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| During the last year, SportsBusiness Journal has visited events and venues across the country to report on the sports experience in America. Here are some of the notable events and places that we found during the journey. — Ross Nethery |
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Fun-filled atmosphere
It’s hard to beat a carousel, and the one at Comerica Park in Detroit (on which kids sit, naturally, on tigers rather than ponies) always has a line of kids waiting to get on. Just up the sidewalk there’s a Ferris wheel, and between many innings you’ll see Little Leaguers being hustled on and off the field for photo ops. It’s a well-designed and well-executed plan to make families feel at home in the ballpark. | Impressive feat of organization
Closing more than 26 miles of streets for the ING New York City Marathon is itself a monumental task, but when you have to handle 39,000 runners at the start and finish lines, plus put on an expo and an international fun run that draws characters from around the world, getting this annual event to go off smoothly is an accomplishment worthy of admiration. |
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They do BBQ right
Many sports teams will say they have a signature dish, but the barbecue sandwich served at Carolina Hurricanes games is a true standout. Smoked on-site, it's a dish that could be proudly served in just about any barbecue joint in the country. | Traditions worth keeping
From the early morning march of the midshipmen and cadets to the singing of the alma maters after the game, the annual Army-Navy game is a daylong celebration of history, service and friendly rivalry. |
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Ready to rumble in Talladega
When fans camp out at Talladega Superspeedway, they really camp out. Many sleep in tent cities that cover tens of acres around the speedway, and from which it can be a walk of a mile or more to get to a shower. Others build their own NASCAR-themed homes on wheels. And most do it year after year. | Going green is great when it’s done right
When the sun is shining and the sky is clear, it’s hard to find a better setting than a great golf course. And when you’re at the Wachovia Championship in a suite so close to the green that you feel like you could lean over and whisper in Tiger’s ear, well, other seats pale in comparison. |
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Suiting up for the sponsors
At the ArenaBowl Extravaganza the night before the championship game, members of the classic rock band Styx showed not only that they could still draw a crowd but also that they know how the bills are paid. Four members of the band came out for their encore wearing authentic jerseys from Russell Athletic, an AFL sponsor. | Music on and off the court
Only a few hundred people were in the stadium when Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley performed a stirring rendition of the national anthem before a midweek session of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Many of those who missed it were listening to music in the colorful Sony Ericsson pavilion, which not only had plenty of MP3 players to tinker with, but also phones, video games and a steady stream of giveaways that drew crowds throughout the tournament. |
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Never a dull moment for the Riot Squad
The group of L.A. Galaxy fans that call themselves the Riot Squad sits in the same corner of The Home Depot Center for every game, chanting, drumming and generally reminding the people around them of how you’re supposed to act during a soccer match. They can be rowdy and occasionally risqué (they brought blow-up dolls to a game against Chivas USA in honor of the Chivas Girls), but win or lose, they never let up. | Best reason to skip class
At Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan., students answer 6 a.m. roll call for days so they won’t lose their place in line, and once inside they become almost as much a part of the game as their team. Their welcome to the opposing team can sometimes make administrators squirm (for coach Bob Huggins and Kansas State, they held up posters that said “Hugs and thugs”) but they are a constant reminder of what can make college basketball such a great game. |
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Enjoying the ride
The annual Amgen Tour of California bike race not only rolls through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, but many of the stages start or end in downtown areas that are both vibrant and picturesque. |
A hill of a view of the Galaxy
At one end of The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., is a grassy hillside that slopes up from the pitch and has room for hundreds of fans. The crowd there has an easy-going vibe, and you get the feeling that the people relaxing there aren’t the sort who get worked up about not having a seat at midfield — they’re just there to enjoy the game. |
