Photos by Joe Molski and Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Heritage Bank Center 100 Broadway St Cincinnati, OH 45202 Cincinnati Cyclones website Heritage Bank Center website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 14,453 A Cyclone Along the Banks of the Ohio River Sitting right along the banks of the mighty Ohio River is the Heritage Bank Center. It opened in September 1975 as the Riverfront Coliseum; the indoor arena sits next to Great American Ballpark in downtown Cincinnati. The arena has a capacity of 17,556, and the most current renovations took place in 1997 and cost $14.7 million. The main tenant is the Cincinnati Cyclones, but the building has played host to numerous events. The Crosstown Shootout, Conference USA men’s basketball tournament, NCAA men’s and women’s March Madness tournaments, NCAA Frozen Four, concerts, and the World Choir Games in 2012. The originally planned tenant for the brand-new arena was supposed to be an NHL franchise. A group headed by Bill DeWitt, Jr. attempted to lure a team to the building but was rejected. Cincinnati would place an expansion franchise in the World Hockey Association and call it the Stingers; the team would play from 1975-1979 and feature future NHL Hall of Famers Mike Gartner and Mark Messier, both baby-faced teenagers at the time. Cincinnati was denied again when the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979. The Stingers played one more year in the minor-league Central Hockey League before folding after 33 games during the 1979/80 season. There have been three separate Cyclones franchises that began with the expansion club in 1990 in the East Coast Hockey League. The club jumped up a level to the International Hockey League in 1992 but folded with the league in 2001. The current club rejoined the ECHL the following season and, except the 2004-2006 seasons, have been mainstays at the Heritage Bank Center. Food & Beverage 2 A detail that has been overlooked by ownership is the concession areas. Many of the same food stands remain from when I visited this arena as a kid several years ago. The signage is outdated and could use an upgrade. Most were open, but a few on the short ends of the rink were closed. This particular night happened to be a $1 beer night, so long lines at stands were dedicated only to alcohol sales. You could get anything from moonshine to a cocktail. Beers included were Miller Lite, Angry Orchard, Blue Moon, PBR, and other local breweries like 50 West. Wine in a can and also tropical mocktails were available at one vendor. There were classic brands of the area that included Donatos Pizza, Graeter’s Ice Cream, and Skyline Chili. They offered the typical concession stand food, minus hot dogs, which I found interesting. Pizza by the slice is $4.50, and a burger/chicken finger combo is $8.50. RC Cola products are available at the concessions. The best deal is the $10 bottomless popcorn, which you could easily make your money’s worth. Atmosphere 4 The building’s cramped concourse was the main reason why the atmosphere was not awarded 5 points. The hallways are very narrow, which was a sign of the times when the arena was constructed. They were enlarged during the 1997 renovations, but they will have to be expanded again at some point to make it easier to navigate for visitors. Outside of this, the atmosphere was incredible. The Cyclones have a fantastic pregame player introduction and one of the better ones in the ECHL. An anthem from a local high school got a tremendous roar from the crowd. A great noise was only subdued by an early visitors’ goal against the run of play. After this, the crowd started to get back into the game with some shots from the home team. Cheering and chants during the game made it feel like a playoff game, not an early-season Thursday night tilt. Bringing your dogs to the ice was also part of the promotion tonight. Many dog-themed snacks and treats around the stadium for the furry friends. Barking could be heard throughout the game. Neighborhood 3 While it is downtown, it is quite a walk from the bustling Central Business District and Over-the-Rhine neighborhoods. The stadium sits next to Great American Ballpark and is within walkable distance of The Banks and northern Kentucky. Plenty of spots to eat at the Banks , like Holy Grail and Condado tacos. There are many breweries, and one of my favorite pizza spots, Dewey’s Pizza across the river at Newport on the Levee . Cold Stone Creamery is also just across the river. Fans 5 Nothing beats the promotions served up by minor league hockey teams, and tonight was Pucks for Pugs. Dog owners could bring their best friends to the game. The sounds of the barking dogs added to that unique atmosphere of the night. Fans were excited at the start with a terrific pre-game show on the ice and followed by player introductions to hype up the crowd. An early goal from visitors took a lot out of the fans, but a solid performance and win cured all blues. Thanks to the terrific Cyclones App – I got a free hat just from downloading it onto my phone. There is also a lot of gear available to purchase at the game. You could see a lot of hometown sweaters, some from The Avengers and Spongebob Square Pants-themed nights (another minor league hockey promotion). One thing to note, earlier in the day, a trade sent Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights from the Buffalo Sabres. I found an Eichel sweater in the stands. Access 3 The parking garage is attached to the arena and charged $10. There are a couple of outside lots around the stadium that are also for $10. You could also park in northern Kentucky and walk across the Purple People’s Bridge to get to the stadium and take in the beautiful Ohio River and Cincinnati skyline. The narrow hallways around the concourse are a negative aspect of the arena, especially during COVID times. Return on Investment 4 The cost of a ticket is $20 for a game, and you might not spend more than $35 total. The parking for $10 may seem steep, but you are only about 100 feet from the arena. The game was of high quality. Multiple goals, hits, and fights meant plenty of action. The food was reasonably priced, and the beer was $1. These are hard to beat. Extras 3 Head Coach Jason Payne is the only African-American ice hockey head coach in all professional hockey. The All-Access Bar & Grill is located on the 5th floor (Suite Level) of the arena but was closed during our visit. When operational, fans get a marvelous birdseye view of the ice along with a full-service bar and restaurant. Final Thoughts The arena is perfect for ice hockey, but it does need some care on the concourses and outside. The game was entertaining, and the food and drinks were reasonably priced. The Cyclones market their games for anyone, and I think anyone would have a great night at Heritage Bank Center.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Chaska Athletic Park 725 W 1st St Chaska, MN 55318 Chaska Cubs website Chaska Athletic Park website Year Opened: 1950 Capacity: 1,100 Athletic Park is Charming in Chaska Athletic Park in Chaska, Minnesota is considered by many to be the “crown jewel” of Minnesota amateur ballparks. Constructed in 1950 and featuring a classic mid-20th-century design, original wooden seats, covered grandstand, cinder block dugouts, and a natural grass surface that is fine-tuned by volunteers, it would be hard not to argue as being one of the best in the state. The aesthetics do not end with the structure of the ballpark itself. The facility is nestled between the Minnesota River, and sloping hills, and surrounded by tall trees. It is quite a beautiful setting for any ballpark in the country and one that seems to have been stuck in time for small-town baseball. However, the Minnesota River can wreak havoc as it has flooded Athletic Park on five occasions this century alone, the last being in 2014. To help protect the historic stadium from further flood waters, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers built a 710-foot tall grass berm with a width of 30 feet around 75% of the ballfield. The price was steep at $300,000, but civic leaders felt the price was worth it due to the amount of money needed to repair damages after each flooding. The Chaska Cubs have been around a little longer than Athletic Field having played its first game in town in 1928. Organized baseball itself has been played in Chaska since 1877 and at various times numerous organized teams played at the same time. There had also been multiple ballparks in town, one was partially destroyed by a tornado in 1925, but would later be dismantled and reconstructed at a new site in 1933. Chaska residents were then given a choice of where to build a brand new ballpark which would be Athletic Park. The Greater Chaska Athletic Association funded construction as part of a stock-selling drive and received donations as far as Juneau, Alaska. Volunteers helped layout the field and backstop, while the local newspaper declared the erected grandstand “as fine a grandstand any town of our size in the state can boast.” The new ballpark also featured the state of Minnesota’s first electronic scoreboard. The Cubs have won four state tournaments in 1932, 1947, 1971, and 1987 and the club continues to draw impressive crowds to its historic home near the Minnesota River. The ballpark also serves home for high school baseball, state tournaments, and American Legion baseball. It even served home to the city’s only professional baseball team in 1995 the Chaska Valley Buccaneers, who were 8-6 when the North Central League ceased operations. Food & Beverage 3 There is a main concession area underneath the grandstand with two serving windows. One serves alcohol including Miller selections and local and iconic Grain Belt beer for $3-$4 a can. The food served at the stadium is basic, but common ballpark staples of hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, popcorn, peanuts, and candy. Ice cream sandwiches and bars sell. Atmosphere 4 Athletic Park is an example of mid-20th-century ballpark construction and has been maintained quite well throughout its existence. The old wooden seats are not as comfortable as modern theater-style seating, but many in attendance bring a seat cushion or chair back. The covered grandstand protects patrons from the sun or pesky mosquitoes flying around down the right-field line of the stadium. The ballpark offers a lot of history. There are old newspaper articles and photos illustrating the team’s history, a plaque commemorating the first game played at the stadium, and a chart highlighting the level of significant flooding that has occurred throughout the facility’s history. On the lighter side, a very popular area for the children is the garden which includes a bronze statue, flowers in Cubs helmets, and wood cut-outs of Cubs that were created and painted by local area high school students. There are also old seats and a play area for the young ones in attendance. The massive press box that once stood on top of the roof, but was moved underneath the grandstand roof due to weather concerns is a collection of old baseball jerseys, news clippings, and plastic owls once used to scare away pigeons. The seating area down the right field baseline offers fans chair-back seating and a basic electric scoreboard adorns right center field. The atmosphere is more in line with lower-level Single-A or collegiate wood bat league baseball. The game feels like a big event and the only thing missing is billboard ads on the outfield fence and an over-the-time PA announcer, however, they are not missed at the game. Neighborhood 3 Chaska is a town of 24,000 and is roughly 30 minutes southwest of Minneapolis between state highways 212 and 169. You are close enough to enjoy the big city of the Twin Cities, but small-town Chaska may be worth spending a few hours in before or after the game. Chaska is home to one of the Crooked Pint locations offering 32 taps of beer, pot pies, burgers, sandwiches, and curling. Cuzzy’s Brickhouse is a local establishment serving wood-fire pizza, Tex-Mex fare, pork chops, and barbecue ribs. Detello’s Pizza and Pasta is another favorite featuring thin crust or deep dish pizza. Paisley Park Studios is much closer than it is to Minneapolis. The former home and recording studios for Prince are open for tours, but you must lock up all cameras before you go inside, they do not allow photography inside. Fans 4 The Cubs faithful rank up with the best-of-town ballpark fans in the state. They have been spoiled with a fantastic baseball palace that has stood the test of time and are treated to great Cubs teams that usually sport winning records each summer. The center of the community is also a great way for local businesses to come out and share ideas and support. Access 4 Chaska is a small ballpark and so is the town. There are signs posted directing traffic to the game and an ample-sized gravel parking lot (another aesthetic nod to the good ‘ol days of baseball) that is free of charge. Bathrooms and concession stands are located in the grandstand and for the crowds on hand, plenty of legroom underneath the wooden roof. Return on Investment 5 Ticket prices for adults are $3, seniors $1, and children under 18 are free. The parking is free and the concession prices are all under $4.The historic ballpark is a beauty to watch a baseball game of any level and when you have a few hundred fans surrounding you on a warm, summer night, the investment is worth the price of admission. Extras 4 The park receives one point for the hours of volunteer work that goes into the ballpark’s upkeep. The field is well-manicured, the grandstand is clean, and the service is friendly. There are minor league stadiums where the service is not too friendly; however, the folks in Chaska do it very well, and they do it for free. The park receives a second point for the setting of the ballpark; the view of the river, hills, trees, gravel parking lot, and covered grandstand design is postcard-perfect. It tells a story before even buying a ticket. The park receives a third point for the players who spend their time after the game signing autographs for kids on the field. The night of this visit was steamy and the mosquitoes were ruthlessly nipping at your backs, but these young men did not seem to mind spending a little time with the younger crowd. The park receives a final point for old photos and news clippings found throughout the stadium. There is a lot of history here and sometimes finding it online is not that easy, thankfully there are a lot of facts and figures about Athletic Park, the Chaska Cubs, and other ball clubs who have played here. Final Thoughts I will not be the one who disagrees with anyone who calls Athletic Park “one of the jewels of town ballparks in Minnesota.”It is a classic baseball stadium, one that is in superb condition and still servicing baseball fans for almost seven decades. The town of Chaska is fortunate to have this historic venue still residing in their town. Its location in the Twin Cities makes it extremely easy and affordable to visit and soak in all of that beautiful nostalgia. ______ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channe l. Email at marc.viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Wintrust Arena 200 E Cermak Rd Chicago, IL 60616 Chicago Sky website Wintrust Arena website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 10,387 The Sky’s The Limit The Wintrust Arena opened in 2017. It is truly a multi-purpose facility, as in addition to the usual sports and concerts, it also serves as the home for trade shows, large corporate meetings, conventions, and other major events. Wintrust Arena has a capacity of 10,387 in its basketball configuration, with 22 luxury suites also available. The Chicago Sky was founded in 2006 and has played in the Wintrust Arena since 2018. They previously played at the Allstate Arena. The club has won two conference championships (2014,2021) and took home the WNBA Championship on their home floor in 2021. The Wintrust Arena also serves as the home arena for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs of the DePaul University Blue Demons. Food & Beverage 3 There are seven concession stands that are evenly distributed throughout the arena and are numerous enough that you should not encounter a long line during a game. The concession offerings include nachos ($7), chicken tenders ($7), hot dogs ($8), an extra-large popcorn bucket ($9), pretzels ($6.50), chicken sandwiches ($13), pizza ($8.50), chips ($4) and candy ($4) Wintrust Arena serves Pepsi brand sodas ($6.50), Gatorade ($6), and bottled water ($5). The arena also offers a wide variety of alcoholic beverages. Domestic drafts are $9.00, premium drafts are $11.00, premium cans are $!0.00, and craft IPAs are $11.00. Wintrust Arena is a peanut-free facility to protect persons with peanut allergies. Atmosphere 4 Wintrust Arena is very impressive from the outside, with a shiny steel and glass exterior. However, the inside of the venue is what is important to fans, and Wintrust scores high for its well-thought-out configuration. The seating bowl is compact without feeling crowded, with seats at all levels enjoying great sight lines. The seats are very comfortable and provide excellent leg room. The Sky’s court features the yellow and sky-blue color scheme of the franchise, with the team logo at midcourt and yellow and blue borders surrounding the court and endlines. Hanging above midcourt is a gigantic scoreboard/videoboard that features all the stats for the game and replays of outstanding shots during the game. You will never be bored at a Chicago Sky game, as the team does a great job of filling breaks in the action with contests, entertainment, and the antics of Sky Guy, the team’s hilarious mascot Neighborhood 4 The Wintrust Arena is a part of the Collection at McCormick Square. This complex includes the McCormick Place Convention Center, the Marriott Marquis Chicago, and the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. These buildings are connected via skybridges and pedestrian promenades. It draws the largest convention gatherings in the Windy City, and has several on-site restaurants, as well as many dining opportunities in the South Loop neighborhood that surrounds it. The arena is convenient to nearby attractions in the Chinatown area (Chinese American Museum of Chicago) or along the lakefront (Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum). Fans 4 The Sky has a large and loyal fanbase. The Wintrust Arena is one of the largest capacity arenas in the WNBA and they manage to sellout games on a regular basis. Winning the WNBA title in 2021 has really created a buzz in a city that has been starved for a major sports title for many years. The Sky and its Foundation are very active in the schools and civic organizations in the Windy City. It is not unusual to see the names of many of these groups running on the videoboard when they recognize the groups in attendance at that game. There are several special fan experiences available at each game. These include serving as an Anthem Buddy, serving as a Ball Kid, standing in the High 5 line as the team enters the arena from the player’s tunnel/locker room, or delivering the ball to the officials prior to the game. These special experiences must be arranged weeks prior to the game you will be attending. Access 4 Wintrust Arena is easily accessed by a wide variety of transportation options. There are multiple parking garages within the McCormick Place complex for those who wish to drive to the Sky games. These lots tend to have plenty of spaces available when the games take place on weekends or at night. However, it is important to remember that Chicago traffic can be a nightmare at most any time of the day. Directions coming from the north: Use the Kennedy Expressway and exit at 18th Street. Take 18th Street east to State Street. Turn south on State Street to Cermak. Turn left on Cermak Road Directions coming from I-55: Take the ramp to the Southbound Dan Ryan Expressway. Exit at 31st Street and head east. At South Martin Luther King Drive head north. McCormick Place will be at the corner of South Martin Luther King Drive and Cermak Road. There are several public transportation options to get to the Wintrust Arena. The CTA’s Green Line offers L service via the Cermak-McCormick Place Station. The CTA’s Red Line serves Wintrust Arena via the Cermak-Chinatown Station. CTA bus service to the arena is available via the #3 and #21 bus routes. METRA Rail services the facility via the McCormick Place Station. The doors to Wintrust Arena open 90 minutes prior to tipoff. Return on Investment 3 There are several ticket price points available for games at the Wintrust Arena. The lowest seating price is $19, which is on the Upper Level at the end of the court. The other price levels are $28 (Upper Level in the corners), $33 (Upper Level on sides of court), $44 (Lower Level at end of the court), $55 (Lower Level corners), and the highest priced seats are $71 (Lower Level on the sides) Vey honestly, Wintrust Arena is a very cozy facility, and there really is not a bad seat in the house at any price point. The arena uses Ticketmaster as its official ticket sales vendor. Parking in Lot A of McCormick Place costs $15 on game nights Extras 3 The 2022 WNBA All-Star Game was played at Wintrust Arena. The facility has hosted the Big East Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament on numerous occasions. In 2020 Wintrust Arena hosted the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game as a part of the city’s celebration of All-Star Week. Final Thoughts The Chicago Sky has been one of the most successful WNBA teams for years. In 2021 the team won the WNBA title for the city of Chicago, a city starved for a sports championship for the last few years. The Wintrust Arena is a worthy home court for a championship team. It is a shiny place of an arena, with excellent views of the game action from any of its seating areas. It also features a wonderful audiovisual package, with a huge center-hung videoscreen/scoreboard. It also offers easy access to fans, as the arena is located on multiple bus and train routes in a city that lives on public transit.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 FNB Field 245 Champion Way Harrisburg, PA 17101 Harrisburg Senators website FNB Field website Year Opened: 1987 Capacity: 6,187 Island Baseball Sensylvania The idea of island baseball leads one to think of some exotic locale such as Hawaii or Puerto Rico.  However, in this case, island baseball refers to Central Pennsylvania.  In 1907 baseball in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania took up residence on City Island in the middle of the Susquehanna River.  Baseball was played here until 1952.  In the eighties, once again the push for baseball on City Island was loud and the City of Harrisburg built Riverside Stadium to attract Minor League Baseball.  In 1987 the Harrisburg Senators moved in.  In 1991 the team would change affiliates from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Montreal Expos and remain with the franchise even after its move to Washington to become the Nationals .  The stadium changed names numerous times with various banks holding naming rights.  In 2015 the naming rights were acquired by FNB Financial and the upgraded ballpark was rechristened FNB Field.  Upgrades to the ballpark were necessary to keep the team in the Pennsylvania Capital.  Ownership of the franchise has bounced around from a city-owned team to Michael Reinsdorf to Mark Butler of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, eventually, becoming part of the massive Diamond Baseball Holdings conglomerate. Known as Sensylvania, the experience is one for all baseball fans. Food & Beverage 4 FNB Field offers a solid lineup of concession options.  There are a few concession spots in different areas of the ballpark. Hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, fries, pizza, and other simple snacks are on the menu.  Spots fans will want to check out start with the Backstop BBQ and Arooga’s Wing Shack, located on the first base side at ground level.  Backstop BBQ offers brisket, pulled pork, and smoked sausage, while hand-tossed chicken wings and burgers along with fries and funnel cake are found at the wing shack.  The pretzels here are pretty massive and worth considering also.  Later, a stop at the Sweet Spot for some Hershey’s hard or soft ice cream can finish the culinary experience.  Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice at FNB Field and a variety of domestic beer can also be found. Atmosphere 4 FNB Field is a unique facility starting with the entry.  Fans enter the ballpark from the leftfield side as opposed to the traditional home plate entry.  This makes the exterior of the ballpark a bit different.   The team store is immediately in view and features several Senators markings, along with Washington Nationals markings.  The championship seasons of 1987, 1993, 1996, 19997, 1998, and 1999 are marked on the outside.  Temporary banners of former Senators who have gone on to the big leagues welcome fans as they enter the ballpark under the protection of a large overhang at the left field plaza.  Fans may want to check out the City Island Carousel, which is further to the left of the entrance and not part of the ballpark.  The Senators continue their nod to the history of the franchise with the life-size bobbleheads that make up the 25th Anniversary all-time team.  They can be found under the grandstand closer to the first base side and include well-known names from the Expos and Nationals including Matt Stairs, Stephen Strasburg, Cliff Floyd, Michael Barrett, Ryan Zimmerman, Brandon Phillips, Bryce Harper, and the favorite son of the Senators, Vladimir Guerrero.  Guerrero’s number 27 is also retired and hangs on the left field fence beside the number 42 of Jackie Robinson.  FNB Field offers a wide variety of seating options.  The main grandstand is fairly steep and offers a split seating bowl with an open walkway between the two levels.  Some seats in the main grandstand are protected from the elements by an overhang.  Down both baselines, there are more seats some in right field and more in leftfield.  A set of bleachers is found on the right field side of the stadium and a picnic area is in right field also.  Picnic tables with umbrellas, perfect for large groups, are along the third base side of the park at the concourse level.  FNB Field is a 360-degree park and there are spots to hang out just about everywhere.  Of note, in the left field cheap seats, the section in the corner is open to all.  A lifeguard chair sits behind the section and on hot days, there is an attendant who sprays the crowd with water in that section from the chair. The gameday production at a Senators game is about what one would expect at a Minor League Baseball game.  There are plenty of promotions throughout the game between innings. A moment of note during the game that was reviewed was the Senators mascot, Rascal, dancing on the field with a few kids, dressed just like him.  They were known as the Little Rascals. Neighborhood 4 FNB Field is located on City Island,  in the middle of the Susquehanna River, adjacent to Downtown Harrisburg.  There are several spots for pre or post-game fare downtown, which can also be accessed by the pedestrian bridge from the island.  McGrath’s Pub, Federal Taphouse, Bacco’s Pizzeria, and Palumbo’s are all good options. There isn’t much in the way of other sporting options in Harrisburg, but the Hershey Bears  of the AHL are right next door.  In addition to other Hershey entertainment options, fans should consider the National Civil War Museum and Pennsylvania State Capital as other tourist options.  City Island Beach, mini golf, and the Skyline Sports Complex can be found on the island.  For fans wishing to stay near the park, the Quality Inn and Hilton are close. Fans 3 The Harrisburg Senators enjoy decent support at the turnstile.  In the 2023 season, the Senators averaged over 4,200 fans per game.  They rank 53rd in Minor League Baseball and 7th in the Eastern League.  The game that was reviewed was a mid-week, afternoon game with plenty of kids in attendance.  The fans at the game reviewed were pretty reserved, and not overly boisterous.   Access 3 FNB Field is located on City Island, which can make getting to the ballpark a bit of a challenge.  The island is south of Downtown Harrisburg.  Downtown is north of I-85 and there is not too much of downtown that requires traversing.  That being said, getting to the island on the Market Street Bridge can be slow.  There is parking on the south end of the island and finding a spot should not be a big issue.  Finding parking in Downtown Harrisburg and walking across the bridge may be a better option.  For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, the train station at Market and Aberdeen.  Fans should check the Capital Area Transit  website for fares, maps, and schedules.  Inside FNB Field, there are plenty of stairs that will require traversing.  The concession stands on ground level become a bit more of a challenge, with stairs to get there and back up to the grandstand level.  The washroom facilities are adequate for the facility. Stadium Journey recommends checking the Harrisburg Senators  website for the most up-to-date security info, including prohibited items, gate opening times, and security protocols. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for the Harrisburg Senators can be found for a decent price.  Dugout boxes go for $25.  Most seats can be had for $21 and the cheapest seats are $19.  Parking on the island is $5 and concession prices are what one would expect.  The experience at FNB Field is solid and fans will have a good time.  In the end, it all adds up to a good MiLB experience at a price that will not require a meeting with a banker. Extras 3 An extra mark for the unique island setting. An extra mark for the success the Senators have enjoyed on the field, winning the Eastern League Championship four seasons in a row. An extra mark for being the only game in town. Final Thoughts Taking a trip to City Island for some Harrisburg Senators baseball is a great plan for some summer entertainment.  FNB Field is truly a unique facility and the team puts together a good experience.  Sensylvania is the place to be. ---- Follow Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Crypto.com Arena 1111 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90015 Los Angeles Clippers website Crypto.com Arena website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 19,060 L.A. Our Way The franchise that is now known as the Los Angeles Clippers began existence in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves. The team spent eight seasons in upstate New York, where they played third fiddle at the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium behind the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres and the Canisius Golden Griffins basketball team. Canisius, who saw the Braves as a threat to their success, would regularly schedule the best dates at The Aud, effectively locking the Braves out. The team enjoyed little success in Buffalo, making the playoffs three times. After a failed attempt to sell the team and relocate to South Florida, owner John Y. Brown transferred ownership of his team with Irv Levin, owner of the Boston Celtics, so that Levin could move the Braves to southern California. In 1978 the team moved to San Diego and rebranded as the Clippers. The team failed to make the playoffs in any of their six seasons in San Diego. In 1984 new team owner Donald Sterling moved the team north to Los Angeles without league permission. The team continued to struggle in their new home, racking up a succession of losing seasons and making more news with off-the-court incompetence than for anything done on the court. In the late 1990s rumors were rampant that the Clippers were looking for a new home to replace the Los Angeles Sports Arena, where attendance had fallen to under 10,000 fans per game. Most reports had the team headed to Anaheim and the Honda Center . However, in 1999 the Staples Center was built, and the Clippers joined the Lakers and Kings as tenants in the new building, located two miles from their previous home at the LA Sports Arena. The Clippers have struggled as the third tenant in the building but have received more favorable scheduling and lease terms in recent years as their popularity has grown. The 2010s have been kinder to the Clippers, as the team qualified for the playoffs seven times in the decade, matching the number of playoff seasons over the franchise’s first 41 seasons. Still, the team has yet to advance past the second round of the playoffs. There is much to be excited about for the Clippers’ 50th season, as the team signed Kawhi Leonard and traded for Paul George. The team is considered among the top contenders for the NBA title. The Clippers have not disappointed thus far in the 2019-20 season, staying near the top of the standings and competing, finally, with the Lakers for top billing in southern California. Note: The Staples Center name changed to Crypto.com Arena in Dec, 2021. Food & Beverage 4 The Staples Center does not disappoint in terms of concessions, offering a wide variety of options for the hungry Clipper fan. Among the offerings are Wahoo’s Tacos, LuDo Bird, Dave’s Doghouse, Wetzel’s Pretzels, Blaze Pizza and Salt & Char Burgers. Mixed in with traditional arena fare are uniquely southern California options such as fish tacos, ahi tuna poke nachos and sushi. Several stands offer kosher, vegetarian and vegan options. A complete listing of concession options at the Staples Center can be found here . Coca Cola products are featured at the Staples Center. In addition to national beer brands, local craft brews from Golden Road and Goose Island Breweries are featured. The Figueroa Bar on the 100-level concourse offers a wide variety of draught beer, signature cocktails and specialty drinks. Atmosphere 4 Visiting fans who come to the Staples Center expecting a Hollywood-style extravagant gameday presentation might be disappointed by the fairly standard atmosphere at a Clippers game. All the typical gameday elements are here, from the dance squad, an energetic PA announcer, mascot and DJ who keeps the building full of noise both during the game and play stoppages. There are fan contests, giveaways, social media promotions and t-shirt tosses throughout the game to keep the casual fan interested. Clippers fans really start to get excited during the fourth quarter, as the team has partnered with Chick-Fil-A to give away a free chicken sandwich if an opposing player missed both free throws. One thing that is very apparent when attending a Clippers game is the fact that they are the third tenant in this building. The statues at the entrances, the murals on the walls and the banners hanging from the rafters all belong to the Lakers and Kings. Hopefully with some success, the Clippers can start to create a presence in the building. Neighborhood 5 Los Angeles is one of the top cities in the nation for tourists, with a seemingly endless list of attractions, things to do and see. In the immediate area of the Staples Center, LA Live is located right across the street from the arena. Located here are several restaurants, hotels and attractions, including the Grammy Museum and the Microsoft Theater. During the holiday season a skating rink is set up in the Xbox Plaza here. On the other side of the Staples Center is the Los Angeles Convention Center. For visiting fans looking for a place to stay while in town for a Clippers game, there are numerous choices within walking distance of the arena. Fans 5 In other parts of the country fans often derisively refer to the late to arrive and early to leave fans of Los Angeles teams. While there is some truth to this reputation, not all fans at the Staples Center fit this description. The Clippers have marketed themselves to the working-class basketball fans of southern California, and the crowd in attendance reflects these efforts. You are more likely to see families and to hear multiple languages spoken at a Clippers game than at a Lakers game. Thus far in the 2019-20 season the Clippers are actually outdrawing their cross-town rivals. The Clippers are operating at 100 percent capacity so as of the writing of this review in early February, placing them solidly in the top ten in the NBA. Access 4 First things first, the mythical Los Angeles traffic is real. No matter where you may be coming from, give yourself some extra time to arrive at the Staples Center. Located adjacent to the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Interstate 10/Route 110 interchange, the facility is fairly easy to get to, traffic notwithstanding. Staples Center’s location downtown ensures that there is plenty of parking nearby. There are over 10,000 parking spots within a ten-minute walk of the arena. For fans looking to avoid the hassle of LA traffic, public transportation is convenient to the area. The Metro Rail Pico Station is a short walk from the facility and several Metro Bus lines have stops near the Staples Center. Complete driving, parking and public transportation information can be found here . There are four main entrances to the Staples Center, all of which empty onto the spacious main concourse. Escalators lead up to the club level and upper concourse. Restrooms are plentiful, clean and spacious. Vomitories lead fans from the main concourse to the seating bowl. Fans in the 100 level walk down to their seats, fans in the 200 level walk up. On the 300 level, fans enter near the bottom of their sections. As is the case in many arenas, the seats in the upper level are very tight. If you are of a large frame, be prepared to have to squeeze into these very narrow seats with poorly positioned cup holders. Even though some of the upper level seats are far from the action, all seats have good views of the court. Return on Investment 4 The Clippers present themselves as a more affordable option to the Lakers. Still, this is Los Angeles, which means that you may have to pay to get the seats you want. The Clippers use variable pricing, meaning weekend and marquee games will cost more than weekday games. On average, upper level seats begin at $45 while lower level seats starting at $117. There are bargains to be found on the secondary market. In fact, when Stadium Journey visited the Staples Center on a weekday game against Sacramento, we were able to secure seats in the lower part of the upper deck for seven dollars. Parking in the lots and garages around the Staples Center generally range in price from $15-25. Concession prices are on the high side, but not out of line with other major facilities across the NBA. A great way to save some money on getting to the Staples Center as well as to avoid the hassle of LA traffic is to use the Metro to get to the arena. A one-way fare is just $1.75, with a day pass priced at seven dollars. Extras 2 An extra point is awarded for the great gameday and other arena staff. The team is clearly trying to present themselves as an alternative to the traditional, stuffy Lakers. Staff members have fun with the gameday presentation, with lots of giveaways and interaction with the fans. An additional extra point is awarded for the Buffalo Braves merchandise available in the Pro Shop. Final Thoughts It’s tough sledding when you’re the third tenant in a facility. Despite the fact that the Clippers are finally achieving some success and are gaining a foothold in the crowded Los Angeles basketball market, the Staples Center does not feel like home to this star-crossed franchise. While they can’t possibly compete with the Lakers in terms of history and tradition, at least for this year, the Clippers are on equal footing with their cross-town rivals on the court. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

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

Photos by Paul Donaldson, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 1.71 Magnolia Field Fannie Lou Hammer St Itta Bena, MS 38941 Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils website Magnolia Field website Year Opened: 1950 Capacity: 200 Baseball in the Valley Magnolia Field is home to Delta Devil baseball on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University. The atmosphere at Magnolia Field is cozy and friendly. Most of the fans in attendance are family or friends of the players, with a couple of staunch Delta Devils Athletics supporters. Located in West Mississippi, you’ll likely only find yourself at the ballpark if you are following your favorite SWAC baseball team on a road trip or are family of one of the players. The ballpark is humble, doesn’t have concessions, but won’t cost you thing since admission is free. Food & Beverage 0 Make sure plans are made for snacks and drinks prior to heading out to Magnolia Field, because there are no concessions. With that said, you can bring in your own refreshments without any hassle. Atmosphere 1 Magnolia Field is a small and humble home ballpark for the Delta Devils. The stadium consists of three small sets of bleachers which flank a press box which lies directly behind home base. A small tent is erected near the third base dugout where a few fans seek the shade along the fence in the comfort of their tailgate chairs. A black chain link fence set atop a small red brick wall separates the seats behind home plate from the playing field. A small scoreboard sits beyond the right field fence providing limited information. The natural grass playing field shows signs of wear and could use some TLC. The outfield wall is a tall black chain link fence. Neighborhood 2 The city of Itta Bena is home to Mississippi Valley State University and Magnolia Field. The ballpark is adjacent to Rice-Totten Field. The campus of MVSU is a comfortable and safe environment to enjoy a baseball game. It’s located a few miles away from Itta Bena, which doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of restaurants and attractions. Larry’s Fish House and the Capricorn Internet Cafe are places to eat, if you’re dedicated to eating in the area. Otherwise, you might find more options in Indianola or Greenwood, both about a 20 minute drive from the campus. Fans 1 College baseball is not a very popular sport among most SWAC institutions and this trend is no different at The Valley. Typical crowds can usually be counted on both hands and rarely top 100. Fans in attendance are usually friends and family of the players with a few strong supports of Delta Devil athletics. Access 4 Itta Bena is accessible off I-55 in west Mississippi via Highway 82. Once you arrive on campus, Magnolia Field is just past the football stadium. A parking lot past a dorm allows ample free parking. The seating area is just a short walk from there. Considering that attendance is free, getting into the stadium is a breeze due to there being no need to purchase or pick up tickets. A restroom facility is located near the parking lot just beyond left field. Return on Investment 3 Return on investment is a mixed bag. Considering there’s literally no cost in attending the game, it’s hard to assess any type or return on an investment you don’t have to make. However, unless you are a loyal follower of MVSU athletics, there’s little return on your time investment either in driving out to the ballpark or watching the game. . Extras 1 While most venues offer some type of “extra” component which sets it apart from other experiences, the atmosphere at Magnolia Field is bare bones. The “One Team One Valley” sign on the dugout adds some fanfare to an otherwise stale environment.

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 LoanMart Field 8408 Rochester Ave Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 Rancho Cucamonga Quakes website LoanMart Field website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 6,200 The Epicenter California’s Inland Empire is a great market for minor-league baseball.  In less than 90 minutes, fans can stop by the stadiums of three minor league franchises.  Perhaps the most storied of all of these franchises, call the city of Rancho Cucamonga its home. The franchise is well known by stadium travelers due to its unforgettable city name, regionally appropriate nickname, comfortable venue, and reputation for a great fan experience. Opened as The Epicenter in 1992 at a cost of around $20 million, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and the stadium have enjoyed a prosperous run. Since its debut, the venue has snagged the record for single-season attendance among the California League, has been purchased by an investment group that includes former Royal-great George Brett and has had a renovation in 2008. In 2013, the Epicenter became known as LoanMart Field after the franchise signed a ten-year naming rights agreement. Even with the name change, folks still fondly refer to the yard as The Epicenter. Food & Beverage 4 For those who may have been accustomed to the traditional Dodger Dog, you may be somewhat disappointed that it is no longer served. However, a Hoffy all-beef dog has replaced the much loved Dodger Dog and is equally just as enjoyable sans the Dodger tie-in.  Other items on the menu include a Quakes bacon cheeseburger, pepperoni pizza slices, brats, BBQ pulled pork sandwich, Philly cheesesteak, chicken tenders/wings, and fries.  If you’re in the mood for some South of The Border tastings, carne asada fries, Mexican-style street corn, burritos, nachos in a souvenir helmet, and quesadillas, all with the choice of carne asada, chicken, or carnitas are available at the left field cantina.  If carrying a sweet tooth, soft serve ice cream, churros, and churro sundaes are served up in a souvenir helmet. Cotton candy and assorted candy varieties are also available.  Pepsi product sodas are sold as well as bottled water and Gatorade. Domestic brew options from Anheuser Busch and Coors products are available as well as premium craft brews ranging from Firestone 805, Kona Big Wave, and Elysian Contact Haze IPA. Atmosphere 5 The Epicenter is a truly beautiful venue, where the sun is likely always shining, and the tree-lined outfield fence is only overshadowed by the towering San Gabriel Mountains in the distance. One thing you will see a lot in the stands are blue-clad fans. As in, Dodger Blue. Since joining the Dodgers farm system in 2011, the Quakes have added Dodger Blue to their color scheme, and it shows in the stands as fans are dressed in both Quakes and Dodgers attire. The affiliation with the Dodgers gives fans an added enthusiasm.  As they enter The Epicenter there’s this feeling in the air that they are watching the future of their big league team. Neighborhood 4 The neighborhood is located where the Mohave Trail, Old Spanish Trail, Santa Fe Trail, El Camino Real, and the former Route 66 all meet. Fans will notice many of the old Route 66 markers throughout the streets on the way to the stadium, particularly along Foothill Blvd. The stadium is located in the Rancho Cucamonga Adult Sports Park, surrounded by three softball fields and two soccer fields. Just a few minutes away are most of your common fast food eateries as well as several other sit-down options at nearby Victoria Gardens. Richie’s Real American Diner is your standard diner that also offers a wood-smoked BBQ. Richie’s Diner pays tribute to the local area’s Route 66 roots. Fans 4 During the history of the franchise, the team has at one point or another been affiliated with each of the three Southern California MLB teams ( Padres , Angels , and Dodgers ). Rancho Cucamonga Quakes MLB Affiliations, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey The Rancho Cucamonga fans are a passionate bunch. Due to its current affiliation with the Dodgers as well as its proximity to L.A., don’t be surprised should you see plenty of Dodger Blue in the stands. The Quakes do an outstanding job of marketing their product as well as paying tribute to their parent club, even adding Dodger Blue to their color scheme. So knowledgeable and passionate are the fans here about both the Single A and the big club, should you walk around Dodger Stadium in Rancho Cucamonga Quakes gear chances are good you will have a fan or two come up and pay you a compliment. Access 4 Depending on traffic, Rancho Cucamonga can be anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes away from Downtown Los Angeles. The stadium is located not far from the 10, 15 and 210 freeways. Parking is very plentiful and reasonable at $5. Should a huge crowd be expected especially for a fireworks night game, overflow parking is also available on a lot across the street from the stadium. Return on Investment 4 Compared to the parent club in L.A. ticket prices are still a bargain though somewhat pricey for Single A baseball, with prices starting at $18 for Club Box seats to $22 for The Super Box.  The Dugout Deck, located next to the Quakes’ third base dugout sells for $29 and provides tables for families and friends to place their food and personal items. If bringing along a group of four, the Strike Zone provides table seating between the dugouts atop the Super Box aisles at a total of $133. Extras 4 The tree-lined outfield wall and San Gabriel Mountains in the distance provide a truly perfect baseball setting. LoanMart Field is located in the Rancho Cucamonga Adult Sports Park and is surrounded by recreational baseball/softball diamonds. If any of the fields are empty, visiting fans can easily find some space to play a game or simply toss a baseball back and forth. Also in the concourse, fans will find the day’s starting lineups and current California League standings. Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Starting Lineups, Photo by Andre Ojeda, Stadium Journey Along the left field concourse is the All-Star Walk of Fame. LoanMart Field Walk of Fame, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey This display dates back to the team’s infancy in 1993 and pays tribute to every notable Padre, Angel, and, Dodger that ever donned a Quakes uniform either as a step to the bigs or a stop on a rehab assignment. The list along the Walk that includes among others Clayton Kershaw, Wally Joyner, and recent Hall of Fame inductee Vladimir Guerrero is both plentiful and impressive. Dodgers Passing Through Rancho, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts Since 1992 many a future Big Leaguer has passed through the foothills of the Inland Empire.  Rancho Cucamonga will continue to be the Single-A West Coast affiliate for the Dodgers for the foreseeable future.  The Quakes continue to be a leader in the California League circuit. Being located an hour from Downtown Los Angeles and its affiliation with the Dodgers benefits the Quakes greatly as evidenced by all the blue and white in the stands. One final fun fact. As you approach LoanMart Field one of the entrances that LoanMart Field is located on is named after the late great comedian Jack Benny. Click here  for more fun facts on Jack Benny’s ties to the city of Rancho.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 M. M. Roberts Stadium 118 College Dr Hattiesburg, MS 39406 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles website M. M. Roberts Stadium website Year Opened: 1932 Capacity: 36,000 Welcome to the Rock The 2022 season marks a new era for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. After completing the last 27 seasons in Conference USA, the Golden Eagles are now in a new conference, the Sun Belt Conference. For a mid-major program in football, this school of 14,000 students in the pine belt of southern Mississippi has a pretty storied football history in itself. In 105 seasons of football, the Southern Miss program has won over 70% of the 1,059 games they've played. In addition, the Golden Eagles have won 8 Conference Championships, including 5 C-USA Championships. They've played in 26 bowl games, winning 13 of them, and won two Small College National Championships when they finished undefeated in 1958 and 1959. Southern Miss has also produced over 100 players who have played in the NFL, including two Pro Football Hall of Famers, perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time Brett Favre and perhaps the NFL's best punter of all time Ray Guy. The Southern Miss football program was born in 1912 when the college was known as Mississippi Normal School, and the nickname was the Normality. The team played football games at Kamper Park, a public park near campus where the Hattiesburg Zoo is located today. The school has gone by many names and nicknames over the 100-plus year history, including the Mississippi State Teachers College Yellow Jackets (1926-1939), Mississippi Southern Southerners (1940-1961), and Southern Miss Southerners (1962-1971) before finally settling on the Golden Eagles nickname in 1972. Since 1932 the Golden Eagles have played on-campus at Historic M. M. Roberts Stadium, a.k.a. The Rock. Named after a Southern Miss alumnus, the stadium was completely rebuilt and dedicated to M. M. Roberts for the 1976 season. Before that, the stadium was known as Faulkner Field, named after a local businessman. It was built with the help of the football players hauling concrete and thus is how the stadium received the nickname “The Rock”. Over the last 90 years, The Rock has become one of the more intimidating settings in college football with the Golden Eagles having a .690 winning percentage at home. Food and Beverage 3 There are 16 concession stands open during games with four stands on each concourse – each stand is called ‘Eagle Bites’ and sells the basics and not much else. The menu includes hot dog combos ($9) and hamburger or sausage combos ($10), with each combo meal coming with a souvenir cup that normally costs $7 to buy alone, so I consider the combo meals a good deal. You could also buy the items separately with hot dogs at $4 and hamburgers or sausage for $5. Other items sold on the menu include roasted peanuts and nachos ($4), popcorn, pretzels, and candy ($3). There are also two Southern Miss BBQ stands located on the east side (one on the upper and one on the lower level). The BBQ stand sells pulled pork and brisket sandwiches for $6. Alcohol is sold in the stands with 16 oz. domestic beers (Miller, Coors, or Michelob) sell for $6. They also sell 16 oz. premium beers (Voodoo Ranger IPA and Gold Rush) for $8. Gold Rush is a Southern Miss exclusive beer introduced by a local Southern Prohibition Brewery and features an Eagle and the Southern Miss logo on the can. Coca-Cola is the official soft drink provider of Southern Miss athletics, and they sell souvenir cups for $7 or a 22 oz. paper cup for $4. Atmosphere 4 With Southern Miss's move to the Sun Belt Conference, expect better competition and a better atmosphere at The Rock. There is a certain buzz around the campus for the 2022 season, something that hasn't been felt on this campus in a long time. The action begins early in the day as you can find people tailgating scattered throughout campus. The alumni and older groups of fans will be tailgating on the south side of campus, while the college students and fraternities tailgate in Spirit Park located just outside the stadium. You can find many food trucks in Spirit Park, and they have a large stage where a band will put on a concert. Two and a half hours before kickoff is perhaps the most famous game day tradition, the Eagle Walk – the football team will make a small parade around the stadium as they head into the locker room, accompanied by the famed Pride of Mississippi Marching Band and the Dixie Darlings dance team. The football team will walk down a section on the east side of the stadium lined with banners of past Southern Miss greats, and banners of all the bowl games the Golden Eagles have played in. Another popular gameday tradition at Southern Miss is the painting of the Little Rock, which is a rock about 3 feet wide on the south side of campus. During the week leading up to games, students will paint the rock with a popular saying related to the team they are playing against that weekend. The mascot is a giant Golden Eagle named Seymour and he is a constant presence interacting with the crowd among the fans and students. Once inside the stadium it is easy to see how the stadium gets its nickname – the Rock is a large concrete structure that rises straight into the air. The stadium is an older-style stadium with an upper and lower level separated by two concourses under the bleachers. The stadium features a two-level grandstand on the east and west sides of the stadium, with all bleacher-style seating. For years the stadium was open behind both the north and south end zones, but in 2008 they filled in the south end zone with 3,000 additional seats on ground level, and two stories of suites with a total of 48. There is also an indoor club level in the south end zone on the third floor called the Touchdown Club; the Club is completely climate controlled and features several couches and TVs, as well as different food options and a full-service bar that are not found on the concourse. You can walk right outside to a completely covered section with comfortable chairback seats, the only seating in the stadium that is covered. In the north end zone, they installed the football field house in 2009 and a larger video board that same year. For more premium seating there is an indoor stadium club on the east side as well called the Stadium Club. Southern Miss has three retired numbers, and they are honored with displays around the stadium – Brett Favre (#4), Ray Guy (#44), and Reggie Collier (#10) are the people who have had their numbers retired by Southern Miss. The stadium holds sound pretty well but can look half-empty, even with the somewhat decent crowd during the 2022 season. It wouldn't look as bad if The Rock wasn't so tall and instead built a little closer to ground level; then it wouldn't look half empty. You’ll also find people scattered throughout the stadium, so there will often be entire sections with just a few people sitting in them. The entire upper deck almost has no one sitting in the seats. It would be nice if they would just tarp off the upper deck to make it look like a much more intimate atmosphere. The east side of the stadium is where most of the fans will be sitting, with the student section taking up the southeast section of the stadium. If they aren't going to tarp off the upper deck then I recommend sitting up there for great views of the field – almost no one sits up there and you'll have the entire section to yourself. Neighborhood 3 Hattiesburg (a.k.a. The Burg) is a decent-sized city of about 50,000 people, so it has everything you could want in a city and still retains that college town feels. The Burg has a wide selection of bars and restaurants, but unlike most college towns they are not located near each other – instead they are spread out throughout the town. Within walking distance of M. M. Roberts Stadium, you'll find places like Patio 44, Brewsky's, and 4th Street Bar; if you’re looking for vintage Southern Miss memorabilia on the walls of a hole-in-the-wall then 4th Street Bar is your place, while Keg & Barrel, The Porter, and Nostalgia are popular places closer to downtown. As a southern city, Hattiesburg has its fair share of restaurants centered on the local fare; popular spots include Crescent City Grill, Brass Hat, Midtown, Chesterfields, Ed's Burger Joint, Stricks, and Murky Waters BBQ. Also, as one of Mississippi's largest cities, there is plenty to do for all ages – for families, there's the Hattiesburg Zoo and the Pocket Museum, which is located in an alleyway downtown next to the Saenger Theatre. The Pocket Museum is Mississippi's tiniest museum, and each month the museum changes to a different theme. If you come to a game during October make sure you check out the spooky Halloween display that is spread out throughout the alley and at the Zoo. For shopping, there are plenty of chain stores and the Turtle Creek Mall. Another popular spot worth shopping is The Lucky Rabbit downtown, a two-story vintage thrift store that has everything including all kinds of old Southern Miss memorabilia and t-shirts. Or if you are into the outdoors there is Long Leaf Trace, a 44-mile bike trail that runs right through campus right next to the Wellness Center, while Paul B. Johnson State Park just south of Hattiesburg is an excellent place for camping. Fans 3 For the 2022 season, Southern Miss is averaging about 25,000 fans per game, which ranks about third in the conference in attendance. Southern Miss has a dedicated fan base with many of these fans going through the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Southern Miss fans take great pride in the University because unlike most schools most of them are graduates of the university – they can remember the glory days of the football program back when names like Brett Favre and Reggie Collier played here, or when the Golden Eagles played Alabama almost every year and even won a few games, back when Jeff Bower coached the program for 18 winning seasons. The fans also remember the not-so-great moments of the Southern Miss program, like the 2012 and 2013 seasons when they went a combined 1-23, including losing 23 straight games. Hattiesburg is also a different kind of town than the other college towns in Mississippi; many graduates tend to live in Hattiesburg after graduation because of its large size. There are also a lot of grads who tend to live in the south and central Mississippi, so it's much easier for them to make it to games on weekends. The move to the Sun Belt Conference, also makes new rivalries for the Golden Eagles, as all the schools are located in the Southeast. When teams like South Alabama play expect lots of visiting fans in attendance. The student section has also seen an increase in attendance, with almost the entire student section being full during games. During the first defensive possession after halftime they will hold up a giant banner that says “Here Comes the Nasty Bunch” – the large banner takes up the entire student section and is named after the famed Southern Miss defense in the 90s that was nicknamed the “Nasty Bunch”. Access 4 There is a reason Hattiesburg is nicknamed the 'Hub City', as it is one of the most accessible cities in the State. Conveniently located about an hour and a half from the coast, New Orleans, Jackson, and Mobile, Hattiesburg sits right in the middle of it all. You will not miss the campus as you come into Hattiesburg, as it is located on the corner of Highway 49 and Hardy Street, the two busiest roads in town. The Southern Miss campus is kind of small, only one square block, so you can see The Rock from practically anywhere on campus. The stadium is located on the north side of campus, but once on campus, it can be kind of confusing drive because many of the streets are one-way. Most of the parking on campus is reserved for pass holders, however, you will find a few free lots on the other side of 4th Street. My favorite place to park for free for football games is at the baseball stadium, Pete Taylor Park. There are also a few businesses that charge to park located along the east side of Highway 49 across from the stadium. The Southern Miss campus is also one of the smallest D1 colleges in the country, so you should have no problem walking around on campus. The Rock itself is also easy to get around, with a wide concourse and plenty of concession stands that don't back up. Return on Investment 4 Tickets aren't hard to come by, although if you order tickets directly off the website they will have higher prices – on the athletics website to sit in the upper deck it will cost $25, or to sit in the lower deck $40 to $50, which can be kind of steep. My recommendation would be to check secondary websites like Stubhub and Vivant Seats, where you can easily purchase tickets for $15 to $20. They also don't have anybody checking tickets, so it is possible to move around throughout the stadium if you want. Extras 3 The Southern Miss campus is a nice campus to walk around before the game; the campus is very small so it is possible to walk around the whole campus in less than 45 minutes. The Southern Miss campus is a great Southern campus with all kinds of sights and sounds to experience. Some of my favorite sights on campus include the All-American Rose Garden and the giant Eagle sculpture at the front entrance. Also, check out the old 1890s-era Roberts School House, still in its original form, or The Hub at the center of campus, where in the mid-1960s Jimmy Buffett could be seen playing his guitar here in-between classes. But my favorite thing to do while on campus is walking down the famous Eagle Walk – the Eagle Walk is deserving of an extra all by itself. 44 former players and coaches are honored with banners hanging from the stadium under the east side. All 26 bowls the Golden Eagles have played in are honored as well, including the 1958 and 1959 Small College National Championships. The Eagle Walk is also a cool place to be before the game when the team walks by into the stadium. Another extra because not very many college football teams can lay claim to having two of the best positional players to ever play football – Brett Favre, arguably considered one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play football during his 20-year NFL career, and Ray Guy, who played for the Oakland/LA Raiders for 14 seasons, winning 3 Super Bowls and being elected to the Pro Bowl 7 times. Ray Guy is considered the greatest punter to ever play football and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, as well as became the only punter ever enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ray Guy was a fixture at Southern Miss games until he sadly passed away during the 2022 football season. His legacy will forever be known at Southern Miss, as the street on the north side of the stadium is called Ray Guy Lane.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Thomas M. Ryan Center 1 Lincoln Almond Plaza Kingston, RI 02881 Rhode Island Rams website Thomas M. Ryan Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 8,000 Raising a Ruckus The Thomas M. Ryan Center, named for the University of Rhode Island class of 1975 alumnus and primary benefactor of the arena, was built in 2002 to replace the aging and undersized Keaney Gymnasium. The building is located adjacent to Meade Stadium on the western edge of campus, with the football stadium’s visiting side bleachers built directly into the side of the basketball arena. The Rams have made the NCAA tournament ten times in their history, advancing as far as the Elite Eight in 1998. In addition, URI has played in the National Invitational Tournament 15 times, making the semi-finals on three occasions. 17 URI alumni have gone on to play in the NBA. Food & Beverage 3 There are a total of five concession stands that line the concourse of the Ryan Center. The menu doesn’t stray very far from arena basics, but visiting fans should be able to find something to ease any hunger pangs that arise during the game. But beware, some of the more unique items that used to highlight the menus are no longer offered. Each stand offers a slightly different menu, so you may have to do some searching to find your desired items. Hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, grilled chicken sandwiches and personal pizzas anchor the menus. Of course, fans will find sides including nachos, fries, pretzels and popcorn at all the stands. Coca-Cola products are featured at the Ryan Center. Among the adult beverages sold here are brews from local favorites Narragansett and Shaidzon Beer as well as versions of the popular Chair 2 Light Beers. Woodbridge Wine is also available at all stands. For a little more local flavor, seek out the Del’s Lemonade cart. Nothing screams “Rhode Island” like a cup of Del’s. Atmosphere 4 Stadium Journey’s most recent visit to Kingston happened during Thanksgiving break, but the absence of the student body did little to dampen the mood on this day. The cheerleading squad, dance team and mascot, Ruckus the Ram, were all out in full force to help create noise during play stoppages, and the dedicated Rams fans took it from there. Play stoppages are filled with contests, giveaways and more to keep the energy level up and the fans engaged. If you’re a fan of t-shirt tosses, dance cams and the like, you’re sure to have a good time at the Ryan Center. A large video board in one corner of the arena shows game stats, replays and other information. There’s an emcee who pops up from time to time to pump up the crowd with chants of “Rhody, Rhody, Rhody.” The student body generally shows up in strong numbers, as this is one of the rare schools in New England where basketball is top dog. Despite being overshadowed by Providence College in the local sports scene, the Rams have plenty of their own dedicated fans. Neighborhood 2 One area where the Ryan Center may come up short when compared to peer facilities is its location. Even though URI boasts an enrollment of over 18,000 students, there’s just not much to do in the area around campus. Providence is about 30 miles to the north. During the summer the nearby coastal towns of Narragansett and Newport are popular destinations, but not so much during basketball season. Visiting fans looking for somewhere to eat or stay during their visit to Kingston will have a bit of driving to do before finding something. Mews Tavern, featuring 69 beers on tap and an excellent pub menu, is a favorite of locals. Tavern on Main, also located in Wakefield, is another popular spot. Aside from a Holiday Inn on Route One, there’s not many lodging options near campus. History buffs may want to check out the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum located in Saunderstown. Otherwise, head to Providence or to the coast to find more options. Fans 4 Attendance at the Ryan Center has dipped over the past couple of seasons as the team has struggled, topping out at just over 5,000 fans per game. While a decrease, this still puts the Rams over the Atlantic-10 average. A typical URI crowd is made up of locals, alumni and families enjoying a night of entertainment in southern Rhode Island. While the lions’ share of the local media attention in the area goes to Providence College, the University of Rhode Island has their share of ardent supporters. Parents can feel comfortable bringing their children to a Rams game. The student section turns out in good numbers armed with props and chants designed to distract and annoy the opponent. Along with a solid pep band, cheer and dance squads, they help to create a festive atmosphere at the Ryan Center. Access 4 The Ryan Center is located on the western edge of the URI campus in rural Kinston, Rhode Island, adjacent to Meade Stadium and Bill Beck Field . Driving here from Providence will take about 40 minutes on a typical day. Getting to the T.F. Green Airport is a 20-minute drive, and the Kingston Amtrak station is just a mile and a half away. Complete directions to the Ryan Center can be found here . Parking lots are located on the north and south sides of the Ryan Center. Parking is free in these lots, but it can be a long walk to your car on a frigid Rhode Island night. Fans requiring handicapped parking or VIP treatment can inquire about parking in the Rhody Lot directly in front of the arena. There is a charge for this VIP parking. The Ryan Center practices a clear bag policy, with no other bags except for small clutches permitted, so make sure you leave anything else in your car. It might be a long walk back. There are entrances on either end of the arena. Fans will enter at ground level, with stairs leading up to the main concourse. The concourse, which is carpeted, encircles the entire arena and is open on one corner, where the video board is located. The concourse overlooks Meade Stadium on one side, and the Ryan Center is open during football games. Concession stands and rest rooms are plentiful enough for a typical Rams crowd, and lines are not an issue here. All seats are individual Rhody blue folding stadium seats. The upper level features a very steep pitch, which ensures excellent views of the action on the court from all points inside the Ryan Center. The furthest seat is only 74 feet from the basketball court. The intimate design of the Ryan Center means that the building can get very loud when the Rams are on a roll. Return on Investment 5 Rhode Island utilizes variable pricing for Rams games, with tickets to marquee games ranging in price from $20-$35, featured games ranging from $15-$30 and tickets to most other games priced from $12-$22. Even Club seats can be affordable. Purchasing tickets on game day will add $3-$5 to the price. Complete pricing information can be found here . Parking is free in the lots adjacent to the Ryan Center. Concession prices, while not inexpensive, are in line with other venues in the area. Extras 4 The University’s Athletic Hall of Fame is located in the Ryan Center. Plaques honoring the enshrined line the walls throughout the facility. Banners honoring URI championship and tournament teams hang from the rafters of the Ryan Center along with five honored numbers from distinguished alumni. Check out the trophy case displaying the Rams’ collection of hardware won over their history. It may seem like a meager haul for a team that’s as storied as the Rams, but it’s a nice display. Another extra point is awarded for the design of the Ryan Center, which is meant to evoke visions of nearby beaches. The stair towers are designed to resemble lighthouses, and the carpets on the concourse contain wave patterns on them, as well as shades of blue and tan found on the beach. It is a very pleasing venue to the eye. Final Thoughts The Ryan Center is an excellent venue that suffers in comparison to its peers primarily due to its location. Place this outstanding arena in a major city, and the rave reviews would roll in. Nevertheless, it is a great place to catch a basketball game, combining intimacy and convenience. It’s a worthy Stadium Journey for any hoops junkie visiting New England. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Conrad Klank, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Ohio Stadium 411 Woody Hayes Dr Columbus, OH 43210 Ohio State Buckeyes website Ohio Stadium website Year Opened: 1922 Capacity: 102,329 Band Together The Ohio State Buckeyes were the winner of the first College Football Playoff, taking the 2014 title as the fourth seed and bringing the program and the B1G back to the forefront of the sport, after several years of southern domination. This is only fitting, because Ohio Stadium, home of the Buckeyes, is one of the best sporting destinations in the land and the team on the field often matches the overall game day experience. Opened in 1922, “The Horseshoe” has hosted generations of Buckeye fans and continues to evolve and expand to keep the beloved venue modern. Ohio Stadium has a capacity just under 105,000, and led all of college football in average attendance in 2014. Food & Beverage 4 Brutus’ Best, named after the Buckeye mascot, is ubiquitous but best avoided as their offerings are limited to standard stadium fare. Hot dogs are $4; an all-beef Brutus Dog is $5, while a bratwurst is $5.50. Nachos, popcorn, pretzels, and candy round out the lineup here. Instead, try to find something at one of the unique concessions or portable stands around the lower concourse. Examples include O’Wich’s Smashed Sandwiches (Cajun, Buffalo Chicken, Three-Cheese) for $8.50 and Donato’s Pizza with cheese or pepperoni pies running $7.50 while an Italian sub is $8.50. Roosters at the Shoe in the south end crows about their boneless wings at $8.50 along with a Roosters Nest (curly fries topped with those very same wings, sauce, nacho cheese, bacon bits, and green onion) for $12. The Short North Bagel Deli has five varieties of bagel sandwiches with the Good Ole Goodale (turkey, cream cheese, colby, avocado, lettuce and honey mustard) the most tempting option and relatively inexpensive at $7. Yellow Boy’s Polish Boys are $8 while those who have a lighter appetite can try Tradition’s Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for $6. Panera Bread is another national chain here, with sliders for $7 or a bacon turkey bravo for $9. Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy a cinnamon roll for $3.50 among other desserts. This list is by no means complete, so get there early and look around before choosing. Alcohol is not served, but bottles of Coke products are $4, while fountain beverages are $5.50 for a souvenir cup and an extra buck for the large souvenir. Atmosphere 5 From the moment you reach the edge of campus, the anticipation builds. Tailgate tents are set up for about a square mile in all directions. Night games, a relative rarity at Ohio Stadium, give fans a chance to start partying from well before noon. As you walk through the sea of red, you know you are in for a treat. Located along Woody Hayes Drive, Ohio Stadium doesn’t look that big from far away, at least when compared to some of these new behemoths like AT&T Stadium in Dallas. It was built in 1922 with an original capacity of 66,210, so its footprint is considerably smaller, but it still sits 104,944, and when you add some standing only tickets, attendance exceeds 108,000 for marquee matchups. Enter via the main entrance beneath the rotunda at the north end of the stadium, genuflecting beneath the stained glass windows that were installed as part of a renovation in 2001. The concourses are quite barren, with little decoration, but once you enter the seating bowl, you will be stunned. The venue is nicknamed the Horseshoe, as you will notice standing at the top of the north stands. A large scoreboard sits above the south end, while a smaller one adorns the north side. Note the 2014 championship year along the railing at the north end of the stadium. There is much chanting going on before the game, with the four stands chanting O-H-I-O alternately, starting with the south stand. A number of other chants are heard throughout the game. Everybody has lots of fun, except the poor visiting fans. Chanting continues throughout the game and is a huge part of the fantastic atmosphere here. The OSU Marching Band (often referred to as The Best Damn Band in the Land) marches out of the north ramp (known as the “ramp entrance”) around 20 minutes before kickoff and immediately puts on one of the most entertaining shows you’ll see. The pregame show is similar each week, with the highlight being the creation of the Script Ohio and the dotting of the i. Make sure to be in your seats at least 30 minutes prior to kickoff to see this. Of course, Hang On Sloopy is also played (study the words before you go). The band also performs at halftime with a different theme each week. Extremely impressive, though in some cases you need to look at the big screen to see exactly what their formation represents if you are not sitting high on the east side. From start to finish, it is a wild ride at Ohio Stadium and one that can be enjoyed throughout the entire day. Neighborhood 5 The campus of The Ohio State University is just a couple of miles north of downtown Columbus and quite attractive in its own right. Just north of the stadium is Lane Avenue which has a few bars, including the Varsity Club and the Thirsty Scholar. A few minutes east at the corner of Lane and High Street is a Buffalo Wild Wings, the Library Bar, and the Little Bar, all doing great business before a game. There are also a number of eateries catering to students here, such as the Chop Shop, a hamburger joint next to the BWW. Further north you can find Hendoc’s Pub (2375 North High St), a relaxed bar with decent beer specials, and Hounddog’s Pizza (2657 North High St) which serves excellent food and is a great late night option as it’s open 24 hours a day. If you return to downtown, you have another wide range of options around Nationwide Arena as well as the Short North district. Safe to say you will not have any difficulty discovering a spot to eat or drink either before or after the game. Fans 5 The game I attended was dubbed “Black Saturday in the Shoe” and Ohio State wore black uniforms for the first time in their history. Fans were asked to wear black and many responded as the majority of the crowd sported some sort of black attire, a very impressive look. Beyond this, fans are well behaved and friendly to visiting supporters (except those from Michigan). Given how much tailgating is taking place outside,you may expect a rowdier crowd similar to what you get at NFL games, but that is not the case. At the recent game I attended, there was one obnoxious gentleman nearby but he was quieted down by the ushers and those around him who just wanted to watch the game. Some fans smuggle in flasks, but the lack of alcohol sales does tend to keep things under control. Fans participate in the chants throughout the game and love their team and the overall experience. I left very impressed with the Buckeye fan base. Access 4 There are several game day lots (scarlet lots on this map) surrounding the stadium, each of which costs $15. The lots west of SR 315 are quite empty four hours before game time and do provide shuttle service, though afterwards, there is traffic on the surface streets for several blocks. Traffic moves well in general, both in the immediate vicinity of the stadium and further afield. If you don’t mind walking a mile or so, you might be able to find free street parking without meters (which are in effect until 10 pm even on Saturday). Columbus transit also provides shuttle service to the game, though with parking at the Expo Center at $5 and the shuttle ride at $5.50, I’m not sure it is worth it. Make sure to get into the stadium early because there is a lot going on and it takes time to tour. With the small footprint, concourses can get crowded, especially on the upper levels, while the entrances get very busy in the last half-hour before kickoff as the tailgating population emerges from their tents around the same time. If you wait too long, you will miss the band’s must-see, pregame performance. Capacity increased after some end zone seats were added for 2015, but there isn’t really a bad seat in the place. It takes about 30 minutes to tour around, checking food options and trying to get pictures from different angles. Ushers guard every entryway but are friendly and will let you through to take a photo or two. Washrooms can get crowded, especially at halftime, so plan accordingly. After the game, the stairways going down will be quite busy, so take your time as some of them are rather narrow. Once you are clear of the stadium, foot traffic moves well and there are dozens of police officers assisting drivers in exiting the area quickly. Return on Investment 5 Tickets vary in price depending on the opponent. For the 2015 season, prices ranged from $65 for weak non-conference opponents, $79 for less popular conference foes, $125 for Penn State, and $150 for Michigan State. For these high-demand games, tickets are very difficult to get through public sale, and you will need to get on the official site as soon as they go on sale as they sell out within minutes. The secondary market is no cheaper as this team draws well over 100,000 for every game. There are three seating decks, A, B, and C, with even-numbered sections on the west and odd- numbered sections on the east. Even from high up, you get a good view, though binoculars are helpful. Despite the price, the experience is unparalleled in all of sports. With only six or seven home games per year, you have very few opportunities to get here and even at $150, it is worth it if you are a stadium journeyer. Extras 4 For those who want to see more of the band, there is a “Skull Session” at nearby St. John’s Arena where the band practices, with doors opening four hours before the game. The rotunda is the unique area that marks the main entrance to the stadium on the north side. There are several plaques here commemorating the football program and the stadium itself, as well as three stained glass windows showing football scenes that were added in 2001. If you don’t think Ohio State Football is a religion, you will after seeing these. Just in front of the rotunda is a sculpture that honors Jesse Owens, who attended Ohio State and won a record eight individual championships before going on to world fame at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. I enjoyed the reaction of the fans to the Michigan muffed punt that cost them the game against Michigan State. This low-light was played several times on the scoreboard before the game, leading to a lot of cheering from the assembled. Final Thoughts Ohio Stadium is doubtless one of the top experiences for a sports traveler. College football home games are truly events and if you haven’t been to one of the football stadiums in the Big Ten, consider Ohio State as the perfect place to start.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 William S. Johnson Arena 1416 Spring St. Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Jeffersonville HS Red Devils website William S. Johnson Arena website Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 5,306 The Home to High School Hoops in Jeffersonville Jeffersonville High School basketball began in 1906, and in little over a century, the program has won 1,649 games, 34 sectional titles, 16 regional championships, six semi-states, and one state title. The list also includes 12 members of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and 11 Indiana All-Stars. One of those Hall of Famers is William Johnson, whom the building is named after, who served as the team captain for two seasons and led the Devils to 31 consecutive victories heading into the 1935 State Championship. However, mysterious circumstances on that final day of the tournament in which the Devils played three games without their head coach Hunk Francis who was found “in a stupor” in a taxi cab by his players that morning. He was incapacitated during the team’s final day of play. Devils head coach Janis “Hunk” Francis was found in a stupor in a taxi cab by his players as they were about to head to the Butler (now Hinkle) Fieldhouse. Johnson took over as player-coach, and Francis had to be propped up on the bench throughout the first two games. The Devils won the first two games but fell to Anderson High School in the championship game 23-16. Francis claimed that he was doped the night before and that it might have involved some prominent Jeffersonville people. Many people thought he was drunk, but his effects did not wear off by the championship game that night, and it was reported that his condition didn’t get better until two days later. Francis resigned a week later. Was Francis drugged after he left the team dinner Friday evening? The number one theory is that gamblers wanted to prevent Jeffersonville from winning; allegedly, odds were 12 to 7 against the Devils winning against the favored Anderson team. Players seldom talked about the mystery surrounding the 1935 championship game, and with all the members now deceased, it is now part of Hoosier High School lore. The Devils would not make it back to the title game until 1974, and it would not be until 1993 that they broke their jinx and captured the school’s lone basketball state title at the Hoosier Dome. Food & Beverage 3 The main concession stand is located in the main lobby of the building offering many items found at other gyms. Fans can purchase a hot dog, chili and cheese hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, and a dish they call Devil nachos for the prices of $1.50 and $2.50. Guests can wash it all down with a bottle of Coca-Cola or Sweet Tea. Atmosphere 3 The gymnasium debuted in 1972 and was renamed in honor of Johnson seven years later. It originally had a capacity of 5,306–one of 31 gyms in the state that seat 5,000 or more–but was trimmed down to around 4,800 after recent renovations that included the WJHI radio station in the upper level. The seating sections are broken into an upper and lower level, with wood on top and red plastic seats on the bottom; the top level offers a wraparound concourse for easy movement and a few nice vantage points from behind the net on both sides. The Red Devil theme is evident from a fire design foul line, a giant J-tailed logo at the center court, and four state championship banners hanging from the rafters in one corner of the gym. The main lobby is large enough to offer a trophy room, ticket offices, a concession stand, and four glass cylinders that display the school’s four state championship titles. There is even a button that plays the final 39 seconds of the 1993 state championship basketball team’s radio broadcast, a very nice touch. One game worth checking out is against New Albany. The heated rivalry dates back to 1909 and a packed gym is expected when the Bulldogs come to town. The game takes on a college feel with a bolstered student section and pre-game ceremonies that are passionate and engraved in the hearts of many in town. The Jeffersonville/New Albany rivalry is at 160 games as of this writing. Neighborhood 4 Jeffersonville is located across the river from Louisville, Kentucky, but offers enough dining and entertainment that might keep you in Indiana. Main Street borders the Ohio River and is home to the Big Four Bridge, which is a pedestrian-only crossing that offers a spectacular view of the Louisville skyline and the many barges that pass underneath. Some markers detail the history of the bridge that was first constructed in 1895. Downtown Jeffersonville features shops and restaurants, infused with local traditions and buildings that have been repurposed. Pearl St. Taphouse, Big Four Burgers & Beer, and The Barrelhouse on Market are three top choices. If you are looking for more wallet-friendly places, visit Orange Clover Kitchen or Ann’s By the River. Pearl St. Game & Coffee House pours some of the best coffee in the area, it is ridiculously smooth. Howard Steamboat Museum & Mansion is a great way to spend an hour or two, or one can simply cross the river into Louisville and explore other great museums, fine restaurants, and plenty of bourbon distilleries and craft breweries. A few miles down the interstate in New Albany is one of the area’s best breweries. The New Albanian Brewing Company Pizzeria & Public House is both a great place for locally brewed beers and homemade pizza. Fans 3 The Red Devils fans have a long history with their basketball and rivalry games against nearby New Albany High School would be the game you would want to attend during the season. The fan base does its best rooting for their hometown team and when you are in this part of the state, basketball roots run a little deeper. Access 3 Johnson Arena is a nice-sized facility that is extremely easy to get around. There is plenty of parking located outside of the main entrance and it’s located only a few miles from the I-265. However, one should use their GPS when traveling by car. There are bathrooms on both levels of the facility and seats and exits are marked for fans inside the main gym. Return on Investment 4 The Johnson Arena is your typical basketball gym from the 1970s and when it is filled, one begins to understand the term Hoosier Hysteria. Ticket prices are $6 and concession prices are less than $2.50. The main lobby offers a nice collection of basketball traditions and plenty of accolades from the various school sports teams. Visitors also get to enjoy some quality time along Main Street in downtown Jeffersonville. It’s a very charming city that is nice to visit during the basketball season, but perhaps more appealing during the warmer months of the year. Extras 2 The Johnson Arena receives a point for the interactive display of the 1993 state championship team. Fans can press a button to hear the final 39 seconds of the radio broadcast from that magical season that resulted in the school’s first state championship after several finishes as runner-up. The Johnson Arena receives its last point for being located in a very pretty town that offers a lot to do before and after the game. The Main Street area has great restaurants and places to grab a drink and you can also take a nice walk across the Ohio River into Louisville if that strikes your fancy. The Big Four Bridge is also a nice attraction that is a perfect way to get a little walk on a warm day. Final Thoughts There is a lot to enjoy about watching a basketball game at the William Johnson Arena including easy access off the interstate, a charming Main Street, proximity to Louisville, and affordable concession prices. There is a lot of history on display, but easily could be more from a basketball program with over 100 years of operation and various seasons of winning basketball. If you are ever in the area, check to see if the Red Devils are playing a game at the Johnson Arena.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 McAnally Center 910 E Washington St Greencastle, IN 46135 Greencastle Tiger Cubs website McAnally Center website Year Opened: 1969 Capacity: 4,900 One of Indiana’s Best-Kept Secret Russell S. Hessler served as the principal of Greencastle High School for 40 years from 1978 to 2018 and was the woodshop teacher before moving into his administrative role. His experience and craftsmanship paid off when the school decided to renovate the gymnasium seating and replace its home court several years ago. Hessler was instrumental in redesigning the look of the McAnally Center that opened in 1969 and at one time sat 5,200 spectators. The first phase was recoloring the bleachers, resulting in the gym's capacity scaling down to 4,900. The new bleacher seating went from dark brown to school colors of purple and gray. A few years later, the court was altered, resulting in the two-tone surface brown hues matching the brown awnings on top of the gym’s dome roof ceiling. The court design was part of a school-wide contest by 15 students. The winning design included the schools giant “G” logo–modeled after the University of Georgia and not the Green Bay Packers–and the new Tiger Cub logo that Hessler co-designed and paid the $125 trademark fee. He included the proper shape of the Tiger Cub teeth. The school gets its name from DePauw University, which is known as the Tigers. The high school began using the Tiger Cubs name a little while after. The basketball team was a finalist for three straight state tournaments from 1931 to 1933, losing in the 1931 and 1933 title games. The gymnasium would be named after its star Jess McAnally who would pass away shortly after graduating. Food & Beverage 3 The food options at the McAnally Center are what you will find at most other basketball gyms in the state. The menu items include hot dogs, jumbo hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, pretzels, candy, and Pepsi products. There are two concession stands at the bottom corners of the building and for an added treat, ice cream sundaes are offered for $4 on the upper concourse. All of the proceeds benefit the all-sports booster club. Atmosphere 4 The McAnally Center is much like any other high school gymnasium in Indiana in its framework. It is large, offers bleacher seating, has two sections of seats, features a couple of small concession stands, offers a student section, and has the school band playing in a designated area. However, the arena is very well-lit and provides a “wow factor” the moment you walk in through the door. The dome ceiling offers LED lighting that hangs above the court and a modern scoreboard decked out in school colors that also adds a bit of “pop” to the building. At both ends of the court are areas where school championships are displayed prominently and four banners hang which feature the state finalists of 1931 to 1933. Just outside the arena on the upper concourse is the trophy room that is dominated by Jess McAnally who led the Tiger Cubs to those three state championships. He went on to play college basketball at Northwestern University in Chicago but died unexpectedly during his sophomore year. When the building was being constructed, his family made sure that it was named after him. There was no team mascot during our visit, but the PA announcer did quite a nice job throughout the game introducing players to the sound system that was loud and clear. There are also fellow booster clubs on the upper concourse selling merchandise and even ice cream sundaes during the game. Neighborhood 4 The town of Greencastle is located about 60 miles west of Indianapolis and is accessible by I-70. It is known as being the home to DePauw University, a private liberal arts college with an enrollment of around 2,300 students that was established in 1837. The town of 10,508 people does offer quite a bit of local eateries to enjoy after the game. Wasser Brewing Company combines well-crafted beers with fine foods in a slightly upscale atmosphere. The beer is quite good and the recommended dishes would be the smoked pork banh mi and breaded tenderloin sandwiches. Almost Home contemporary cuisine is surrounded by a vast amount of Chicago Cubs paraphernalia on the brick walls. Bridges offer wood-fired pizzas, chef-inspired dishes, and a selection of fine wine in a very “swanky” setting. If you are looking for freshly made burgers, hand-cut fries, drafts, and a fun atmosphere, Tap House 24 is your destination. Fans 3 The Tiger Cub fans put on a good showing for home games and support the boys in purple out on the court. The student section stands throughout the game and is highly visible and also extremely supportive of the basketball team. Access 4 The gymnasium is 50 years old but appears to be somewhat newer based on recent renovations to the seating area, lighting, and flooring. Fans enter the main entrance at the bottom and staircases take them to the upper level. The main concourse wraps around the entire court for easy access and viewing of the action of the game. Return on Investment 4 The cost to see a basketball game is $5 and falls in line with many other high school gymnasiums in the state of Indiana. However, this is one of the best-lit gyms in the state and it has a court that is unparalleled to any other that I have seen in my last four years of touring various facilities in the Hoosier State. Downtown Greencastle also provides some great restaurants for dining and drinking and you’re not too far away from Indianapolis to make the commute. Extras 3 The McAnally Center receives a point for the LED lighting that makes everything pop throughout the facility. The lights hang from the dome roof and provide a visual that is stunning to the first-time visitor. The second point is for the basketball court which is among the prettiest that I have seen in the state. The multi-color wood floor features the school's “G’ logo in the center as well as the updated Tiger Cub logo on both sides of the floor. The third point is for the scoreboard which is among the newest and brightest in the state. There are also two other scoreboards at each end of the gym that make it much easier for referees, players, and coaches to see how much time is left in the game. Final Thoughts I had not heard too much about the McAnally Center but after looking through a list of gymnasiums recently I saw a few pictures and thought it was worth my effort to make a trip out to see a game. I am glad I did since the very gorgeous-looking building offers wonderful colors, lighting, and plenty of visuals to set it apart from any other gymnasium. It was also a pleasure to talk to former school principal Russell S. Hessler; I learned a lot more about that gymnasium than I would have ever fathomed. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 George Mason Stadium 4400 University Drive Fairfax, VA 22030 George Mason Patriots website George Mason Stadium website Capacity: 5,000 Patriot Games The George Mason Patriots soccer and lacrosse teams plays their home games in the 5,000 seat George Mason Stadium. The venue is located in a complex which also includes the GMU Field House as well as Spuhler Field , home of the school’s baseball team. It has previously hosted some D.C. United matches in the U.S. Open Cup and other lesser tournaments, but the team now plays those at its new stadium, Audi Field . On the lacrosse side, it was formerly the home of the Washington Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse, before they relocated to Annapolis, became the Chesapeake Bayhawks, and eventually folded. This review will focus on the experience at George Mason Stadium for a women's lacrosse game. Mason does not have a men's lacrosse team, so during the lacrosse season only the women call this place home. Food & Beverage 2 There is a cart parked on the track underneath the scoreboard at George Mason Stadium that serves a basic selection of food. Just about the only thing that can be a meal is a hot dog, while bottled soda and water and assorted snacks, cookies, chips and candy are also available. Prices are reasonable with nothing more than $5 but the selection is quite limited. Fans are also permitted to bring their own food and drink into the stadium with them if they so choose. . Atmosphere 2 George Mason Stadium has a large set of bleachers that can seat up to 5,000 fans, which is absolutely cavernous given they usually attract only a few hundred. All bleachers are standard benches without backs and are separated from the field by a track so they do not have the greatest view of the action. The bleachers' sheer size and distance from the field take away a lot from the atmosphere here. Bigger isn't always better and this stadium proves that. A small scoreboard is located behind the goal on the right as you are sitting in the bleachers and shows only the basic information. The team will occasionally do pregame or halftime activities to honor various groups and will play music during breaks in the action, but this is a pretty standard experience. Some of the best lacrosse fan experiences in the country are located in the Baltimore-Washington area, but unfortunately George Mason is not one of them. The atmosphere here is pretty basic and what you'd expect from most non-revenue sports. Neighborhood 3 Fairfax is a typical suburban area about 25 miles outside Washington, D.C. There is a shopping center across campus which includes several chain places and a movie theatre. If you’re willing to drive a few miles, the Glory Days Grill in the City of Fairfax is a local favorite, as is Capital Ale House. While Fairfax doesn’t have the same excitement you’d get in the District, it’s still a nice suburb with plenty to do and places to eat before or after the game. Fans 2 Mason will average several hundred fans a game, which is typical for women's college lacrosse. Most of them are friends and family of the players or have some other connection to the school. They can get passionate, but the fact that the stadium is much larger than it needs to be means the crowd noise and energy is a lot less than it otherwise would be. This is unfortunate and not really the fans' fault, but it does bring down the rating here. Access 4 George Mason’s campus is about six miles off the Capital Beltway (I-495) or three miles off I-66. Once you’re on campus, ample free parking is available in the lot stretching between the Field House and Spuhler Field (with the stadium in the middle), and more parking is available on the other side of the Field House. Typically parking will not be a hassle, even if there is a baseball game at Spuhler Field at the same time. However, the Field House does occasionally host outside events as well, and those can draw much larger crowds than the typical Mason game. When Stadium Journey visited for our review, there was a youth wrestling tournament going on in the Field House that drew participants and families from all across the region, and the parking lot was packed. However, we have parked in this lot several times before for other events at George Mason Stadium and Spuhler Field and have encountered no issues whatsoever. Check ahead of time to see what is happening, and leave yourself a lot of extra time to park if something major is going on in the Field House that day. Otherwise you should probably be fine. Unfortunately, Mason’s campus is not easily Metro-accessible as the closest stop is Vienna, five miles away. Despite having the school name in the station’s full name (Vienna/Fairfax-GMU), getting to the stadium from there is not very easy. There is a shuttle bus that is about a 15-minute ride to campus, but then you will have to walk another 15-20 minutes to get to the stadium. Under no circumstances should you use the Virginia Square-GMU station, as that serves Mason’s Arlington satellite campus, and is nowhere near the main campus in Fairfax. Although there are no restrooms in the stadium itself, there are some next door in the Field House which are available during games. Typically these are of a large enough size to accommodate the stadium crowds without issue, but as with parking, this can change if there is an outside event at the Field House that day. Return on Investment 3 Admission to Mason lacrosse games is free and concessions are affordable. Parking is usually free on weekends, but there is a cost on weekdays or if there is an event at the Field House so check the signs to be sure. If there is a charge, you will need to pay on your smartphone using the ParkMobile app. While a visit to a Mason game is affordable, there is not enough here to earn an above average score. Extras 1 There are free programs available by the entrance, but that is the only real extra here. Final Thoughts George Mason Stadium is a classic example of why bigger stadiums aren't always better stadiums. A 5,000 seat grandstand separated from the field by a track is far too large for the crowds Mason attracts, and it really puts a damper on the atmosphere. The stands feel cavernous and far removed from the action, and that turns what could otherwise be a great experience into a mediocre one at best. There are many college lacrosse teams to choose from in the Baltimore-Washington area, and while fans of George Mason may want to check out their lacrosse team, there are better places for neutrals to check out a game close by.

Photo courtesy of New York Daily News Texas A&M has the 12th Man. Columbia University football has Jake Novak, arguably its number one fan. For more than two decades, Jake has been blogging about CU football at Roar Lions 2024 . In equal parts, he has played the role of cheerleader, promoter and critic. This year, Jake was cheering a lot. For the first time since 1961, Columbia won the Ivy League title, sharing it with Harvard and Dartmouth. Jake took a few minutes to discuss this historic season, as well as some other issues. STADIUM JOURNEY: So, how does it feel to finally be at the top of the Ivy league? Does the air feel different? Is it as glorious as you imagined? You've been in the desert for so, so long. JAKE NOVAK:  It definitely feels great, though not exactly like the promised land because it was a shared championship with two teams, which we lost to during the season. I've been reliably told we don’t have to refer to this as a "co-championship," but that's going to take a little getting used to. What makes up for the 3-way tie is how good this team was overall and what it overcame both before and during the season.    STADIUM JOURNEY: You do a lot of predictions on the blog. Did you see this coming this season? Did  anyone  see this coming? JAKE NOVAK: No one seriously saw this coming. I felt like last year's 3-7 team should have gone 5-5 or so, but not much better than that. We had issues at the QB position all year, and you can't expect to have a winning season without good overall QB play. So we entered this season knowing we had to start a totally new starter and how much can you expect from a season like that? I did think new Head Coach Jon Poppe was a winner though, and considering all the returning talent at the other positions I thought we could eke out a 6-4 season this year, going either 3-4 in the Ivy League or at best 4-2. It turned out we found a generational talent in sophomore starting QB Chase Goodwin, and his two backups performed well enough after he went down with a non-career threatening injury at midseason. That made a huge difference. Columbia ended up 7-3 and 5-2 in the Ivies, and that's actually a major step from 6-4 and 3-4 in the league. If you know, you know.     STADIUM JOURNEY: How did you become such a diehard Columbia football fan? How on earth does this happen? Describe the evolution. JAKE NOVAK:  When I began as a freshman at Columbia in 1988, the Lions were in the middle of the longest losing streak in college football history. You couldn't help but root for those guys. Columbia lost the first three games of the season and then stunned Princeton at Homecoming to end the 44-game streak. The campus went wild and the administration even served free pizza and beer to everyone. No one was even carded! And I was hooked. I was just amazed that kids going to my college actually played football at all. It still kind of amazes me. The money-centric aspect of pro sports gets me down sometimes, so the purity of Ivy ball resonates. I'm much more of a fan of CU football than any other sports team I follow.    STADIUM JOURNEY: How long have you been blogging about CU football? What drives you to keep humming along?  JAKE NOVAK:  I started the blog in 2005 and used to update it just about every day. Life has made that harder to do in recent years, but I try to keep it going as often as I can.    STADIUM JOURNEY: There have been some low points over the past few decades. What was the lowest? JAKE NOVAK:  The absolute low point was the hiring of Pete Mangurian as the Head Coach of the program after the 2011 season. I tried to be a good soldier about it for a while, but this was a guy with a documented history of altercations with players, including the very beloved Jumbo Elliot from the New York Giants. There was no real search process before he was hired, and we were in big trouble in the beginning. The players felt abandoned and abused and going into Mangurian's final season, I decided to go into full revolt mode against the CU Athletic Department. I got a lot of support from many fans and alumni and parents. but some people abandoned and shunned me. It was ultimately worth it, but Mangurian left the program in a shambles and riding a 21-game losing streak at the end of the 2014 season.     STADIUM JOURNEY: You're an indie operation, not affiliated with CU.  Are you still getting some cold shoulders from the Columbia administration? Or have things mellowed? JAKE NOVAK: Yes and no. One key staffer in the Athletic Department definitely still hates me. But he's enough of a sports fan to know that the things I pushed for were way overdue and the program is the better for it, not because of me, but because I gave a platform to so many people who otherwise would have been silenced.    STADIUM JOURNEY: Last year, the blog went on hiatus, at least it sure seemed that way. It was amid the campus protests. Was this a coincidence? Were you considering stepping away from CU football and perhaps Columbia in general? JAKE NOVAK:  That's exactly right. I am deeply saddened by not only the radical antisemitism Columbia keeps allowing on campus, but by the terrible advertisement for the school these protesters truly are. Whenever they speak publicly, they can barely put together a coherent sentence. Even if I did agree with their political points, I'd be embarrassed to be associated with them. The school is doing very serious damage to itself and I am ashamed of the institution. I considered not supporting the teams for some time, but the varsity athletes are clearly not the people protesting on campus and spreading hate. They've been going through much worse than I am during this ordeal, and I decided to support them. But I refrained from wearing my Columbia gear at the games and held back on donations. I wore my Sid Luckman Chicago Bears jersey to every game and that was that.    STADIUM JOURNEY: Wien Stadium is a special venue. What's it like to attend a game there? What's special about it? JAKE NOVAK:  It's a very beautiful spot in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan. The Inwood Hill Park adjacent to the stadium is the last large chunk of Manhattan that still looks the same as it was when the Dutch first landed here in the 16th century. The stadium itself offers some great views of the Hudson River and the rock formations. In the stands, you are very close to the field and there are no bad seats. Parking is a challenge, but not impossible.    STADIUM JOURNEY: So let's say someone's planning on attending a game at Wien. What are some ideal spots to hit before and after the game? What other insider tips do you have for fans who plan on visiting Wien?   JAKE NOVAK: Well, definitely stroll through Inwood Hill Park if you can and see the amazing views.  About 20 blocks from the stadium is The Cloisters, a mock up of a massive medieval castle and grounds that the Metropolitan Museum has used for decades to house its Medieval art, armor collection. It's a great place to visit.  Inwood itself used to be a restaurant and bar desert, but that's not true anymore. One place that never would have existed in old Inwood is Inwood Farm Cafe, which is just diagonally across from the stadium on 218th street. It was a blast going there after Columbia beat Cornell to watch Harvard lose to Yale and thus clinch the co-championship for Columbia on the TV over the bar. Food is good there too.    STADIUM JOURNEY: Have you considered stopping the blog, or are you in this for the long haul? JAKE NOVAK:  I'll always update the blog as long as I'm physically able. It may become a monthly periodical one day or something like that if push comes to shove.  Jon Hart is  @manversusball

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Dickey-Stephens Park 400 W Broadway North Little Rock, AR 72114 Arkansas Travelers website Dickey-Stephens Park website Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 7,300 All Aboard Travs Baseball Baseball in the Little Rock area has been around since 1887 with the Little Rock Travelers. Named from the folk song, “The Arkansas Traveler” the team from Little Rock enjoyed two titles and fielded a team until 1961. Baseball royalty including Pat Gillick and Cal Ripken Sr. saw their careers run through the Arkansas capital. The modern Arkansas Travelers were established in the International League in 1963. After one year, Arkansas traveled to the Pacific Coast League for two seasons before settling in at the Double-A level and the Texas League. The Travelers spent the bulk of their existence as the affiliate for the St. Louis Cardinals (1966-2000), but as of 2017 have been the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since moving to the Texas League, success has not been a stranger to the Travs as they have enjoyed eight league titles (1966, 1971, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1989, 2001, 2008). In 1960, Arkansas baseball legend Ray Winder led a public stock drive purchased the New Orleans baseball franchise, and moved it to Little Rock. The modern Travs have been a publicly owned company ever since Arkansas Travelers Baseball Inc. The home for the Travs is Dickey-Stephens Park. Located across the river from Little Rock, in North Little Rock, Dickey-Stephens Park was named after two sets of brothers, Major Leaguers Bill and George Dickey, and businessmen George and Jackson Stephens, and is located near the Union Pacific Railyard. The City of North Little Rock-owned park takes the railroad motif and rolls with it since opening in 2007, and provides a terrific backdrop for Minor League Baseball. Food & Beverage 5 Concession options at Dickey-Stephens Park are excellent. Several concession stands offer a wide variety of ballpark options and options well beyond the expected ballpark fare. For those who love hot dogs, Nathan’s are the dog of choice at the park, and Seattle, Chicago, Detroit, and Texas Dogs can be found at the Fielder’s Choice stand. Frito Chili Pie, BBQ Pork Sandwiches, Jalapeno Cheese Stuffed Pretzels, Cheese Curds, and regular and Deep Fried Pickles are among the best choices. Carnival fare such as corn dogs, deep-fried Oreos and deep-fried PB&J take the options to the next level. There is a huge selection of beer that can be found at Brewski Junction for those interested in a brew on a baseball evening. There’s something for everyone at Dickey-Stephens. Atmosphere 4 Overall, Dickey-Stephens Park is a nice park with a classic feel that needs a bit of a paint job. Dickey-Stephens Park takes a train station motif and weaves it throughout the ballpark. The exterior is brown brick and is built to look like an old-time train station, complete with a clock tower. Outside of the main gate hang four bronze plaques immortalizing the two sets of brothers, the Dickeys and the Stephens, who are the fathers of baseball in North Little Rock. Also outside of the main gate is a sculpture of a batter, which adds to the ambiance. Inside the main gate, the train motif continues with an old-school wooden ticket booth which serves as an information booth and customer service. The 360 concourse is behind all of the seating and beneath the luxury boxes. The luxury box and press box level features unique forest green siding under a shingle roof. The seating area is split with five rows of green stadium seats in the lower section and twelve rows in the upper level. Berm seating is found past the right and left field fences. The beer garden is at field level past the first base dugout. A nice view of the Broadway Street Bridge can be seen from the third base side of the ballpark. The team store keeps the train theme going as the Travelers Crossing; berm seating areas are The Platform and The Yard; and concession stands are named The Box Car, Border Stop, and Doubleday’s Depot. The Travelers Museum is found in the concourse behind home plate, but unfortunately was closed on the day of this review. Past right field, a train can be found to give kids rides and Otey’s Splash Pad and kids area give the little ones a place to let loose and keep cool. For a team with such a significant history as the Travelers, there is very little history on display. Plaques for baseball dignitaries Ray Winder, Jim Elder, and Max Moses are found in the concourse, but there were not any obvious indicators of the eight league titles that the Travelers have earned or the obligatory displays of MiLB players who have gone on to the Majors. The gameday production at a Travelers game is fairly simple. One of the main features is the old-school organist, who is quite young and plays from the concourse behind the plate. The video board stands past left field and features a clock and faux flags at the top. It is assumed that mascots Ace and Otey are found during most games, however, the game that was reviewed featured very high temperatures, making it understandable that the mascots were nowhere to be found. Neighborhood 4 Dickey-Stephens Park is located right along the river in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Just North of the Arkansas River and Arkansas Capital, North Little Rock does offer some spots for pre or post-game food and drink. Flyway Brewing, Brood and Barley, Diamond Bear Brewing, Skinny J’s, and Diamond Bear Brewing are all options worth considering. As far as other sporting options go, Little Rock is fairly limited. Heading south, across the river is the best plan, and taking in some Little Rock Trojans NCAA Basketball may be the best plan, however, the seasons do not readily cross. Trojans baseball may be a better plan. As far as other tourist options go, the Northshore Riverwalk Park is mere steps from the Ballpark and the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum is a couple blocks away near the fairgrounds. Otherwise, heading south to Little Rock offers more options including the Historic Arkansas Museum, Clinton Library & Museum, and Gateway Bridge Trail. For fans wishing to stay near the ballpark, the Wyndham Riverfront can be seen from the park. Fans 4 The Travs have enjoyed strong support at the box office for a long time. In 2023, the Arkansas Travelers averaged over 4,800 fans per game, up over 400 fans per game from the previous season. This puts them in 43rd place in all of Minor League Baseball and 4th in the Texas League. Although the attendance wasn’t up to average on the game that was attended, probably due to the three-figure temperature at first pitch, the Travs did enjoy a supportive crowd and into the game. Access 4 Getting to Dickey-Stephens Park is not too difficult. Located in North Little Rock, on the north shore of the Arkansas River, the park is west of I-30 and there is easy access from the highway. The main parking lot is to the west of the park and there is easy access with a convenient tunnel underneath the road leading to the park. For fans wanting to take public transit to the game, some buses travel along Maple Street and Broadway and the trolley travels a block east on Main Street. Ticket windows are located outside, on the north side of the ballpark. Getting around the park is not too difficult and the washroom facilities are good. The washrooms do lack any air conditioning or fans making them pretty rough on a hot day. Return on Investment 5 The Arkansas Travelers offer terrific value for the sporting dollar. Tickets for the Travs begin at $7 for berm seating and go up to $15. Parking is under $10 and concession prices are what one would expect for a minor-league park. The park is a great venue for Minor League Baseball and the product on the field is strong. Overall, it is a great opportunity to get the family out to a game and not break the bank in the process. Extras 2 An extra mark for the railway motif, which is found throughout Dickey-Stephens Park and offers a unique experience among minor league parks. An extra mark for the history of the Travelers. The Travs boast the third-longest nickname duration in MiLB behind the Buffalo Bisons and Indianapolis Indians. Final Thoughts A trip to Dickey-Stephens Park to see the Arkansas Travelers is a great way to spend a summer evening or weekend afternoon. The Travs offer great value in a unique setting at a family-friendly price. A must for all baseball fans. ---- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Stick Williams Dream Field 7531 Tuckaseegee Rd Charlotte, NC 28214 Queens University of Charlotte Royals website Stick Field of Dreams website Year Opened: 2019 Stick Williams Dream Field - Queens University Royals The Queens University Royals are not just one of the newer baseball programs in the NCAA’s Division I, but their existence as a varsity sport is still in its infancy. Transitioning from a club sport in 2018 to a varsity team has come with many challenges, but the Royals have handled them all in stride as they have worked to establish themselves in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions are provided through local food trucks – one of the trucks offers various BBQ options and has an accompanying baked goods tent for sweet treats. There is not much in the way of traditional stadium fare, but if the trucks are changed out regularly, prices and options can change from game-to-game. There is a concession stand on the back side of the press box, but it does not appear to be used for Royals’ games. Atmosphere 3 Stick Williams Dream Field is part of the larger Knothole Foundation – Tuckaseegee baseball/softball complex that includes the Queens University softball team’s field (together they are called the Stick Williams Dream Fields). Seating at Stick Williams Dream Field is limited but is just right for the program. There is a small grandstand behind the brick backstop and a pair of aluminum bleachers on the visiting side of the field. A handful of fans choose to stand in the area next to the Royals’ dugout and watch the game from this vantage point. The seating here is cozy, but it works for the size of the crowd typically at each game. There is not a lot when it comes to Stick Williams Dream Field – the Royals play on natural grass with a symmetrical, 8-foot fence that runs 330’ down each of the lines, 375’ to the gaps, and 390’ to dead center. A simple inning-by-inning scoreboard sits just over the right center field fence. The game at Stick Williams Dream Field is as simple as baseball gets – other than walkup music and music between innings, there is not a whole lot going on to entertain fans. While this might be a drawback for some, it does not negatively impact the game experience. Neighborhood 2 Stick Williams Dream Field is located just over 10 miles from the Queens University campus, just outside downtown Charlotte. This separation between campus and the Royal’s home field impacts the student’s motivation to show up and support Queens’ baseball. The Royal’s home field neighbors include West Mecklenburg High School, a small residential neighborhood, a handful of warehouses, and I-85 on the back side of the facility. Given the field’s proximity to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, there are plenty of hotels in the area, but it is a bit lacking when it comes to the selection of restaurants. Fans 3 Queens University is one of the smallest universities in Division I. With an enrollment of just under 1,500 the Royals do not have a large student body to pull from. However, given the size of their population in relation to the size of the crowd, Queens does well in drawing fans to their games. Fans are actively engaged; they get on the umpires just as any fanbase would for calls they see as questionable. It is just that there are not a whole lot of them here when looking at the overall numbers. Access 4 Stick Williams Dream Field is just off the junction of I-485 and I-85, making it accessible from any area. Parking can be a bit tricky, though, especially if there is a softball game being played at the adjacent field at the same time. However, there is an overflow lot across the street at West Mecklenburg High School if space in the primary lot runs out. The seating area for the baseball field is easily accessible and maneuverable – fans can either walk around the back of the press box or pass between the grandstand and backstop. Seats in the grandstand are typically well shaded for early afternoon games, whereas the bleachers are completely in the sun. Seating directly behind home plate is a bit impacted by the team’s camera set up, which is used to analyze the game. It is not overly burdensome, but it does take up some prime seating as the tripod is in the seating area. Return on Investment 4 With no charge for admission or parking, the financial investment of a Royals baseball game is hard to beat. If you choose to get concessions, those can be a bit pricey with the food trucks, but it becomes variable depending on the trucks at each game. Other than the possibility of concessions, the only other investment is time. With that said, if debating about investing time in a Queen’s University baseball game, the volume of sports entertainment choices in and around Charlotte would probably not put Queens’ baseball toward the top of that list. Truist Field just a few miles away, and the newly completed Atrium Health Ballpark just north of Charlotte in Kannapolis, make it difficult for the Royals to attract fans if they were choosing between the baseball options in the area. Extras 2 Knothole Foundation and the Stick Williams Dream Fields were built not just for use by Queens University, but also serve ‘to drive transformative programming for underserved youth.’ Given the proximity to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, planes flying overhead create a bit of a Citi Field ambiance; fans can get a rather good look at the undercarriage of the aircraft as they descend on their final approach. Final Thoughts Stick Will Dream Field is not overwhelmingly impressive when it comes to amenities and extras, but the field does an adequate job serving the purpose it was designed to do. While baseball at Queens probably would not be at top of most “must see” lists, it does provide a pleasant baseball atmosphere for taking in a game.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 1.71 Fallon Field 4605 Lockhart St Dublin, CA 94568 Dublin Leprechauns website Fallon Field website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 350 Dublin (CA) Leprechauns The cleverly named Dublin Leprechauns are members of the Pecos League, an independent league of baseball played in small towns from Kansas to California.  The Leprechauns, founded in 2023, are one of the newest members of the Pecos League. They play their home games at Fallon Park, a premiere sports complex owned and operated by the City of Dublin, CA.  The Leprechauns play in Ball Field G at the corner of Fallon Rd and Central Pkwy. Food & Beverage 2 Vendors sell chips, candy, and soda from a small portable table and a blue Igloo cooler.  The staff places a small electric grill on the table and cooks hot dogs on the spot.  Interestingly, a mobile bar cart (Sip Social Co) is on hand at Leprechauns games. It offers  Five Suns Brewing beers (a hazy IPA, a Pilsner, and more) for $10.  The cart also sells organic root beer, Mandarin Fresca Fizz, and a Zingy Spritzer ($6).  Bottled water is $2.  This is the first time I’ve ever seen one of those mobile bar carts.  The operators kept busy the evening I attended a game. Fans can bring in their own food and drink.  Atmosphere 2 The venue has three rows of cement seats th at are inhabited by tin y ants that bite.  Bring insect repellant so you won’t get the heebie-jeebies from sitting on the cement platform.  Better yet, bring a seat cushion.  The seating offers no shade. An extremely thick chain link fence and poles surround the field.  This makes it difficult to watch the game, but I understand it is for safety reasons. A little, itty bitty press box is behind home plate. As with all Pecos League teams, the home team players groom the field. A very simple dot matrix scoreboard is in left field.  It does not show a line score, and the labels are unreadable. The first base side is the Leprechauns’ side, with the visiting team taking residence in the third base dugout. The music is way too loud to make the game enjoyable.  Bring your earplugs (but even those don’t help pregame).  Activities include a beer batter, a 50/50 raffle, and kids run the bases after the third inning.  The team has a ‘pass the hat’ for fans to drop in a few bucks after a player hits a home run.  They do it for the joy of playing.  The funds from the ‘passing of the hat’ go to the player to help with expenses.   Neighborhood 2 Dublin appears to be an affluent city.  The ballpark is in a residential area.  Restaurants and hotels are not within walking distance.  BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse is about a mile away.  Although a chain, this is probably the closest place to go pre or post-game.  Their beers are tasty.  Dust Bowl Brewing is 1 ½ miles  south, near some outlet shops off I-580 and Fallon Rd.  A friend recommended Porky's Pizza Palace (a 12 – 15 min drive from the park) in Pleasanton.  It has 32 taps, a full bar, and THE BEST fried chicken. Hotels in Dublin are costly.  A Homewood Suites and a Residence Inn are two miles south (near the Dust Bowl Brewing).  For more affordable choices, you’ll want to check out P leasanton, the next town to the west. Plenty of hotels are near the I-580. Dublin CA does not have any tourist attractions; there’s not a whole lot to see and do.  Yo u’ll need to travel a short distance for that.  The good news i s that th e town is close to Oakland, San Francisco, and an hour’s drive to San Jose.  For other baseball and sports to visit in the area, check out the San Jose Giants , Oakland Athletics (at least for now), Oakland Ballers, and Martinez Sturgeon .  Cross over the bay and catch a Vallejo Seaweed or San Rafael Pacifics baseball game.  Soccer fans will enjoy a Bay FC or a San Jose Earthquakes gam e, about a 40-minute drive away. Fans 1 Attendance usually runs 35 – 75 fans.  The temperature ofte n is a huge factor in the number of fans at a game; the hotter it is, the fewer fans show up.  On the evening I attended, a much larger group was in attendance, but most were there for a corporate party event.  Those fans were rude and were oblivious to fans who wanted to watch the game, standing right in front of them and blocking the view of the game.  They didn’t care about the game but just socialized without a clue or care of the real fans.  It’s a shame I attended on a night like that. I’ve been told the ardent 35 – 75 regular fans know to bring cushions and a cooler and are much more respectful. Access 3 I recommend parking in the south or lower fields parking lot off Central Pkwy.  Parking is free.  The lot even has an EV charger.  However, it’s a nightmare getting out after the game with all the other activities occurring at the park. The closest commercial airport is San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK), about 22 miles west.  Visitors can take the BART (blue line) to Pleasanton, then take th e number 2 bus to the sports complex.  However, the bus doesn’t operate in the evenings or on the weekends, so public transportation is not an option for most games. The sports complex has serviceable restrooms near the baseball field. Return on Investment 1 Tickets are $13/general admission to sit on cement with no shade.  Senior discounts are not given.  That’s $3 (or 30%) more than other teams in the Pecos League Pacific Division.  It’s too much and not worth it. Go to an Oakland Ballers or a Martinez, Vallejo, or San Rafael Pecos League game instead if needing a baseball fix. Parking is free and the food and drink prices are decent.  . Extras 1 The mobile bar cart (Sip Social Co) the Leprechauns employ for their games deserves an extra mention. Final Thoughts I don’t recommend making a special trip to watch a Dublin Leprechauns game.  If, however, you are in the area in the summer, stop by and watch a game.  The n share yo ur thoughts on the experience.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Elton Pollack Field E Maple St Clinton, SC 29325 Presbyterian Blue Hose website Elton Pollack Field website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 1,000 Elton Pollack Field – Presbyterian College Blue Hose Rural Clinton, South Carolina is home to the Big South Conference member, Presbyterian College Blue Hose. Some may see the “Blue Hose” as a bit of a peculiar name, but when considering the Red Sox and White Sox were named from the color of their uniform socks, it might be more common than initially thought – the Blue Hose derived their nickname from the blue stockings their mascot wore. References to socks or hosiery have been a fairly common moniker throughout the history of sports, most commonly in baseball. Following Presbyterian’s first NCAA baseball tournament appearance in 2021, veteran head coach Elton Pollack was honored by the Blue Hose baseball alumni, who raised the funds to name the Presbyterian Baseball Complex in his honor. Pollack has been at the helm at Presbyterian for nearly two decades, taking over from the current Vanderbilt skipper, Tim Corbin. Food & Beverage 1 Concessions did not used to be an option at Blue Hose games at all, but with the recent completion of facility upgrades, a concession stand was added as part of the clubhouse and restroom additions. Despite there now being concessions when there hadn’t been any in the past, fans are still allowed to bring their own food; this is probably your best bet as the concession stand options are limited to soft pretzels, candy, snacks, and a handful of non-alcoholic beverage options. Atmosphere 2 Elton Pollack Field is as simple as it gets when it comes to college baseball stadiums in the south. Most fans will pass through a black iron gated entryway framed with brick pillars as they enter the field. A newly completed brick building housing restrooms, the small concession stand, and team clubhouse now sits adjacent to the field’s entry point. The grounds around the grandstand still appear to be taking root. The Blue Hose play on a natural grass field with grass base paths down the lines. The dimensions are balanced from foul pole to foul pole with the lines running 325’, power alleys going 375’, and straightaway center 400’. A relatively short 5-foot fence wraps around the outfield and is backed by tall, dense shrubbery. Day games can be rather troublesome when it comes to the sun. While the grandstand is not covered, the problem tends to be more with the aluminum bleachers that reflect the sun a great deal, making keeping your attention on the field a challenge, and tracking a ball in the air is nearly impossible without sunglasses. Neighborhood 3 Elton Pollack Field Is on the back side of Presbyterian’s campus, neighbored by the college’s fraternity houses at one end and Bailey Memorial Stadium , the school’s football and lacrosse stadium, on the other. The college is about a mile from the Clinton town center that is home to a handful of shops and restaurants and the historic train depot. Clinton also has 15 bronze historical markers around the town as part of a walking tour that shares its history – an accompanying narration of the tour can be found on the distrx app, on Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Fans 2 Given the size of Presbyterian’s student body of just under 1,200 students, the Blue Hose draw decently well. Many of the fans do seem to be parents and family members; they are highly supportive of the team. It is a bit disappointing that there seems to be a lack of student support, which is a bit of a mystery given the fraternity houses are just steps from the field. Access 2 Unless traveling between Columbia, SC and Greenville or Spartanburg, the I-26 corridor is not a route many would find themselves on. Being just 3 miles from the highway, Presbyterian is easily accessible for those looking to visit the campus. Once at the field, the primary parking spot for the area is a grassy lot on the opposite side of the street. Be cautioned though – this lot is in prime foul ball territory. However, there are some spots in the small lots next to the football stadium that are well out of reach from a wayward baseball. Return on Investment 4 With free admission, parking, and inexpensive concessions, the financial investment is minimal, but the time investment might be the bigger concern. Though the college is not far off the nearby highway, it really is not a road most would find themselves on, unless specifically going to Clinton. Other than alumni, or a potential student, a trip to Clinton is probably not high on most sports “To Do” lists. Extras 2 Recent facility upgrades have provided fans with a bit more comfortable experience. Player introductions play homage to the Scottish roots of Presbyterianism, as a recording of bagpipes is played as the players take the field. This is also aligned with the school’s mascot, Scotty the Scotsman. Final Thoughts The current upgrades in facilities have provided basic amenities that were either non-existent or minimal at best in the past – just not having to use an outhouse at such an event does a lot to improve the overall experience. Even with the upgrades, however, the facility is still rather sparse in terms of amenities. The game is enjoyable overall, just don’t go with expectations to be entertained with much more than the game on the field.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Cherry Red Records Stadium Plough Ln, London SW17 0NR AFC Wimbledon website Cherry Red Records Stadium website Year Opened: 2020 Capacity: 9.215 The Wombles Love Wimbledon The story of AFC Wimbledon and its home, Plough Lane, known as Cherry Red Records Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is one of the greatest stories in English Football. The club was formed in 2002 by supporters of Wimbledon FC after it relocated 60 miles north to Milton Keynes. The move and changing of its identity to MK Dons in 2004 ended a history that began in 1891. The club had been looking for its own home since vacating the deteriorating Plough Lane in 1991. It shared Selhurst Park, home of Crystal Palace, for 12 seasons before the move north of London. However, a lack of suitable ground did not prevent supporters from creating a new football team to carry on the tradition of the Wombles. The club would begin play in the Combined Counties League, the ninth tier in English Football, before making a meteoric rise to League One 14 years after its formation. The Dons would be promoted six times, becoming the first club formed in the 21st century to achieve Football League status. Another objective was to return to its “spiritual home” of Merton, where the original Plough Lane once stood. The dream became a reality on November 3, 2020, when the Dons opened their new stadium less than 200 yards from the former stadium.  KSS Design Group designed the £34 million multi-purpose stadium surrounded by 600 residential properties and a range of community facilities. Since that day, the club has averaged over 7,700 fans per game, including a sell-out for the match we visited against Carlisle United. The spirit of Wimbledon's past is present in many areas, from the concourse murals to the various banners hanging from the stands.  Food & Beverage 5 The main stand has several areas for food and drinks, including traditional favorites, beers, ciders, and candies. However, there are even more options downstairs behind the South Stand, which is home to The Speedway, which is home to food trucks, and The Phoenix Pub. The Cappagh Stand has several concession Don's Bar & Kitchen stands offering hot dogs, chili dogs, sausage rolls, candies, and hot and cold drinks. The pies include steak, ale and mushroom, chicken, leek and gammon, Bombay potato, and vegan rainbow roll. A small kiosk offers lamb, chicken, and vegetarian samosas.  The beer selection includes Stella Artois, Magners, Camden Pale Ale, and Stout. The wine selection includes rose, red, and white. The stadiums provide plenty of drinks that include Coca-Cola products. There is also tea, coffee, and hot chocolate to warm you up. All beer is served in reusable plastic cups that are placed in a separate bin for use again in the future. Downstairs at The Speedway Bar, fans can enjoy a few more varieties of drinks, including Camden Hells Lager, Reveller Cider, Lucky Saint Lager, and Crazy Gang Pale Ale. Next door is The Phoenix, which serves up draughts from By the Horns Brewing Company.  The pub is open during the match and nonmatch games. The bar offers indoor and outdoor seating and eight beers on draft, including West End Pils, Foundry Stout, Cosmic Warrior IPA, and 2 Social Pale. The rest of the area features local food trucks lined up, offering more options. Fans can enjoy a choripan sandwich from the Argentinian Food Truck,  a Ruben from Brick Lane Bagel Company,  a gyro from Come & Go, a large order of fries from Naked Chips, and Australian-style meat pies with peas and gravy from My Pie. Atmosphere 4 It is one of the newer facilities in English football and provides a proper atmosphere for fans. The Cappagh (West) Stand is the main stand and seats 4,267 people; it offers the best views of the game. The main stand decor consists of murals, bits of history, and plenty of photographs of The Dons history. The open seating also allows fans to view the pitch while they wait in line or if they need to run to the restroom during the game.  There are plenty of pieces of history in this stand, including the Womble Till I Die gate that was moved from the original Plough Lane and now adorns the wall. There is The Greatest Team painting honoring the 1988 FA Cup Championship team that beat Liverpool. More pieces of information feature a timeline of Wimbledon football and an oversized illustration of the club’s history. The Ry (East) Stand offers seating for 2,391 people, offering the least expensive tickets. The Reston Waste (South) Stand seats 1,092 spectators and is home to Wimbledon supporters, who expect to hear cheering, singing, and banging on the side of the stadium. The Paul Strank (North) Stand seats 1,465 people and houses the away supporters, separated from The Ry and Reston Stands and The Speedway Bar area. Neighborhood 2 Plough Lane is in the borough of Merton and across the street from a Shell gas station, a Wicke’s home improvement store, and a Lidl Supermarket. The grounds are surrounded by multiple lofts and small businesses.  However, several pubs are nearby for a drink before the game. The Corner Pin is accessible with a home-supporter ticket and features an outdoor patio. Against the Grain Taproom + Cidery is another pub to try at the game. Dawat Tooting serves Pakistani cuisine. The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is the home venue of the Wimbledon Championships. It is about 2 miles from the stadium and worth a visit for its museum and tours of the facility. Ticket prices for adults range from £15 to £30 for one tour or a combination package. Fans 5 Any group of supporters who form a new club after its old team moves away deserves as many points as it can muster. However, just listening to the fans at the game, you hear why having The Dons back at Wimbledon is important. The supporter sections have chants and celebrations that add another layer to the fandom at the stadium. Access 4 The stadium is well served by public transport links, with Earlsfield Station (trains to Waterloo and the South West), Haydons Road (Thameslink and Southern trains to the South Coast, Central London and Hertfordshire) and Tooting Broadway (Tube Northern Line) all within walking distance. A number of bus services run along Garratt Lane between Earlsfield and Tooting Broadway, while the 493 bus runs from Wimbledon Station (Tube District Line, Tram, South Western Railway and Thameslink) directly outside Plough Lane Stadium. There is no parking on site and it is advisable to access the stadium via public transport. Return on Investment 4 The cheapest ticket prices start at £23 in the Ry Group Family stand and increase to £37 in the Cappagh West stand. Ticket prices for U18 fans are as low as £5 in the Ry Group Family Stand and £18 in the Cappagh West Stand. However, depending on the matchup, tickets should be purchased in advance of game day. Concession prices are reasonable, and there is quite a selection of food. The food trucks in The Speedway are abundant compared to other stadiums in League One. The official team shop has a wide selection of merchandise from multiple styles of kits, scarves, caps, jackets, books, and posters. The shop was packed with shoppers picking up a memento to take home. Extras 4 Plough Lane earns extra points for honoring the history of football in Wimbledon. The murals, photos, and timelines are proudly displayed in the Cappagh West Stand. The highlight is the WTID gate transferred from The Dons former stadium 200 yards away. The Speedway Bar area is another highlight of Plough Lane. Fans enjoy food trucks, pints, and conversation before, at half, and after the match. The open area is a great way to chat with fellow Wombles fans. Plough Lane has multiple banners hanging from the walls of the South, North, and East stands. They represent supporter groups from around the world and other advocate members of the club.  The final point is The Phoenix Bar, which is open to the public on non-match games. The craft beer is from By the Horns Brewing Company and is a fun way to enjoy a pint before or after the match. Final Thoughts Attending an AFC Wimbledon game was quite the experience since a little over two weeks earlier; the pitch had been damaged by heavy flooding. A sold-out crowd welcomed The Dons back after more than a month. It was a proper English football game, and the experience was as advertised. An afternoon at Plough Lane is well spent with a few thousand Womble fans. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Chukchansi Park 1800 Tulane St Fresno, CA 93721 Map It Fresno Grizzlies website Chukchansi Park website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 10,650 Single-A in a Triple-A Chukchansi Park (formerly known as Grizzlies Stadium) hosts the California League minor league baseball Fresno Grizzlies.  Fresno’s first baseball team began in 1898, and the sport has been played in the city off and on since.  The most current iteration moved to Fresno when the Phoenix Firebirds relocated in 1998. The Fresno Grizzlies moved from being the Houston Astros AAA affiliate to the Colorado Rockies Single-A affiliate when MLB overhauled and restructured t he minor leagues in 2021.  The Grizzlies have also been affiliates of the San Francisco Giants and the Washington Nationals. In Nov 2023, DBH (Diamond Baseball Holdings) purchased the Grizzlies and now owns and operates it, along with 35 other minor league ball clubs. Chukchansi is a Native American Indian tribe in central California known for their beliefs in advocating early learning and giving students the tools they need to succeed, including the continued education of their historical culture. The tribe owns and operates the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, 40 miles north of Fresno.  That casino owns the naming rights to downtown Fresno’s Chukchansi Park. Food & Beverage 3 Chukchansi Park offers a decent variety of food and beverage choices.  Concession st ands offer hot dogs, corn dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, pizza, fries, and garlic fries ($5 - $14).  They also sell a wing helmet basket for $25.   Snacks include pretzels, popcorn, cookies, chips, peanuts, nachos, etc.  Pepsi provides soft drinks.  At Chukchansi Park, the beer choices are better than average.  The permanent concession stands sell it on tap or in a can.   A can of beer is $9.  The best place for IPA lovers’ beer is a stand-alone cart near section 117 with almost ten varieties of IPAs.  The Oppo Taco concession, way down the first baseline, is a great place to visit.  They provide local craft brews and tacos or chorizos. Wine, cocktails, frozen margaritas, and homemade sangria are available at this stand. The venue has a new bar and social gathering spot with furniture and drink rails down the third baseline. Atmosphere 3 Chukchansi Park is a good-looking stadium and offers all you would expect from minor-league baseball.  Three levels of seating are available, with suites on the top level.  The seats are standard green fold-down stadium chairs with cupholders, average width, and average legroom.  All seats are in the shade, and the venue even has much-needed misters on the concourse.  Like many minor league parks, the nets go to the foul poles.   Chukchansi Park Mist, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Bullpens are on the field just beyond first base (home) and third base (awa y).  One can sit in the low row numbers in section 122 (home) or 106 (away) and be right smack in front of them.  A manual scoreboard is in right-center field, which is a fabulous idea.  The stadium has a new scoreboard in left-center field which shows the line score, player stats, pitcher and batter stats, and an abundance of advertisements.  Good stuff. The interior concourse is remarkably wide, with plenty of room to navigate.  The Grizzlies post the starting lineups clearly on a first base concourse wall. The overall music volume is perfect, but the PA announcer is muffled.  The game day music person thankfully plays minimal ‘noise’ between pitches.  Between-inning contests are innocent and non-invasive and provide just the right amount of minor league entertainment while giving fans something besides baseball enjoyment.  Entertainment involves hug cams, taco races, sumo wrestling races, and the like.  The team displays fireworks after every Friday night home game.  A kid’s play area and splash park are in right field.  Kids get to run the bases after Sunday games (and get free ice cream).  Neighborhood 3 Chukchansi Park is in downtown Fresno, with plenty of places to explore before a Grizzlies game.  The area has lots of festivities (at least on weekends). Downtown Fresno is in the midst of a revitalization with a new brewery district, additional public transportation, outdoor public art, and new apartments. Places to eat and drink near Chukchansi Park include Kocky’s Bar and Grill (sports bar) and Los Panchos (Mexican Restaurant and Cantina).  It’s best to go pregame as these places close early during the week. Local brewery Tioga-Sequoia is just around the block from the ballpark.  Procreations Brewing Company is three blocks away, and Full Circle Taproom and The 411 Rec Room (pub) are within walking distance.  Hotels within walking distance are the SureStay by Best Western Fresno Central and the DoubleTree by Hilton Conference Center.  The La Quinta Inn Fresno Yosemite is a mile away. Other things to visit include the Veterans Memorial Museum (a half mile from the park) and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo (about three miles from the ballpark).  Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks are an hour to an hour and a half’s drive, and all are well worth the visit if in Fresno. Other sports in Fresno include the Fresno State Bulldogs, and the Fresno Monsters (junior ice hockey). Fans 3 The Grizzlies’ average attendance has been near 4,200 per game the last few years, putting them at the top of the pack in attendance in the California League.  A few diehard fans sit at the top of the section behind home plate and often bring banners or posters.  The fans do heckle and applaud good (and poor) plays and calls.  The fans in attendance are thoroughly supportive of the team. All staff and fans welcome visitors and make you feel welcome and glad you are there.  It's such a nice feeling. Access 4 It’s easy to get in and out of the area and find parking. Ten-dollar lots are around the park.  If you are staying downtown, it’s just a couple blocks walk.  Fans should not feel threatened or unsafe walking to and from the stadium.  Fresno has an extensive bus system called FAX (Fresno Area Express).  Route 28 looks to be the one to take, but check the FAX website first. The closest airport (a very nice one) is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), a 12 – 15 min drive to the ballpark.  An Amtrak station is also within walking distance (1/2 mile) of downtown and the ballpark. Once in the stadium, the concourses are wide open and easy to navigate.  Restrooms are sufficient and serve their purpose. Ramp access is available at any of the entrances, and there are plenty of accessible seating choices.  The Fresno Grizzlies just recently incorporated a clear bag-only policy. Clear bags up to 16” x 16” x 8” and small clutches up to 5” x 8” are allowed.  It is supposed to speed up entry into the park. Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices run from $10 - $65 (five dollars more for premium nights, including all Friday and Saturday games).  A recommendation is to buy the cheap seats and sit anywhere you want, as the venue does not sell out often.  Just move to another seat if those ticket holders show up. The Grizzlies offer daily specials such as Two for Tuesdays (2 for 1 ticket, $2 soda, and ice cream), Tioga Thursdays (two 19.2 oz beers for $10), Save Mart Sundays (bring your receipt and get $5 off each ticket), and the like.  Plenty of promotions occur throughout the season, including fireworks, Christian fellowship night, bark in the park, diversity and inclusion night, back-to-school night, heritage nights, and so on.  Check the team’s website for all the specials and promotions. If watching the ball game is the main purpose for visiting Chukchansi Park, this is actually quite a perfect minor league baseball experience. It costs $10 to park (seems high, to me, for Single-A ball).   Concessions are reasonably priced, and the team offers deals on certain days.  Extras 3 The revitalization of downtown Fresno is extremely noticeable.  Thanks to the local businesses, the community, and the city for its continued efforts to restore the downtown area to what it once was, but better.  The most recent updates to Chukchansi Park are the new scoreboard and lights. I love manual scoreboards and am ever so pleased the Grizzlies have continued to maintain the one the ballpark provides. Chukchansi Park Manual Scoreboard, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey I was fortunate to attend a Fiesta Oso featuring the Lowriders de Fresno.  The Grizzlies dressed as the Lowriders, and the venue displayed many customized cars during the festival.  Final Thoughts Although the team moved from a Triple-A to a Single-A affiliation a few years ago, attending a ballgame at Chukchansi Park is still an enjoyable day/evening out with good baseball.  For those who live in Central California, I encourage you to visit Fresno and the ballpark.   For those who haven’t been to the city in a while, you’ll be pleased with the resurgence of the downtown area.

Photos by Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 American First Field 9256 South State Sandy, UT 84070 Map It Real Salt Lake website America First Field website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 20,213 Believe Real Opened in 2008, Rio Tinto Stadium currently serves as the home of Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. With a capacity of over 20,000, the stadium has seen many incredible moments and is home to one of the longest sellout streaks in Major League Soccer. And with one of the most loyal and loud fan bases in MLS, it’s no wonder why this stadium is one of the toughest to play in. From the very passionate Supporters Section to the casual fan, this is one of the best stadiums to catch a soccer match. Note: In Sept 2022, the stadium name changed from Rio Tinto Stadium to America First Field. Food & Beverage 4 If you are ever hungry during a match, do not fret. There are several food options along the upper concourse, including local businesses, making it unique among MLS Stadiums. The lines can be long, but they are very fast, meaning you can be back to your seat in no time. Some of the stands serve your traditional stadium food options, but there are some very good local options within the stadium. One of those is J. Dawgs, a Utah Hot Dog company serving both regular and Polish style hot dogs for $5 each, or you can do a combo for $9. The City Grill does their Burger of the Match for every home game, depending on the opponent. For this review, the opponent was Sporting KC, so the burger was the Kansas City BBQ Burger. Spoiler alert, it was good. For those looking for drink options rather than food, Rio Tinto Stadium serves Pepsi products, and the price is around $4.75 for a normal drink. There are also alcohol stands around the concourse, including Bud Light, Coors Lights and Redd’s just to name a few. Atmosphere 4 There is definitely a local and family friendly feel for anyone visiting Rio Tinto Stadium for a match, which adds to the overall atmosphere of the stadium. Seating wise, there is not one bad seat in the stadium, including club seats. Every seat has a direct view of the field with no obstructions, making it super easy to watch a match. The only thing the seats lack are cup holders, but that doesn’t take away from the overall seating much. And you won’t have a problem with WiFi either, as it is available throughout the stadium. The speed of the WiFi, however, depends on the size of the crowd, but most times isn’t too bad, and many people are not on their phones during matches. The mascot for Real Salt Lake is Leo the Lion, and is a big part of the stadium experience. Each home game, Leo will run onto the pitch with the RSL flag, along with a “Little Leo”, a younger fan running along with Leo using their own flag. And as far as sound quality in the stadium goes, it is quite good considering the stadium is almost 15 years old. For those that need to step away from the game, the stadium offers a “Quiet Space” on the University of Utah Health Plaza where people can go if they need to go somewhere quiet. There is really no bad seat in the stadium as far as viewing goes. But if you’re coming in the summer, be warned that the East side of the stadium gets more sun than the West, so you’ll have the sun beating down on you for a little while during the game. Neighborhood 3 The stadium is located just off of Interstate 15 in Sandy, a suburb about 20 miles south of Downtown Salt Lake. The site is located next to 9000 South and State Street, a normally busy road that traverses all of Salt Lake County. Food wise, there are a couple of options within walking distance of the stadium, such as Crown Burger and Sizzler plus your traditional fast food chains. But you will need to drive south a short distance (about 5 minutes) to find sit-down restaurants, most of which are found at The Shops at South Towne. One local spot there is Slackwater Sandy, a pizzeria that does offer live music most days. For those looking for things to do outside of the stadium, there are plenty of outdoor options nearby if you’re an outdoor enthusiast. If not, you’ll have to drive either north or south for attractions. Downtown Salt Lake offers plenty of attractions, including Temple Square and The Gateway shopping center. Going further south on Interstate 15 is the Living Planet Aquarium located in Draper. It is hard to miss from the road, as you can see the giant stage that sits outside the building. And if you’re looking for other sports options, there are two options in Salt Lake City: Vivint Arena , home of the NBA’s Utah Jazz; and Smith’s Ballpark , home of the Minor League Baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees. If you’re looking for a place to stay overnight, there is an Econo Lodge within walking distance, offering rooms between $65 to $80 a night. If you’re looking for a more upscale option, there are a few hotels south of the stadium. Both the Hyatt House and Hilton Garden Inn are located off of Interstate 15 and rooms here go for around $115 per night. Fans 5 It’s no secret that soccer fans are some of the most passionate in sports, and that’s no exception when it comes to Real Salt Lake. This may be up for debate, but RSL has some of the most dedicated fans in Major League Soccer. Since their move to Rio Tinto in 2008, Real Salt Lake has seen multiple seasons of 5 or more sold out games, including at least 10 straight sellouts in 2022. This is dependent on the weather, of course, but most games at the RioT are either close to or are completely sold out. On average, you’ll have about 80 to 90 percent capacity for most games. There is a traditional Supporters Section within the stadium, but if you can’t see them, you can definitely hear them from first kick all the way to the final whistle. There is also a march to the stadium that takes place around an hour prior to kick off, and supporters are encouraged to join in. And the “Believe” chant is loud, especially when RSL scores a goal. When they do, it’s one of the loudest roars in MLS. The fans definitely are passionate for the Cobalt and Blue. Access 4 The stadium is located directly off of Interstate 15, so there is no trouble finding the stadium. And once inside, there is plenty of room to walk around as well. The Utah Transit Authority runs their UTA Trax service near the stadium, and fares are low. Trains run every 15 minutes and is $2.50 for children and $5 for adults, so it is a good option if you want to save on parking. The stops are a bit of a walk to the stadium, but nothing too bad. Your best bet is to get off at the Sandy Expo Center stop, which provides you with the closest access to the stadium. There are also 4 to 5 parking lots around the stadium, all of which are very accessible and are within walking distance. Prices are also relatively cheap, with parking costs averaging $10 – $20 on game day. If you are going to park, make sure to buy your parking along with your tickets, as this guarantees you a spot as lots fill up pretty fast on game day. The concourse is wide open, giving patrons the opportunity to freely move about the stadium during the match. Even when concession lines get long, there’s still plenty of ample space to walk around and take in the sights and sounds. Be advised if you are going to a game, tickets are mobile only; no paper tickets are allowed. You are allowed to bring one closed water bottle into the stadium, but backpacks and other bags must be put away in your car as they will not be allowed in. Return on Investment 5 The experience that you get for the price you pay here is very good. The ticket range for prices is between $15 and $125, with the median ticket price between $35 and $40. Concessions are about the average price for a sporting event. And the viewing experience is second to none. This would definitely be a place to bring your family to for a game. Extras 1 One point for the amazing Utah sunsets, especially during the summer when the majority of games are happening. Once in a while, you get an amazing orange, pink and purple sunset, which is an experience itself. Final Thoughts Rio Tinto is one of the best family friendly stadiums in MLS, and the organization does a very good job keeping it that way. There are plenty of things to do before and during the game, and the fan base is as passionate as they come. This is definitely a stadium you need to have in mind the next time you’re in Utah.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Scotiabank Rink @ Iroquois Park Sports Centre 500 Victoria St. W. Whitby, ON L1N 9G4 Whitby Warriors website Iroquois Park Sports Centre website Year Opened:  1974 Capacity:  2,500                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The Warrior Way One of the lacrosse hotbeds in Canada can be found in Whitby, Ontario.  Colloquially known as the ‘Town’ of Whitby, with a population of over 135,000 and located along Highway 401, Whitby lives in the shadow of the giant metropolis of Toronto to the west and the automotive hub of Oshawa to the east.  Organized lacrosse dates back to the sixties and Whitby currently fields teams at the Junior A (OJLL), Junior C and Senior A (MSL) levels.  The Junior A Whitby Warriors were established in 1968 as the Whitby B&R Transporters at the Junior B level.  In 1975, they advanced to the Junior A level as the Whitby Consolidated Builders and were renamed the Whitby Warriors in 1984.  The Warriors boast the third most Minto Cup Championships as Junior A lacrosse National Champions with eight and ten Iroquois Trophy Championships as Ontario Champions.  Some of the Warrior alumni include NLL players Mark Matthews, Chris Corbeil, Zach Greer, Dan Ladoceur and Gavin Prout.  Former NHL players Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk also suited up for the Warriors. Home for the Warriors is the Scotiabank Rink in the Iroquois Park Sports Centre.  Part of a massive sports complex, both indoor and outdoor, what is now the Scotiabank Rink was the original building which opened in 1974.  The rink is a classic, old school arena which has ice in the winter for hockey and is the home of box lacrosse in the summer months.  Food & Beverage 3 The Iroquois Park Sports Centre has one main concession, which supports the multiple indoor facilities which are currently part of the park.  The concession is a typical snack bar type facility which offers a number of typical offerings.  Hot dogs, burgers, fries and poutine, cotton candy, popcorn and chips are all on the menu.  Soda, water, juice, coffee, tea and slushies are the beverage options.  Pepsi products are featured and alcohol is not available. Atmosphere 3 Iroquois Park is a massive sports facility that includes baseball diamonds, football and soccer fields, a pool, fitness centre and multiple arenas.  The Iroquois Park Sports Centre refers to the complex that houses the arenas and other indoor facilities, where the main arena built in 1974 was built around.  Grey brick with red siding accents produce the look of the main rink exterior, however, plenty of glass can be found at the entrances and newer areas of the building.  The entry to the Iroquois Park Sports Centre is at the east side and brings fans into a large atrium that links the various parts of the Sports Centre.  The atrium has a number of trophy cases dedicated to a number of clubs and sports, including the Warriors.  The atrium also links to the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame which is surprisingly strong and features a number of items that treasure hunters will enjoy.  Some members of the hall include lacrosse royalty Gavin Prout and Dan Ladoceur, OHL and CHL commissioner David Branch and NHL legends Joe Nieuwendyk and Adam Foote.  The main arena, which is also the original arena, is named the Scotiabank Rink.  Just outside the arena is a team picture and dedicated plaque to the 1958 Whitby Dunlops hockey team that featured Harry Sinden and went to the Olympics.  Inside the Scotiabank Rink the clock immediately turns back and fans are met with the bones of an old school hockey barn that has been upgraded to modern standards.  The Scotiabank Rink  has ice and is used for hockey in the winter months and as a result has a concrete floor playing surface.  The floor runs from west to east and with no logo at the centre of the floor, either the north or south side offers pretty much the same view.  Upgrades are obvious, especially when it comes to the seats, which are modern plastic arena seats on the north and south sides.  There are no seats on the ends.  The east side of the arena is reserved for lacrosse accolades and includes banners from the Senior A (Major Series Lacrosse) Brooklin Lacrosse Club, formerly known as the Redmen.  Minto Cup banners for the 1980, 1984, 1985, 1997, 1999, 2011, and 2013 Warrior teams hang proudly against the wall.  The most recent addition, the 2022 Minto Cup Championship hangs on the protective netting at the end. The gameday production at a Warriors game is very simple.  Warm-ups featured no music and there was no music during the game.  Basically, the only aspects of gameday production included the 50/50 draw and goal and penalty announcements.  If today’s sports are over-produced, the Warriors experience is underproduced. Neighbourhood 3 Iroquois Park is in the Port Whitby neighbourhood, which is south of Downtown.  There are a few spots one might consider for pre or post game food or drinks.  On the Iroquois Park site is BarDown Gastropub.  Other options include the Lake Grill and Town Brewery. For other sporting options, fans could consider the Whitby Warriors Jr. C lacrosse team or Major Series Lacrosse’s Brooklin Lacrosse Club.  The Oshawa Generals  of the OHL and Ontario Tech Ridgebacks hockey  and basketball  are not far away. All of the lustre of Toronto is about an hour’s drive west.  Other tourist attractions in Whitby would include the Whitby Harbour Lighthouse, Lynde House Museum and Whitby Waterfront.  The Holiday Inn Whitby/Oshawa is a close accommodation for fans wishing to stay in the area. Fans 2 It is difficult to assess OJLL fans as attendance figures are not published.  For the most part, Warriors fans seem to fall in the “friends and family” category with maybe a couple hundred in attendance at best.  The Warriors typically play home games on Tuesdays, which is always a tough night for spectator sports.  Fans in attendance are pretty passive, which is not uncommon for Southern Ontario.   Access 4 Iroquois Park is located in the Port Whitby neighbourhood and adjacent to Downtown.  South of Highway 401, it is not that difficult to get to, provided that fans are not having to come through Toronto, which is always a traffic headache.  There is plenty of free onsite parking.  For fans who wish to take public transit, the Whitby GO Transit station is right by the park and services GO Transit and Durham Region Transit .  Fans should consult the GO Transit and Durham Region Transit websites for fares, maps and schedules.  Getting around Iroquois Park Sports Centre is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are good. Return on Investment 4 OJLL lacrosse provides a solid return on investment.  Whitby Warriors tickets are $12 with discounts for Seniors.  Children under 14 are free to enter also.  Parking is free and concession prices are decent.  The action on the floor is great and provides a glimpse into the future of the National Lacrosse League.  Warriors games are a bit under-produced and a few small adjustments would take the return on investment for the Warriors to the next level. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Iroquois Park Sports Centre as the host of the annual Ontario Lacrosse Festival. An extra mark for Whitby as a lacrosse hotbed. An extra mark for the long term success the Warriors have enjoyed, culminating in 8 Minto Cup Championships. Final Thoughts Inexpensive and fun, a trip to Whitby, Ontario to take in a Whitby Warriors lacrosse game is well worth it.  Whitby is a hotbed of lacrosse and there have been plenty of famous alumni who have pulled on a Warriors jersey.  The Scotiabank Rink @ Iroquois Park Sports Centre is a solid venue that offers fans just about all they would need in a facility and makes the Warrior experience one to remember. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610 Holy Cross Crusaders hockey website Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 1,600 The Hart of Holy Cross Hockey The Reverend Francis J. Hart Center is part of the Luth Athletic Complex, a multi-purpose facility located on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA (pronounced “Woostah” by locals). Reverend Hart was the guiding force behind intramural athletics at the College for more than 40 years, and his legacy is honored in this athletic center. John E. and Joanne Chouinard-Luth donated $32.5 million to the College to help finance major renovations to the facility in 2016. The Hart Center houses not only the Holy Cross hockey rink, but a 3,600-seat basketball arena , a six-lane swimming pool with a separate diving area, rowing tanks, racquetball and squash courts, and the college’s strength and conditioning facilities. Hockey has been played at Holy Cross since 1966. Today the Crusaders compete in the Atlantic Hockey Association, where they have won three conference championships. Holy Cross has qualified for the NCAA Tournament twice, most recently in 2006. That year, the Crusaders pulled off what is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in tournament history by beating Minnesota 4-3 in overtime. It was the first time a number 15 or 16 seed had beaten a number one or two seed. Two Holy Cross alumni (Pat Rissmiller and Jim Stewart) played in the NHL.   Food & Beverage 2 There is a concession stand in the main lobby of the Hart Center. A very basic menu is available here, with hot dogs and chicken tenders the anchors of the menu. In a refreshing change, tater tots are sold here rather than french fries. Pretzels, nachos, and popcorn are among the offerings should you just be looking for a snack.   Pepsi products are featured at the concession stand. Fans looking for an adult beverage will be pleased to find brews from local craft brewery Greater Good sold at this small stand, as well as Harpoon Rec League, Blue Moon, Coors Light, White Claw, and Angry Orchard.   Atmosphere 2   If you haven’t visited the Hart Center recently, the pair of large video boards that were installed at the rink in 2021 will certainly catch your attention. These boards, one at each end of the ice surface, are put to great use with replays, graphics, and game information. In a nice touch, Holy Cross plays videos of local first responders dancing after each Crusader goal.   The Hart Center Rink enjoys a nice sound system, which is put to good use throughout the game, but oddly, the PA announcer sounds much quieter and his voice murkier than the music.   Stadium Journey’s most recent visit to Holy Cross occurred during the semester break, so there was no representation from the student body on this night. Based on several previous visits, there’s generally not a huge turnout by the Holy Cross students, anyway.   Neighborhood 3   Worcester is the second largest city in all of New England but has never enjoyed much of a reputation as a destination location. That all began to change when the city announced that the Pawtucket Red Sox would be moving to the brand-new Polar Park , located just 2.5 miles from the Holy Cross campus.   Holy Cross is located in southwestern Worcester about three miles from downtown. There isn’t much in the immediate area of campus in terms of dining or lodging options, but the city of Worcester contains many excellent options.   Worcester’s acclaimed “ Restaurant Row ” on Shrewsbury Street is home to over forty different eateries, shops, and salons. It’s a favorite destination for locals looking to enjoy a night on the town. Fans will find additional options in the downtown area around the DCU Center . The up-and-coming Canal District, anchored by the new Polar Park , is rapidly growing and worth a look. Likewise, fans looking for lodging options should head downtown, as there is nothing around Holy Cross.   Traditionally overshadowed by its neighbors in Boston and Providence, Worcester is carving out its own niche as an affordable, attractive alternative to those cities. For fans visiting during ski season, Wachusett Mountain  is located just ten miles outside of city limits.   Fans 2     Holy Cross annually ranks near the bottom of the nationwide attendance rankings for Division One hockey teams. About halfway through the 2023-2024 season, the Crusaders are reporting an average attendance of just over 800 fans per game. While this figure marks a significant increase over the previous few years, it still places Holy Cross in the bottom ten nationally.   As mentioned earlier, Stadium Journey attended a Crusader game during the semester break. Still, there was a representative crowd on hand on a snowy Saturday night. Consisting of many family members, close friends, and die-hard Holy Cross fans, this crowd was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the team on the ice. A quick scan of games during the school year did not reveal a huge increase in attendance figures, leading to the assumption that not a lot of students show up for Crusader hockey games.   Access 3    The Holy Cross campus is located in southwestern Worcester, at the junction of Interstate 290 and Route 146. The Luth Complex is located at the southern edge of campus atop Mount Saint James, adjacent to many of the school’s athletic facilities. There is a large parking lot adjacent to the arena. The College of the Holy Cross’ location gives it spectacular views of the city below.   2016 renovations greatly expanded and modernized the facility. Fans enter into a bright, modern lobby that houses the ticket booths. The basketball arena and hockey rink share a concourse, which is where you’ll find the concession stands, restrooms, and Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame. Long gone are the 70’s style carpeting, trophy cases, and stained-glass windows of the old Hart Center.   The hockey rink is located to your right as you enter the facility. Fans enter the rink at the Hart Center on the near side of the rink, and all the seating is located on the far side of the ice. All seating is metal bleachers, with center sections containing cushioned seating. Standing room is available atop the seating area as well as at ice level. The steeply pitched seating area ensures excellent views of the action from virtually all points. There is minimal netting here to obstruct views.   With the small crowds present at the Hart Center, lines at the concession stand or restrooms are not an issue.   Return on Investment 5   Tickets to Holy Cross hockey games are very affordable, priced at $15 for reserved center ice sections and $10 for general admission seating. Parking is free in the large lot adjacent to the facility.   Concessions are reasonably priced, with most items costing six dollars or less. Even the craft beers sold here will only cost you nine dollars. It’s tough to find a similar value at a game these days.   Extras 2   Holy Cross was a national power in the sporting world for a significant portion of the 20th century. While their glory days are far behind them, Holy Cross honors its athletic past at the Luth Complex. The Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame is located in the building’s lobby. Several notable names can be found among the honorees, including Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn. Speaking of Cousy, there’s a statue of him just outside the entrance to the Luth Center.   Plaques in the Hart Rink commemorate significant individuals in Crusader hockey history and banners hang in the rink honoring conference titles and tournament appearances.   Final Thoughts   Many smaller schools in NCAA’s Division One have built shiny new arenas for their hockey teams. Meanwhile, Holy Cross soldiers on in the Hart Center. While not as flashy or modern as many area rinks, it’s a solid place for the Crusaders to call home.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Marion Stadium 1000 Miners Drive Marion, IL 62959 Thrillville Thrillbillies website Marion Stadium website Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 7,000 Take a Thrilling Ride in Thrillville, USA Marion Stadium is home to the Thrillville Thrillbillies of the summer collegiate Prospect League. The team returned to organized baseball to back Marion, Illinois, after the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League folded in 2021. The 7,000-seat ballpark is among the biggest in the summer league, but a new name and imagery hope to bring fans back to the ballpark. The stadium hoped to lure a Single-A Midwest League team by former mayor, but when that did not work, the town opted for the independent Frontier League. The Miners were a success during its inaugural season of 2007, attracting 259,392 fans, but after several years of declining attendance, the love affair appeared to be over. The original owners retired after the 2021 season, and baseball was gone. Enter the Thrillbillies, whose unique identity is inspired by the regional outdoor adventures of off-road driving and rock climbing. The club’s logo of a deer and rabbit riding an ATV and skydiving adheres to those outdoor adventures of Southern Illinois. The venue opened as Rent One Park but reverted to Mountain Dew Park in early 2023, but changed to Marion Stadium at the start of the T-Billies opening night. Besides summer collegiate baseball, the ballpark hosts the Colt World Series and the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and Ohio Valley Conference college baseball tournaments. Food & Beverage 3 The ballpark introduced a whole new menu, including a few interesting items that hope to be signature items: the Thrillville Chicken Sandwich and Burger. There are also Mexican, barbecue, and sweet treats to appeal to most fans at the ballgame. The Thrillville Chicken Sandwich is fried in Flaming Hot Cheetos crumbs, doused with habanero sauce, and served between two Krispy Kreme donuts. The Thrillville Burger is topped with bacon and cheese sauce in between two crispy waffles as buns. They sell for $10; fans can make it a combo with chips and a drink for $3 extra. The main concession stand behind homeplate serves hot dogs (regular and foot long), ¼ pound cheeseburgers, grilled or breaded chicken sandwiches, and chicken strips. All sandwiches can be upgraded to a combo, fully loaded, or include extra heat if desired. The Catina is located down the third base end of the concourse and offers quesadillas with chips, three street tacos, and fully loaded nachos. The barbecue stand features pulled pork, smoked chicken, and brisket sandwiches. A kiosk behind the backstop offers brisket sloppy joes with barbecue chips. The colorful Lollywood concession stand serves sugary sweets, including ice cream, doughnuts in three different flavors, assorted candies, and cotton candy. Fans can also order cheese and pepperoni pizza slices, too. The alcoholic drinks are also behind the backstop and include Budweiser products from Bud, Bud Light, Mich Ultra, and seltzers from Nutrl and Cutwater. The cocktails available are a Mt. Dew Margarita, Sangria, and various mixed drinks. Atmosphere 3 Marion Stadium has a different look than other ballparks of its kind. Instead of a red brick and hunter-green canopy design, the structure’s colors are black, steel, and gray. The main concourse features exposed piping from the press box and suite area with open views of the playing field from anywhere in the stadium. Due to the transition of the stadium to the new ball club, there is evidence of the old Miners that include seat signage with a rock design in the former team’s colors and the removal of the Rent One Park logo outside the stadium’s main entrance. However, the Thrillbillies aura is presently painted on the walls of the Lollywood concession stand in a graffiti style. The Thrillbillies have a dance team that performs on the dugout innings, along with assisting the on-field promotions in between each inning of play. The team’s rabbit mascot can be seen on the field and in the stands entertaining fans of all ages. The team shop is stocked with club gear, from caps, t-shirts, and other trinkets. The stadium features 14 luxury suites and an events center up above the third base side that can accommodate up to 200 guests. The field uses Sportexe Turf, a synthetic surface that drains easier than natural grass and can be used for other events throughout the year. Neighborhood 3 The ballpark is directly off I-57 and between regional restaurants and hotel chains. A few hotels are located in the same parking lot of the stadium and are ideal for easy access back and foot during a visit. However, many close around 10 pm Sunday to Wednesday, but if visiting on a weekend night, you will have a few options. 618 Tap House is within seconds by car from the ballpark and features pub food from chicken wings, burgers, and sandwiches. The draft list is impressive and ideal for a pint or two after the game with friends. 17th Street Barbecue has one of its locations in the neighborhood with pulled pork, brisket, and smoked chicken available until it’s gone. With the family, Applebee’s, Logan’s Roadhouse, or Buffalo Wild Wings are close to Marion Stadium. Fans 4 The fanbase is getting to know the T-Billies and averages over 2,000 fans per game. The crowds are respectable for the league. You will see folks wearing team colors and caps and supporting the ball club; hopefully, there will be something to cheer for years to come in Marion. Access 4 The stadium is at the intersection of I-57 and Illinois Route 13. There are three parking entry gates for guests to enter the parking area. Inside the ballpark, fans can get around and access the three main points of sale for concessions and the merchandise store near the main entrance. After the game, traffic moves smoothly out of the parking lot, but could be cumbersome on nights with larger crowds. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices are $8 for a seat in the grandstand and $5 for lawn seating down the third baseline. The club does not charge for parking. Concession prices are as low as $4 for a hot dog and $10 for a Thrillville Burger or Chicken sandwich. Merchandise prices are in line with many other franchises in the league, with a cap selling for $30 and a t-shirt for $25. Extras 4 Marion Stadium earns a point for its Thrillville Burgers and Chicken Sandwich. It is awarded a second point for its distinctive design compared to other ballparks of its era. A third point is for the ticket prices which are only $5 and $8 a night. A final point is for the management to develop promotions that include the unique Tighty Bowl game. Final Thoughts The Thrillbillies have a distinct branding that hopes to bring fans back to the ballpark. The team looks to reach beyond the typical baseball promotions and help make a night at the game a “thrill” again in Southern Illinois. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 CCSU Softball Field 413 Ella Grasso Blvd New Britain, CT 06050 Central Connecticut State Blue Devils website CCSU Softball Field website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 250 CCSU Softball Field The CCSU Softball Field opened in 2010 when the school renovated both the Blue Devils’ baseball and softball fields. The field features state-of-the-art field turf as well as separate enclosed bullpens for both teams. Batting cages are located down the right field line, with seating for spectators located in several sections. Founded in 1849 as the State Normal School, CCSU is Connecticut’s oldest public university. Total enrollment at CCSU is almost 12,000 students, over half of whom live off campus. 96 percent of the student body hails from Connecticut. The Blue Devils compete in the Northeast Conference, where they have won two conference titles and qualified for six NCAA Tournaments. Food & Beverage 0 There are no concessions available at a Blue Devils softball game. There is a lovely little pavilion in between the baseball and softball fields, but it is utilized to prepare meals for the teams and not as a snack bar for fans. Fans are welcome to bring their own snacks into CCSU Softball Field. Atmosphere 2 An afternoon at a Blue Devils softball game is as simple and laid-back as it gets. There is nothing to distract your attention from the action going on down on the field. No music is played at all during the game. No walk-up songs, no between innings tunes. The PA announcer does his job unobtrusively, adding to the old school presentation. A small scoreboard in centerfield displays only basic game information. If you enjoy being able to chat with your neighbors in the stands, hear the chatter of the fielders and coaches barking instructions to the players, then CCSU Softball Field is the place for you. If the schedules line up, you’ll be able to move about the athletic complex and take in several games at once. Neighborhood 3 Central Connecticut State University is located in a residential neighborhood on the northeastern edge of New Britain, a suburban city of 73,000 people located 12 miles southwest of Hartford. CCSU Softball Field is located on the eastern edge of campus, alongside the school’s other athletic facilities, including CCSU Baseball Field , Arute Field and Detrick Gymnasium . While the area around campus is bustling, there are not many attractions in the immediate vicinity for visiting fans. Fans wanting a unique experience before or after a CCSU game should check out the East Side Restaurant, a German-themed pub complete with staff in traditional Bavarian gear and all the bratwurst you could possibly desire. For a twist on a traditional American dish, visit Ted’s Steamed Hamburgers in nearby Meriden. Their method of cooking hamburgers in steam trays is unique to central Connecticut, and Ted’s has been featured on several travel shows such as Man vs. Food and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It’s a favorite spot for this writer. Fans looking for a place to stay near campus should check out the Courtyard by Marriott and the Extended Stay America, both in neighboring Farmington. Beyond the local options, Connecticut’s capital city of Hartford contains a plethora of dining, lodging and entertainment options. Sports fans may want to pair a CCSU game with a Hartford Yard Goats game at Dunkin’ Donuts Park or a Hartford Wolf Pack game at the XL Center . Fans 2 CCSU softball crowds can best be described as “friends and family.” Stadium Journey attended a Sunday afternoon game in late April with a crowd of about 50 present. This appears to be a typically sized crowd, as a scan of the 2022 box scores show crowds between 25-100 people. With the majority of the crowd enjoying a personal connection with the players down on the field, it’s not surprising that the fans here are really invested in the game and knowledgeable about the team. Still, this is a very laid-back, friendly crowd. With CCSU’s location near the geographic center of the Northeast Conference, it’s not unusual to see visiting fans in attendance on a nice spring afternoon. Access 4 The CCSU campus is located on the New Britain/Newington town line, about a 15-minute drive from Hartford. Route 9 passes directly to the east of campus, connecting to Interstates 84 and 91 nearby. Driving is the primary method for arriving at this suburban campus. For fans utilizing public transportation, several CT Transit busses access CCSU , with the 140 bus stopping right at Arute Field. Seating at CCSU Baseball Field consists of metal bleachers without backs in the small grandstand behind home plate. There are additional bleachers down the left field line, and some room for fans who wish to bring their own lawn chairs and set up shop. Netting and fencing obstructs views from all points in the ballpark. Parking is available in a small lot adjacent to the baseball field, a short walk from the softball field. Should this lot fill, and it may on a spring afternoon where there are several events taking place, additional parking is available in the large lot on the far side of Arute Field. Rest rooms are located in the Pavilion located beyond the center field fence. They are clean and plenty large enough for a typical Blue Devils crowd. Return on Investment 5 There is no charge for admission or for parking at CCSU Softball Field. With no on-site concessions, you will not spend a single cent at a Blue Devils softball game. Extras 1 Banners honoring Blue Devils conference championships hang on the back façade of the visitors dugout, visible as you walk past. NCAA Tournament appearances are listed on the outfield wall. Final Thoughts In the northeast, most spring sports are not the big deal that they are in other parts of the country. The weather shortens the season greatly, and when the weather breaks, it doesn’t seem like people want to come take in a game. Still, small facilities like CCSU Softball Field are worth a look for any sports fan looking for some quality competition at a most affordable price.

Photos by Lloyd brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd Lakeland, FL 33805 Detroit Tigers Spring Training website Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 9,000 The Eyes Are On The Tigers The Detroit Tigers have called Lakeland, Florida their Spring Training home since 1934, and since 1966 that home has been at Joker Marchant Stadium and Tigertown. The stadium is named for Marcus “Joker” Marchant, the city of Lakeland’s Parks and Recreation, who worked tirelessly at the beginning of the city’s relationship with the team. Today’s Joker Marchant Stadium looks very different than it did in 1966, as it has gone through major renovations in 1966, 2003 and 2016. These renovations have brought the stadium up to a capacity of 9,000 fans. The most recent renovations have been to increase fan comfort by creating more shade for the various seating arrangements around the playing field. One thing that has remained constant are the field dimensions of 340’ to left field, 420’ to deep center and 340’ to right field. Food and Beverage 4 There are six main concession stands located at Joker Marchant Stadium: Canteen: This stand is located on the first base concourse. It sells the usual ballpark standards, including hot dogs ($6), chicken tenders ($7), pretzels ( $6), popcorn ($5), Pepsi brand sodas ($8) and bottled water ($5.50). Mac and Tator: This stand is located along the third base concourse and features ballpark standards, as well as chilimac and tator, small mac and tator, an build your own mac and tator. Hot Corner: Also located on the third base concourse, this stand offers the same menu items as the Canteen stand. Hangar Grab and Go: This stand is located in the left field area of the ballpark. It features a convenience store self-serve format. In addition to sodas ($8), Gatorade ($6.50), canned beers ($11 – $12.25) and bottled water ($5.50), this stand offers garden salads ($8), sandwiches ($7) and chips ($3). Grand Slam Favorites: This stand offers BBQ nachos ($130, BBQ sandwiches ($11.50), Kettle corn ($8) and Carmel corn ($8). Little Caesars: There are several Little Caesars stands in the ballpark. This is the only brand of pizza sold at Joker Marchant, as the late owner of the Detroit Tigers, Mike Illich, was also the founder/CEO of Little Caesars. Pizzas can be purchased as a whole pizza ($22.50) or by the Super Slice ($7.50). Pizzas are available in cheese, pepperoni or sausage toppings. One additional item that is sold in season is strawberry shortcake. You may find that to be an odd menu item at a ballpark. However, the Lakeland/Plant City, Florida area is the strawberry capitol of Florida. It is a major part of the local economy… and is a wonderful addition to the ballpark’s food and beverage offerings! All concessions purchases are credit card only. Atmosphere 4 Joker Marchant Stadium is a very pleasant place to take in a Spring Training game. The grounds around the stadium are immaculate and the exterior of the stadium features the Spanish Mediterranean stucco that is very popular in this part of Florida. You’ll also learn a lot about the history of Tigertown and the stadium before you even go through the gates. Once inside the stadium, navigating the way to your seats is very easy, as the signage is excellent. If you have time, it is a good idea to look around the stadium before all the seats fill up. There might be an interesting angle for a photo that you might not be able to get later. Once at your seat, enjoy the game! However, there will be multiple pitchers in a preseason game, due to low pitch counts and the need for the coaching staff to evaluate multiple pitchers for the upcoming season. Take advantage of these breaks in the action to visit the team store, to check out a unique concession stand, or watch the minor league players on the adjoining practice field. One of the major improvements made at Joker Marchant Stadium as a part of the renovations involves the electronics package in the stadium. A brand new videoboard measuring 46’ X 26’ was installed atop the hill above the berm. A LED ribbon board was added to the facing on the outfield grandstand. The sound system was greatly improved as a part of the renovation process as well. Neighborhood 3 Lakeland is in farm country, more specifically strawberries. You will probably see plenty of groves and strawberry stands along the roads between downtown Lakeland and Joker Marchant Stadium. However, there is a lot more to enjoy in Lakeland than just strawberries. It is the home Florida Southern University, whose campus features the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright- designed buildings in the world. Tours are given at the University for those interested in learning more about Wright’s quirky building style. Speaking of building… Lakeland is also the home of LEGOLAND, and those traveling with their kids or grandkids will want to stop there for a visit. Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille is one of the more popular restaurants in the area to enjoy a postgame meal. The closest accommodations to the stadium are located at exit 33 on I-4. There are several hotel brands represented. This is approximately 2.5 miles from the stadium. It is important to book early as these locations fill quickly during the preseason for baseball. Fans 4 Tigertown has been the spring training home to the Detroit Tigers since 1934, and the first sign of spring is the number of Michigan license plates heading down I-75 to Lakeland. The Tigers fanbase is one of the most loyal in baseball, despite a dearth in championships in recent years. It is easy to convince Motor City residents to head south and escape the harsh winters in Michigan. Tiger fans are like one big family, and they value tradition. Many families head to the Tiger mosaic on the exterior of the stadium for a family photo each year, measuring their children’s growth by how close their heads are to the colorful backdrop. Joker Marchant Stadium and Tigertown have plenty of elements like that, as the complex is filled with the names of Tiger greats like Kaline, Horton, Lolich and McLain. There are also plaques to the legendary 1968 World Series Champion Tigers, and the retired numbers of the Tiger franchise are also prominently on display in the ballpark. Access 4 Joker Marchant is easily accessed via exit 33 on Interstate 4. After exiting the interstate, get on Highway 33 South. Go under the next overpass, then go to the right onto Lakeland Hills Boulevard headed west. The Tigertown complex and Joker Marchant Stadium will be on your left. Here you have two choices. There is a large parking area adjacent to the stadium that is controlled by the Tigers and Tigertown. Parking in this lot is $8 if you prepay for your space online or $10 the day of the event. The Lutheran Church across Lakeland Hills Parkway from Tigertown and the stadium has raised money for its outreach in the community programs by offering parking in its lot for $5. We mention this not to save a small bit of change, but to share that many fans feel it is much easier to get back on the road at the end of a game from the other side of the road from the stadium. We recommend the Tampa International Airport if your visit is limited to Tampa, Lakeland, Bradenton or Dunedin. It offers flights to nearly everywhere. The Orlando airport may seem to be the best choice, but the traffic around the airport and flights are hard to get due to Disney and all the other amusement parks. Like most stadiums in the Grapefruit League, gates at Marchant Stadium open two hours before the opening pitch. This should give you plenty of time for you to orient where your seats are in the stadium, as well as to visit the team store or get something at the concession stands. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Tiger games at Joker Marchant Stadium are available at several price points. All the seats on the lower level behind the plate and extending to first and third base are sold out. However, the upper-level seats in these areas are still available. Ticket prices range from $35 for seats in the 200 level, down to berm seating for $13. There are six pricing levels in between the $35 -$ 13 range. The good news is that after the recent renovations the number of seats that are in the shade at the stadium increased 42%. Parking at Tigertown or the Lutheran Church across the street costs $5- $10. We found the food prices at Tiger games was lower than other Spring Training parks. Extras 4 Fans traveling with kids or grandkids may want to take them to the play area near the top of the berm and next to the inflatable Tiger. This is a supervised area, and a great way for the kids to burn off all that in the car too long energy or the sugar high they may be on. The Tigers Spring Training Complex is relatively near the Spring Training complexes for the Pirates, the Blue Jays the Phillies and Yankees. Detroit plays very few night games, so check the night game schedule for the other teams and you might get in a day/night doubleheader. The mosaic tiger at the base of the tower outside Joker Marchant Stadium makes a great background for your selfie shot at a game. The starting lineups for each team are posted the walls in the main concourse. There is also a painted map of all the teams that participate in the Grapefruit League and where in Florida they are located. Final Thoughts The Tigers franchise has the longest relationship with one Florida city of any team in the Grapefruit League. The Tigertown complex has grown and evolved over the years, but has always maintained a strong relationship with the traditions of its past. Joker Marchant Stadium is always looking for ways to improve the fan experience after each spring training season, with plans getting underway for the next year, immediately after the team departs for Detroit to begin the regular season.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 InfoCision Stadium 375 E Exchange St Akron, OH 44304 Akron Zips website InfoCision Stadium website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 30,000 Rubber Zips Since fielding a team all the way back in 1891, the Akron Zips have not had the strongest of teams. However, Akron does enjoy a rich history and traces its lineage back to John Heisman … THE John Heisman of the famous Heisman Trophy awarded each year to the top NCAA Football player. In 1988, Akron joined the Mid-American Conference, one of the most stable conferences in the NCAA. Akron became the first program to move from Division I-AA up to Division I-A. The Zips have enjoyed a MAC Conference Championship once in 2005 and been to three post season bowls, winning one. With one of the most unique names in all of college sports, the Zips are a nod to the history of the City of Akron as the rubber capital of the world. The Zips are specifically named after rubber boots called Zippers that were manufactured by the B.F. Goodrich Company whose headquarters were in Akron. The home of the Zips from 1940 to 2008 was the Rubber Bowl. Replacement for the Rubber Bowl came in 2009 with InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field which signaled a return to campus for Akron. The naming rights of the stadium are shared by InfoCision Management Corporation and Summa Health System. Food & Beverage 3 The concession options at InfoCision Stadium are fairly limited. There are a number of concession stands under each of the two main grandstands. Typical concession items are what will be found here including hot dogs, brats, cheeseburgers, nachos, pretzels, popcorn and chicken tenders. Chick-fil-A sandwiches and Papa John’s pizza are also available being brought in from outside. The soft drinks available are Pepsi products and beer options include Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and Stella Artois. Fans will not go hungry at InfoCision Stadium, but there isn’t much to grab the imagination. Atmosphere 3 InfoCision Stadium is a nice facility. It doesn’t have a deep history or anything that adds to the wow factor, but it is a solid stadium. InfoCision Stadium consists of two main grandstands on either side of the north-south oriented field. The entire stadium area is surrounded by attractive wraught iron fencing. The main grandstand, which also includes the press box and luxury boxes, is the west grandstand and the exterior is attractive brown brick and glass. The best place to enter InfoCision Stadium is at the south entrance, where fans are greeted with the bronze statue of former Akron head coach, John Heisman. The team store is also found at the south entrance. Just north of InfoCision Stadium is the fieldhouse and the Zips cross the road and enter the stadium from there. Inside InfoCision Stadium fans will notice that the concourses underneath the grandstands can be on the dark side. The concession and washrooms are easily accessed from this area. The highlights of the concourse are almost missed due to their proximity to the patron. High above the concession stands are large posters outlining the highlights of Akron Zips football. These include the history of the Wagon Wheel rivalry with Kent State, the 2005 MAC Conference Championship, Postseason History, Historic Coaches, Winningest Seasons and Jason Taylor. Both grandstands have two tiers and are composed of bleacher benches. Some reserved seating exists with plastic stadium seats. The brick wall past the north endzone highlights the most honoured Zips whose numbers are retired. These include Chris Angeloff, Charlie Frye and Jason Taylor. Their banners are joined by the Wall of Champions and honors for coaches Gordon Larson and Jim Dennison. The cannon is found in the southwest corner of the stadium at field level and is shot when the Zips score. The videoboard is good quality and is found past the south endzone. The gameday production for a Zips football game is about what one would expect from a mid-major football program. Ohio’s Pride, the Akron marching band, performs northwest of InfoCision Stadium at Coleman Commons before the game. They march down Spicer Street and play for the tailgaters in the lot south of the stadium before entering. The perform on the field at halftime and before the opening kick. The cheerleaders perform stunts on the sideline and move with the band before pregame. The Akron mascot, Zippy, a kangaroo, takes part in the pregame festivities and can be found on field level or interacting with fans during the game. Neighborhood 4 The University of Akron is located east of Downtown Akron. InfoCision Stadium is found at the east end of campus encircled by Vine, Spicer, Union and Exchange Streets. There are a few spots for pre or post game food or drink. Exchange Street has a number of options, most of which are fast food chains. Score Draft Room may be an option. There are more options the short drive to downtown including Canal Place, R. Shea Brewing, the Diamond Deli and the Spaghetti Warehouse. Depending on the scheduling of the Zips game, an Akron Zips basketball game at James A. Rhodes Arena, steps from InfoCision Stadium may be an additional sporting option, or possibly the Akron Rubberducks from the Double-A Eastern League at downtown’s Canal Park. Some non-sporting tourist options include the Akron Zoo and Stan Hywet Hall, or perhaps taking a look at the former site of the Rubber Bowl would be of interest. For fans wishing to stay near InfoCision Stadium, the Hilton and BLU-Tique Akron are both options. Fans 3 The combination of generally not being terribly competitive in the MAC and proximity to Cleveland leave InfoCision Stadium with more empty seats than full seats. Akron attracted an average of almost 11,200 fans per game in 2022. For the game that was reviewed, the paid attendance was just north of 5,400. With a stadium capacity of 30,000, this leaves an environment that could be better. Close to the bottom in the MAC, Akron needs to do more to bring the students into the stadium as a student section was not obvious. Access 5 Getting to InfoCision Stadium is very easy. InfoCision Stadium is located on campus, east of Downtown Akron. It is north of I-76 and west of highway 8, which gives campus easy access from the major highways of the area. There is parking on campus and north of campus with plenty of options. Tailgating usually occurs in the lot just at the south end of InfoCision Stadium. For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, there are Akron Metro bus stops that can be found on the streets surrounding campus. Fans should consult the Akron Metro website for schedules, maps and fares. Due to the capacity of InfoCision Stadium and the average number of fans in attendance, getting around the stadium is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are more than adequate. Stadium Journey recognizes that the security protocols for major sporting events are in constant flux. Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Akron Zips website for the most up to date security information, including bag policy and prohibited items. Return on Investment 4 Taking in an Akron Zips football game is very affordable. General Admission tickets can be had for $19 and reserved seating can be found for $31 to $38. The Zips do a good job with their gameday production and the college football feeling is there with the Zips. Concession prices are not terrible and parking will come with a cost as well. The output for a Zips game is not too high, however, if the Zips were more popular and found more fans in the stands, the return on the investment would be even better Extras 3 An extra mark for the rivalry games the Akron Zips partake in, specifically the Steel Tire against Youngstown State and the Wagon Wheel versus the Kent State Golden Flashes. An extra mark for being the first program to move from Division I-AA to Division I-A. An extra mark for the lone Akron Zip in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Jason Taylor. Final Thoughts A Saturday afternoon at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field with the Akron Zips is a good time. It would be an even better time if more people knew and more people showed up. When in Northern Ohio, taking in a Zips game is well worth it and the money required for it is not bad at all. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Marc Viquez Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Bill Davis Stadium 560 Borror Dr. Columbus, OH 43210 Ohio State Buckeyes website Bill Davis Stadium website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 4,450 Buckeyes Baseball Bill Davis Stadium at Nick Swisher Field is the largest outright college ballpark in the Big 10 and stands out among its contemporaries in design and features. Even Dorothy M. Davis, who donated $1.5 million towards the $4.7 million to construct the venue in memory of her stepson, was astonished by its size during the construction phase in the fall of 1996. At the time, Ohio State was in desperate need of a new baseball stadium. The Buckeyes had called Trautman Field home since 1966, but the 1,800-seat stadium was severely antiquated. The talks of a new baseball stadium picked up steam as the club was playing some of its best baseballs, making the NCAA tournament five times before the new ballpark opened. It was evident that the university needed a first-class baseball field and would begin constructing The Schottenstein Center , now Value City Arena , around the same time. The ballpark would open on March 14, 1997, and lighting would be installed later on in November. It was a venue that featured 500 lower bowl seats, 2,500 upper grandstand seats, and additional bleacher seating down the lines. An inner concourse separates the two sections, and the outer concourse houses a concession stand and Dugout Digs, a small spot for Buckeye merchandise. In 2011, alumni and former major league player Nick Swisher donated $500,000 towards the installation of field turf. The following season the stadium added Nick Swisher Field to its name. Baseball was the first athletic team founded at the school in 1881 and played in a series of locations around campus that included grounds near the Old North Dorms in 1892, the Baseball Diamond in 1925, and lowlands near Ohio Stadium in 1940. Trautman Field would open in April 1966, but it feels as if Bill Davis Stadium is the school’s first real ballpark. The Buckeyes have made four College World Series appearances, finishing runners-up in 1965 and champions in 1966. They have a total of 22 tournament appearances and 15 regular conference championships. They have also honored four individuals by retiring their numbers: Fred Taylor, Steve Arlin, Marty Karow, and Bobb Todd. Food & Beverage 3 The ballpark has a large concession stand near the entrance of the stadium that offers up a wealth of ballpark cuisine that includes hot dogs, nachos, brats, pretzels, and candy. The ballpark serves hamburgers with chips and brats. If you have a sweet tooth, there is Italian ice and candy served at the concession stand as well. Coca-Cola products are offered from the fountain, and there is alcohol in the form of Bud, Bud Light, Blue Moon, Coors Light, and Fizzy Seltzer cans. The prices range from as low as $4 for a hot dog to $9 for a burger and chips. Soda is priced at $6, domestic beers are $8, and seltzers are $9. It should be noted that visitors bring credit cards or other forms of non-cash payment. The campus sports facilities do not accept cash. Atmosphere 3 Bill Davis Stadium would be akin to either a High or Low ballpark in the minor leagues. The seating bowl opens up to other campus facilities in the background, and there is plenty of room to move around and take in the game from different vantage points. The atmosphere at the game is typical of many other Big 10 ballparks in the area. At the game of this review, the collection of fans was not deterred by the gloomy clouds up above, and as the weather warmed up a bit, so did the atmosphere. OSU mascot Brutus was one of the main attractions posing for pictures with fans young and old. He did not seem to get a break during his walk around the inner concourse of the stadium. The field consists of a synthetic surface, a video scoreboard behind the right field area wall, and plenty of areas to grab a seat. The best bet for a better atmosphere would be against Big 10 rivals and ideal temperatures. However, if you enjoy the action on the field and baseball banter from the dugouts, this is the place to be for a few innings. Neighborhood 4 The Old North District is located just north of campus and is a popular destination for students. The streets are filled with restaurants, bars, and music venues, along with businesses that support the residents. It’s a pretty part of Columbus and worth visiting before or after a visit to Bill Davis Stadium. A few places worth visiting are Jack & Benny’s, Ray Ray’s Hog Pit, Condado Tacos, Mother Cluckers, and DiCarlo’s Pizza. There is also a multitude of breweries that include North High Brewing, BrewDog Short North, Seventh Son Brewing Company, and Zaftig Brew Pub. Brothers Drake Meadery and Dulce Vida Short North round out a few other places of interest in the neighborhood. Depending on the time of year, one could check out a Columbus Clippers, Bluejackets, or Crew game. All three teams play about 3 miles away in the Arena District, where Huntington Park , Nationwide Arena , and Lower.com Field are among the best in their leagues in terms of design, aesthetics, and experiences. Fans 3 Despite the overcast skies and two other sporting events taking place over the next four hours, a nice crowd was on hand for the ballgame. Ohio State was playing Rutgers, so everybody was decked on in a hue of red. The fans in attendance were family members, friends, a group of visiting students, and a few onlookers taking in the game. There was a lot of cheering for the Buckeyes to get a base hit or score a run, while a few visiting team fans made their brand noise for their club. Access 4 The ballpark features wide-open concourses that include easy access to all parts for fans. The seating bowl is split with an inner concourse, the concession stands have large windows for easy access, and the parking lot has plenty of spaces for cars. Return on Investment 4 The ticket prices are as follows in the reserved section: $11 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for students. The cost of a general admission ticket is as follows: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for seniors. No matter your age - you will more than likely find a suitable price while attending a Buckeye game. The price of food ranges from $4 for a hot dog to $8 for a tall can of beer. There is no charge for parking. It is an inexpensive way to enjoy a baseball game. Extras 3 Bill Davis earns a point for the great deals on the retail rack outside the gift shop. The retired numbers and player information garner another point. Finally, the Italian ice earns another point. Final Thoughts Bill Davis Stadium is a good-looking place for baseball, perhaps somewhat large for its size but impressive. Interestingly, I never paid much attention to the ballpark until a few years ago, but it’s worth a visit when in town for the weekend or just a night out with family and friends. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 SECU Stadium 90 Stadium Dr. College Park, MD 20742 Maryland Terrapins football website SECU Stadium website Year Opened: 1950 Capacity: 51,802 Fear The Turtle The Maryland Terrapins play at SECU Stadium, formerly called Byrd Stadium; the name was changed by the Board of Regents in December 2015 to Maryland Stadium, as former coach and university president Harry Clifton “Curley” Byrd was a proponent of racial segregation. It was expected that the stadium’s name would be sold eventually, and most believed that Under Armour, founded by Maryland alumni Kevin Plank, would eventually have their name on the field. The sportswear manufacturer is already the main provider of athletic gear at the university. Instead, in 2022, the credit union known as SECU, signed a 10-year deal. The stadium opened in 1950 as a horseshoe-shaped bowl with a capacity of 34,680. In 1991, the five-story Tyser Tower added luxury suites and a larger press box. In 1995 an upper deck on the north side of the stadium was added. Various changes since have topped the seating capacity at 51,802. The University of Maryland has traditionally been known as a basketball school. The university has seen a great deal of basketball success under coaches such as Lefty Driesell and Gary Williams, even winning a national championship in 2002. The university has been playing football with some success since 1892 and received one official national championship in 1953. The 1951 team is generally seen as even better than the 1953 squad and has retroactively been considered the national champions by various systems such as the Sagarain Ranking System. Maryland has also been the home of many well-known coaches and players. Coaches include Jim Tatum, Lou Saban, Jerry Claiborne, Bobby Ross, Ralph Friedgen, Randy Edsall, and the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. Famous players include Erin & E.J. Henderson, Stan Jones, Randy White, Dick Modzelewski, Torrey Smith, Vernon Davis, Stefon Diggs, and Boomer Esiason. Primarily the home to Terps football and lacrosse, Maryland Stadium has been the scene of a few other events. In 1957 Queen Elizabeth II was on hand to watch the team upset North Carolina while the USFL Baltimore Stars called the stadium home during their 1985 championship season. Seen from the upper deck of Maryland Stadium are the Washington Monument, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Old Post Office Pavilion, the Washington National Cathedral, and the United States Capitol. Food & Beverage 4 There are many concession stands found around all parts of the complex. Concession prices are in the normal range and are reasonable for such a large venue. Crab fries found behind sections 14 and 205 are the best nod to local culture, although the addition of the “The Chessie,” a large 24-ounce hot soft pretzel smothered in backfin crab dip and melted cheddar cheese, then topped with a dusting of Old Bay, is a pretty unique offering. It is designed to be shared between four people. This stand also features some other cool local novelties. Chick-fil-A offerings can be found behind the Tyser Tower, while Ledo's Pizza can be found behind sections 13, 20, and 205. Otherwise, traditional food offerings of hot dogs, fries, hamburgers, and pit beef are generally seen around the stadium. The best food option at Maryland Stadium is the Maryland Dairy Ice Cream behind sections 3, 20, and 208. The ice cream is made on campus. There is a stand under the main videoboard offering healthier options as well. Atmosphere 4 The stadium is very much an old-school football stadium. This can be bad in terms of the aging infrastructure, but it also provides a nice platform for fan interaction. The stadium is still at its heart the horseshoe-shaped stadium that opened in 1950. The large press and luxury suite tower looks tacked on awkwardly, as does the massive upper decks on the north side of the stadium. The closed-end part of the horseshoe is where the band and students sit. Unfortunately, they are not closer to the field action as they both provide a great deal of sound and excitement. The large open-air concourse is a great meeting spot pre- and postgame. There are nice videoboards at both ends of the stadium. Maryland’s marching band is called The Mighty Sound of Maryland and is one of the most entertaining marching bands in college football. Neighborhood 3 The neighborhood is a mixed bag. Maryland Stadium is in the middle of the campus so no businesses are directly nearby. The Terp Town area to the west of the stadium gives the fans entertainment and festivities to enjoy pregame. Also located nearby is the Stamp Union, where you will see many a fan enjoying a pregame meal or buying shirts at the campus bookstore. The Maryland Dairy Ice Cream store here is a nice place to go ahead of the game. The town of College Park is located directly south of the campus along U.S. Route 1. RJ Bentley’s Filling Station, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Jimmy John’s, Ledo’s Pizza, and Five Guys are all good options in this “downtown” area. Looney’s Pub is another great option and is located in The Varsity building (8150 Baltimore Ave) north of the downtown area and maybe even closer to the stadium if walking. The Hotel (yes, that is its name) is the best lodging choice and is within walking distance of the campus. You will always have the dizzying array of Washington DC options to choose from. The College Park Station of the Washington Metro is close by and is your best bet for getting to DC as the traffic and parking situation is not ideal. Fans 3 The student section at Maryland is noted for being loud and fairly rude. Expect to hear a few curse words during their chants. The students do enjoy the game and offers a festive atmosphere, although expect them to roll out in the second half. Other fans throughout the stadium do not always go to the same level as the students do. Fans in and near the Tyser Tower are pretty quiet. Overall the fans are passionate but may tend to be more the clap politely types. Access 2 The University of Maryland is not far from the Washington Beltway, but it is just far enough away that getting to the stadium is not too easy. U.S. 1 and University Boulevard are full of traffic lights and will be very full of traffic, even on non-game days. On-campus traffic is also a bit of a mess as a new Washington, DC light rail system is being constructed directly on the campus. The best bet is to pre-pay for a parking space through the university. The price tag seems way too high but at least you will know where you are going ahead of time. Pricing will range from $20 to $30, depending on the game and availability. A map of your space will be provided when you pre-purchase. The Terrapin Trail Garage is a personal favorite as it is relatively close to Maryland Stadium but still allows a quick way out of the area. The public garage in downtown College Park is always an option, as well. It is pretty well-priced, but a bit of a hike to the stadium. It will put you in a prime spot for postgame food and beverages. You will see some fans park for free on the sides of nearby University Boulevard, but this is not recommended. To do this you would need to get there very early and frankly, the road is too busy and dangerous to park there. If traveling to the game via the Washington Metro, get off at the College Park Station and take the shuttle directly to the stadium. Return on Investment 4 Tickets can be had for a good value, depending on the opponent. Expect to pay more for the larger well-known opponents of the Big Ten. Parking prices weigh down the rating as they are far too high for the location. Extras 4 One should go to the Maryland Dairy Ice Cream, whether inside the stadium or at the Stamp Union, during your visit. Look for their special offerings as they rotate and change frequently. As noted above, there is a location within the stadium offering a simplified menu. The main video board that sits behind the closed end of the horseshoe is pretty interesting. It is the standard scoreboard seen in many places, but since it sits in an open area it is a good meeting spot. The Terps enter the stadium under a large turtle shell. There is plenty of history of past Maryland teams scattered in various sections of the stadium. Final Thoughts SECU Stadium is a pretty basic college football stadium. The long-standing horseshoe seating bowl doesn’t always mesh with the rest of the stadium, but a fan will still find a game enjoyable.