokies with a semi-pro team from Pennington Gap from the Lonesome Pine League to complete the season. Wacks hoped to send the team to Kingsport, but that never materialized. Without any other options, the Mountain States League ceased operations on July 20.​ Kingsport, Middlesboro, and Oak Ridge were the last three teams remaining, each facing financial challenges. Of these, Middlesboro may have been the only franchise in stable financial condition. To cover the $13,000 renovation costs of Ridgewood Park, Oak Ridge had earlier offered $10 shares to the public. After league play ended, the Pioneers transitioned to a semi-pro club and continued to compete against teams within a 50-mile radius until August. Meanwhile, Kingsport's owner, Sam Bray, had turned fortunes around on the season, having his family operate the team for free and having players wash and mend their own uniforms. He sold off many of his players to other clubs, and the ones that were released were paid before they left to go home for the season. ​“Maybe I’ll go with them, because most of them are from Cuba and I could stand a vacation.”​ ​Wacks once said that the MSL was “steady as a rock,” and vowed to return with an 8-team league for the 1955 season. The three remaining clubs would return, along with commitments from five other cities and towns on the league map. He was optimistic and ready to do the groundwork but was sensibly advised to reconsider in March. ​“I had eight towns tentatively lined up for the league this season. I feel certain we could have operated, but after discussing it with an associate, we decided it would be better to take a break for a season or two. After going without professional baseball for a season or so, the fans will be hungry for the sport.” Wacks did try a few more times, even as late as 1969, to reform the league as a Class A loop. He said that he had several contacts in former towns and even looked into new markets for his proposed league. It never happened, but he was busy hosting The Virgil Q. Wacks Varieties Show, which ran on local television from 1957 to 1983. He also served as a sportscaster and radio announcer for many years before he died in 1994. Perhaps Marsh Town said it best in his daily column in The Morristown Sun on July 17, 1953, when he wrote "Virgil Q. Wacks must spend some sleepless nights trying to figure out how to hold the league together." The Mountain States League left an interesting footnote in the annals of minor league baseball after the war. Just because you can place teams anywhere doesn’t mean you have a league. This lesson has been repeated many times since the league’s closure over 70 years ago and will likely be repeated. Name Date Results Newport Canners April 25, 1954 Not enough money to operate for the season; never played a game. Morristown Red Sox May 15, 1954 Folded due to uneven teams and low gate receipts Maryville-Alcoa Twins June 19, 1954 Relocated to Middletown and renamed Reds. Morristown Reds July 1, 1954 Cincinnati pulled the club out due to differences with the league. Lexington Colts July 7, 1954 Expelled from the league due to the number of teams and the date joined. Harlan Smokes July 19, 1954 Ran out of money for the season Mountain States League July 20, 1954 League ceased operations; only Kingsport, Middletown, and Oak Ridge remained. ——– Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 TD Coliseum 101 York Boulevard Hamilton, ON L8R 3L4 Toronto Rock website TD Coliseum website Year Opened: 1985 Capacity: 17,383 Rock City Renovation The expansion Ontario Raiders joined the National Lacrosse League in 1998. They played one season in Hamilton before being sold to an ownership group consisting of Toronto Maple Leafs Assistant GM, Bill Watters, Blue Jays President, Paul Beeston, Tie Domi and Bobby Orr, and immediately moved to Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto and rebranded the Toronto Rock. After being the final event in the venerable arena, the Rock moved south to join the Leafs and Raptors at what was then known as the Air Canada Centre. The Rock enjoyed great success in Downtown Toronto, but decided to make the move west, back to Hamilton in 2021. While maintaining the Toronto Rock brand, the team, under the ownership of Jamie Dawick, helped push the FirstOntario Centre to a much-needed renovation. After a year in Mississauga during construction, the Rock have returned to the newly christened TD Coliseum and are optimistic about the future in the Hammer. TD Coliseum opened in 1985 as Copps Coliseum, to attract an NHL expansion franchise in the forefront. The shock of Ottawa gaining the Senators at the detriment of Hamilton still has not fully healed. The Coliseum has been home to a host of AHL franchises and the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs. In 2024, the City of Hamilton began a $300 million renovation on what would become TD Coliseum. The Toronto Rock is the only sports tenant at the time of writing, but they will soon have company, as the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League will be moving to Hamilton for the 2026-2027 season. Food & Beverage 4 One of the main areas of focus for the recent renovation of the arena was concessions. The concession. Food options now feature higher quality and significant variety. Sugar & Salt, Matty’s Patty’s, Fizzy Feathers, Dip City, Mr. Softee, Casa Escobar, Rizzo’s House of Parm, and Shaq’s Big Chicken are all available stands. A further focus of the renovation was the creation of new premium dining areas, including the Vinyl Room, Rogers Club, and TD Lounge. A full accounting of the concession landscape can be found on the TD Coliseum website. It should not be surprising that with the improvement in quality of the concessions has come an increase in the cost. Atmosphere 3 The exterior of TD Coliseum now punctuates the theme throughout the arena. TD Coliseum’s exterior, which once featured white or off-white siding, now features a black colour scheme with green highlights; the same green of the TD logo. A new exterior sign at the northwest corner of the footprint is the other main highlight of the renovations on the outside. The footprint of the arena remains the same, and there is not much of a gathering area outside the arena. The largest would be the northwest corner. A new focus at TD Coliseum is ensuring that fans enter their assigned gate, which uses the arena’s resources a little bit better. Inside TD Coliseum, the dark theme with a charcoal grey colour scheme throughout the concourses. At first glance, it seems that TD Coliseum is envisioned more as a concert venue than a sports arena. There are no markings for the Toronto Rock or any of the FirstOntario Centre, formerly had a single concourse which serviced both the upper and lower bowl, similar to the Palace of Auburn Hills. With all of the new premium dining areas, this has changed a bit, and the lower concourse, which was once used just for arena personnel, is now used in some areas. Entering the seating bowl shows more renovations. The floor runs from east to west, with the best view of the centre logo from the north side. The suites, which were once behind the lower seating bowl, have been reoriented and are mainly on the south side. Floor-level suites are now on the north side, and where the suites were previously, there are now high-top rail seats. The four-sided videoboard is state-of-the-art and modest in size, a refreshing change from the newer ones in major arenas that are nearly the length of the floor. A full 360-degree LED ribbon is found on the fascia of the upper level. All of the seats have been replaced and are dark charcoal and no longer the assorted bubble gum colours. Many sections of the upper deck were curtained off, and the lower bowl definitely has a more intimate feel than it did previously. No Toronto Rock banners were hanging in TD Coliseum; however, it is assumed that this will change for subsequent games. The Toronto Rock pulls out all of the stops when it comes to the gameday production. The PA announcer is strong and leads cheers and chants throughout the game, not as over the top as found in Buffalo, but more than a typical hockey announcer. In place of a “First Pitch” is a first shot. The game ball is delivered to the referee via a remote control car in a unique promotion. The Rock entered to some pyro and flanked by the community Fan Tunnel and Rock City Dancers. The Rock mascot, Iggy, takes part in promotions, and the Rock City Dancers perform during media breaks as well as in the corners at floor level. The Rock features individual goal songs, which is debatable whether it is a positive or negative feature. Neighbourhood 2 TD Coliseum is located in Central Hamilton. It is generally a depressed area with plenty of signs of homelessness. There are a few spots for pre or post game food and drink in the area. These include Cowabunga, Undefined, Tobey’s Good Eats, The Mule and Merit Brewing. Hamilton does have some other sporting options including the Hamilton Kilty B’s, Dundas Blues, Forge FC, McMaster Marauders football and basketball and the Hamilton Cardinals. It appears that TD Coliseum will once again be home to an American Hockey League franchise in the future. However, if there is one thing that Hamilton is known for, it is the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. There are other tourist options in Hamilton worth checking out. These include the Canadian Football Hall of Fame at Hamilton Stadium, FirstOntario Concert Hall, Hamilton Farmers Market, Art Gallery of Hamilton and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Sheraton Hamilton and Homewood Suites are very close to the arena. Fans 3 It will be interesting to see where the fan support for the Toronto Rock settles. The game that was reviewed was the first game at the refurbished TD Coliseum and the first home game of the 2025-26 season. The previous season, the Rock attracted an average of just over 5,100 fans per game at the much smaller Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga. The average was just under capacity for the building and ranked them 11th in the 14 team NLL. The previous season, the Rock averaged more than 8,600 fans per game, ranking them 6th in the league. For the first game of the season, the Rock welcomed 5,700 fans. This is below their previous average in Hamilton, however, the NLL typically sees attendance rise after Christmas. The fans that are in attendance are a little louder and more vocal than typical Ontario fans. Access 3 TD Coliseum is located in Central Hamilton, on the southeast corner of York Blvd and Bay Street. It is 1 ¾ km east of Highway 403, and much closer to major highways than some of the other sports venues in Hamilton. Getting to TD Coliseum is not too difficult when coming from the west, but the traffic definitely picks up when getting closer to Central Hamilton. There are some parking garages and surface lots in the immediate area. It is recommended that fans use a pre-purchased parking option and plan ahead. For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, the West Harbour GO station is a 15 minute walk from TD Coliseum and HSR buses travel York and King Streets. Fans should consult the GO Transit and HSR websites for fares, schedules and maps. With the renovation, getting around the concourses is more of a challenge. Use of both the upper and lower concourses will require fans to use staircases, where they previously did not need to, when walking a full 360 revolution around the arena. The new seats are definitely not larger than the previous ones and a case could be made that they are actually smaller. TD Coliseum is also a cashless venue. Stadium Journey recognizes that security protocols at major sporting events are consistently changing. TD Coliseum does feature modern scanning equipment which keeps the entry flow moving. Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Toronto Rock and TD Coliseum websites for the most up to date security information including prohibited items and bag policies. Return on Investment 3 Toronto Rock tickets begin at $56 and increase to over $120. The Rock have the most expensive ticket prices compared to the other Canadian NLL teams. Concession prices are also on the expensive side. Parking will go for at least $20. Overall, the Rock provide a more expensive experience than probably anticipated. That being said, the Rock provide a fantastic product. NLL lacrosse is fast paced, hard hitting and exciting. Music plays throughout the game and the promotions and gameday atmosphere are engaging and exciting. Extras 4 An extra mark for the success the Rock have enjoyed including 6 Champions Cups and 5 in their first 7 years in Toronto. An extra mark for the Toronto Rock closing Maple Leaf Gardens. The final event at the venerable arena before renovation and rebranding by Toronto Metropolitan University was the Rock’s NLL Championship in 2000. An extra mark for the NLL everyman image. The majority of the players in the league have other full time jobs and are lacrosse “weekend warriors.” An extra mark for the impact of the Toronto Rock on the lacrosse community in Southern Ontario. With the building of the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Jamie Dawick and the Rock have done a great job promoting lacrosse at a wide variety of levels, including the OJLL Oakville Buzz. Final Thoughts In a return to Hamilton, the Toronto Rock are enjoying a renovated new home in TD Coliseum. There is a different vibe surrounding the upgraded facility and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Rock in their return to the Hammer. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube, Twitter, Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Xfinity Mobile Arena 3601 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 Philadelphia Wings website Xfinity Mobile Arena website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 20,306 Wings Lax Still Flying Editor's Note: On September 1, 2025, the home of the Flyers and 76ers was rebranded as the Xfinity Mobile Arena in an agreement lasting through the 2030-2031 season to coincide with the rebranding of Comcast Spectator to reflect the growth in their mobile business. For many years, the Philadelphia Wings were one of the cornerstone franchises in the National Lacrosse League. The original Wings played in the old National Lacrosse League for the two seasons that they took the floor in 1974 and 1975. When the league resurfaced as Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League in 1986 the Wings played in one of the original games on the first day. The league would go through changes, with a period as the Major Indoor Lacrosse League before settling in as the National Lacrosse League in 1998. The Wings were part of all of those iterations. When the announcement was made that the Wings were sold to the Mohegan Tribe and moving to Connecticut to be the New England Black Wolves, it is appropriate to say that the lacrosse community was shocked. It didn’t take long for the parent company of the Philadelphia Flyers, Comcast Spectacor, to dive right into the NLL and bring an expansion team back to Broad Street. The new Wings took the floor in 2018. The original home of the Wings was the venerable Spectrum. When the Wells Fargo Center opened and the Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers moved to the new venue, the Wings joined them. Opening in 1996 as the CoreStates Center, the building is now on its fourth moniker as a result of numerous bank mergers. A massive renovation in 2020 has brought the arena up to modern standards and is favorably comparable to any venue in the National Lacrosse League. The Wings are still attempting to capture the imagination of Philadelphia sports fans and the magic of previous Wings iterations. Food & Beverage 5 One of the major differences found at Wells Fargo Center as a result of the 2020 renovation is a commitment to improving the concession experience. Philly sports fans are now able to experience a premium concession experience. The regular arena favorites are all present, of course, however, they are now joined by many Philly favorites and higher quality items than were found previous to the renovation. Some unique items that can now be found at Wells Fargo Center include Federal Donuts, huge, thin-crust pizza slices at Cuz’s Pizza, Vodka Parm Sandwiches and Italian Pork Sandwiches at 9th Street Italian Sandwiches, Mac & Cheese Balls at Line Change, various Philly Cheesesteaks at First Line Steaks, burgers and milkshakes from Shake Shack and Crab Fries from Chickie’s and Pete’s. Coca-Cola products are the soft drinks of choice at Wells Fargo. Beer selections include Blue Moon, Yuengling, Stella Artois, Miller Lite, Labatt Blue, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Athletic Brewing Co. products. The concession scene deserves to be planned out a bit and a concessions map are available on the Wells Fargo Center website, or here. Atmosphere 4 The Wells Fargo Center is located in the South Philadelphia Wells Fargo Complex and is surrounded by parking. Although there is nothing overly exceptional about the exterior of the building, it is far from unattractive. There is not an overabundance of glass on the exterior of the building, but light-colored siding and brick are the main materials. A couple of photo ops that fans may want to check out on the exterior, aside from the view of downtown Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field, or Citizens Bank Park, would include the statue of Wilt Chamberlain at the southeast corner of the building, or the statue of Ed Snider at the northwest corner. Fans entering the Wells Fargo Center will be welcomed by newly designed concourses. Concession stands are grouped in various areas that include some seating areas to visit with other fans and enjoy a drink or eat some food before heading into the bowl. The top sides of the concourse walls feature small murals and headings of numerous neighborhoods in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas which keep the local flavor of the building strong. Several Flyers and Sixers displays may interest fans as well. For Wings games, the smaller merchandise counters are where fans will find a variety of swag items. When fans enter the seating bowl, their attention will immediately be drawn to the massive, concave, four-sided videoboard. Crystal clear and state of the art, the videoboard features long, concave screens to match the long sides of the floor with smaller, more square boards on the ends. The ribbon board that goes with the screen uniquely can be raised or lowered and has flames that shoot out for pregame festivities. The floor runs from south to north with the perfect spot for the center logo picture to be taken, on the east side. A typical, two-level seating bowl separated by luxury boxes is found at the Wells Fargo Center. The seats in the Wells Fargo Center are new and spacious and much better than what was previously in the arena. In the southwest corner rafters hang banners for the Wings. Retired number banners for Dallas Eliuk, Tom Marechek, Jake Bergey, and Kevin Finneran are joined by a banner noting 1989, 1990, 1994, and 1995 North American Cup Championships and 1998 and 2001 Champions Cup Championships. All honors are for previous iterations of the Wings, but it is good that the current Wings have continued to memorialize them. The gameday atmosphere at a Wings game is not dissimilar to that of other NLL teams. The entrance for the players during pregame is highly produced with a hype video, followed by player entrances through a physical, illuminated version of the current Wings logo with plenty of loud music and flames. Music plays throughout the action on the floor and there are plenty of promotions. The Philadelphia Wings Dancers take part in the pregame and perform at points during the game. The Wings mascot, Wingston, can be found traversing the crowd and interacting with fans during the game. Neighborhood 3 The Wells Fargo Center is located in the South Philadelphia Wells Fargo Sports Complex in the South Philadelphia East neighborhood, just across the Delaware River on the other side of New Jersey. There is not much in the way of a neighborhood that would be within walking distance of the arena. Xfinity Live is part of the complex as is the Live Casino and Hotel Philadelphia. There are a couple of spots fans may want to check out for food or drink just south of the complex, including DiNic’s Pork and Beef and The Gatehouse. What the area lacks in pre and post-game food venues it more than makes up for access to other sports. The Wells Fargo Center is shared with the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers and periodically the Villanova Wildcats. Lincoln Financial Field is home to the Philadelphia Eagles and Temple Owls. The Army-Navy Game often resides at Lincoln Financial Field also. Citizens Bank Park is the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Philadelphia Union plays in nearby Chester. There are also several college basketball sports fans who could check out including the Temple Owls, Drexel Dragons, Villanova Wildcats, LaSalle Explorers, and St. Joseph’s Hawks. Checking out the Palestra, home of the Penn Quakers, is a must for college basketball and Philadelphia basketball fans. Fans wishing to stay close to the complex can either stay at the casino or the Courtyard Philadelphia South. Heading into downtown Philadelphia also offers a host of other tourist and food options fans should consider. Fans 3 Assessing the fan situation in the National Lacrosse League is becoming increasingly difficult as attendance figures are often not published. It is safe to say that the current Wings have not enjoyed the same following that earlier versions of the team did. That being said, it seems that attendance at Wings games is on the rise. The game that was attended for review had an odd, 11 am start time and still attracted over 7,000 fans. It is also safe to say that the Wings are not consistently breaking the 10,000 fan mark. Fans that are in attendance are knowledgeable and passionate. Hopefully, the word will spread and the average attendance for Wings games will continue to increase. Access 4 Getting to the Wells Fargo Center is not that difficult. The complex is located on Broad Street, immediately north of I-95 and south of I-76. Traffic can be a bit of a challenge, but it is not terrible. If multiple teams are playing in the complex at the same time, it could be more of a problem. There is plenty of parking in the area. Fans wishing to take public transit can catch the subway to the NRG Station on the west side of the complex. Fans should see the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority website for fares, maps, and schedules. Getting around the Wells Fargo Center is not an issue. With the renovations, all of the seats in the arena were replaced and the replacements are bigger and more comfortable than before. The washroom facilities are more than adequate for the crowd in attendance for Wings games. Stadium Journey recognizes that security protocols for major sports are in constant flux. Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Philadelphia Wings and/or Wells Fargo Center websites for the most up-to-date security protocols including bag policy and prohibited items. Return on Investment 4 The Philadelphia Wings put on a good show, with plenty of excitement, in a facility that is as good as any in the National Lacrosse League. The “fastest game on two feet” will engage fans and keep them on the edge of their seats and the Wings do a solid job of putting together a strong gameday package. Wings tickets are not expensive and good seats can be found for $25 with both more and less expensive options available. Concession prices are what one would expect, but the concession experience is excellent. Parking is a bit on the expensive side, but average for other Philadelphia sports experiences. More fans in the stands would provide an even better lacrosse experience and bump the ROI even higher. Extras 3 An extra mark for the recognition and embracing of the Philadelphia Wings past.An extra mark for the return of the NLL to a traditional lacrosse market. An extra mark for the significant renovation of the Wells Fargo Center Final Thoughts With the return of the Philadelphia Wings to the Philadelphia sports scene, thoughts back to the glory days of Philadelphia lacrosse are fresh in the minds of Philly fans. It seems rekindling those days is still a few years away, but with a renovation to Wells Fargo Center, the time is right to head to South Philly and take in some box lax. ----- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and Instagram.

Photos by Lloyd Rothwell, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Penrith Stadium Mulgoa Rd Penrith, NSW 2750 Australia Penrith Panthers website Penrith Stadium website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 22,500 Penrith Panthers at BlueBet The Penrith Panthers were admitted to what is now known as the National Rugby League in 1967 however didn’t experience real success until the late 1980s and early 1990s. The club won its maiden premiership in 1991. Penrith won their second title in 2003. After experiencing some lean years more recently, the club is once again challenging for premiership success in the early 2020s. The Panthers represent a working-class area located on the western edge of the Sydney metropolitan area at the foot of the Blue Mountains. BlueBet Stadium opened the same year Penrith entered the competition and currently has a capacity of 22,500. The stadium is owned by Penrith City Council, with the Panthers being the sole major tenant. A smattering of high-level soccer and international rugby league matches have also been held here. Food & Beverage 3 Most visitors will enter the stadium via the western entrances. The forecourt immediately beyond the turnstiles is the best place to purchase your refreshments. There’s a reasonable selection of food items which cater to most tastes. The West Bar is also close by, however, expect to spend some time in the queue to purchase your drinks. Food outlets around the stadium offer the standard fare: burgers, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, hot chips, and soft drinks. Expect to pay between $10-$15 for a decent feed and a further $5 for a drink. Other vendors within the forecourt offer wares such as pizza and “toasties.” The bar offers several types of beer: Iron Jack, Toohey’s New, Hahn Super Dry, and Hahn Premium Light. Prices are around $8, with a $1 discount for members. Premixed spirits and wine are also available. Atmosphere 4 The grandstands are reserved seating, but much of the ground-level seating is designated as general admission. Be aware that the northern hill is largely a family area, which means no alcohol. This is enforced by security. Ushers guard the reserved seating areas. The southern hill has minimal elevation so large numbers of fans stand in this area. Plenty of families bring chairs and blankets which is a good idea. The eastern stand receives the afternoon sun. The branding and signage around the ground leave you in doubt that this is Penrith territory. The façade of the western stand features banners of the current team. The top of the eastern stand is adorned with the names of club legends such as Craig Gower and Greg Alexander. Neighborhood 3 Penrith is a major centre of Western Sydney, with the local area being one of the most populous in the state. The Penrith Panthers Leagues Club is one of the largest registered clubs in NSW. It is the closest and most attractive option for entertainment close to the stadium. There are numerous food options including burgers, pizza, seafood, steak, noodles, and more. Other activities that might be of interest are a driving range where you hit a lake and a cable wakeboarding water park. In the same area across the road are an indoor skydiving centre and several chain restaurants including McDonald’s and Outback Steakhouse. Pubs close by including the Australian Arms, one of the oldest pubs in the district. There’s also plenty of pubs closer to the CBD and a Westfield Shopping Centre. Some sporting and recreation facilities are nearby. The Nepean River is one of the major geographical features of the area, along with Penrith Lake which includes both the Sydney International Regatta Centre and Penrith Whitewater Stadium, both venues built for the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. The Penrith Emus Shute Shield rugby club plays at Nepean Rugby Park and the Penrith Paceway next door has harness racing on Thursday nights. The world heritage-listed Blue Mountains are also easily accessible from Penrith, by either rail or road. The Mountains effectively mark the western edge of the Sydney metropolitan area and form part of the Great Dividing Range, which extends almost the length of the continent from north to south. Many of the historic towns are worth visiting including Leura, Wentworth Falls, and the major towns of Katoomba and Lithgow. The natural beauty of the area is well worth a visit, including “The Three Sisters” rock formation and Jenolan Caves. There’s plenty of opportunities for bushwalking and outdoor adventuring but be sure to prepare properly and take appropriate precautions. In summary, there’s plenty to do in the local area but in Western Sydney cars are king – so be prepared to drive anywhere outside of the precinct across Mulgoa Rd. Forming part of the Panthers precinct just across the road, the Mercure Penrith is the obvious choice for accommodation and a short walk from the stadium. Fans 4 Penrith is a working-class area. The locals are proud of their town and their football team. Crowds have once again increased as the Panthers have begun to experience more success on the field. The COVID impacted the 2020 season aside, average attendance in recent years is around 14,000 which is certainly enough to create an exciting and dynamic atmosphere. The Panthers have healthy rivalries with other western Sydney teams, with the biggest arguably being the Parramatta Eels. Access 3 While the stadium is accessible by public transport, the majority of fans drive. Expect some congestion around local roads as game time nears. Visitors traveling from other areas of Sydney will arrive via the Mulgoa Rd exit from the M4 Western Motorway. There is limited free parking within the Panthers complex, but this can fill quite quickly. There are also relatively cheap paid parking options at the Paceway on the northern side of the stadium (Ransley St) and the cricket club on the southern side (Station St) which will run you about $5. The nearest railway station is 10 mins walk from the stadium. There is a box office just outside the entry but it’s just as easy to buy online and either print them at home or have the link sent to your phone. Fans tend to mill about outside the entrance waiting for friends or family. There’s a bag check at the entrance, but overall, there are no difficulties or hassles when entering. The concourse is quite easy to navigate, although it’s a little congested at the southern end. Generally, there are no issues with moving around the various areas should you like to move around during the game. The bathrooms are a bit old but serviceable. Return on Investment 4 Adult tickets range from $35 general admission through to $60 for the most expensive “Diamond” reserved seats. Children from the age of 2 require a ticket regardless of where they sit. Family passes that admit 4 people are a reasonable value when compared to single tickets. Food and beverage prices are reasonable compared to other NRL venues and cheap parking is welcomed. Extras 2 Penrith has capitalised on their name with a “Pink Panther” theme and wears pink jerseys for the annual Women in League round. Final Thoughts The Panthers are once again one of the hottest tickets in town with a team to rival any other club in the NRL. Penrith is also a gateway to exploring the beautiful Blue Mountains and beyond, and thus should be a destination for all visitors to this part of the world.

Photos by Lloyd Rothwell, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Ocean Protect Stadium 2 Captain Cook Drive Woolooware, NSW 2230 Australia Cronulla Sharks website Ocean Protect Stadium website Year Opened: 1960 Capacity: 22,000 Shark Park Editors Note: The stadium officially changed its name to Ocean Protect Stadium on November 25, 2025, following a multimillion-dollar naming rights deal with the national stormwater treatment company. Southern Cross Group Stadium (formerly known as Remondis Stadium) is located in the Sutherland Shire of Sydney, serving as home to the Cronulla Sharks of the National Rugby League (NRL). The stadium was built in 1960 and, in somewhat of an anomaly in Australian sport, is actually owned by the Sharks. Several renovations have lifted the capacity to the current mark of 22,000. The original name of the venue is Endeavour Field, but it is commonly called “Shark Park” by the Cronulla faithful. The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks joined the then NSW Rugby League in 1967, having previously played in the Sydney inter-district competition. The Sharks are based in the Sutherland Shire, representing the coastal areas south of Botany Bay and the Georges River. While enjoying several periods of success throughout their history, the Sharks have yet to win a first grade premiership, losing two grand finals in the 1970s to Manly (plus a GF replay in 1978 after the original match was drawn 11-11), and the 1997 Super League grand final to Brisbane. Financial instability has dogged the club over the years, although it’s hoped a large development project on land owned by the Sharks will secure their long term financial future. Food & Beverage 3 Southern Cross Group Stadium embodies exactly what you expect from a trip to a suburban footy stadium; long lines, average mass produced food, and prices that make you wonder why you didn’t get an extra $50 out at the ATM. Your food offerings can broadly be separated into all the basic stadium food groups; meat pies, hot chips, hot dogs, burgers, fish and chips, and chicken. Add to that nachos and some basic wraps, and that’s pretty much it. A decent feed is likely to set you back a minimum of around $12 per person. Limit your expectations at the bar to another long wait in line, despite the “VB Only” lines. Soft drinks are Pepsi-Schweppes and beer is CUB. Probably best not to be too adventurous in the food department while at Southern Cross Group and stick with the tried and true pie, chips and a beer. Atmosphere 3 The Sharkies offer a traditional game day experience with the focus on the footy. Games against local rivals St George Illawarra draw good crowds, while most Sydney opponents will also attract reasonable numbers. There are two entrances to Shark Park; both on the southern side of the stadium. You enter through a large inflatable shark’s head, with the southwestern entrance also featuring the Sharks honour walk. The stadium has grandstands on three sides, with the northern end dominated by a hill area. The main stand is on the western side and is named after arguably the Sharks greatest ever player, Andrew Ettingshausen (ET Stand). The Peter Burns Stand is on the eastern side and is built onto the adjoining Sharkies Leagues Club. During an afternoon game this stand looks directly into the setting sun. The southern stand is the most recent addition to Southern Cross Group Stadium and was named after the first captain of the club, Monty Porter. There are video screens at either end. The ground announcer is passionately one-sided towards the home team, and adds to the atmosphere, despite his painfully constant referrals to the Sharks captain, Paul Gallen as, “G-Train.” The public address system is too loud, particularly the music leading up to the start of the game. Expect the standard cheerleaders, known as the Mermaids, and junior footy played at halftime. The ET Stand is the premiere place to sit and as a result tickets for this area tend to sell faster than any other area (and are priced accordingly). The hill is designated as family friendly and alcohol free, but if it’s a solid crowd it can be quite uncomfortable. There’s concourse seating around the ground which is a better priced option if you don’t mind sitting closer to ground level. Be aware that only a small amount of seats have good coverage from rain. Neighborhood 2 The immediate neighbourhood is largely playing fields and residences, save for the leagues club next door. If you’re after anything more than that then you’ll have to head down the road to Cronulla itself. The Leagues Club has a bistro, cafe, and Chinese restaurant as well as bars and entertainment. If you’re down in Cronulla, then the Nuns Pool Cafe (103 Ewos Pde) has a well-deserved good reputation. Northies Cronulla is also a well-known local watering hole (Cnr Kingsway & Elouera). The Cronulla area is dominated by its waterways. Local surf beaches are Cronulla, North Cronulla, Elouera, and Wanda. The nearest major shopping centre is Westfield Miranda, just to the west of Woolooware. The metropolitan area of Sydney and CBD are within a 30 minute drive, while Sydney’s Kingsford-Smith airport is 18km to the north. There’re several hotels in Cronulla including a Rydges and a Quest. Fans 3 The Sharks are well supported by their local community. However, the area the team represents is relatively small, and borders too closely with St George Illawarra. Sadly, Cronulla is often mentioned as a candidate for relocation, should it ever occur. Average attendance is around 12,000 which is at the lower end of NRL teams. Choose the game you attend carefully to make the most of your experience at Remondis. Look for matches against other Sydney teams to boost crowds and the resulting atmosphere. If a decent crowd does turn up, the atmosphere compares well with other venues. Sharks fans enjoy their footy and strongly cheer for their team. Access 2 Southern Cross Group Stadium is not well located in terms of transportation, with no close parking or public transport. The nearest train station at Woolooware is around a 15 minute walk from the stadium. Buses may be an option depending where you are travelling from. There are no parking lots available. While not having to pay for parking is always a pleasure, the resulting traffic and battle to find a parking spot on packed suburban streets is not. A walk of a kilometre or more is easily possible if you choose to drive. Interestingly, there are numerous security guards and police in the surrounding streets to help manage pedestrian safety and congestion. Entry is relatively smooth with electronic ticket scanners and a minimal security check for the standard bag check. Best to buy your ticket online before you turn up. A half decent crowd and the concourses will be quite busy as fans spill into walkways. Crowds for bathrooms are reasonable, even at half time. Ushers are minimal, overworked, and not particularly effective. Return on Investment 3 Not having to pay for parking is a huge bonus when comparing cost to other major venues, but let’s face it, the long walk and stress in finding a parking spot all but cancels that positive out. Cost of entry and food is about average. Cheapest Adult Ticket: $25.49 Parking: $0 Pie: $6 Drink: $3.50 TOTAL: $34.99 There are discounts for juniors and families. Extras 2 There are two inflatable attractions for older children on the hill, and it’s also worth mentioning the honour walk at the south western entrance. Final Thoughts The best thing about Southern Cross Group Stadium is that it completely represents the football team that plays there. It’s an older stadium with minimal amenities, but is worth a trip to the Shire all the same.