Rice-Eccles Stadium - 2002 Winter Olympics Stadium

Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT served as the main stadium for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The stadium is located on the campus of the University of Utah, home of the NCAA Pac-12 division Utah Utes. Upon Salt Lake City being awarded the 2002 Olympic Games in 1995, it became obvious that Rice Stadium was not adequate to be the main stadium. This soon paved the way for a new upgraded facility, Rice-Eccles Stadium, to be built on the same site in time for the games. Just south of the stadium is the Olympic Cauldron Park containing the 2002 games museum, the cauldron and the Hoberman Arch.

Angel Stadium of Anaheim - MLB Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Throughout the years, the modern-style stadium has gone through many name changes and seating arrangements under its different ownership regimes. Angel Stadium of Anaheim, as its commonly referred to as this day has served as the home of the MLB Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim since their move from nearby Los Angeles in 1966. Prior to the ground breaking of Angel Stadium, the Angels called Wrigley Field in 1961 ( Pacific Coast League affiliation) and Chavez Ravine (Dodgers Stadium) from 1962-1965 their home. Unknown to the youth who are just beginning to understand the game of baseball, Angel Stadium has undergone several structural modifications in its existence beginning in 1980. To accommodate the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, Angel Stadium underwent a major reconfiguration to a multi-purpose stadium which saw the stadium extend the upper deck and mezzanine completely around the playing field which as result, blocked the view of the local mountains and 57 freeway. For those who never got to experience this configuration, you can see a photo of it here. The Rams eventually relocated to St. Louis in 1994 where they have played ever since. During that same year, the stadium suffered minor damage as result of the Northridge earthquake on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The stadium was restored to its baseball-only configuration beginning in 1997 following the Angels acquisition by the Walt Disney Company. These changes resulted in the majority of the outfield seating being demolished in-favor of an out-of-town scoreboard below the right field seats, outfield bleacher pavilions and the "California Spectacular", a mountainside covered in real trees and artificial rocks which feature water geysers and fireworks erupt at the beginning of a game and anytime the Angels win or hit a homerun.

If you plan on going to the stadium for the first time, I recommend parking away from the stadium in smaller lots as it's more affordable. For food options, you have many options between The Grandstand selection of stadium food, Panda Express, Carl's JR and Jack In The Box. If you're not a fan of stadium food, there is a small strip mall located across the street made up of Togo's, Carl's JR and Fresca's.

Angel Stadium has hosted its share of notable events including:
MLB All Star Game: 1967, 1989 and 20110
KROQ Weenie Roast 2000 featuring Ozzy Osbourne
Rod Carew and George Brett's 3,000th career hit
Reggie Jackon's 500th career home run
Mickey Mantle's last game-winning home run
Site where Nolan Ryan threw 4 of his record 7 career no-hitters.

Century Link Field - NFL Seattle Seahawks

Century Link Field in Seattle, WA served as the host venue to the World Cup Qualifier between the United Stated and Panama in June 2013. The match was the first qualifier that Seattle had hosted in 3 decades. Growing up in a soccer house hold, I have been to my fair share of professional soccer matches including the infamous 1994 World Cup Match between the US and Columbia at the Pasadena Rose Bowl that resulted in a US victory at the expense of an own goal from Andres Escobar. Those of you who may not be familiar with this, watch the ESPN 30 For 30 Film, The Two Escobars for more information. As fate came to tell, I really had no idea what to expect once I arrived in Seattle with two friends of mine. For two days, my friends and I were going to be partaking in American Outlaws traditions that included the night before gathering, the pre-party at a nearby bar, the infamous march to the stadium and the match itself. The American Outlaws are the official fan club of the US Soccer Team with chapters based in cities across the country. In tradition, the Outlaws attending the match gather at a local location the night before the match and celebrate. This night in particular, we were joined by US Soccer legends, Cobi Jones and Alexi Lalas. The next day, we gathered about a mile from the stadium early in the afternoon prior to marching. Once inside of the stadium, it was game on!



The match itself was infamous as those of us who were in the end zone made it clear, the US can in fact show their support. The video which I shared above and below highlight just the type of atmosphere that was showcased that evening.



Before their was Century Link Field, the Kingdome served as the multi-purpose stadium for the Seattle Mariners and Seahawks prior to being demolished to make way for Century Link Field. The stadium now serves as home to the Seahawks and MLS Club Seattle Sounders.

Dodgers Stadium

Safeco Field - MLB Seattle Mariners

I recently made a trip up to Seattle to catch the US vs. Panama World Cup Qualifier at Century Link Field. Only a few feet across the street sits Safeco Field, home to the Seattle Mariners. The origins of baseball in the Seattle area date back to the early 1900's upon the founding of the Seattle Rainiers. The Rainiers were a minor league baseball team who played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 to 1906 and 1919 to 1968. Baseball would return for one season in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots before they were sold and relocated to Milwaukee where they would become the Brewers following a controversial sale by then owner and current MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. Thankfully, baseball would return again following a lawsuit in 1970 over the sale and relocation of the Seattle Pilots. The Seattle Mariners entered MLB as an expansion team in 1977 along with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mariners called The Kingdome their home until 1999 once Safeco Field opened across the street.

Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium that is owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority. While the stadium is known for being a retractable roof stadium, the roof acts as an "umbrella" for the stands and field due to the weather that primarily effects the Pacific Northwest region. Getting to Safeco Field is very accessible and convenient to get to should you decide to visit Seattle by the light rail train spanning from Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEATAC) that runs through the city limits stopping at many points of interest. There is also the option of driving to the stadium if you are willing to pay $15.00 and up depending on who is in town.

Depending on who is in town, you can score very good seats on Stubhub for the game. I was able to get a seat 25 rows from home plate for a very reasonable price. The stadium offers a wide variety of food options for anyone and everyone but please keep in mind that you will have to pay a little bit more if you plan on eating or drinking at the stadium. Pioneer Square is also located within walking distance should you want to go there if eating from the local street vendor is not your thing.

Touring Safeco Field is one of the must-do attractions while in Seattle as it delivers many behind the scenes areas not available to the general public. Every tour departs from the team store that is just shy of the main entrance to the stadium. The team store is the ultimate destination for any Mariners fan as it contains historical artifacts and merchandise spanning the different areas of Mariners baseball. While on the tour, we explored the owners suite where we learned about the teams affiliation with Nintendo USA in the owners suite, explored the dugout and warning track along the field and visited the press box before the tour ended. Overall, a great tour!

Yankee Stadium Tour

The day had finally arrived in September 2012 where I could say that I set foot inside Yankee Stadium, home of the legendary New York Yankees. For my 30th birthday, I decided to spend it taking a tour and catching game at the ballpark. Just like the tour of Fenway Park that I took a few days later, Yankee Stadium is one of the must see tours for any fan.

The tour began at the Yankee Museum after the teams security detail went over the ground rules and do's/don'ts while on the tour. The Museum is what any museum should contain, legendary items and artifacts that have made this team who they are. Residing in the middle of the museum are two bronze statues which pay homage to the Don Larsen/Yogi Berra perfect game in the World Series. Situated between the statues is a massive glass case containing over a hundred signed baseballs that included Yogi Berra, Babe Ruth and Randy Johnson. I was able to spend about five minutes in the museum taking in all the sights that included exhibits dedicated to Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and The Boss, former Yankee captain Thurman Munson's locker as it appeared prior to his death and the World Series Trophies.

After departing the museum, we made our way to legendary Monument Park in center field. Monument Park is a living tribute to the legendary Yankees who donned the pinstripes during their career. The tour guide explained to us the history of Monument Park, the plaques of the retired numbers and the plaques dedicated to the 9/11 Attacks and Pope Benedicts visit.

The final stop on the tour took us through the lower level of the stadium until we reached the playing field and dugout. We were given a few minutes to take photos in the dugout and of the field but security was very strict at this point as they did not allow any photos of you on the field unless it was by their photographer. This was the low point of the tour as it gave us a feeling like we were being hurried along the entire time and weren't really given the opportunity to soak in everything.

Later on that night, I returned to Yankee Stadium to see the team take on the Tampa Bay Rays. Near the end of the game I was able to witness history as Derek Jeter surpassed Willie Mays for sole possession of 10th place on baseballs all-time hit list.

Citi Field - MLB New York Mets

I paid a visit to Citi Field in the Queens borough of New York City. Citi Field replaced the aging Shea Field as the home of the New York Mets just a few feet away. The exterior of the stadium is reminiscent of Ebbets Field with an entrance named the Jackie Robinson Rotunda after the Brooklyn Dodgers legend. The rotunda honors Robinson's life and accomplishments. Unlike many stadiums, Citi Field features orange foul poles rather than the standard yellow, which make this field unique.

Getting to Citi Field takes a little bit of time from midtown Manhattan by the New York Subway 7 train at Mets-Willets Point. The stadium is located within an area of Flushing that is home to USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center where the annual US Open tennis grand slam tournament is held and the Unisphere, the iconic 12-story high stainless steel globe that served as the centerpiece for the 1964 New York World's Fair.

This day in particular was unique as it was my first visit to Citi Field, but it was the 11th anniversary of the September 11th attacks in the city. The Mets played host to rival NL East Washington Nationals. Prior to the game, a moment of silence as a tribute to the anniversary occurred along with a moving tribute to the events that had occurred earlier in the day in Benghazi. Being in the city on this day was surreal and I took in every minute that I could. Anytime I go to a new stadium, I make it a priority of exploring every part of it not knowing when I will make my return. Little did I know that while walking through the upper deck in left field I would lay my eyes on a piece of American History that I would never forget. Each year on this day, the city of New York as a tribute displays two massive light towers that shine into the sky on the site where the twin towers once stood. These lights were visible to the eye as far as Citi Field and were something that I had to see up closer later that night. The photo below I took on this night last night atop Rockefeller Center.

Citi Field in its own right is a beautiful stadium to visit, whether for the first or last time. The 2012 season marked the 50th Anniversary of the Mets organization that was in the process of its promotional marketing campaign for this years MLB All Star Game.

Fenway Park Tour 2012

As I mentioned in a previous entry, I spent the finale of my 30th birthday trip in Boston. Feeling like I didn't get enough of Fenway on my previous trip 14 months earlier, I booked another tour. 2012 marked the 100th Anniversary of Fenway Park. What made this trip so much better than the previous one was that the Red Sox were out of town so I got to see more of the stadium then I did the year before. After purchasing tickets at Gate D, we proceeded to the team store prior where all Fenway Park Tours begin. I'm still not sure what can compare to spending over an hour in this legendary ballpark on a brisk fall day in September. Taking a page out of previous stadium tours that I had been on, it's usually a good thing to tour the stadium when the team is out of town because you get to see the goodies which the stadium has to offer.

Once everyone had arrived, the tour departed from the Red Sox Team Store and into Fenway Park. Our first stop was in the portion of the stadium that runs along third base. The tour guide made it known that this was the portion of the park where the movies Ted and The Town had been filmed at. Next we were taken up to the wooden seats that are located next to the left field foul pole which is next to the Green Monster. Here our guide made his rounds asking which teams everyone supported, while making it known the Red Sox were still the best in baseball. During this stop on the tour, many interesting facts about the stadium and the team were explained. While I knew some history about Fenway, I never knew how many changes that the stadium has undergone over the years. Up next was the famed Green Monster seats atop left field. The Green Monster has served as the manual scoreboard for Fenway Park that employees operate through-out the game. Until recently, the Green Monster was never accessible by fans until a seating section was added. The monster is made up of several historical elements including morse code along the American League portion of the scoreboard containing the initials of the Yawkey Family and the hard-to-miss ladder which was previously used by workers to retrieve home run balls prior to the addition of its seats.

The famed Press Box was up next on the tour after we made our way through the halls that contained history from all of the years the Red Sox had been a team. The press box sits above home plate and offers an exceptional view of the stadium and nearby Boston Back Bay. On any given day, the Red Sox employee who runs the press box determines whether or not the windows will be opened or closed for the duration of the game. Due to its close proximity from home plate, foul balls are frequent in this location. As an unexpected surprise, this tour was given the opportunity to visit several behind the scenes areas of the ball park that included the visitors dugout, warning track and Red Sox dugout. Being the fan that I am, having the opportunity to walk into the locker room where many legendary and Hall of Fame players was a very surreal experience. Not to take away from the opportunity to walk on the field and sit on the dugout benches, the locker room easily took the cake. While on the warning track, fans were allowed to have their photo taken by the teams official fan photographers, Fan Photo that they could purchase for a small fee at the end of the tour.

In addition to the major highlights of the tour, our guide also shared several stories about the park including the famed Pesky Pole, The Lone Red Seat that signifies the longest home run hit at Fenway by Ted Williams on June 9, 1946 and ending with a visit to the publicly visited Red Sox Hall of Fame.

Fenway Park - Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays 7/4/11

July 3rd and 4th, 2011 are days that I will always remember. They will go down as my first visit and first game at Fenway Park in Boston. While on an East Coast trip to celebrate my aunt and uncles wedding in nearby Rhode Island, my family and I made a trip up to Boston to celebrate the 4th of July and catch at game at Fenway. On the afternoon of July 3rd, we were able to catch one of the last tours that day of Fenway, rain or not. Just before the tour, we got a bite to eat at a restaurant called Game On. It backs right up to the Green Monster portion of the park so it gives you the feeling like you are in the park. The tour starts inside of the Red Sox team store directly across the street from Fenway. The team store itself is an experience itself as a fan of baseball could easily spend nearly 20-30 minutes inside of it just seeing all of the history combined with the size alone. Those who are fortunate to take the tour are given a detailed historical tour that makes Fenway the ballpark that it is.

During the tour, our guide took us through-out Fenway including the famed Green Monster, Press Box and Red Sox Hall of Fame. The next day, we ventured out early to Fenway as it was a day game against Toronto. Fenway is the perfect location for a baseball stadium as the surrounding streets are closed before and after the game. Here you will see many street cart vendors and fans coming and going from the local bars and restaurants. Not even 8am is early enough for the diehards to start pre-gaming before a 1pm game. As a tip to any first timers, eat before the game or wait in line at the bottom of the stadium for your food. There are no vendors through-out the stadium you will have to get out of your seat to get food at the lower level during the game. If you are planning on catching a game at Fenway, purchase your tickets in advance as much as possible. I had to purchase mine on StubHub many months in advance.

TD Garden - Boston Celtics & Bruins

TD Garden was the conclusion of my 30th birthday trip last year. While in Boston, I ventured to the famed TD Garden for WWE Night of Champions PPV. The arena is home to the NHL's Boston Bruins and NBA's Boston Celtics. The TD Garden replaced the legendary Boston Garden in 1995 after it had become obsolete. The Garden was built only inches away from its predecessor atop Boston's North Station, a major transportation hub. Hopefully someday I can make it back here to catch either a Bruins or Celtics game.

Chase Field - MLB Arizona Diamondbacks

Becoming the fastest expansion to win a World Series (2001), the Arizona Diamondbacks became an expansion team during the 1998 MLB season. Built as the first stadium with a retractable roof in the United States, the Diamondbacks have called Chase Field in Arizona home since their debut in the National League. During my trip to Phoenix last year, I was able to take in two games and a tour of the stadium. It was also my last time to see Atlanta Braves 3B Chipper Jones during his farewell tour before retiring at the end of the 2012 season.

The tour itself is a treat unlike many others, you get to see an experience a lot many fans don't. The tour started just outside of the team store prior to departing into the interior of the stadium containing the 2001 World Series Trophy and items from the 2011 MLB All Star Game.

During the tour, we were allowed access to many areas of the park that are usually off-limits to fans including the press box, media room and dugout. There is also the chance that you run into a player like we did, Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon. What other MLB stadium can also boast that they have an operating hot tub within the confines of their stadium? While we were in the press box and dugout, we were fortunate enough to catch a portion of the Phillies batting practice.

The stadium itself has one of the best atmospheres in the game for any fan of baseball. Cheap food and beer along with crowd participation. If you are one of those who prefers to eat before the game, I suggest checking out TGIF Fridays located in left field. A portion of the restaurant faces the stadium and offers outdoor seating. Did I also mention that if you arrive early enough that you can watch batting practice from it?

University of Phoenix Stadium - NFL Arizona Cardinals

In April 2012, I decided to make a trip out to Phoenix with a good friend to take in a few baseball Arizona Diamondbacks baseball games. Along the way, we arranged a tour in nearby Glendale at University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the NFL's Arizona Cardinals and NCAA Fiesta Bowl. This was my second time to the stadium but the first time I actually was able to experience it as a fan. While working for Fan Foto, I made the trip to Glendale with a few co-workers to cover the 2008 Fiesta Bowl between the Oklahoma Sooners and West Virginia Mountaineers. Growing up, I was used to the atmosphere of an NCAA Football game going to several UCLA games each year at the Rose Bowl. The Fiesta Bowl completely blew me out of the water seeing the mass amounts of fans who made the trek for this annual bowl game at the conclusion of the season. The stadium is located in a site located nearly 15 minutes west of downtown Phoenix that also includes Jobing.com Arena (NHL Phoenix Coyotes) and a strip mall. Those of you who are sports junkies like me know how important it is to have quality food locations near the stadium before and after the event.

At first glance, the stadium appears to be a giant UFO situated in the middle of the desert but is loosely modeled after a barrel cactus. It features the first fully retractable natural grass playing surface built in the United States that allows for the playing surface to be exposed to daylight. Just outside of the stadium, the Cardinals named the plaza surrounding their stadium in honor of former NFL player Pat Tillman who gave up his football career for the Military before dying in combat.

The tour is a must do for any sports fan as it highlights what makes the stadium unique. Fans are treated to how local history was contributed into the design of the stadium, a trip to the visitors locker room and the teams press box. The tour guide was not only very knowledgeable but answered any question that they had directed at them.

Heritage Field - Yankee Stadium Hollowed Grounds

Following its closure in 2008, "The House That Ruth Built" began its transformation into parkland named Heritage Field. Located on the hollowed grounds where Yankee Stadium once stood, was incorporated into three natural turf baseball fields, the largest oriented in the original direction of Yankee Stadium. Heritage Field is located directly across the street from where new Yankee Stadium is located. A portion of the façade from Yankee Stadium can be seen in the photo above. If you ever have the opportunity to make a trip to NYC, the site is worth a trip to visit.

Ebbets Field Site - Brooklyn Dodgers

The home of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1913 - 1956 before they moved to Los Angeles. The grounds where the stadium once stood is now home to the Ebbets Field Apartments. The exterior facade of Citi Field in nearby Queens was influenced by Ebbets Field. Ebbets field was home for 5 NL Pennants and the 1955 World Series for the Brooklyn Dodgers, their only before relocating to LA. The photo is from a bus tour I took in Brooklyn, NY in August 2011.

Petco Park - MLB San Diego Padres

I had the opportunity to pay a visit to Petco Park in May 2012, home of the San Diego Padres. The stadium opened in 2004 as the replacement for nearby Qualcomm Stadium which served as home for the Padres from 1969 - 2003. The open-air stadium is located in downtown San Diego within walking distance of the famed Gas Lamp District was built into the historic Western Metal Supply Building located in left field. It offers fans easy access to the stadium from the nearby trolley and provides views of the downtown skyline and neighboring cities.

Prior to that evenings game against the Miami Marlins, I booked a tour of the stadium along with about a dozen other fans. While most tours MLB stadiums provide access to portions of the stadium usually not accessible to the general fan (field, club house, press box), sadly Petco Park didn't. During the treat we were taken around several parts of the stadium that were limited to a portion of the press box (below it), the Padres Hall of Fame and the Western Metal Supply Building before ending up in the lower bowl as batting practice commenced.

Minute Maid Park - MLB Houston Astros

As I mentioned in my previous entry, I stayed in Houston, Texas for a two week period in September 2005. Midway through my trip, I took two days off and was able to visit Minute Maid Park to catch a couple MLB games. Minute Maid Park still to this day is one of my favorite ball parks that I have had the opportunity to visit. What else can't be better then getting to spend your birthday with friends at a baseball game and see the likes of reigning Triple Crown Winner Miguel Cabrera, Roger Clemens, Josh Beckett, Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. The stadium itself was very unique in its own right. The replacement to the aging Astrodome was built in downtown Houston originally opened as Enron Field prior to that company's national scandal. The stadium's entrance was constructed in what was Houston's Union Station and the left-field side of the stadium features a railway as homage to the site's history. Every time a home run is hit or the Astros win, the train moves along the length of an exterior track atop the left field wall.

Getting to the stadium is as simple as a short walk through the city streets, a trip on the light rail or the underground walkway built beneath the skyline. I had the opportunity to sit down first base side and again in the upper deck, both times great experiences. I wasn't able to take many photos while visiting, but I would recommend this stadium to any baseball fan new or old.

Houston Astrodome

I had the opportunity to visit the Reliant Astrodome, more commonly known as The Astrodome in Houston, Texas. In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, I lent my services to the American Red Cross as a Disaster Services Relief Volunteer. Once the news came out across the various media outlets that New Orleans and its hurricane shelter, the Louisiana Superdome was being evacuated, I immediately paid a visit to the local American Red Cross chapter in Santa Ana to inquire about volunteering should assistance be needed. After a three hour Disaster Relief overview, I was informed to contact the travel portion of the ARC so I could book my flight to Houston two days later for my assignment. While I had been on many trips before in different portions of the country, this was the type of trip where I had absolutely no idea what to expect.

The Astrodome was first thought up as early as 1952 but didn't come to be a reality until MLB expanded in 1960 with two National League Expansion teams, the Houston Colt .45s (later renamed the Astros) and the New York Mets. Upon completion, the Astrodome was the worlds first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium of its kind. The Astrodome went on to usher in an era of fully domed stadiums, such as the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Kingdome in Seattle, RCA Dome in Indianapolis and the Superdome in New Orleans. Both the MLB Houston Astros along with the NFL Houston Oilers, who later became the Tennessee Titans called the Astrodome their home until the late 1990s. While it was primarily a sporting venue, the Astrodome played host to many well known events including Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, WWE WrestleMania 17 in 2001, 2004 motion picture Friday Night Lights, Tejano music superstar Selena's last televised concert before her death and the event which brought me to the venue, Hurricane Katrina Relief.

By the time that I arrived to Houston in September 2005, the ARC had already set-up shelters inside of the Astrodome, Reliant Arena and the spacious Reliant Center for those who had been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. After a quick layover in Phoenix, my friend and I each got our assignments where we would spend the next two weeks of our life. Chris was sent with a small team to a small town in nearby Orange, TX which bordered Louisiana while I stayed in Houston. Several hours later, I had arrived to Reliant Park after a short ride on the light rail from downtown Houston. While I had knew what to expect going into this assignment, I really had no idea what I would be in for.. The Reliant Park complex was lined from one-side to the other with emergency vehicles, media and thousands of people. The photo below best describes what I saw while I was checking-in. The photo was taken from the 2nd floor of the Reliant Center facing the Astrodome.

Over the next two weeks, I learned how much damage was caused not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally to the thousands of people who called this place home. One day I was helping hundreds of strangers get checked-in and situated as they arrived on buses from the affected Gulf Coast region, while the next few days were spent hearing first hand accounts from those who were enduring their own personal hell of being separated from their family and friends to battling health issues (keep in mind please that I saw everything imaginable related to this)and trying to determine how they would re-build their life. The eight hours that I spent each day between the Astrodome and Reliant Center were some of the most eye awakening experiences in my life still to this day. At times, it was difficult to fathom was I was experiencing that you also needed separation to realize fully what was going on. Shortly near the time that my volunteer work concluded, the locations begun to shut down in preparation for the Houston Texans opener and oncoming Hurricane Rita which struck Houston two days after I left.

The spacious Astrodome gave those of us who were working there available time to not only explore it, but get a break from what was going on. To this day, the Astrodome is the biggest sporting venue that I have walked in. I was very fortunate to get to explore every level of it and soak in its rich history. It's no secret while they refer to this place as the "Eighth Wonder of the World."