The last time I went to a Binghamton Bearcats game, it was -2 degrees and I was nervous that my ’97 Toyota Tercel wouldn’t start. The ol’ green beast came through and there were no problems driving back to my campus up in Oswego. I came to see Vermont play Binghamton as I was in love with that Catamounts team that included T.J. Sorrentine and Taylor Coppenrath. This was before Vermont became a perennial league power and I loved watching that squad. As for Binghamton, they just opened a new arena and things were looking up for them. They made their first NCAA Tournament in 2009, but it turns out Kevin Broadus led a bunch of cheats and bad guys. The Bearcats have been in exile ever since and they haven’t had a winning record since that season. In fact, last year’s T-4th finish in the AE standings was the first time they’ve been in the top half of the league since 2009.
Visiting an arena just a year after opening is something I’ve shied away from as I’ve grown with Stadium Reviews. There’s often unfinished aspects or pain points that get cleaned up in the early years. I also try to go to an “average” game to get a better gauge of true atmosphere/fan support (that Vermont game was hyped up and it was a sell out). It was a long time coming for a return visit and last Saturday I finally made it back on an almost as cold day (12 degrees). Thank you to the nice person at the ticket booth who gave both my daughters and I the youth ticket price, which means we got in for just $6 each. Throw in free parking and cheap concessions and you have a great afternoon out. I really love the Events Center as the multi-purpose facility looks like a basketball arena despite it sitting on an indoor track. The concourse is open and there is a lot of green in the building to help add character, the team displays are great too. Once again, a game that I saw the Bearcats in was one where the home side was completely overmatched. Binghamton never was in this game against UMass-Lowell, another team I have a secret love for. Earlier in the year, after the Riverhawks beat Georgia Tech, they were 3-0 and beating Arizona State by 10 points. They blew that lead and lost, then had a few head-scratchers after that. Lowell is back on track and they sit at 15-4 with a legitimate chance to dethrone Vermont as conference kings. In the game I saw against Binghamton, they won by 20.
The next weekend, I had a work conference in Baltimore. That’s usually a good opportunity to find a game as our work is in the evening at this annual show. I drove down a little early to Annapolis for a Navy basketball game and it’s a good thing I didn’t leave too early. From New Jersey, the plan was to take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge as it’s cheaper overall and slightly faster than staying on I-95 most of the way. Well, thank you Google Maps traffic for re-routing me before getting too far in so I didn’t get delayed due to this 43-vehicle crash as a result of fog. Even more thankful I wasn’t in it and that everyone survived. Annapolis is only 30 minutes from Baltimore and I got into town early as the Iron Rooster certainly delivered with an early lunch and it filled me up for the day. You can read about the city and Naval Academy in my brief write-up a few years ago. Without much extra time, I just walked to Alumni Hall for basketball. As much as I love this area, this has got to be one of the worst college basketball places in the country when it comes to arrival. Since the public can not drive on the Academy’s campus, you can only enter from the Visitor’s Gate. The arena is a lengthy (but scenic) 10-minute walk from the gate. Then you have to find parking in the city, which is a pain and expensive. That adds more time. I opt for the Calvert Street Garage, which is free on weekends, but also a 15-minute walk to the Visitor’s Gate. Now exiting from the game, Gate 3 at Maryland Ave can be open for public exit (not entrance) and that shaves some time…but still it is not convenient at all. The other option is park at the football stadium for $10 and then take a shuttle bus.
Once you are here though, everything is all good. The arena is certainly the nicest in the Patriot League and the honors/displays throughout the building that highlight the Naval Academy and those that served the country is unique to say the least. The concourse featured the most amount of double doors I’ve ever seen as the rounded walkways have four different occurrences where you go from hallway – door – top of staircase – door – inside of arena – door – top of staircase – door – hallway. It’s funky. The inside is nice with a classy Navy blue look to everything. There is an upper deck, but it’s set further back and not really that necessary. I did find the super bright lights shining on the court to be annoying. Also, whoever came up with the sink design where you need both hands to hold down “Cold” and “Hot” has to be the dumbest thing ever (how are you supposed to wash your hands?). There were lots of families for this game and it made for a fine atmosphere, especially as they were good about when to cheer and when to try and rally the team. Unfortunately, the Midshipmen could not oblige as the 3-17 Loyola Greyhounds had a comfortable lead for most of the game. Navy cut the deficit to four late in the second half as the crowd felt a rally and tried to urge them on, but that was as close as it ever got. This was my 6th Patriot League basketball arena and a full, detailed review on Navy’s Alumni Hall experience can be found here.
Stadium and Arena Visits 