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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get ready for the Salem Marion Berries this summer at Willamette University’s John Lewis Field at Spec Keene Stadium. The Oregon-based ball club will be the 17th member of the summer collegiate West Coast League.  The name comes from the marionberry that was developed nearby in 1956. It was the result of cross-breeding between the Chehalem and Olallie blackberries. It hails exclusively from Oregon and earned its name after its namesake Marion County. Oregon produces 28 to 33 million pounds of marionberries annually and is the most common blackberry in the state. The logo features two ripe, purple marionberries sitting on a crate, one grinning wearing sunglasses and a backward cap with the letter “B” on it. Pat Zajac, the team’s general manager, told the Salem Reporter that they have an “avenue to have some fun and play off the mascot that they created with the logo. “Marionberries themselves kind of go through a changing of colors when they get ripe, from green to red, to that deep purple. Like, do we want to have two or three mascots? One of each of those shades to create a little berry family?”  The team branding will focus on the distinct marionberry. Team management has taken suggestions for concession items featuring the berry that will also include marionberry pie and themed drinks. Zajac added that the team will take input from fans for suggestions on jerseys, entertainment, and fun food ideas. I have a few suggestions of my own. Marionberry barbecue sauce for chicken fingers Purple colored ketchup Marionberry and bacon jam topping for a burger Marionberry milkshakes Fried marionberry pies Pie eating contests Team jerseys that ripple like marionberry: monochrome green, red, and deep purple sets throughout the summer. Staff tosses out purple-colored balls to fans Nicknames for the ballpark: “The Berry Patch” or “The Berry Bowl” The Berries ballpark, built in 1989, has planned improvements that include installing synthetic turf, new field lights, an altered entryway, and field netting. Zajac added that there will be concrete poured in certain areas to create new concession stands and hospitality areas. The upgrades will be paid for with support from a $3 million state grant to money contributed by the university and Salem Baseball LLC. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Toldo Lancer Centre 2555 College Ave. Windsor, ON N9B 3P4 Windsor Lancers basketball website Toldo Lancer Centre website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 2,000 The Centre of Lancer Basketball For many years, the Windsor Lancers played basketball in the most unique and obscure of venues. The Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse at the St. Denis Centre is an indoor track and field facility. For basketball games, the University of Windsor set up a basketball court in the centre of the 200-meter track and pulled out large bleachers for spectators. It was a Canadian venue not dissimilar to how the Syracuse Orange have played for decades in what is still commonly referred to as the Carrier Dome, just on a shrunken level. The success of the Lancer basketball program predicated a new venue and the Toldo Lancer Centre was born. Named after Anthony Toldo, who died in 2009, and whose foundation made a significant donation, the Toldo Lancer Centre is a state-of-the-art facility, perfect for OUA basketball. The Lancers began their basketball lives sometime in the early 1900s when they competed against colleges across the river, in Detroit, in friendlies as Assumption College. Founded in 1857, Assumption was granted university status in 1953 and federated with the newly established University of Windsor in 1963. In 1952, they joined the OQAA, a conference in what is now known as USports. The Lancers have enjoyed success in basketball earning the W.P. McGee Trophy as National Champions in 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1969. Windsor would also win the Wilson Cup as conference champions on ten occasions, the latest being in 2007. Currently, the University of Windsor has an enrollment of over 16,000 students Food & Beverage 2 The Toldo Lancer Centre offers a limited selection of concessions for basketball games. Soda, bottled water, chips, chocolate bars, hot dogs, candy, and popcorn encompass the entirety of the concession menu. There is just enough to keep fans happy with a snack, but for fans looking for something more satisfying, looking elsewhere before or after the game would be the best idea. Atmosphere 4 The Toldo Lancer Centre was built attached to the pre-existing St. Denis Centre which includes the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse where the Lancers previously played. As with other OUA basketball facilities, the Toldo Lancer Centre is much more than the home of the basketball teams but is also a hub for student athletics and recreation. Entering the building from the south gives fans a look at the main entrance. The exterior is fairly simple and nondescript but by no means ugly. Fans are greeted by the main ticket office upon entry and then immediately ascend to the upper level for entry to the seating area. The breezeway before entry to the gym features a crisp, clean look and a large Lancer Pride mural. The washroom facilities are found in this area. There is plenty of space for meeting with others without having to brave the elements in the winter. The University of Windsor Athletic Hall of Fame is also found in this area with a very nice display for the most recent honourees. Passing from the breezeway into the seating area, fans can have their tickets checked to gain access. The upper level of the seating area has a three-lane running track perfect for fans who wish to keep moving during the game and not miss any of the action. Windsor has taken design cues from Toronto’s Goldring Centre. The main gym is sleek and dark with a focus on the court and LED lights throughout. The court runs from south to north with four sets of bleachers on each side. The east side provides the best view of the center logo. Behind the east bleachers are the Alumni Lounge and the press box above that. The east and west bleachers are raised above floor level and feature padded, fold-down seats. Although less comfortable, the molded plastic bench seating on the north and south end bleachers gets fans closer to the action. Proudly hanging in the north end are the five women’s and five men’s basketball National Championship banners. The dominance the men enjoyed in the sixties is on display with five championships. The women have proved to be equally dominant with their own five straight National Championships. The Toldo Lancer Centre takes technology to the next level. The south end has two large videoboards which display the OUA.tv video feed while the north side videoboard cycles advertisements. Each of the four corners also has a video board on the railing of the track which serves as the scoreboard and score clock. It would be beneficial if two of these boards could provide lineups and statistics. The gameday production is about what one would expect for an OUA basketball game. There are student-run promotions in between the quarters. The music selection is what one would expect from a student-run production. The mascot, Winston, can be found moving around the gym and partaking in the promotions. Neighbourhood 3 Toldo Lancer Centre is segregated among the University’s athletic facilities and not very close to pubs or restaurants. Probably the only venue within walking distance is the McDonald’s on Huron Church Road. However, heading toward the riverfront will allow fans to find some decent spots on both Wyandotte St. and University Ave. The Barrel House, Dominion House, and Rock Bottom Bar & Grill are all good options. There are a few other spots where fans can find other sports options. Right behind the St. Denis Centre is Alumni Field at the University of Windsor Stadium , which is the home for Lancer football. A short drive to the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex will find the home for Windsor Lancer hockey. The WFCU Centre is the home for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and is also a short drive from campus. If none of these options are satisfying, fans may consider hopping the border where all of the sports options of Detroit, Michigan are close. Other entertainment options in Windsor include the Canadian Aviation Museum and Caesars Windsor. For fans who need a place to stay in Windsor, the Holiday Inn and Best Western are pretty close to campus and are good options. Fans 4 Assessing the fan support for USports basketball is difficult as the majority of teams do not publish attendance figures. That being said, the fan support that is found at a Windsor Lancers basketball game is above average in the USA. Known for their support of the Lancers, the fans in the Lancer Centre are loud and proud. The Lancers faithful has also, historically, been very supportive of the women’s team. At the game that was reviewed, there was a strong contingent of students that sat on the ends, dressed up, and made plenty of noise with pots, pans, and buckets. This impromptu student section is truly unique in the OUA and made the fan atmosphere more like an NCAA basketball game than a Canadian college game. Access 4 Getting to the Toldo Lancer Centre is not overly difficult. The stadium is a stone's throw from Highway 3, or Huron Church Road, the main street that leads to the Ambassador Bridge, in the Bridgeview neighbourhood of Windsor. There is some parking available on campus on the opposite side of College Ave and behind the Toldo Lancer Centre. Parking will cost fans a little bit but should be less than $10 for the game. Public transit is a little bit of a walk from the stadium. Some buses run on California, Wyandotte, Felix, Tecumseh, and Campbell. Fans interested in public transit should check out the Transit Windsor website for maps, fares, and schedules. Tickets can be purchased at the main ticket window immediately inside the south entrance. . There is plenty of space to walk around with the track and breezeway and the washroom facilities are more than adequate for the crowd on hand. Return on Investment 5 Canadian University Basketball has tremendous value for little cost. Windsor Lancers tickets go for $10 for an adult with discounts for students, seniors, kids, and alumni. Each ticket is a doubleheader with the women's basketball team usually playing in the early game followed by the men. There are not too many tickets anywhere that are as cheap and provide so much value. Windsor has consistently put a contender on the court on both the men's and women's sides. Combine that with a clean, comfortable, state-of-the-art facility and it is hard to go wrong with Lancer basketball. Extras 3 An extra mark for the state-of-the-art facility and the use of technology at Toldo Lancer Centre. An extra mark for the very strong support for the Lancer Women’s basketball team also. One of the best fanbases for women’s basketball in the province. An extra mark for the consistently competitive Lancer program. Final Thoughts Basketball fans in Ontario should take some time and head to Windsor to see one of the top OUA basketball teams. The Windsor Lancers are playing in one of the best facilities in Ontario and provide a great experience for fans. The Toldo Lancer Centre is worth checking out. Fans won’t regret it. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and Instagram .

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

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

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

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Carroll Stadium 1001 W New York St Indianapolis, IN 46202 Indy Eleven website Carroll Stadium website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 12,100 American Soccer's Best Dive Bar The Indy Eleven are members of the second-division United Soccer League. The ultimate goal of the franchise is to have its soccer-specific stadium and move up the ranks to Major League Soccer. The club operated in the North American Soccer League since its inception in 2014, before joining the USL for the 2018 season. However, during deep playoff runs, the club returns to IU-Indy for matches due to scheduling conflicts at their regular home. The club is called Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI home. The 12,100-seat stadium opened in 1982 but was renovated before the arrival of the club in 2014. There were $1 million in improvements made to the stadium before the first season that included additional bathrooms, portable concession stands, seating areas, 11 private suites, and two premiere party decks. The Eleven have made headlines with their stadium woes. Club ownership proposed Eleven Park, a $550 million mixed-used development and 20,000-seat stadium, that was scheduled to open for the 2025 season. In June 2024, the City-County Council approved Mayor Joe Hogsett's plan for an MLS stadium to lure an expansion franchise separate from the Indy Eleven. The club will most likely be at the college stadium for the foreseeable future. The Eleven played at Lucas Oil Stadium from 2018 to 2020. The move improved many areas, but the atmosphere was clouded by the massive size of the stadium. The team would return to Carroll Stadium for the 2021 season. The Indy Eleven–named after the 11th Indiana Infantry Regiment that served with notoriety in the Union Army  during the American Civil War–has averaged over 9,000 fans per game over four seasons setting the standard for both casual and supporters' section at the stadium. Weekend matches at the “The Mike” include tailgating, family activities, and various tents and games set up before each home match. A strong dedicated supporter section known as the Brickyard Battalion provides the theatrics during the 90 minutes of soccer on the synthetic field. Food & Beverage 4 The food choices are varied with a majority of them served from food trucks and blue shelters behind the supporters' section. The open space allows for an outdoor food court with plenty of options for food and drink. Condado Tacos offers three types of varieties: Lucy Fire, Blue Dream, and the vegetarian Power Plant. You can also grab queso and chips and stadium nachos. Chomp's Truck serves burgers and seasoned fries, and Mac Genie serves Philly steak sandwiches, plus a variety of mac and cheese dishes from buffalo chicken, crab, and jalapeño. There are more burgers and pizza offered at the Union Jack's food truck. The opposite of the stadium is Gordon's Ice Cream which features six flavors, waffle cones, fried churros, and milkshakes. There is also Ben's Pretzels which always has long lines for its freshly made soft pretzels. If you require a wake-up, Illumine Coffee has a cup for you. The stadium features snack options, including hot dogs, popcorn, and Coca-Cola products. The beer options include Papst Blue Ribbon and Bud Light but also include varieties from nearby 450 North and Metazoan Breweries. Other alcoholic options include wine slushies and ciders, including one made specifically for the soccer club, Boysen Blueberry. Atmosphere 4 Carroll Stadium was not designed for soccer but for UI-Indy’s track and field program in 1982. The stadium shows its age in many areas from the grandstand to bathrooms and aesthetics. However, fan support has been strong during the Indy Eleven’s run, despite its struggles trying to build its soccer-specific venue. Tailgating begins early for evening games and various tents and banners are noticeable before kickoff. The Brickyard Battalion has a few tables and tents offering its brand of merchandise featuring caps, scarves, shirts, and stickers. Some of it is pretty well designed and constructed. A large track circles the pitch and pushes the fans in the grandstand away from the action on the field. The view of the playing field from the top of the stands is quite nice, but the noise from the supporters' section, Brickyard Battalion, is drowned out from this area. Many of the fans in the grandstand are casual and relaxed. The team’s official mascot Zeke is a dog dressed in Civil War regalia, while two live dogs, Victorio and Victoria, roam the stadium with their owner to adoring fans who want to pet them. There is also an official mascot that roams around the stadium as well that does not need a leash. There are two merchandise tents offering t-shirts to jerseys located behind both end-line seats. It is not uncommon to find a few discounted items that are around the $10-$20 mark along with reasonably priced novelties for the true fan or soccer jersey collector. Neighborhood 3 Carroll Stadium is located on the campus of IU-Indy near the center of downtown and a short taxi or Uber ride to Mass Ave or Fountain Square sections of Indianapolis. However, there are a few places nearby within a slight walk after the game to visit including a slew of regional chain restaurants. The Mass Ave. neighborhood is highly recommended after the game and it’s where you will find the official meeting headquarters for supporters The Chatham Tap Restaurant & Pub. The soccer-friendly atmosphere provides food, drinks, and lively conversations, try their wings, bangers, mash, or Scotch eggs. A few more spots to check out for food on the avenue would be Goodfella’s Pizza which offers giant New York-style slices for $3 and the Speakeasy Bar in the back. Bakersfield offers tequila and tacos for affordable prices, Union 50 features live music in a very hip atmosphere, and The Eagle has some of the best fried chicken in town. Fans 4 The Indy Eleven have finished either number one or two in attendance numbers in the NASL since its inception. The organization has tapped into a niche market in the city that’s blossoming with Generation X, Millennials, and beyond. The city has supported this team well through both winning and losing seasons. Perhaps, the stadium’s most dedicated and faithful group of supporters is the Brickyard Battalion. During the game, the BYB sings, shouts, cheers, and blows off a little smoke after every Indy goal. A lively group that makes its appearance felt during the game, you can’t miss them. However, do not let them spot you with an opposing jersey. With the club joining the USL, expect the BYB to do battle with nearby rivals Louisville City. Access 3 The stadium is accessible from both I-65 and I-70 and is located on the campus of IUPUI. There are plenty of parking lots that cost $10, a modest price. Leaving the game can get a little congested, but there are plenty of police officers on hand to guide you home. Inside the stadium, traffic moves fluidly and there are enough signs to guide you towards your seats. Bathrooms are located behind the main seating section and port-a-potties are featured in the back of the BYB area behind the goal. There are also a few fans who stand on top of the parking deck and watch the game with a decent view of the playing field. It is slightly obstructed in one end, but a cheap way to enjoy a soccer match. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices online range from $15 to $20. Parking is $15 for the nearby lots on campus. Concession prices are inexpensive compared to other USL Championship stadiums. The price of bottled water is $2.50, craft beer is $8-$10, and a hot dog is $6. Some team merchandise is heavily discounted to $15-$20 towards the end of the season. Extras 4 One point for the two live mascots, Victorio and Victoria, who walk around the stadium decked out in personalized Eleven jerseys. Another to the local concession menu offering items such as Gordon’s Ice Cream to Mac Genie. It's great to see local vendors at the match. A third point of the Honda Fun Zone is that the little ones will enjoy the games in a carnival-like atmosphere. A final one for the Brickyard Battalion, a strong and loyal supporters' group for the soccer club. The official supporter group of Eleven is not afraid to express their opinions to the opposing side on the field. During a typical match, expect to sing, cheer, shout, stand, and be engulfed in red, white, and blue smoke. Final Thoughts " The Mike” is nearing the end of its service for the Indy Eleven at the present moment, but the club needs a soccer-specific facility. Personally, a 9,000-seater would be ideal, but with the mayor and ownership having different aspirations with the future of soccer in Indianapolis, hold off on the shovels digging into the dirt. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Gary Butterworth, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Grand Prarie Stadium 1600 Lone Star Pkwy Grand Prairie, TX 75050 Major League Cricket website Year Opened: 2008 (Reconfigured for cricket 2023) Capacity: 7,200 The Next Chapter For American Cricket? When American fast bowler Ali Khan delivered Major League Cricket's first-ever ball in July 2023, he did so in a venue that had just been transformed from a baseball stadium into a venue that aims to transform cricket in the United States. It just may be successful. Food & Beverage 4 Cricket may have its roots in England, but it can thank South Asia for its status as the world's second most popular sport. The subcontinent's influence on cricket around the world is indelible. On the field, three of Major League Cricket's original six franchises bear the branding of their Indian Premier League backers. The desi flavor is also present in the stands – literally. Foodistan, a small local chain, stocks Grand Prairie Stadium's concession stands with biryani (chicken or vegetarian), samosas, and a handful of other South Asian dishes, as well as traditional American ballpark fare like burgers, nachos and popcorn. Beverage offerings were similarly varied and unique: Arka beer, an "Indian style premium lager," was available, along with a selection of wine and spirits. On the non-alcoholic side, India's Thums Up cola and mango lassi were among the choices that aren't commonly seen in U.S. stadiums. Though many menu items were uncommon, policies on outside food and beverage were not unusual. Unlike Major League Cricket's secondary venue of Church Street Park in Morrisville, NC, where fans could bring in just about any outside food and many outside beverages, entry policies in Grand Prairie were far more strict: fans were limited to a single factory-sealed water bottle (the maximum allowable size differed depending upon what set of rules one read). Atmosphere 4 Without question, Grand Prairie Stadium offers the most well-rounded cricket experience in the United States on the field and in the stands. Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, has its pluses: As the United States' first modern cricket-specific stadium, it is to thank for first bringing high-level international cricket to the United States in the 21st century. Its relatively steep, shade-covered grandstands offer a vantage point that some might prefer to those offered by Grand Prairie. But Broward County's ability to draw crowds is inconsistent at best. There is a reason why it was not selected to host Major League Cricket matches. MLC's secondary venue Church Street Park in Morrisville, NC , draws crowds and has some spectator infrastructure, but its understated charm is in its park-like, community-centered vibe. Few would perceive the venue as "major league." Moosa Stadium in Pearland, Texas, has hosted a handful of international matches and has bigger aspirations but largely flies under the radar. And few would consider as "stadiums" the grounds hosting Minor League Cricket teams around the U.S. (Don't confuse Grand Prairie with Prairie View 225 miles to the southeast. Prairie View hosts a large cricket complex but provides little in the way of spectator infrastructure.) Grand Prairie Stadium is not a large stadium like one might find in the UK, Australia, or South Asia. After all, prior to its renovation, it hosted the Texas Air Hogs of the American Association of Independent Baseball. Approximately the equivalent of the fourth tier in professional baseball's official hierarchy, the American Association is a quality league, but it is relatively small-scale. The conversion of the former AirHogs Stadium to a cricket-specific venue upped the seating capacity from 5,445 to more than 7,000. That's big enough to feel vaguely big-time, but small enough to maintain the intimacy that one won't find in major cricketing countries. The reconfiguration also added a lot of polish. This feels like a new venue. Look hard enough, though, and a handful of signs of the venue's original purpose remain visible. Why do the upper-level luxury suites have such a strange arc rather than following the natural curve of the playing field? Because they still follow the original baseball foul lines. The playing surface, lighting system, and players' facilities received good reviews. Similarly, the spectator facilities were pleasant, though not entirely without fault. Texas is hot, and the lack of shade is unfortunate. Air-conditioned areas exist to beat the heat, but they are only available to premium ticket holders. The seating bowl itself is quite shallow in slope, which is unfortunate for those stuck behind someone tall. The video board is only readily visible to fans sitting in the stands that were once the baseball infield. These quirks are worth keeping in mind when purchasing tickets. The game presentation is top-notch. The passionate young American public address announcer performed well in both Grand Prairie and at the North Carolina venue, providing continuity between both of MLC's host sites. For the final, a team of parachutists delivered an American flag before the match, and a truly spectacular lighted drone show kept fans glued to their seats during the innings break. Details like these show that Major League Cricket truly is dedicated –and funded– to make an impression on the sports world. Grand Prairie Stadium is up to the challenge as host. Neighborhood 3 The Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex is sprawling and car-centric, and the parking lots surrounding Grand Prairie Stadium can obscure the fact that there is actually quite a bit to do relatively close by, even though most of that is well outside of walking distance. Without traffic, the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers stadiums are only a 12-minute drive away; Six Flags Over Texas is about the same. But Grand Prairie Stadium has some immediate neighbors, too: it shares a parking lot with Lone Star Park, a horse racing track. Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie, a concert venue, sits just next door and is visible from much of the stadium. A branch of the Texas-based fast food chain Whataburger is nearby and is convenient for out-of-state visitors looking to try a local staple. Fans 4 There were numerous questions in the run-up to Major League Cricket's inaugural season, but key among them was whether fans would actually turn out to the matches. Fan support was far from a given: when the United States national cricket team hosted its first home One Day International match in 2019, ESPN CricInfo reported a total attendance of just 19 fans at Broward County Stadium in Florida. But MLC had reason to hope: the 3.5-hour T20 format is a different animal, and Major League Cricket offers more star power –and a bigger advertising budget– than the US team. Geography also matters: the Dallas area is home to a large population of expats and immigrants from South Asia's cricketing nations. But initially slow ticket sales, despite discounts on already-reasonable prices, fueled worry that the inaugural season could fizzle. Those worries proved largely unfounded, as many MLC matches in Grand Prairie ultimately sold out, even after late releases of standing-room-only tickets that were priced higher than some seated options. TV broadcasts did reveal empty seats for daytime matches under the hot Texas sun. But once night rolled in, Grand Prairie Stadium filled up with engaged fans who were eager to wave flags and cheer for their newly adopted teams. The appearance of high-profile Indian-American and Indian business leaders, like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and IPL franchise owner Nita Ambani, further animated the crowd by reminding them that, yes, this is indeed a major league with big-time backers. Access 4 Grand Prairie Stadium is located between Dallas and Fort Worth and just south of DFW International Airport. This part of the country is not particularly convenient to navigate using public transportation, but fans should have little difficulty driving to the stadium. Parking ($20, cash preferred) is convenient, though fans should note that there are two entrances to the main lot in case one entrance backs up. Compared to MLC's secondary venue of Church Street Park in Morrisville, NC , the overall experience at Grand Prairie Stadium feels noticeably more Major League. This starts at arrival, as security checks are more thorough and the list of prohibited items is significantly longer. Though not at all out of step with entry policies that have become standard at U.S. sports venues, the checks can lead to lines for entry. Once inside, a wide concourse rings the entire playing field. Fans with premium tickets can circulate around the full perimeter of the oval, though standard ticket holders will be turned away from exclusive areas of the concourse. Return on Investment 3 When Minor League Cricket launched in earnest in 2021, cricket fans in nearly two dozen U.S. cities could watch high-quality cricket in person without getting on a plane, and they could do so for free. With the 2023 launch of MiLC's big brother, fans in two U.S. cities can enjoy an even higher level of cricket for a very fair price: for MLC's inaugural season in Grand Prairie, the least expensive tickets ranged from $15 to $40 depending on the match, and discounts were available early in the sale period. Fans familiar with baseball might liken the renovated, cricket-specific incarnation of Grand Prairie Stadium to that of a high-end AA or perhaps AAA ballpark. However, AA or even AAA baseball stadiums rarely see the star power that Major League Cricket brought in 2023. Considering that such a high standard of cricket would have previously required U.S.-based fans to travel to at least the Caribbean, there is significant value in having this experience available domestically. . Extras 2 In cricket, bonus runs are known as "extras." Bowlers avoid them; batters'll take 'em. For the first season of Major League Cricket at Grand Prairie Stadium, organizers provided plenty of extras for fans who lined up for them. Eager to attract attention to the league, teams gave away high-quality swag in quantities large enough to drive down the business at the merchandise tables. Why buy a jersey when you were virtually guaranteed a free flag and when you had a high probability of snagging a free cap and t-shirt? As is also the case in MLC's other inaugural-season venue, the comradery within the diverse crowd merits special mention. Virtually everyone in attendance shared a common interest in a sport that, while niche in the United States, seems intent on establishing a foothold. The eagerness for strangers to connect in the crowd was both noteworthy and special Final Thoughts With the completion of Grand Prairie Stadium's transformation, the United States now boasts four cricket-specific stadiums. Though one might not expect a fourth sport-specific stadium to be transformative, Grand Prairie Stadium may very well have that effect on American cricket. Between the quality of the facilities, fan support, and positive media attention, MLC's second season appears secure. Grand Prairie Stadium also appears to be a lock to host matches in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. There is genuine excitement around American cricket in Grand Prairie, and fittingly, it was an American, Ali Khan, who delivered the first ball here.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Marion Crawley Athletic Center 1801 S 18th St. Lafayette, IN 47905 Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos website Crawley Center website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 7,200 Crawley Stadium is the Home of the Bronchos The Crawley Center is the home of the Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos basketball team and is the 11th largest gym in Indiana. The seating capacity is 7,200, opening in 1969 and at a time when the basketball team was at its zenith. It is named after Marion Crawley, who coached the team from 1942-1967. He led the Bronchos to two state championships and 23 consecutive sectional championships before retirement. After he stepped down, the team would extend that streak to 29 sectional championships, still a state record. Crawley had a 138-22 postseason record. Since class basketball began in 1997, the school has captured only five sectional titles, and the crowds are low. However, the building hosts tournament games, including sectional and semistate matches. They bring out fans from all around the northern part of the state. There have also been a few changes to the gym’s appearance. In 2022, the playing floor and bleachers were replaced, new LED lighting was installed, and the court was renamed after former player, coach, athletic director, and principal Joe Heath.  The court also features the three state championships won by the Bronchos. Food & Beverage 3  There are three main concession stands located inside the building. One is in the corner near the entrance, and the others are on the balcony level. The food here is typical of other high school gymnasiums: nachos, popcorn, hot dogs, chips, and candy. However, the hot dogs are inside warm, steamed buns. The lines do get long for highly attended events and during halftime, but the crew makes sure to expedite orders in an orderly manner. Drinks are served fountain style in two-size cups that are from Wendy’s.  Atmosphere 4  Lafayette Jeff’s gym is large enough to host regional and semi-state games during tourney time in Indiana. When you can attract a large abundance of fans from two visiting schools to one building, the atmosphere is amped up quite a bit higher than expected. There is also a lot of history from the school's past, including historic photos of team championships in the staircases, trophies on display near the entrance, and the old school gym that hangs proudly in the outer hallway. The championship banners are visible above the south end of the gym above the concession stand.  The facility fills in nicely with fans from rival and tournament games, producing high decibels of noise. It is an exciting place to watch passionate fan bases painted in school colors, student sections near the hundreds, and the winning side burst upon the floor after a tournament victory.   The new bleacher seating features red tops, and the bleacher seatings with back support offer a great view from behind the basket in the balcony section. There is also new LED lighting inside the building. Neighborhood 4  West Lafayette is the home of Purdue University, 2 miles away from the school. The Chauncey Village neighborhood features funky little shops and restaurants. Von’s Shops offers an impressive array of new and used books, clothing, and other items in an eclectic building and storefront. A little further down the street is the famous Triple XXX Family Restaurant where one can enjoy a peanut butter burger or homemade root beer inside its small, cozy, and narrow booths.  If you are a craft beer fan, People's Brewing Company is located 3 miles north of the high school and is one of the better places for local beer in the state.  Fans can also look at the Purdue schedule to see if the Boilermakers are playing at Mackey Arena  or if there was a baseball game at Loeb Stadium , a mile and a half away from the high school. Across the street from Loeb is Arni’s pizzeria, known for thin-style pies and strombolis, and the Original Frozen Custard stand. Fans 4  The fans of the Bronchos and the visiting schools who make the trek to the MCAC for semi-state games make it quite the spectacle. The student sections are packed with synchronized cheers and chants, while older fans also show school spirit in support of various fashions, from team-colored wigs and face paint or by cheering as loud as they can.  Access 4  Crawley Athletic Center has two main levels, and access is simple to get up and down to all sections of seating. Concessions and bathrooms are marked, and aisles are wide and reasonably spacious. Crowds get large during halftime, and arriving at a game is easy as the facility offers a large parking lot. Return on Investment 4  A ticket will cost you $6 for a regular season game, while a regional or semi-state game will cost $4 more per ticket. Parking is free and ample, food at the concession stands is affordable and tasty, and when the venue is packed-the sound is deafening. Extras 3  One point for the old center court is on display in the arena. It is common in many Indiana high school gyms, but it's always a plus to see past artwork and design of Hoosier hoops past. The gym received a second point for the recent renovations that have replaced the old wooden bleacher seats that were 50 years old at the time of their removal.  The court also honors Joe Heath, who took over coaching duties after Crawley’s retirement. The gym earns a third point for the three rows of bleacher seating above each basket in the balcony area. The chairs offer back support and provide a comfortable experience watching high school hoops in Indiana. Final Thoughts The Crawley Center has never looked better. The recent renovations and new LED lighting have spruced that place up well, and in a town that offers plenty of things to do before and after the game. Sectional and semi-state tournament games are when the crowds are large, but any time would be ample to enjoy a game at Lafayette Jefferson High School. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field 615 Silver Lane East Hartford, CT 06118 Connecticut Huskies Football website Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 38,006 Husky and the Jets The proposed relocation of the New England Patriots was a bit of a tease for Hartford. The Connecticut government was prepared to build a new, downtown stadium appropriate for the NFL's Patriots and the University of Connecticut Huskies football program. History would teach us that the Patriots would be unwilling to leave Massachusetts and the dream of the NFL in Connecticut would die. However, a stadium was still needed for UConn, and the former airfield for Pratt and Whitney, manufacturer of fine jet engines, in East Hartford, would be the location of a scaled-down football stadium. Originally named Rentschler Field after Frederick Rentschler, who founded Pratt and Whitney and its parent company United Technologies, Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field opened in 2003 with a modest capacity of over 38,000. The University of Connecticut began as the Storrs Agricultural College in 1881 and would begin playing football in 1896. Eventually becoming the University of Connecticut, the Huskies would play Division 1-AA when they made the jump to Division 1-A, or FBS as it is currently known. UConn has had a bit of a love/hate relationship with football. Widely regarded as a basketball school, UConn has a 3-3 record in six bowl appearances as of the 2022 season. Hope is on the horizon with a 2022 appearance in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Food & Beverage 5 Considering that UConn is not a traditional football power that has a massive draw and the stadium is not on campus, Pratt and Whitney Stadium has a surprisingly strong concession scene. All of the expected stadium food is available at a variety of concession stands. Some spots that may pique the interest include the Sausage Guy, Fresh Classics, Chick-fil-A, Chicken Fry Fry, Randy’s Wooster St. Pizza, and Dude’s Donuts. Bears BBQ has an excellent BBQ selection for New England, but the spot to choose may be Ted’s. The famous Ted’s Steamed Cheeseburger is a Connecticut original and a must-try for the uninitiated. The beer selection at Rentschler Field is among the best in all college sports. Two Roads Taproom provides local brews from their brewery and the Sam Adams Brewhouse also provides the staple New England suds. Tito’s Stillhouse provides other drink options also. Considering that there is pretty much no neighborhood around the stadium, fans do not have to worry about having to go hungry at the game or being satisfied with simply hot dogs and popcorn. Atmosphere 3 Pratt and Whitney Stadium is a fairly simple design. There is plenty of exposed concrete in the stadium. The south side of the stadium provides the best exterior view with the ticket windows and large glass and siding structure that houses the pressbox and suites. There is nothing really around the stadium other than areas for parking. Inside, the stadium is very open and, as mentioned previously, there is plenty of exposed concrete. Various points in the stadium have murals to make it more attractive including the “Welcome to The Rent” mural. The astute explorer will find the history of Pratt & Whitney and Frederick Rentschler available in the stadium. Small historical tidbits can be found on each of the columns around the main concourse right when fans enter the seating bowl. The field runs from east to west and the south side is the place to be for that perfect center logo picture. The south side also has the pressbox and suites and features banners for the Huskies’ Bowl appearances and Big East championships. The southwest corner features a banner commemorating all of the championships UConn earned before moving to FBS, most of which were in the Yankee Conference. The east end concourse has an attractive memorial to Jasper “Jazz” Howard, who lost his life in 2009. The gameday production has elements of a typical college production. Gameday begins with the Husky Walk at Gate C, 3 hours before kickoff, where fans can welcome the players to the stadium. The Pride of Connecticut marching band plays outside of the stadium and then welcomes the players to the field before taking their place in the northeast corner of the stadium, behind the endzone. A guest rings the Victory Bell in the northeast corner, which is also rung by a member of the band after touchdowns. The band plays during halftime and throughout the game at key moments. The Huskies have a traditional mascot, Jonathan, who can be found around the stadium taking part in promotions, and a live mascot, Jonathan XIV. Neighborhood 2 Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field is located in East Hartford near the campus of Pratt & Whitney. It is over 20 miles from the stadium to the main campus of UConn in Storrs. There is no neighborhood immediately surrounding the stadium and there is plenty of space. The opportunity for tailgating at UConn is strong and there is a decent selection of fans who partake in the pregame tradition. For fans who wish to find a place to go for pre or post-game fare, heading west, across the Connecticut River, to downtown may be the best idea. There are a few spots on Silver Lane, but not many. Try Toby’s, Malibu Sports Ba,r or Carl’s BBQ and Jerk. UConn fields a host of other athletic teams, of which basketball is the most prominent. Depending on the game, the basketball team can be found on campus at Gampel Pavilion or the XL Center in downtown Hartford. UConn hockey is making the move away from XL Center, back to campus to the brand new Toscano Family Ice Forum. XL Center is also the home of the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL and the shiny, new Dunkin’ Donuts Park, home of the Hartford Yard Goats is nearby for fans looking for some Double-A Baseball. Fans may also want to consider checking out the Pratt & Whitney Hangar Museum while in East Hartford. For fans looking to stay near the stadium, the Comfort Inn & Suites East Hartford is very close by. Fans 3 For the 2022 season, there has been a significant increase in fan attendance at UConn games. UConn averages between 22,000 and 25,000 fans per game. There is a solid tailgating scene at the Rent also. The game that was reviewed saw only 15,000 fans come through the turnstiles, but the noise level the fans bring is surprisingly loud considering the number of fans and the openness of the stadium. It is understandable, with over 20 miles to get to the stadium from campus, but the student section, which is in the east endzone, is one of the most invisible in college football. Fans in attendance seem adept at complaining about everything on the field including offensive and defensive play calls and any call made by a referee. More consistency with their attendance and another increase for the next season will push the fan score a little higher going forward. Access 4 Rentschler Field is located just south of I-84 and east of the Connecticut River and Highway 2. It is 22 miles west of the main campus in Storrs, Connecticut. Getting in and out of the stadium is not as difficult as one might expect. The traffic situation has been studied and the stadium operators work hard to keep traffic flowing and lanes marked with pylons. With a greater number of fans in attendance, this could be a different story. Parking will go for $20. For fans wanting public transit, there are buses on Silver Lane, north of the stadium. Fans should check out the Connecticut Transit website for fares, maps, and schedules. Getting around the stadium is easy due to its openness and the number of fans in attendance. Washroom facilities are adequate for the number of fans in attendance. Return on Investment 4 UConn football provides a surprisingly high return for the sporting investment. Tickets are very reasonable, if not cheap, running from $30 down to $10. Parking will be $20 and concession prices are what one would expect. The product on the field has been suspect for a few years, but the turnaround under Coach Jim Mora in 2022 has breathed new life into the program. UConn does what it can to provide the expected college experience and for fans who like to tailgate, the infrastructure at The Rent is there. Overall, UConn football offers a solid return on a comparatively small investment. Extras 3 An extra mark for UConn to know where their bread is buttered. To put themselves in the best possible basketball situation, UConn left the American Athletic Conference for the Big East. However, the Big East no longer sponsors football, so UConn has become independent. An extra mark for Rentschler Field is the home of Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, during the pandemic. An extra mark for the revival of the UMass-UConn football rivalry. Final Thoughts When it comes to College Football, UConn may not be the program that fans think of right away. However, the Huskies have only a couple of BCS rivals in New England and put together a strong gameday package that fans will enjoy. A trip to The Rent willl surprises fans and has them considering a return trip. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and Instagram .

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Gerald J. Ford Stadium 5800 Ownby Dr University Park, TX 75205 SMU Mustangs website Gerald J. Ford Stadium website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 32,000 SMU Mustangs – Gerald J. Ford Stadium Located in the upscale section of Dallas known as University Park sits Southern Methodist University, aka SMU. Legend has it that the first brick laid for the campus back in 1941 is at the highest point in the city of Dallas. That point became Dallas Hall, known as the Hilltop, and is the focal point of the academic center of campus. In addition to being one of the nation’s top research facilities, they play a little ball at SMU as well. The SMU Mustangs first took to the gridiron in 1915. They would join the now defunct Southwest Conference in 1918, and it would be as a member of that conference that the program would experience its highest of highs and lowest of lows. Fielding such legendary players as Don Meredith, Eric Dickerson, Doak Walker, Forrest Gregg, and Raymond Berry, the Mustangs would go on to claim National Championships in 1935, 1981, and 1982. A cursory Google search – or the 30 for 30 documentary – will explain the previously inferred lows. However, with a forthcoming move to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 2024, SMU looks to be on the verge of another period of excellence. For much of their football history the Mustangs called Ownby Stadium their home. A campaign led by the eponymous Gerald J. Ford (no relation to our nation’s 38th President), a Texas banker and SMU alum, helped build their new stadium on top of the remains of their former home in 2000. Currently in the midst of a stadium expansion which will close in the current horseshoe and add in new boxes, the stadium, like the rest of the SMU campus, is still gorgeous. Read on to learn what makes is so special. Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage scene at Gerald J. Ford Stadium is pretty great, to be honest. There are numerous food trucks parked outside the stadium (inside the security screening), and you can take what you buy inside the stadium. They also have numerous kiosks and stands throughout the stadium’s main concourse. Many offer up your traditional gameday fare, like hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, pretzels, soda, and beer. The vast majority of these are self-serve, which really helps speed up the process and keeps fans from missing too much of the action. If you’re looking to expand beyond the norm, the stadium has quite a few local vendors who’ve set up shop with their wares. For example, Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q offers up chopped and sliced brisket sandwiches, HTeaO has several blends of their signature iced teas, and Ruthie’s For Good has several of their signature sandwiches available. The costs, I found, are a little lower than at most other big-time college stadiums, so that is a welcome change. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere at SMU is truly something special. I cannot say enough about how beautiful the campus is. While it is set literally in the middle of arguably the busiest city in the state, the campus could not be more bucolic. Once you enter University Park, you feel like you’re transported to a small-college town. The white-brick buildings and impossibly green lawns just add to what you’re experiencing. Gerald J. Ford Stadium’s main entrance is protected by Doak Walker Plaza, complete with a larger-than-life statue of the 1948 Heisman Trophy winner. Inside the stadium you’ll find a team merchandise stand where fans can purchase their Mustang gear. Beyond that things are a little vanilla – the main draw, again, is the campus itself. The construction being done on the stadium does hamper things a bit, as it can’t help but be distracting. However, by the time it’s done before next season, it will probably be spectacular. Neighborhood 5 The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex is one of the largest and busiest areas in the country. Almost anything a person could want to see and do can pretty much be found in Big D. For sports fans it doesn’t get much better, as all five of the major sports can be found within driving distance of SMU, with the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars both being housed in the city’s downtown. As both the NBA and NHL seasons overlap with the college football one, fans have a unique chance to double-dip on games if they want. Also, for fans looking for something else to do and see either before or after a game at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, the legendary State Fair of Texas also runs during the college football season. Famed for its smorgasbord of deep-fried delights, the State Fair should be experienced at least once in everyone’s lifetime. For history buffs, another attraction you might want to visit is the George W. Bush Presidential Library . A museum dedicated to our nation’s 43rd President, it features exhibits on the life of President Bush, his family, and his political career. It is also literally on the campus of SMU, so if you have time, it’s easy to visit. In terms of dining and lodging, even though the stadium is in the heart of the SMU campus, there are still plenty of options nearby. One such example is Bubba's Cooks Country , which bills itself as country cookin’ for city folks. Despite that their menu has a lot to offer, including house-made fried catfish, meatloaf, and fried chicken. Another option within walking distance of the stadium is Red Stix Street Food ; specializing in Asian street fare, Red Stix serves up dishes like shaken beef, orange chicken, and dynamite shrimp. For lodging, those who don’t want to use a vacation rental type property can find options near the SMU campus. The closest options are The Lumen and The Beeman Hotel – both are boutique hotels within walking distance of the stadium. However, you’re bound to find something that will fit your budget; one caveat is to book as far in advance as possible, especially during the State Fair, as those rooms fill up fast and rates rapidly increase. Fans 3 There was a really good crowd at the last SMU game I attended. The Mustangs averaged just under 25,000 fans per game in the 2022 season, and announced a significant bump in season ticket sales for the 2023 season, thanks in part to the forthcoming move to the ACC. I think that number was pretty close to what I witnessed during my last visit. SMU also boasts a really unique tailgating scene, as there aren’t the parking lots (they have garages at SMU; more on that shortly) that most schools boast. So, much like the famed Grove at Ole Miss , SMU has The Boulevard . There is a lot of civilized pre-game revelry being done under the tents on this historic part of the campus. The one thing that keeps this score from being higher is that, despite the good-sized crowd, the fans still seemed very reserved. There are far more SMU polos and various blue shades of sun dresses in the crowd than there are jerseys and face paint. I think this fits in with the setting, but it does undercut what you’d expect at a typical football game (college or high school) in most places in Texas. Access 4 Gerald J. Ford Stadium, as mentioned, is located in the heart of SMU’s campus. This is conveniently located adjacent to Interstate 75. The exit for the campus, the stadium, and University Park are clearly marked, which will make navigating Big D fairly simple. The stadium and campus are both close to the Metroplex’s two major airports, as they are 25 minutes from DFW International Airport and 19 minutes from Love Field, respectively. While not as notorious as the traffic in Houston, Dallas is no slouch in this area. For those not wanting to brave the highways and byways, the Dallas Area Rapid Transport (DART) is a pretty good option. There are multiple stops on the SMU campus for passengers. Once in the area you can choose to park on any of the side streets on campus that aren’t marked, or you can pony up (pun intended) the $20 to park in the lots or parking garages. Exiting the campus and games can get a little bottlenecky, but it really isn’t that bad. Return on Investment 5 Single-game tickets for Mustangs games at Gerald J. Ford Stadium start at $20 each. This is an incredible bargain both for a team with the history of SMU, and also one that plays at a very high level, and are about to play at an even higher one. With the relatively low costs for parking and concessions – and in a setting as unique as SMU – you’re getting a real deal when you attend games at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Extras 4 The Mustangs pull out most of the traditional game day Extras that a lot of big-time colleges have. They have the cheer squad on the sidelines firing up the crowd as well as the SMU Pom Squad , described as an elite show team, performing routines during halftime. The SMU Mustang Band , aka the “Best-Dressed Band in the Land,” performs throughout the game and also at halftime. SMU also boasts not only a costumed mascot, named Peruna, but also a live Shetland pony mascot, the original Peruna, now Peruna IX . I have to admit to experiencing a considerable amount of joy whenever I see a live mascot at football games. Plus, there is a sense that anything can happen whenever Peruna drags his handlers across the field after a Mustang score. If you’re up for it, search for Peruna on YouTube and see some of that unexpected happen. Final Thoughts I will freely admit that I have had SMU on my bucket list for quite a while. I’m a fan of the old Southwest Conference and there is still a mystique tied to those teams for me. While that definitely added to my personal enjoyment of my experience at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, I feel like anyone who attends will enjoy themselves equally as much. With that said, college football fans, plan your trip to Dallas when you can. It looks like things are only going to get better from here. Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Bears Stadium 120 Monroe S. Boyertown, PA 19512 Boyertown Bears website Bears Stadium website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 4,500 The Mecca of Legion Baseball The year 1982 was a magical year for the town of Boyertown. The small town about an hour north of Philadelphia debuted a brand-new ballpark on August 17 that was unlike anything seen before in the area. Later on that season the stadium hosted the American Legion World Series and wouldn’t you know it, the local team captured its first championship in front of a hometown crowd of 6,563 who packed the building for the 14-8 victory of Lafayette, California, in the decisive game. Bears Stadium was built as a joint effort between the school district and the American Legion program at a cost of $600,000 with minimal taxpayer contribution and maximum volunteer effort from the community. The finished product was nothing short of spectacular, a 4,500 seat venue featuring a covered grandstand, large press box to accommodate at least a home and away radio broadcast team and grandstand seating down both the first and third baselines. Boyertown Post 471 would be quite the dominate legion ball club during the 1980s making a second World Series appearance in 1983 and winning another championship four years later in 1987. That 1987 team won the state championship by defeating a Montoursville team featuring future Hall of Famer Mike Mussina on the mound. The Bears chased him after a 9-1 lead after 5 innings. The three World Series held at the stadium attracted a total of close to 84,000 people, including the 34,023 in attendance for the 1982 series that was the highest since the Legion went to its current 8-team double-elimination tournament format. The club would add another appearance in the final game in 1988. The stadium itself would be home to two more World Series in 1991 and 1994. The Bears have won 11 of the 24 tournaments in which they have hosted or participated. The stadium has also been home to high school state playoff tournaments beyond county level in 30 seasons that include 10 Mid-Atlantic tournaments. Currently, the stadium is home to both Post 471 and the Boyertown High School baseball program. It now features decorative bear statues that flank the entrance to the ballpark and can also be found throughout specific areas in town. Its design, features, and history lead to a rival high school coach Kevin Manero to dubb it the “Mecca of Legion Baseball.” Food & Beverage 3 There is a concession stand located behind the main grandstand and is open every game with a great variety from burgers, hot dogs, meatball sandwiches, soft pretzels and plenty of soft drinks. The prices range from $2 to $5 and are quite impressive for this level of baseball, but then again Bears Stadium is not your typical Legion stadium. Atmosphere 3 A very laid back atmosphere for American Legion games, but during regional and tournament games, the vibe gets a much-needed boost of excitement. The ballpark itself would fit in nicely in some of the lower levels of Minor League Baseball–with a few additional touches–and is an impressive palace for both high school and Legion baseball. The exterior of the grandstand is colored in white and red featuring the name of the stadium in a simple font and team logos of the Post 471 and the high school team. There are three areas of seats that include a main grandstand behind home plate that offers a roof that provides a nice shade during hot summer days. There is also a team store that offers souvenirs from shirts and caps next to the third base bleacher seats. The outfield walls are lined up with local advertisements and a simple scoreboard behind the left field wall. Neighborhood 2 Boyertown is a small town of 4,000 located in Berks County in between the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia. The town offers a few places of interest that include The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles specializing in the state’s road transportation history. There are over 90 locally-built vehicles, from horse-drawn carriages and wagons to motorcycles. The museum also includes a 1938 Reading Diner and a 1921 Sun Oil Gas Station. Another popular attraction in town is the Colebrookdale Railroad and is not to be missed. Connecting Pottstown and Boyertown, this Civil War-era relic invites passengers to explore for themselves a mythical Secret Valley. Restaurant options include Carmelo’s Pizza & Boli’s, Firefly Cafe (vegan), The Bear’s Den, and Talarico’s Sandwich Shop. The Other Farm Brewing Company is the town’s own nano-brewery located on Main Street and also features wood-fired pizza. Fans 3 The crowd is made up of friends and families, along with a few locals who support the Bears various programs. A very ardent and knowledgeable group of people are in the grandstands; this is definitely a baseball-loving town. Access 2 Depending on where you are coming from, Bears Stadium can be a small little journey. It is around 41 and 48 miles respectively from Philadelphia and Allentown, but only a short 20 miles from Reading on state roads. Once you find the ballpark, the open layout ensures you can get around without issues or concerns. Return on Investment 3 Admission is free and a donation hat is passed through stands during the game–a nice little throwback. There is a lot of great baseball played at the ballpark and its location is not too far away if you happen to be in the area watching games at nearby Pennsylvania ballparks: Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Limeport Stadium in Limeport, and even Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. Extras 4 Bears Stadium features a statue of a bear that is decorated. The statue is part of Bear Fever project that decorates numerous bear statues around the town to tie the community together. Bears Stadium receives a second point for being in a cradle of impressive ballparks from the major leagues to the high school level. Boyertown is within an hour drive of seven different baseball stadiums that are in all shapes and sizes that include the major leagues, minor leagues, summer collegiate leagues, and amateur leagues. Final Thoughts A great looking ballpark that is not far off that beaten path when visiting other baseball stadiums in nearby Allentown or Reading, Pennsylvania. A peculiar stadium that serves both high school and American Legion baseball might just be worth the trip for its impressive size and aesthetics. There are not too many of its kind in this part of the country.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Waterfront Park 1204 Joe DiMaggio Dr Martinez, CA  94553 Map It Martinez Sturgeon website Waterfront Park website Year Opened: Unknown Renovated: 2018 Capacity: 360 Go Fish Marinez, CA, the birthplace of the late New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio, hosts the independent Pecos League of Professional Baseball team Martinez Sturgeon.  The team formed just a few seasons ago, beginning play in 2021.  Its inaugural season was supposed to be 2020, but the pandemic halted that. The Sturgeon won the Pacific Division Semifinals in 2021 but lost in the conference championship.  Two former major league pitchers (Ron Witmeyer and Manny Corpus) were team managers. The Sturgeon play their home games on Field Three at the city’s popular Waterfront Park. ­­­­ The park hosted the 2024 Pecos League Pacific Division All-Star Game.  It is also a favorite spot for other sports with horseshoe pits, softball fields, bocce ball courts, soccer fields, and a skate park.  Families can picnic here and go fishing. The Martinez Clippers of the Pacific Association of Baseball played at Waterfront Park in 2018.  The city of Martinez canceled the Clippers lease because of the team's ownerships fraudulent investment schemes. Food & Beverage 2 One concession stand is open during Sturgeon games.  The park has a shaded picnic area in front of the concession stand.  The menu offers hot dogs, nachos, and brats $5 - $7.  It sells snacks of candy, popcorn, peanuts, pistachios, cookies, and chips for $2 - $3.  Drinks include water, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Gatorade, and Orange Soda ($2).  Canned beers offered are Michelob Ultra, Stella, 805, Five Suns, Del Cielo, and White Claw ($5 - $7).  Not every listing on the menu is available for every game, so choices are limited.   Atmosphere 3 The Martinez Sturgeon offers a pleasant game day experience.  The City of Martinez renovated Field Three at Waterfront Park in 2017 for the Martinez Clippers of the Pacific Association. The seats consist mostly of metal bleachers with no backs.  Bring a cushion.  The venue has three rows of green chairbacks behind home plate that look to be reserved for season ticket holders.  The seating is wheelchair accessible with an easy-to-maneuver ramp up to the first base side bleachers.  The seats behind home plate and the third base side get the shade.  The first base side is in the sun but has a better view beyond the ballpark.  Additional bleachers extend beyond the first base stand with no net overhead.  A netting protects fans in front and above the seating areas.    Waterfront Park Reserved Seats, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Sit in the first base stands (if the temperature is not too hot) to see ships pass beyond left field, and for a view of the Benicia Bridge over center and right fields. Right field has the US flag and the scoreboard, just to the left of the foul pole.  The scoreboard is a basic dot matrix with the line score.  It is not easy to read in the early innings with the sun. A female announcer calls the game well.  Unfortunately, the music person plays tunes while she’s announcing, so you can’t always hear what is said.   The team holds a 50/50 contest.  If a fan gets a foul ball, they can return it and get candy.  The entire fan base sang Happy Birthday to another fan who just turned 92 at the game I attended.  One feels a sense of strong community ties at these games. Neighborhood 4 Martinez, CA, is near the San Francisco Bay area, about a 40-minute drive northeast.   Waterfront Park is a half mile from Martinez’s vibrant downtown, where visitors can find all kinds of food, shopping, and drinking.  Recommended places to eat:  Breakfast or lunch:  Sal’s Family Kitchen, Copper Skillet Courtyard Lunch or dinner: Lemongrass Bistro (Asian), Roxx on Main, Vic’s, Luigi's Deli (sandwiches) Local breweries:  Five Suns Brewery and Del Cielo, though the city has plenty of other bars and places for adult drinks.  Click here for a more complete list.  Other tourist choices include the John Muir National Historic Site, the Martinez Museum, the Viano Winery, and the California Magic Dinner Theatre.  If you’re there on a Sunday, visit the Farmer’s Market downtown for local produce, goods, and people-watching. Downtown Martinez does not have any lodging.  A few miles away is a Best Western Jon Muir (I stayed here; it is comfortable, safe, and reasonable), a Motel 6, and a Super 8.  A little further away (6+ miles), you’ll find plenty of hotels off I-680.  Sports fans can enjoy the SF Giants or Oakland Athletics (at least till the end of 2024), the Oakland Ballers, and other Pecos League teams in Vallejo , San Rafael , and Dublin . Fans 3 The fans are a hardy group, paying attention to the game and staying to the end.  They cheer all well-executed plays. Fans appear to know each other.  Visitors often hear snippets of conversation like: “How’s your husband?” or “Did you get the invitation to Brad’s party?”  Attendees are retired folks, middle-aged supporters, and parents; it’s generally an older crowd.  Many fans have cowbells, lots of them!! Throughout the game, led by the PA announcer, you’ll hear chants of One! Two! Three! “Go Fish!” Access 4 Getting to Waterfront Park is relatively easy.  It’s only a half mile from downtown, so you can easily walk there.  It’s less than two miles off I-680, just south of the Benicia-Martinez Bridge.  If driving, park on the left side before reaching the tree-lined walkway to the field.  A golf cart picks fans up at the parking area and drives them to the field if desired. Map Courtesy of Google The closest airport is the San Francisco Oakland International Airport (37 miles away).  An Amtrak station is just outside Waterfront Park.  Bay area fans can also get to Martinez via BART and the Capital Corridor bus service. The ballpark does not have any bag rules.  It has restrooms behind the concession stand.  It is recognizably handicapped accessible.  Kudos to the city and the team for going the extra mile for those who experience mobility difficulties. Return on Investment 4 Attending a Martinez Sturgeon game is an affordable evening out.  Tickets are $10 for general admission; sit where you want and move around as desired.   Group tickets and season tickets are available for purchase.  Parking is free.  Concession prices are very reasonable. It’s a fun time here, and I encourage any baseball fan to visit Martinez and watch a game. . Extras 3 The fans are very welcoming to all visitors and are easy to strike up a conversation with.   The views beyond the outfield from the first base stands are worth mentioning again.  And the team having a golf cart to bring fans from their cars to the stands (and back) deserves extra notice. Final Thoughts Visiting Martinez, CA and the Martinez Sturgeon is a delightful day trip or evening out during the summer months.  Grab your family or friends, take a trip to this historic city, and catch a game.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Clean Harbors Stadium 101 Academy Drive Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 Mass Maritime Buccaneers football website Clean Harbors Stadium website Capacity: 2,300 Football With a View The Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a public university located in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts which was founded in 1891. It is the second oldest maritime academy in the United States. Originally established to train deck and engineering officers for the Merchant Marines, graduates today often go on to serve in branches of the United States armed forces. The academy operates a training ship, the USTS Kennedy. Football has been played at Mass Maritime Academy since 1973. The team competes in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC), a Division Three conference consisting of schools throughout the state of Massachusetts. The football Buccaneers have won two conference championships, most recently in 1983. Clean Harbors, Inc. is a provider of industrial and environmental services, including hazardous waste removal. It was founded in nearby Brockton, MA in 1980. The company purchased naming rights for the football stadium and adjoining athletic center in 2009 for $1.5 million. Food & Beverage 1 There is a small trailer located behind the grandstand which sells a limited menu. Hot dogs, bags of chips, cans of Pepsi products and bottles of water can be purchased here. For the 2022 season, the school’s baseball team operates the stand, and all proceeds from sales go towards supporting the team. While the menu is far from extensive, prices are reasonable. No item costs more than three dollars. Fans are able to bring their own snacks in if they so choose. Alcohol is not permitted at this on-campus facility. Atmosphere 3 The game day atmosphere at Clean Harbor Stadium will be familiar to anyone who has attended a game at a smaller school. It’s a simple, basic presentation without a ton of extra bells and whistles. When you factor in that Mass Maritime is an “academy,” the understated atmosphere makes perfect sense. There is a pep band that plays sporadically throughout the game, a scoreboard which displays basic game information in the western end zone and a small stand behind the grandstand which sells Mass Maritime hats, shirts and even jerseys. Free roster sheets are provided for all fans in attendance. Of course, there’s a cannon on the far side of the field which fires after every Buccaneers score. The crowd in attendance enjoy close relationships with the players on the field, consisting mainly of family members. With many of the other teams in the MASCAC located a short drive from Buzzards Bay, it’s not unusual to see a good turnout by visiting fans. Neighborhood 3 With the location of Mass Maritime Academy on the end of a peninsula jutting out into Buzzards Bay, there is nothing in the immediate vicinity of Clean Harbors Stadium. However, Route 6, the main commercial thoroughfare in the area, is located just a half mile from campus. Along this road are numerous restaurants and other places of interest in the area. While some local attractions are closed during the fall football season, many businesses in the area are open year-round. As you might expect in a town located on the coast like Buzzards Bay, seafood restaurants are excellent and numerous. Stadium Journey recommends Lindsey’s Restaurant and the Lobster Trap, both a short drive from Mass Maritime. Lodging options are plentiful in the area and are priced more affordably during fall football season than in the summer tourist months. For fans looking to venture beyond the immediate area, Cape Cod is just a few minutes away over the Bourne Bridge. Many attractions will still be open, especially early in the football season, and the summer crowds will be long gone. The whaling city of New Bedford is located a half hour to the west, and Boston is an hour to the north. Fans 3 Mass Maritime averages roughly 1,500 fans per game at Clean Harbors Stadium. This places them just above the MASCAC average. Without a huge turnout by the student body (with a total enrollment of only 1,400 students, the entire student body wouldn’t even fill the grandstand), the typical crowd is made up with many family members of the players on the field. Fans are into the action on the field, but at a small school, sportsmanship does rule the day, even during heated conference matchups. Access 3 The Mass Maritime Academy is located in the village of Buzzards Bay, MA, located on the mainland side of the Cape Cod Canal at its southern mouth. The Mass Maritime campus is easily accessible by car, with the junction of Interstates 195 and 495 located just a few miles away. Route 25 passes just north of campus as it approaches Cape Cod, and route 6, the main business thoroughfare along Massachusetts’ south coast, located just a half mile north of campus. For fans utilizing public transportation, the Buzzards Bay train station and Greyhound Bus Station are located right on Academy Drive. Fans will find ample parking along Academy Drive right across the street from the stadium as well as in the parking lot for Clean Harbors Athletic Center. There are two entrances on the north side of the facility, which lead to a walkway that crosses behind the grandstand. All seating is located on the north side of the facility, with rest rooms located in the adjacent Athletic Center. Seating consists of metal bleachers without backs. Center sections consist of individual molded plastic seats. All seating is located on one side of the stadium, as the soccer field is located adjacent to the football field on the far side. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for Buccaneers games are sold as general admission for just five dollars. Parking is free of charge on Academy Drive or in the parking lot on the other side of Clean Harbors Athletic Center. With no concession item costing more than three dollars, taking in a football game at Mass Maritime Academy is a very affordable entertainment option for southeastern Massachusetts sports fans. Extras 1 The waterfront location of Clean Harbors Field is worth another point. It’s not often that you can witness a splashdown field goal attempt, but it’s an absolute possibility here. Final Thoughts Baseball parks are often known for their views, but you don’t often talk about the view at a football stadium. From the waterfront location right at the mouth of the Cape Cod Canal to the view of the Canal Railroad Bridge and Bourne Bridge in the distance and even the wind turbine behind the west end zone, there is no shortage of things to look at here at Clean Harbors Stadium. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Bert Ogden Arena 4900 S, I-69C Edinburg, TX 78539 Rio Grande Valley Vipers website Bert Ogden Arena website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 7,688 Bert Ogden Arena - The Rio Grande Valley Vipers Nest The 2019-20 season marks the 13th that the Rio Grande Valley Vipers have played as members of the NBA G League. As affiliates of the NBA’s Houston Rockets , the Vipers have had a pretty good run of success down in the southern-most part of Texas. Since their founding, the Vipers have captured five Conference titles, three Division titles, and three G League Championships. Since 2018, the Vipers have called Bert Ogden Arena their home. Located in Edinburg, Texas, the arena is state-of-the-art and is the crown jewel of sports venues in the Rio Grande Valley. With seating of nearly 7,700 (though it can be expanded to 9,000 for certain events), the arena sports a 40-foot-by-20-foot LED video scoreboard, which is the largest in South Texas. When not in use by the Vipers, the arena plays host to some of the biggest acts to tour in this part of the country, including musical stars Jennifer Lopez, Cher, and Marc Anthony, as well as events such as WWE and the Harlem Globetrotters. The community has embraced the Vipers and are – understandably – incredibly proud of Bert Ogden Arena. After my visit, I can easily understand why. Food & Beverage 4 One of the things you will notice on your visit to take in a Vipers game is that all the concessions areas are on the main concourse. All the standard stands offer your traditional stadium fare: popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, soda, bottled water, etc. They also offer the unique combo menus that their parent club, the Houston Rockets , offer. The all-in-one combo cups feature a large souvenir cup topped with a bowl filled with either nachos (try the Valley favorite topped with Hot Cheetos), a hot dog, French fries, or hot wings for $11-$15 depending on your order. Fuddrucker’s Burgers also offers a pared-down menu including a two-foot Monster Dog ($15) and the World’s Greatest Hamburger ($8). There are also deep-fried Oreos ($5), a Hot Cheeto-topped burger ($8), loaded tater tots ($6), deep-fried corn on the cob ($5), and a souvenir, bottomless bucket of popcorn ($18) offered at these stands. In terms of local favorites, there are stands for Taco Palenque (I highly recommend the pirata taco – a beef fajita taco topped with shredded cheese and refried beans at $5), Il Forno (pizza), and Kumori (sushi). For thirsty adults, the Budlight Zone, Buddy V’s Cadillac Bar, and Viper’s Den are all open throughout the game and offer bottled and draft beers as well as cocktails and well drinks. Drink costs range from $3 bottled waters to $20 for double shots of liquor; a 16-ounce beer will run you $6 and a frozen margarita is $5. One pretty neat innovation to keep in mind is the Fanfood app that visitors can download to their mobile devices. This app allows attendees to order their food from their seats and have it ready for pickup at designated windows on the main concourse. This has helped cut down on wait times at concessions windows, and helps fans cut down on missed game action. Atmosphere 3 You can still feel the newness at Bert Ogden Arena; it still has that new stadium vibe and feel to it and that’s a good thing. The arena is configured into a traditional horseshoe shape, with fan seating on the lower bowl, main concourse level, and second floor. The third is reserved for suites. The baseline opposite the main entrance is set up for table-style seating and is known as the Baseline Zone. It is complete with table-side service and offers great views of the action on the court. The lower deck, as befitting of a seat in that area, offers plush, leather-like stadium chairs and unobstructed views of the court along both sideline areas. These are very nice seats and I would recommend them if you’re planning a visit. The Vipers feature both a dance team, the Snake Charmers , and an entertainment crew, the Venom Hype Squad. They perform during breaks in the game and also at halftime. The Vipers also have their mascot, Fang, patrolling the arena and interacting with fans. Also adding to the atmosphere are the three championship banners the Vipers proudly hang from the rafters. This is a proud franchise in a proud community, and it shows in every detail in Bert Ogden Arena. Neighborhood 2 The McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr-Mission metropolitan area is the fifth-largest such area in Texas and is by far its southern-most. It is also made up of nearly two dozen communities spread out over much of Hidalgo County, with Edinburg being the second-largest behind McAllen. Bert Ogden Arena is located right alongside Interstate 69 C, which makes it very convenient to visitors. This, however, is both a plus and a minus, as it is convenient to drive to, but in no way should anyway try to walk there. Also, being alongside the highway precludes it from being a part of any real neighborhood, and also limits what you can do immediately before and after Rio Grande Valley Vipers games. In terms of dining options, there are tons all up and down the highway in the immediate vicinity of the arena. If you’re looking for the familiar, IHOP, Subway, and Burger King are all within eyesight of the parking lot. However, if you want to try some of the true local flavor, that means Mexican food and Treviños Retaurant and Delia’s Tamales – street tacos at Treviños and, naturally, the tamales at Delia’s are true fan favorites and draw diners from miles around. If you’re in town for a game during the later part of spring, the Vipers schedule usually overlaps with another of the Valley’s pro sports teams, the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros of the United Soccer League. HEB Park , home of the Toros , is a short six-minute drive from Bert Ogden Arena, so if you stay in the area, you might get the chance to catch two games in Edinburg. If you’re looking for something different, I recommend taking in some culture at the Museum of South Texas History . This museum truly digs deeply into the rich history of the region, going back to prehistoric times and up until now with its complex geopolitical landscape exhibit. It is open Tuesday through Sunday until 5 pm, and at $9 a person for adults and $5 for kids under 12 it is a real bargain. Being along a major interstate highway does have its ups and downs. In terms of places to stay, there are truly a lot of options that are all within a short distance of Bert Ogden Arena, but none are truly within safe walking distance. Your closest option is going to be TownePlace Suites by Marriott McAllen Edinburg , which is just five minutes away. If you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly, Tru by Hilton Edinburg is also five minutes away. Fans 4 The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are consistently ranked among the highest attended teams in all of the G League. Being basically the only game in town has helped make the club truly the “thing to do” in the Valley, and fans have embraced their club with open arms. Anecdotally speaking, at the game I most recently attended, fans were already at the arena hours before the game and virtually everyone was decked out in red Vipers gear of some kind. The crowd was truly on the verge of being deafening at points in the game. While the concourse is always busy with fans running out to get refreshments and grub, there wasn’t a point where I felt the stadium was empty – these are good fans and they really love their team. Access 3 Getting to Bert Ogden Arena by car is no trouble at all. It can be seen from quite a distance away on the highway, and there is really good signage marking how to get there. Once on site, parking is ample and free. Navigating around the facility itself is also really simple. There is only the one main concourse to walk around and stairs take you up and down inside the bowls to the seats (there are private escalators and elevators taking guests up to their suites on the third floor, however). Where the drawbacks do come into play is in the area of public transportation, as the bus service in the city does not make a stop at Bert Ogden Arena. There are Uber, Lyft, and traditional taxi options though, if you choose to go that route. In terms of actually getting to Edinburg, that can be a task. The McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr-Mission area is roughly a four-hour drive from San Antonio, which is the nearest large city nearby to speak of. However, the McAllen International Airport does feature daily flights to and from Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Mexico City. With that in mind, you should be able to take a connecting flight from anywhere else in the country to visit the area. Return on Investment 3 From my experience, what fans can expect when they take in a Rio Grande Valley Vipers game at Bert Ogden Arena is pretty typical of what they will find at other G League games and facilities in terms of cost. Tickets for games range from $12 to $55, depending on where you want to sit, and concessions are pretty much on par with other stadiums at this level of pro sports. Extras 3 Aside from its aesthetics and the bonus of free parking, Bert Ogden Arena offers pretty much the standard in terms of Extras for minor league sports. The main concourse is littered with vendors and games where fans can win free swag and sign up for new services. The main draw in terms of Extras has to be the Lil’ Dribblers Zone located behind the Baseline Zone. This kids only area has tables for young ones to color and draw, face painting, and inflatable play areas for young ones to keep them occupied from opening tipoff to the start of the fourth quarter. It is completely supervised, but parents and guardians are allowed to be back there while their kids take a break from the on-court action. Final Thoughts I was truly impressed with the facilities that the Rio Grande Valley Vipers have to offer their fans. While I wouldn’t count Bert Ogden Arena as a bucket list stop, I would put it at the top of the list of things people visiting the RGV should do on their visit – it has the look, feel, and vibe of a big-time basketball arena. I think anyone who takes in a game at Bert Ogden Arena will feel exactly the same. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center 1600 Phillip Fulmer Way Knoxville, TN 37916 Tennessee Volunteers website Thompson-Boling Arena website Year Opened: 1987 Capacity: 21,678 Good Ol’ Rocky Top...Woooooo!..Rocky Top Tennessee About a full court’s heave from the banks of the Tennessee River, Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center has served as the home court of the Tennessee Volunteers men’s and women’s basketball programs since 1987, replacing the Stokley Athletic Center. With a capacity of 21,678, Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center is the fourth-largest college basketball arena in the country. 2007 would see major renovations that added a wall of suites and club seating to the arena, decreasing the capacity from over 24,000 to the current 21,000+. The venue is named in honor of B. Ray Thompson, a key benefactor in the arena’s construction, and Dr. Ed Boling, former UT president and pioneer in raising the profile of women’s athletics at the University of Tennessee. In 2023 the arena added Food City Center to the moniker, as the supermarket chain secured a 10-year naming-rights agreement. Since joining the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1932, the Volunteers have established themselves as one of the more successful programs in the conference, winning 11 regular seasons championships, tied for the second most in SEC history, and 5 conference tournament titles.   Food & Beverage   5 Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center does well to provide fans with a wide selection of concessions choices, from stadium favorites to regional and national chains. Choices from eastern Tennessee’s Calhoun's include their BBQ brisket, pulled pork sandwiches, nachos, burgers, and beer cheese dip. Another Tennessee chain, Petro’s Chili & Chips, offers up their “Original Petro”, which is essentially a walking taco in a cup. Another stand is dedicated to hot sandwiches and sausages, including various forms of cheesesteak, hoagies, and Italian or Polish sausages. Limited choices from national chains Moe’s Southwest Grill and Papa John’s are also options. Carts around the concourse offer up everything from popcorn and pork rinds to Italian ice and chocolate-dipped cheesecake. Beverages include those from the Coca-Cola family, Powerade, and Dasani bottled water. 24-ounce cans of several domestic beers are also sold, along with Truly and Bud Lite Premium Seltzers, as well as Twisted Tea. The lone craft style beer is from Sweet Water Brewing. Lines do get rather backed up at concessions stands, even during play, so trying to get food before the game starts might be your best bet, as not to spend a lot of time waiting in line.   Atmosphere   5 When Tennessee builds stadiums, they tend to go big. Neighboring Neyland Stadium holds more than 101,000 football fans, making it the 6th largest college football stadium in the county. The trend of massively large stadiums continues with basketball at Tennessee, as Thompson-Boling is the 4th largest arena in college basketball, holding 21,678 fans. From the outside, the hulking, elongated octagonal Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center seems to be a bit out of date with what appears to be beige, corrugated aluminum siding, but once through the doors the arena offers a spacious, modern vibe for visitors. Dual levels of black seating nicely complement the orange and white colors of the Vols. The upper seating bowl is broken up by three levels of premium seats and suites. The pregame festivities foreshadow the excitement that entertains fans throughout the game – either from the in-house DJ who plays the hits from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and today, to the Tennessee pep band who reigns supreme as they belt out rounds of one of the most recognizable fight songs in the nation, “Rocky Top”. As festivities move from pregame entertainment to pyrotechnics, a light show amps fans up leading to player introductions and the opening tip. As players are introduced, the house spotlights randomly twirl around the seating bowl while Tennessee mascot, Smokey the Bluetick Coonhound, dances upon a fog machine as flames and sparks shoot high into the air around him; Tennessee basketball puts on one impressive show even before the ball is thrown up. Tennessee's use of their trademark orange and white checkerboard adds a distinctive touch to the game presentation. It is not uncommon for the arena’s seating sections to be checkered orange-and-white, whether through strategically placed T-shirts or glow sticks. Throughout the game, the entertainment does not stop. Two in-game hosts take fans through several segments to keep their excitement and passion for Big Orange at a high level, either by hosting on-court games, firing t-shirts from a rapid-fire cannon into the seats, or simply staying out of the way so the pep band and spirit squads can do their thing. Game information is seamlessly integrated throughout the arena, mainly via the center-hung scoreboard, consisting of eight individual rectangular screens, and two separate halo-ribbon boards. The television feed is available on the larger screens at the top of the scoreboard, while player statistics can be found on the smaller lower screens. Additional screens in the upper corners, as well as a ribbon board along the upper-level façade, provides additional game info, including more television feeds of the game, player scores, fouls, and "Hustle Stats" such as blocks, rebounds, steals, and assists.   Neighborhood   5 Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center is neighbored by the famed Neyland Stadium , home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, and baseball’s Lindsey Nelson Stadium , all on the southern edge of campus. The Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional Hockey League also play less than two miles down Neyland Drive at Knoxville Civic Coliseum. The University of Tennessee is a bit of a rarity in that it has a campus with a college town feel, despite being in a city of almost 200,000 people – UT is practically cordoned off from the rest of Knoxville by White Avenue to the north and the Tennessee River that horseshoes around the south of campus. One of the most iconic landmarks in the city, the Knoxville Sunsphere, is about a 1-mile walk from campus; this orange tinted globe rises 266-feet over Knoxville. The 1982 World’s Fair relic is even open for visitors to ride to the top of, to get a bird's eye-view of Knoxville.  Basketball fans might also enjoy a visit to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, which is a 5-minute drive from Tennessee’s campus. If looking for a bit of the college town experience, the bars along “The Strip” are just a short walk from the riverfront along Cumberland Avenue. Or, those looking for a bit more of a dining and drinking experience might head toward Gay Street with its higher concentration of restaurants, breweries, and night life. A touch further are Market Square and Knoxville’s Old City neighborhood, which are both highly populated with more shops, restaurants, and nightlife. In the coming years, Knoxville’s Old City neighborhood will be home to minor league baseball, as the Tennessee Smokies move back to Knoxville for the 2025 season.   Fans   4 The Volunteer faithful might be one of the most passionate fanbases in the nation – t heir pride in the Vols extends throughout the entirety of the sports programs at Tennessee. In fact, t he Volunteers men’s basketball program ranks in the top five in the nation in attendance, drawing more than 19,000 fans a night. The “Rocky Top Rowdies”, Tennessee’s student section, do bring a lot of energy and passion to the atmosphere. The intensity of the Vols student section cannot be underestimated, as the Rowdies tend to push the limits of rowdiness from time-to-time, albeit in line with what might be expected from a major college basketball experience. Students fill the sections at both ends of the floor, so there is no escaping the barrage of intensity brought on by the Rocky Top Rowdies toward the opponents. Although the arena is loud in response to plays, it lacks a constant buzz of energy found in similar types of arenas. It's not that Tennessee's fans lack enthusiasm; rather, they tend to be more reactive than proactive in generating noise.   Access   4 Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center is at the southernmost part of Tennessee's campus. It can easily be reached via I-40, which cuts through Knoxville from west to east, connecting to Highway 129 along the southern edge of the city. If flying in to see the Vols, the airport servicing Knoxville is about 10 miles south in Alcoa. Parking options , including lots and garages, are mainly on the northern side of the arena and in the G-10 garage to the east. If looking to save on parking there are free lots which offer shuttle service to and from the arena, while those using rideshare will find the drop-off/pickup lot beyond the right field fence of Lindsey Nelson Stadium , along Todd Helton Drive. Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) offers a free trolley line connecting the UT campus to downtown Knoxville, with the Circle Park stop on the Orange Line  being the closest to the basketball arena. To enter Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, most fans use entry ramps at the northwest and southwest corners. Security checks are done away from the arena’s entry points, creating a small plaza area. There are six sets of doors, three on each side of the venue, where tickets can be scanned before entering. Inside, a single concourse encircles the top of the lower seating bowl, with stairs leading to the upper level. The open design ensures a clear view of the court from almost any point around the arena. Return on Investment   3 In recent years, Tennessee has established itself as one of the top teams in college basketball. With this success comes a high demand for tickets. Tennessee utilizes Ticketmaster for sales, so be prepared for hefty markups on the face value of tickets. Typical secondary market prices will run from the $20 to $100 range for conference games, prior to fees being added – it is just hard to find value in the overall price of the ticket when it is marked up 33% to nearly 50%. If looking for the most reasonable ticket rates, either plan far enough in advance to avoid the secondary market, or look for a non-conference opponent over one of the two holiday breaks; these games might not have as high of a demand. Parking can also be a bit of an expense to consider. These are not the eye-popping rates that Tennessee football must have, but university lots run $20 for lots around the arena. However, there are also free lots that offer shuttles from the G-17 lot or the UT Veterinary Medical Center (see the parking link referenced above). Concessions see the typical sports arena markup, so inflated prices should not come as much of a shock.   Extras   5 The concourse serves as a journey through Tennessee basketball history, showcasing both the men’s and women’s programs. UT Olympians, NBA and WNBA players, and other notable individual and program achievements are also recognized. Tennessee frequently has some sort of special experience up their sleeves when it comes to setting the atmosphere for the game. Whether it is orange and white t-shirts or glow sticks laid out in the Vols trademark checkerboard pattern, a nod to the brickwork of Ayers Hall, or simply an amazing pregame light show, there is a lot going on to get the fans worked up before the game. The rafters of Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center are full of banners recognizing the team and individual successes of the Vols basketball programs – on the men’s side this includes Chris Lofton (5), Dale Ellis (14), Alan Houston (20), Ernie Grunfeld (22), Bernard King (53), and coaches Ray Mears and John Ward. Shortly after the final horn, the Tennessee pep band, along with the spirit squad, stretch across half-court to sing with alumni as the school’s alma mater is played. While Smokey mostly restricts his movements during the game to the Vols end of the floor, limiting the number of fans who get an opportunity to interact with him, after the game he stays to take picture after picture with the long line of fans waiting for that photo op.   Final Thoughts As of late 2023, the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees approved funding for the creation of a Neyland Entertainment District to feature a hotel, condos, shops, and restaurants. While the start of construction has not been pinpointed, the University of Tennessee Master Plan does project completion within the next five years. This will only complement the already top-notch basketball game day experience in Knoxville. Historically, the University of Tennessee has been one of the more successful college basketball programs in the SEC, and the success on the floor has translated to success at the gates. It would be easy for a facility as large as Thompson-Boiling Arena at Food City Center to have a lot of empty seats, but the Volunteer faithful do a good job filling it on a regular basis. Life in the SEC can be difficult for basketball programs to cut out their own niche, and stay out of the shadow of the university’s football  and sometimes even baseball  programs. However, Tennessee basketball has created their own spotlight to bask in. While basketball will likely never supplant football  as the featured program in Knoxville, they have established themselves as one of the top college basketball experiences in the county.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Lambeau Field 1265 Lombardi Ave Green Bay, WI 54304 Green Bay Packers website Lambeau Field website Year Opened: 1957 Capacity: 81,441 Home Of The Lambeau Leap When people talk about NFL dynasties, the first team people think of is the New England Patriots. That may be true in recent years, but no team has come close to the Green Bay Packers in the entire league history. The team of “Frozen Tundra” fame has won a stunning 13 championships in its history. This includes 9 NFL Championships, and four championships won during the Super Bowl era. All these championship seasons occurred in the team’s only home, Lambeau Field. Lambeau Field opened in 1957 and is the oldest stadium in continuous use in the NFL. (Soldier Field in Chicago is an older structure, but there have been breaks in its use when the Bears played at Wrigley Field and other locations during renovations). It also is one of the largest stadiums in terms of capacity, with an ability to hold 81,441 fans. It is the largest stadium in Wisconsin, with Camp Randall Stadium at the University of Wisconsin coming in second. The stadium is named for Curly Lambeau, who was a team founder, player, and first coach of the Packers. Food & Beverage 4 Food is a very important element at all Green Bay home games. You can start working on your hunger pangs before you even enter the stadium by visiting the Johnsonville Tailgate Village in the east parking lot near the Oneida Gate a Lambeau Field. Johnsonville food products are widely available at the Village, which also features musical entertainment, games, giveaways, and 35 plasma TVs tuned to various NFL games around the country. Lambeau Field offers a wide variety of foods at its concession stands inside the stadium. They include everything from stadium standards to North Woods specialties. First, there is a full-service restaurant located in the Atrium at the stadium. The 1919 Kitchen and Tap offers a Northwoods menu of cheese curds, chicken wings, a beer cheese bisque, a beer cheese mac skillet, chicken pot pie, and several different specialty burgers. The Kitchen and Tap offers more than 40 different craft beers. Some of the more unique offerings at Lambeau concessions stands are meatloaf sandwiches, pot roast sandwiches, and Korean BBQ bowls. There are also stands that serve foods to knock the chill off at late-season games including chili, hot soups, and brat cheddar chowder. The Gridiron Grill serves up your typical stadium standards of burgers, hot dogs, popcorn, and sodas. One item you will have no problem finding at a Green Bay home game is brats. Lambeau Field has lots of brats, including Pack N Cheese Brats, brat eggrolls, brat frites, brats’ tots, and brat’s mac n cheese. Lambeau Field offers one of the most extensive sets of beer offerings we’ve seen in an NFL venue. Brands available include Miller, Badger State Brewski, Blue Moon, Coors, High Life, Hinterland, Leinie’s, and Terrapin. The workers at the concession stands are volunteers from various civic clubs who are raising funds for charitable organizations in the Green Bay area. Atmosphere 4 The franchise does a terrific job of preserving the history and aura of the Packers in several ways. This is accomplished in several ways. The Packers Hall of Fame is in the Atrium of Lambeau Field and is a must-see attraction for both Packer fans and visiting fans who love football history. It features exhibits on historic games in Packers history, videos of famous Packers players of the past, the 13 championships trophies won by the team, uniforms worn by the Packers over the years, and a replica of Coach Lombardi’s office. In total, there are 27 plasma screens, 77 exhibits, and 363 graphics that tell the history of the Packers franchise. Just outside of Lambeau Field, there are several statues of notable Packer figures. These include a statue of Curly Lambeau, a statue of Vince Lombardi, and a statue of a player doing the Lambeau Leap into the stands after a Green Bay touchdown. Neighborhood 4 In many ways, Lambeau Field is a neighborhood stadium, as there is a large residential neighborhood just across Lombardi Avenue from the stadium. The folks that live in this neighborhood don’t mind having the stadium next door, as they make lots of cash each fall selling parking in their driveways or yards to fans. The neighborhood south of Lombardi Avenue is a mix of retail, restaurants, and watering holes. The Taverne in the Sky is located just west of the stadium in the Lodge Kohler. The Turn restaurant offers a wide variety of bar food, chili, and soups, as well as tacos, cheesesteaks, and burgers. Head to the Hinterlands to quench your thirst after cheering all day at the game. They offer a wide variety of IPAs, drafts, and crafts in addition to cocktails and wines. Lodging is widely available around the stadium. The Lodge Kohler is a four-star hotel just west of Lambeau Field. Just east of the stadium are the Best Western Green Bay and the Quality Inn Stadium Area. As you can imagine there are several Packer-related attractions near Lambeau Field. These include the Oneida Nation Walk of Legends and the Packer Hall of Fame. The National Railroad Museum is also close by. Fans 4 Whether you had a great time or a lousy time at an establishment, you often want to offer your opinion to the management. At Lambeau Field, that person may be sitting to your left or your right. That’s because the citizens of Green Bay own stock in the team. Like other teams, the Packers have GMs, front-office staff, and coaches. However, in the early days of football, the locals were called on to provide the basics for the team including uniforms, footballs, and other supplies. That tradition carries through to the present, with elected representatives speaking for the stockholders. The Packer fans are a hardy bunch of folks. When the snow is high and the field ices over (even though there are thermal pipes located underneath the field to prevent that) the fans feel this is ideal weather for the home team, as they practice regularly in this type of weather. Green Bay fans all seem to be local historians as well, as they share a great deal of knowledge about the important sights around the town. They can recite from memory all the details of the Ice Bowl game between the Packers and the Cowboys back in the 1960s. Our experience is that most Packer fans are midwestern-friendly, unless you are wearing Chicago Bears gear, and cheering for the guys from Chicago. There is an intense rivalry between the two cities and teams. Access 3 One of the first things that visiting fans will face in attending a Packers game is simply getting to the town. Green Bay is one of the most remote cities in the NFL. It is located 116 miles north of Milwaukee and 206 miles north of Chicago. Green Bay does have an airport, but it can only handle commuter-sized planes and fares to Green Bay are quite expensive. At the stadium, your first task is finding parking in the area. The lots immediately outside of Lambeau Field are reserved for season ticket holders. Probably your closest option is to use the parking lot at Titletown, which is a relatively new development just across Lombardi Avenue from the stadium. Parking in this lot will be $50. While parking is allowed, tailgating is prohibited in these lots. On gamedays, Titletown offers music, food booths, and a Packer’s themed playground. The development includes a public park, a microbrewery, a skating rink and a regulation-sized artificial turf football field, where visitors can pass, kick, and punt as long as they want. (Bring your own gear, as Titletown does not provide footballs and other supplies.) The Titletown development includes a Lodge Kohler Hotel. Parking is free for hotel guests. It is 100 yards to the stadium from the hotel. If you come without a parking space, on-street parking is allowed in the neighborhoods that adjoin the stadium. There are a few alternate ways to get to Lambeau Field. Uber/Lyft can pick you up before the game and pick you up after the game. The drop-off and pick-up zone at Lambeau Field is located at the corner of Mike McCarthy Way and Holmgren Way. This is a much cheaper option than parking near the stadium. The local transportation system, Green Bay Metro, offers free shuttles to Lambeau from three different routes. These routes go by the names of Lambeau Leap, the QB Sneak, the Quick Slant, and the Cheesehead. Once at Lambeau Field, you can enter through one of the eight main gates. The stadium gates open two hours before kickoff. If you arrive very early, you can kill time in the Lambeau Field Atrium, which is adjacent to the stadium. The Atrium opens four hours before the kickoff for ticketed fans. This gives you time to visit the Packers Hall of Fame, shop at the Packers Pro Shop, or get a bite to eat at the 1919 Kitchen and Tap. The restaurant carries more than 40 craft beers. Return on Investment 3 Unless you live in the area, or say nearby in Milwaukee, you probably making the trek to Green Bay as a way of marking it off a bucket list involving sports venues. We say that as a way of saying that attending a Packers game at Lambeau Field can be an expensive proposition. Here is what you can expect: Parking at regulated lots starts at $50 and goes higher as get closer to the stadium. Tickets to individual games on the Packers website start at $132 for a seat at the top of the stadium and go much higher. Tickets on the secondary markets tend to go for premium prices. Lambeau Field is a cashless facility. Extras 3 Visiting fans can get a real feel for the history of the Green Bay franchise by visiting the Packer’s Heritage Trail in downtown Green Bay. The 4.5-mile trail can be done on foot or by a tourism shuttle. The trail has markers at 25 sites that played a significant role in the town’s starting of the Packer franchise. Among the sites are Vince Lombardi’s home, team founder Curly Lambeau’s house, and the site of the Packer's first practice field. Green Bay will be hosting the 2025 NFL Pro Draft event. The entire population of Green Bay could be seated in Lambeau Field at one time. Final Thoughts Lambeau Field is one of the most iconic venues in the NFL, as it has hosted some of the most historic games in the history of the NFL. It does not sit on this laurel though. Lambeau Field is constantly refining its gameday experience for fans making the trek to the NFL’s northernmost outpost.