Usually the Memorial Day weekend finds us at a ballpark somewhere within a long drive. However, this year there will be no ballpark as this stadium visit will come in the form of a basketball arena. It’s good timing too as the weather is somewhat crappy here in the Northeast for the first part of the weekend. Southeast Connecticut is where we will be and that will include a visit to the Connecticut Sun and Mohegan Sun Arena. This is a unique one as there will be a couple of firsts for me: the WNBA and a casino arena. There certainly won’t be a shortage of things to do before and after the game with one of the country’s biggest casinos a step away. We will also check out Foxwoods while in the area this weekend, along with Mystic which includes the Aquarium and Seaport. Unfortunately, only one stadium visit is on tap as there aren’t many other options nearby. Though the Connecticut Tigers play in Norwich, just a few minutes north, the Tigers are in the NYPL which does not start until mid-June. I also looked into making the drive to Pawtucket, but they are on the road. Be back sometime next week with a wrap-up!

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I have been a frequent visitor to Connecticut as of late and that will be the destination for the next couple of stadium visits starting Sunday. That’s when we visit the center of the state for a matinee involving the New Britain Rock Cats and Richmond Flying Squirrels. This marks the beginning of ballpark season as it starts warming up. It also resumes the quest to finish all Eastern League ballparks. I did not get to a game in the EL last year, but this year I plan on seeing the last two teams, New Britain and Harrisburg, to complete the circuit. Now let’s just hope that Ottawa doesn’t come aboard and ruin it in 2014. Anyway, I will be checking out a few things around the area before the game including some interesting old stadiums, plus grabbing lunch on a street that helps define New Britain (or should I say New Britski?) Should be a good time…back next week with a New Britain Stadium review and also an updated one on Stadium Journey.

Sunday afternoon, it is off to the Bronx for a visit to the second oldest college basketball arena in Division I basketball. Rose Hill Gym was built in 1926 and plays home to the Fordham Rams. We plan on being in attendance for a 1 PM tip-off as the Rams take on Massachusetts in their conference opener. There’s a surprising amount of things to do near the University, as it is right across from the Botanical Gardens and nearby the Bronx Zoo. Also, Little Italy on Arthur Ave has a ton of places to eat. Not sure if I’ll be just doing the game or visiting other spots and I’ll figure that out in the coming days. I do plan on driving in and it is never cheap doing anything in NYC. It has been a very long time since Fordham basketball has been relevant, but regardless, I’m really looking forward to checking out this historic gym. Back next week with a review!

I am counting down the days for a really exciting weekend as a visit to Wisconsin is on tap. The NWA has a conference in Madison next week and I will be attending with another co-worker. That is the National Weather Association, not the other more known NWA. Anyway, I’ve wanted to get to the annual meeting for awhile and am glad I’ll have the chance to. Luckily, it coincides with a home football game for the Wisconsin Badgers. So, I will be taking an early flight and head out to Madison Friday Night. From there, the weekend will be spent on the downtown isthmus and campus as two stadiums are on tap. The first is Camp Randall Stadium for the Wisconsin-Illinois game Saturday Afternoon. Then on Sunday, I’ll head back to the same area for a volleyball game at Wisconsin Field House, which used to be home to the basketball team before the Kohl Center was built. In between, I’ll be checking out the sights of Madison and hopefully trying a brat or two. The weather is not looking great as I’m sure to be shivering at the very top of Camp Randall with temps in the 40s. But as long as I’m there, that’s all that matters and I can’t wait to see the 5th Quarter and Jump Around. After the two stadium visits, I will try to put some thoughts up in a quick post Sunday Night as the next few days will be busy, otherwise look for reviews the weekend after. Go Badgers!

The baseball season has wrapped up at Stadium and Arena Visits with eight new ballparks…a pretty decent number that I’m quite happy with. It started with a historic facility in Yale and was highlighted by a couple terrific MLB ballparks in Colorado and the Bronx. Most of the minor league visits came from the Atlantic League, a league that I am frankly quite sick of. Those ballparks all are similar in that the way they are designed, there is little difference between teams. The one place I saw this year that was quite different was Sam Suplizio Field in Grand Junction, CO, where a funky layout and passionate fans made for a fun experience.

Now we begin the football season. With football in full force last weekend and the weather featuring a Fall-like coolness here in the Northeast, I am ready! By far the highlight will be my planned trip to Wisconsin as I am there for a few days at a work conference and will head to Madison early so I can experience a game at Camp Randall Stadium. I’m sitting in the last row of the stadium, but at least I’ll be in there! A month later, the plan is to try and get to Newark, DE for a visit to one of the more successful teams in the FCS level, the Delaware Blue Hens. First though, we take in the fourth Ivy League stadium in this journey. Columbia may not hold the football prestige of the other teams in the Ivy, but I’m still really looking forward to checking out Lawrence A. Wein Stadium. Not sure how I’m going to get there, whether it’s going to be via the longer train ride or if I conquer my nerves and actually drive on the city streets of northern New York City. Regardless, the weather will be beautiful and I’ll be there for the 12:30 PM kickoff vs Marist. Look for a review here next week and one over at Stadium Journey as well.

It’s that time again!!! We are getting ready to head out on vacation and we have four new stadiums on the schedule! Lately, we’ve been taking a week off in early Fall, but this year, the wife and I will be going more traditional and take a mid-summer break. The destination has been planned for a few months and it is Colorado. Obviously, things have changed quite a bit since we made those plans. The state has had to deal with record heat, drought and by far worst of all, the tragic wildfires. The Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs, was the most destructive in the state’s history and many homes were lost. Weather Disasters are one thing, but fire is a completely different and scary disaster. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is affected in Colorado (and other parts of the West).

As this was happening a week or two ago, I felt really guilty about continuing plans to “vacation” in the state. But after reading this article, I feel a lot better and am encouraged that we’ll actually be helping. So, off we go and we’ll be flying out on Saturday. Much of our trip will be centered in Denver, but we are going to spend a day in Golden and Colorado Springs, along with driving through the Rockies to Grand Junction out in the west. Speaking of Rockies, those are the nicknames of two teams we will be seeing during this venture…

Stadium visits start right off the bat with an MLS game in Commerce City as the Colorado Rapids take on FC Dallas Saturday. This is my second MLS game and I’m really looking forward to it. I just hope our flights go smooth as we are scheduled to get into Denver around 12:30 and the game starts at 7:00. Monday, we are at Security Service Field for a AAA PCL game with Colorado Springs. Then it is on to see their parent team, the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. With my recent trip to Yankee Stadium fresh in mind, it will be interesting to see how the two experiences stack up. The game features the lowly Rockies against the equally lowly, wait a minute, no its the FIRST PLACE Pittsburgh Pirates! Our last stadium will be in Western Colorado, where the brand new Grand Junction Rockies play a Pioneer League game in recently renovated Sam Suplizio Field.

I’m hoping to get another running daily summary going for this trip and once I’m back, the reviews will gradually come up over the next few weeks (in between Olympic watching). Until then, check back this weekend as our journey gets going!

Oh baby! These are a couple of visits I’m really excited for as this weekend I’ll be heading up to Toronto. Two games are on tap…first is a Saturday Night game at the Air Canada Centre between the tanking Leafs and the Sabres, who are in quite a fight for the last playoff berth. My brother will be joining me and we’ll be wearing our jerseys,  respectfully rooting Buffalo on. Taking in a game at the ACC is the most expensive venture I’ve had to undertake as ticket prices are so incredibly ridiculous (hence, why you see Leafs Nation invade every other building, because the real fans can’t get seats in their corporate arena). Then on Sunday, we’ll head a few miles to the west in Toronto’s Exhibition Place, where the RICOH Coliseum is located to see an AHL matinee between the Marlies and Grand Rapids Griffins. Should be a great time, plus I love visiting Toronto, such a clean, vibrant city with tons to do. We’ll certainly make a return to the Hockey Hall of Fame as well.