A Sports Fan's Checklist

This weekend some of my college friends and I will venture to the Mid West and tackle all that the city of Chicago has to offer. Now I won't waste your time and tell you about how wild and crazy my friends get when drinking is involved because I'm pretty sure everyone thinks that way about their friends. Hearing someone say this, especially if you don't know the friends in question, is the worst. The whole time you're thinking, "I bet you and your friends don't get half as rowdy as me and mine do."

I bring up the Chicago trip because half the reason I'm going is to see a Cubs Game on Saturday. I literally can't wait. Wrigley Field is just one of those venues that every sports fan needs to experience at least once. In fact, here's my top 10.

(in no particular order)

1.) Yankee Stadium, New York, NY (Old and New)



Even for a Yankee-hater, seeing a game in Yankee Stadium is a treat. I mean, everyone loves a slugfest and the new stadium is a launching pad. I went to one game earlier this year and saw 8 home runs.

The highlights of seeing a game at Yankee Stadium have to be 1.) the roll call that the fans do in the top of the first and 2.) witnessing Mariano Rivera enter the game in the top of the 9th in a save situation. Although I am staunchly anti-cliche, that place gets electric when Mo enters the game.


2.) Fenway Park, Boston, MA



From the Green Monster to the Pesky pole, Fenway is all about its uniqueness. I've seen 3-4 games in Fenway and it's certainly a sight to see. My favorite intracacy of Fenway Park is the lone red seat in right field. Every other seat is green, but this one seat is painted red to indicate where a Ted Williams homerun ball famously landed back in 1946. The homer is estimated to have traveled anywhere from 520 to 535 feet.


3.) Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL



Wrigley, along with Fenway, remains as one of the few ancient relics of baseball's illustrious past. The stadium is best known for its ivy-covered brick walls, day games, rooftop seats on buildings across the street from the stadium, and the area around the bar (nicknamed Wrigleyville) that is littered with bars and restaurants. Word on the street is that the way to see/experience Wrigley is to get loaded at Wrigleyville before the game and then sit in the outfield bleacher seats with a horde of dumb Polacks with no future.


4.) Madison Square Garden in New York, NY



Nicknamed the "World's Most Famous Arena", the Garden, which sits atop Penn Station, has played host to countless major sporting events in its storied history. For example, MSG was the venue for the first Ali/Frazier bout, Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals, Wrestlemania XX, etc. Aside from being the home of the New York Knickerbockers (and the Knicks City Dancers),the Garden also hosts the Big East Tournament, NIT, and NBA Draft every year. MSG is not only a sports sanctuary. As a premier concert venue, it is the Mecca for for performers of all sorts. I have seen a handful of Knicks games as well as a Billy Joel concert in the "World's Most Famous Arena". Granted I'm a Knicks fan, but I don't think there's any doubt that most, if not all, people feel a sense of awe when they enter the building for the first time.


5.) Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN



There's no denying the rich history and tradition of Notre Dame football. Granted I'm biased, but it doesn't get much better than seeing the Irish play in "The House that Rockne Built" on a cold, crisp day in the Fall. From the non-descript striped endzones to the no-names on the back of the jerseys, you get the feeling like you're in the presence of greatness even if the team isn't very good. Highlights of seeing a game in South Bend include:

The Golden Dome



Touchdown Jesus


From left to right: My cousin, me, Glancy, and the Ice Cat

Pushups in the student section after touchdowns/field goals




6.)The Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan or Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley, PA



Both stadiums seat well over 100,000 fans and are the home to Big Ten schools. I clump the two together because I assume the experience at each is relatively similar. I will say that no sports team/arena pulls off the "insert color here" out quite like Beaver Stadium and their white outs.

I could probably add more college football venues to the list (The Colliseum, The Rose Bowl, etc.), but I think these three should cover it, although I've heard SEC stadiums are where it's at.


7.) Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC



Cameron Indoor is the home to college basketball's most hated/loved team in the land; the Duke Blue Devils. The Duke student section, nicknamed the "Cameron Crazies", is notorious for camping out in tents for days leading up to big games, chanting and heckling for the entirity of games, and for looking like the United Nations General Assembly. Honestly, look at that picture. How many kids do you think you'd hang out with? Well either way, apparently seeing a game in Cameron, especially a game against North Carolina, is unparalleled in the college basketball world.


8.) The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY



Over the years, the Dome has been nicknamed "The Loud House" for the earth shattering decibel levels that the Orange faithful provide. And let me be the first to tell you that nobody, and I mean nobody, comes into the Loud House and pushes the Orange around. For basketball games, the Carrier Dome is the largest on campus facility in the nation and routinely leads the country in attendance. It is also one of the two on campus arenas (Notre Dame Stadium being the other) that serve alcohol. If you haven't seen a game in the Loud House than you aren't a sports fan.

Also, it should be noted that the whole standing and clapping before a made basket at the start of the game and the second half originated in this building. I've seen other fan bases attempt to steal this staple of the Orange faithful, but I see right through them. For example, UCONN fans also stand and clap at the beginning of the game and the start of the second half and wait to sit down until a basket is made; However UCONN fans consider a made free throw acceptable terms for sitting whereas 'Cuse fans wait for the first made field goal before they sit.


9.) Cowboy Stadium in Dallas, TX



Jerry Jones' baby is the new high water mark for stadiums in the world. I hate the Cowboys with almost every impulse of my body, but this new structure is beyond impressive. It is the largest domed building in the world, it has a retractable roof, and it doubles as an inside or outside concert venue. The versatility is simply incredible. In fact the 2010 NBA All Star Game will be played there.

Give it a look

10.) Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, GA



The most revered golf couse in the world. Augusta National hosts the Masters, one of golf's four major championships, every year. Seeing the Masters or playing Augusta should be near the top of every sports fans "to do" list. From Magnolia Lane to Amen Corner to Hogan's Bridge, the course is just filled with tradition and mystique. I particularly enjoy how they only sell Masters apparel at the pro shop, which means people who make the trip usually have a list of things to bring back for their friends.