The Sports Fan Project

Event 41 – When Rivals and Neighbors Meet on the Hardwood, it’s a Great Environment for All

^{Sure, I had have a picture of me at DeVos Fieldhouse. (Photo by Todd Bloch)}

^{Sure, I had have a picture of me at DeVos Fieldhouse. (Photo by Todd Bloch)}

The Written Word

Simply Know as … The Rivalry

Still Images

My initial view of the DeVos Fieldhouse.

A direct view of the DeVos Fieldhouse exterior.

The scoreboard might not be as elaborate as the big schools but it was more than functional.

Plenty of banners hang high above DeVos Fieldhouse.

The Hope men’s basketball showcase found along the concourse.

The Hope baseball showcase found along the concourse.

Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Kaat, from nearby Zeeland, was a Hope player.

The Flying Dutchment lean into their anchor logo.

D.J. Reyburn was a Hope College outfielder in the late 1990s. Today he’s a MLB umpire.

The view from my seat for the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

The color guard presenting the colors prior to the National Anthem.

I thought it was awesome that some fans were keeping score from their seats.

A wide shot of DeVos Fieldhouse during the game.

Some game action on the Hope offensive end.

The Hope College coaches work the sidelines.

Hope player, Parker Hovey, went down with an injury early in the second half.

Calvin is going to work on its offensive end.

The Hope cheer team during a timeout.

Calvin’s Trevin Winkle attempts a free throw during the second half.

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Video

^{Pregame introductions.}

^{The opening tip.}

^{The closing seconds of the game.}

Audio

^{A special Conversations with Sports Fans featuring the Calvin and Hope athletic directors.}

Fun Facts

Traveling Party – Me and my friend Todd
Last Time Visited – Todd is a Hope alum whose son attends the college as well. This was my first-ever time on campus.
Bus’em In – A unique feature for Hope College athletics is a nearby retirement community. There are shuttles that run from the community to athletic venues before and after game times for residents to get out and enjoy the competition. What a phenomenal service for those community members and a wonderful way to maintain a connection to the local college athletics program.
Small School, Big Energy – By my count, this was the third non-high-level college event that I’ve attended (Grace vs. Huntington NAIA basketball and Illinois State vs. Montana State FCS football), and all three have provided exceptional fan experiences, affordable ticket prices, and competitive games. At the risk of selling what’s already sold, do not sleep on these smaller college offerings that may be near your home. In my opinion, there is great value and entertainment to be enjoyed.
Running List of States Traveled To/Through (30 total) – Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, & Wyoming
Running List of Countries Traveled To/Through (8 total) – Argentina, Canada (Manitoba, Ontario, & Quebec), England, Japan, Korea, Scotland, United States, & Wales
Distance Traveled – My home to Holland, MI, and the Hope College campus is 380 miles round trip.
Cumulative Distance Traveled After 41 Events – 75,221 miles
Up Next – The Winter Olympics, Cortina and Milano, Italy

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