Travel

Going for the Gold – Part 2

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The sunny view atop Italy’s Monte Faloria.

I still have vivid memories of enjoying previous Winter Olympics from the comfort of my own home, marveling at the splendor and majesty of the quaint mountain villages such as Lake Placid, Albertville, and Lillehammer.

These places looked so picturesque and appeared as though they were created by the Lemax Christmas Village Collection.

Every snowflake seemed hand-placed. Each light twinkled in perfect rhythm to whatever backing track ABC Sports played as the camera panned out to fully showcase the majestic scenery.

In my mind, these places were the Winter Olympics.

Not Nagano. Not Sochi. And sure as heck not Beijing. Nothing against those cities, but sprawling urban landscapes with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of residents (and no mountains) have never been my idea of the Winter Olympics.

That’s why I’m so pleased our traveling quartet decided to devote part of our Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games experience to Cortina.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, formally, is a resort town nestled among the Dolomites near the Austrian border, making it a popular spot for alpine skiers in the winter. Its year-round population is a shade under 6,000, which, to me, makes hosting an Olympiad (for the second time; it was the sole host in 1956) absolutely bonkers.

Yet, there we were.

Opening Ceremony Parade of Nations? Yes, Please!

Clockwise from upper right, our view for the Parade of Nations; one of the first nations through was Argentina; Canada was representing in front of us; Australia approaches our location; there’s a better-than-average chance Carol and I were on some international news broadcast; the train stations from Venice were decked out with Olympic spirit; the Tofane Ski Center was illuminated each night.

When the decision was made to begin our Olympic journey in the mountains, I believe we all figured it would cost us any opportunity we may have had to witness the Opening Ceremonies.

I’ve never been a big Opening Ceremonies fan. Sure, there is artistry and grandeur to be witnessed and a welcome from the host nation and its people, but I’ve found them to sometimes be wildly esoteric and, quite frankly, confusing, unless I have the Jim McKays, Bob Costases, or Mike Tiricos of the world in my ear helping me understand what it is I’m seeing.

I always figured if I was lucky enough to make it to the Olympics, I’d devote my resources (both time and monetary) elsewhere to maximize my enjoyment of the Games.

That said, the one part of the Opening Ceremonies I have always enjoyed, however, has been the Parade of Nations. That’s the part with the delegation from the participating countries marching in outfits that, somehow, represent their country. There is always a flag bearer who has been selected (typically) by their fellow athletes.

It’s pretty cool to see the stadium field fill with the colorful garb of the various nations.

Imagine our delight, then, when we learned there was going to be a quasi-Opening Ceremony in Cortina that included a Parade of Nations for those athletes who needed to be in the area in advance of their competition dates.

We arrived at our rental home in San Vito di Cadore in the early afternoon and decided to venture out after we were settled.

Unsurprisingly, there were plenty of folks already in Cortina, and since getting near the Olympic Cauldron to see its lighting seemed a long shot, Carol and I stationed ourselves in front of the Hotel de la Poste. Our friends Tim and Tracey chose, instead, to remain mobile and bounced from place to place, seeing what could be seen.

It was a lengthy and chilly wait, but Carol and I were ultimately rewarded with views of the athletes making their final turn for their buses right in front of our vantage point. They frolicked, they laughed, they high-fived fans lining the street. It was, in essence, a massive street party to start the Olympic Games.

While I have nothing to compare it to, it felt more enjoyable than sitting in a massive stadium hundreds of feet away, passively watching the Parade of Nations.

Up First – Men’s Luge

Clockwise from upper right, Carol and I had our photo snapped in front of the Olympic Rings at the Sliding Center; we made it as high as the finish area, which was, understandably, crowded; I wound up watching the Men’s Luge Singles finals the next night and saw German Max Langenhan celebrate; a luger finishes his run; one of the mascots, Tina, made some new friends at the Sliding Center; I can’t imagine whipping around this turn at 80 miles per hour; the setting sun made for a gorgeous photo.

Harkening back to my younger self on the living room sofa, there were a few sports I equated to the Winter Olympics: Speed Skating, Alpine and Nordic Skiing, and Sliding (Bobsleigh and Luge, both).

These were the types of events, save the occasional World Championship or similar, whose highlights aired during an episode of ABC’s Wide World of Sports that you only saw once every four years.

I considered myself fortunate to secure tickets for the first night of the Men’s Luge, where fellas lay on a small bladed sled and hurtle themselves down a mile-long frozen course that featured 16 curves and a vertical drop of 107 meters, reaching speeds of up to 140 kmh (86 mph).

It was a little bit like watching the Indy 500 or the Tour de France, as you’re really only able to see the competitors for a second as they speed by, but like most Olympic events, there was a giant screen to view the entire run and, when there were breaks in the action, a DJ to keep everyone bopping to the music.

Tim and Tracey made the trek up the hill to the starting area, while Carol and I remained lower. We did venture to the finish area to see a few sleds come skidding to a stop and the fans in the bleachers cheering on their favorites.

Trouble at the Bus Stop

Clockwise from the top, note the orderly queue for the shuttle bus from our second night in Cortina; the shots below are from our day visit (and early departure) at the time the bus arrived; note the lack of an orderly queue.

On our first night in Cortina, we left the village before the Opening Ceremonies were complete. Essentially, we beat the crowd and made it back to our home in San Vito Cadore without incident.

On the night of our Luge experience, however, we lingered and enjoyed a meal at the Swiss House (many nations host hospitality houses during the Games; a previous Conversations with Sports Fans guest, Tiffany Assman Pope, discusses them here). It was ideal to get out of the chill, watch some Olympic action on the big screen, and enjoy some Swiss eats, including a cheese and charcuterie board, butternut squash spatzle, smoked salmon and lake trout mousse, and, of course, some Swiss chocolate.

Visiting the Swiss House was the perfect cap to an already lovely night … until it wasn’t.

Let’s discuss the bus system into and out of Cortina.

There was a parking area just off downtown, which is where those gathered who needed to catch the shuttle bus that traveled to the communities down SS51 to Ponte nelle Alpi.

Upon arrival, we noticed, as we did the night before, there were no volunteers manning the area, so folks simply took their place in a queue … until the motor coach arrived, in which case it was full-on Hunger Games, every person for themselves to claim a spot on the bus.

Tim and Tracey made it on.

Carol and I did not.

Fortunately, Tim had the key to the house.

Unfortunately, Carol and I realized the same thing was about to happen again as the masses of folks who were leaving the night’s competitions continued to stream into the parking lot.

After some back-and-forth – and the realization that a 6-mile walk home was not happening – Carol made the bold suggestion that we should walk down the road to the previous bus stop, board the bus returning to Cortina, and then stay put upon arrival and watch the carnage play out on the other side of the bus windows.

I’m not going to lie, there were a few anxious moments as we waited close to 20 minutes for a bus to arrive, but one did; it was free of passengers, and we took our seats directly behind the driver.

And, yes, there were plenty of people left out in the cold waiting for the next bus to come along after folks pushed and shoved their way into the coach.

To the Top of the Mountain

From left, Carol chilling out atop Mount Faloria; the lodge used for scenes from Cliffhanger; the view from Faloria across the valley to Mount Tofane; the main entrance into Cortina; the view of Cortina d’Ampezzo from Faloria.

While we didn’t secure tickets to any of the women’s Alpine Skiing events, we did make it up a mountain; just not to the Tofane Alpine Ski Center.

Rather, we took the Funivia Faloria cable car up Monte Faloria. Faloria, by the way, was the home to several scenes near the conclusion of the 1993 Sylvester Stallone film, Cliffhanger.

The views? Spectacular!

The sun? A little brighter!

The village of Cortina d’Ampezzo below us? As picturesque as any of those Olympic communities I recall from my youth.

Two items of note:

  • Shortly before our bus arrived in Cortina, those watching the Women’s Downhill on their phones saw Lindsey Vonn‘s horrific accident. As we exited the bus, the helicopter airlifting Vonn to a nearby hospital was just leaving the mountain.
  • As we were atop Faloria, we noticed a television camera aiming across the valley toward Tofane. We asked one of the people operating the camera what was going on, and he said this was the camera utilized for the long shot of the ski competition across the valley. I looked it up later; the distance between the two peaks is close to six miles. Incredible!
Lindsey Vonn Airlift
The arrow denotes the helicopter airlifting American skier Lindsey Vonn off Mount Tofane.

Up Next – Mixed Doubles Curling Semifinals

Clockwise from upper right, Sweden (yellow) and Great Britain shake hands following Sweden’s 9-3 semifinal victory; Cory Thiesse lines up a shot for the Americans; the competitors flags above the Curling Center; Italy’s Stefania Constantini lines up a shot; the Italian fans brought plenty of passion; Cory and Korey talk strategy; a wide shot of the Curling Center; an exterior shot of the Curling Center; our view for the night’s action; I knew this fact because Ricky English from Kays Curling in Scotland was a guest on Conversations with Sports Fans; Korey Dropkin salutes the crowd after the American win; Tim, Tracey, Carol, and I at the Curling Center; we watched the Americans fall in the championship the next night from our apartment in Milan.

Full disclosure: We lucked out on this one, big time!

Prior to the start of the Curling Tournament, I’m unsure anyone expected the American duo of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin to make a run and qualify for the semifinals. That they drew the host Italian duo of Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner was merely icing on the cake. d some

It meant the Cortina Curling Center was pretty much jammed with spectators, mainly to support the Italian pair, but with a fair number of American supporters scattered about.

Even better, for us, is that our seats were closest to the rink where the U.S. and Italians were curling. The far rink (for us) was the other semifinal featuring Sweden and Great Britain.

Sure, there was the occasional cheer from the other action on the other rink, but the vast majority of us only cared for what was occurring on the other sheet of ice.

It was electric and, I dare say upon reflection, the most exciting spectator moment for me at the Games.

“U-S-A! U-S-A!” chants rang out on multiple occasions, and Dropkin (the male Korey) was all too eager to play to the crowd.

Couple this with the fact that the Americans were on their A-game throughout and the match came down to a deciding Eighth End when the U.S. scored two to clinch a 9-8 victory; well, it was scintillating curling action.

(And I state this with my tongue fully out of my cheek!)

The Cortina Fan Village

During our various trips into Cortina, we found our way into the Cortina Fan Village on a few occasions.

Located in Largo del Poste in the village, it offered plenty of fan experiences and engagements. I’m told something similar existed in Livigno location and we later experienced the one in Milan.

Again, due to the quaintness and charm of Cortina, I much preferred the Fan Village experience here to Milan’s, but that’s just my opinion.

A few photos from the experience:

Clockwise from upper right, look at me, I’m a bobsleigh athlete; the Coke Peak Experience offered an opportunity to hold a torch and have a Coke made with your image laser engraved; Carol and a member of the Jamaican Bobsled Team (seriously!); Carol receiving a very wet kiss from someone dress as Mario; me with the Olympic Torch; the Paralympic Medals; the Olympic Medals; fans could test their Curling skills.

Conversations with Sports Fans – Gardy Banks (aka @dudelovesfood)

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Gardy Banks
Georgia’s Gardy Banks enjoying some barbecue. (Photo from @dudelovesfood Facebook)

At some point in my life, I’m sure I’ve dreamt of hitting the road to ballparks, stadiums, and/or arenas and sampling as many concession offerings as possible.

Remember, I’m the guy who’s attempting to travel Around the World in 80 Sporting Events and, before that ever began, I Dined Detroit A-to-Z.

Food? Good!

Sports? Good!

Food and Sports? Great!

When I learned about Georgia resident Gardy Banks and his culinary conquest from the 2025 NFL season, I knew I wanted to learn more. (Cap tip to past Conversations’ guest, Ben Tolchinsky [S:5, E:44] from The SportsPulse Poll, for getting Gardy and me together.)

Gardy, who goes by the social media handle @dudelovesfood, spent the 2025 season visiting all 30 venues (remember, four teams share two stadiums) to take a taste of what each was offering its fans.

You’re able to check out his YouTube channel here for the full report.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy our Conversation where we learn how Gardy became a Green Bay Packers fan growing up in New York City, how his quest to dine in all 30 NFL stadiums began, and the logistics of pulling it off.

And, if you fancy yourself a football and food fan, he lets you know where he found some of his favorite offerings, where you might be able to eat on the cheap (or at least cheaper side), and what this anthropology series of his uncovered.

You’re able to find Gardy on the following social media accounts:

My Conversation with Gardy Banks.

Going for the Gold – Part 1

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Cortina Olympic Cauldron
The Olympic Cauldron in Cortina in the Piazza Angelo Dibona.

I’ve said something akin to this before, and I’ll say it again here:

If you’d told me as a child that I’d ever – EVER – attend an Olympic Games, I’d have looked at you as though you had a third eye on your forehead.

– Doug Hill, Sports Fan

Yet, there I was staring at the Olympic Cauldron with my wife, Carol, along Corso Italia in the village of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Absolutely. Flipping. Bonkers.

Yep, I attended the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, and it was awesome!

Long before we got to Italy, those who’d previously attended Games… any Games… had told me as much.

“Whether you want to spend a little or a lot, you can enjoy the Games at various price points,” they told me.

“You don’t even need to go to an event to enjoy the Olympics,” another said.

Having experienced the Games in both Cortina and Milan, I now know what they meant.

Planning and Preparation

Cortina Olympic Rings
The Cortina Olympic Rings with a view of Mount Pomagagnon in the background.

I don’t know that you can set off to travel Around the World in 80 Sporting Events and not include the Olympic Games on the list of events attended.

That said, when I began planning this project and decided the goal was to complete it by my 60th birthday month (June 2027), there was only one option for the Olympic Games: Milano Cortina 2026. Technically, if I’d really been prepared, I could have tried to get to Paris Summer Games in 2024, but alas …

With that, I dutifully put my name into the ticket lottery in late 2024 in hopes of getting a chance to purchase tickets.

  • Great News: It was selected! And I was given my purchase window.
  • Not So Great News: My wife and I planned to do the Games with our friends, Tim and Tracey from Fairbanks, AK, and during my ticket purchase window they would be traveling through Australia with variable connectivity. Suddenly the pressure of our entire touring party was on … me!

And then I began to dig into the details of the Milano Cortina Games and ticket purchases more deeply.

Each purchaser was permitted to buy no more than 25 tickets during their window.

And then I noticed the geographic expanse involved in these Games and realized how daunting it was going to be to attempt to fully enjoy them.

Northern Italy Olympic Sites Map
The locations of the Milano Cortina Winter Games are highlighted by the lavender icons above.

There were four hubs throughout northern Italy that hosted competitions: Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bormio/Livigno, and Val di Fiemme. The closing ceremonies were in Verona.

While they appear close on the map, the fact that you’re required to travel around and through the Italian Alps during the dead of winter makes for some challenges. For example, though separated by fewer than 60 miles, traveling from Cortina to Val di Fiemme either required an automobile for a minimum of two hours of travel, or no fewer than three separate bus lines and transfers that would take up to six hours.

Strategy, therefore, was going to be a critical component of enjoying our Olympic experience. Strategy and, of course, luck. Who knew what would be available and at what price point by the time my purchase window opened?

My Time to Shine

Clockwise from upper left, U.S. Ice Dancers Evan Bates and Madison Chock during their free dance; the Milan Ice Skating Arena; the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team gathers around the goal before the start of their Semifinal Match with Sweden; the Sliding Venue in Cortina; Canadian Ice Dancers, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier; U.S. Mixed Doubles Curling teammates, Corey Thiesse and Korey Dropkin plot strategy during their semfinal against Italy. the Olympic logo on the Curling Rink.

The much-anticipated date arrived (February 7, 2025), and my alarm was set for the unholy hour of 3:30 in the morning in order to log in and be ready.

Thanks to several WhatsApp messages, a few emails, and even a phone call or two with Tim, my/our list was prepared, double-checked, and cross-referenced with the scheduled dates and times of events. Like an R.L. Stine choose-your-own-adventure “Goosebumps” novel, I had several if/then scenarios mapped out should no tickets be available for certain events/dates when I went to secure the purchase.

We planned to experience the Games in both Milan and in one of the mountain venues. Upon reviewing the mountain villages, the ability to (relatively) easily travel to them, the breadth of events offered in each, and the likelihood of finding lodging in the vicinity, Cortina became the mountain venue favorite.

Additionally, my credit card was ready to melt (well, not literally, but you get the idea).

And then, it was go time!

With many of the most popular events scheduled for Milan, I chose to begin my race to 24 tickets (remember the 25-ticket limit) there.

First up, because I had a personal connection to 3-time World Ice Dancing Champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates, I immediately clicked the link for the final night of Ice Dancing. It was also going to be, by far, the most expensive single ticket on the list at 550 Euros a piece for Category B tickets. Can I only assume the Category A selection would have placed us on the Zamboni?

Next, I turned my attention to Women’s Ice Hockey. A late-afternoon semifinal was doable, and the chance to see either of the pre-eminent women’s squads (Canada or the USA was all but assured.

Next, Short Track Speed Skating has always seemed simultaneously fascinating and full-on bonkers from the comfort of my living room, so I secured four for an evening of the chaos.

Finally, since I knew the NHL players were returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014 in Sochi, I took a flyer on a preliminary round of Men’s Ice Hockey.

It should be noted that as I purchased these tickets, the Games were not scheduled to begin for 363 days, so I had no idea who we might be seeing in any of these four events.

With 16 tickets in hand, I then turned my attention to Cortina.

I figured trying to watch any of the women’s alpine skiing events would likely mean sitting in grandstands watching video boards, so I turned my attention to the two other skills being contested in Cortina: Sliding and curling.

As a longtime Detroit-area resident, I recall seeing a healthy dose of curling on neighboring Windsor, Ontario’s television station, so that fascinated me. And, to be clear, nothing screams Winter Olympics quite like someone hurtling themselves down a sheet of ice on a sled.

Mixed Doubles Curling Semifinals and Men’s Luge Runs 1 and 2 tickets secured.

Getting and Staying There

Clockwise from upper left, the sun shines over Venice; a view of the Swiss Alps from our flight to Venice; the Olympic Cauldron in Milan under the Arch of Peace; LED Olympic figures decorated the city streets of both Milan and Cortina; Milan’s famed Duomo at night; Venice’s St. Mark’s Capanile towers above the Basilica de San Marco.

With 24 tickets in hand, up next were the logistics. And they were plentiful.

  • Where to fly in and out of?
  • To rent a vehicle or not?
  • How to get to Cortina?
  • How to get from Cortina to Milan?
  • Where to stay?

As our time in Cortina was the first leg of our Olympic journey, it made sense to fly into Venice rather than Milan. Venice to Cortina is about a 2-hour car ride, so, the thinking went, flying into Venice would provide us options of places to stay (anywhere from Venice to Cortina).

Plus, seeing Venice might be, you know, nice.

Carol and I also decided that since we’d never been to Italy and we were already there, leaving the country from Rome seemed to make sense:-)

We waffled on whether or not a vehicle was necessary. Ultimately, the decision was made to stick with public transportation and the occasional ride service.

Tracey was kind enough to spearhead train booking, and there was a fair amount of it.

Two trains and a bus were necessary to get us from Venice into the Dolomites. Add another train to that trip to get from the mountains to Milan. There was also a train necessary to travel from Milan to Rome.

Lodging was a completely different animal.

While I found a few Airbnbs in Milan straight away, each refused my booking request or changed the rates dramatically once they realized it was going to be during the Olympics. I finally found a spot north of the city center that was a short walk from a subway station and was reasonably priced.

Accommodations in the mountains proved more challenging.

Staying in Cortina proper was cost-prohibitive. An initial search yielded a spot that was well into five figures for the five nights we were going to be there.

Complicating matters even further was the Italian Olympic Organizing Committee’s lack of timely detail (in my opinion) on transportation options. We learned fairly early on that only residents or other authorized users would be able to drive automobiles past a certain perimeter. Furthermore, there was no train service to Cortina, and the only bus schedule available for several months indicated no routes that would leave Cortina following evening events (of which we’d be attending two).

Finally, about 90 days before the Games, information became available about shuttle bus services and/or park-and-ride options.

We had use of a home offered to us free of charge by a friend of my sister-in-law, Luisa, but that would have been 2- to 3-hour commutes into Cortina for events and required us to have an automobile. I passed along my thanks to Franco for the offer, but that it wouldn’t work out.

Ultimately, Tim and Tracey found an Airbnb in San Vito di Cadore, a community about a 20-minute bus ride away, that – while a bit pricey – afforded us the ability to get there and, more importantly, get to Cortina for the Games with as few challenges as possible.

Or so we thought;-)

The Great Ballpark Chase: 30* for 30

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Tim Russell and Mom at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
The author and his mother at the site of the former Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium where Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run.

(Contributing writer Tim Russell reflects on completing his quest to see all 30 MLB ballparks earlier this season.)

Thirty ballparks.

It’s a daunting task. It’s something that takes a little time, but is rewarding at the same time. And it creates a ton of memories along the way.

For me, the chase started in February 2015, when my brother, Todd, and I decided to attend the Tigers’ spring training. We took in several games on the backfields and two games in Joker Marchant Stadium and created many more unforgettable moments, especially now that he has passed on.

At spring training, games on the backfield are a bit more informal, although still competitive. But it allows some interaction between coaches and fans.

We were watching a Double-A game on the backfield of Tiger Town. Former Tiger catcher Lance Parrish, who managed the Erie Seawolves at the time, shouted to the 20 fans or so that were watching after a misplayed ball by one of the players: “Hit or error?”

After we answered error, he replied, “Ooh, tough crowd.”

It is stuff like that that makes baseball what it is. The speech by James Earl Jones in “Field of Dreams” sums it up well:

“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game – it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. Ohhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.”

– Terence Mann

And that is exactly what we discovered as we continued on our Quest for 30. This sort of quest has really taken off among baseball fans, with numerous ways to track the chase.

  • You can find several books where you can write your memories from each stadium visited.
  • Another book has a specialized stamp that fans can get at each ballpark.
  • You can even track it all through the MLB app that holds your digital tickets. It can keep track of teams you’ve seen, their record in home and away contests you’ve attended, and total stadiums.

But the chase isn’t merely about checking off the next one on the list. It’s also enjoying the stadiums, the travel, rain delays, and seeing non-baseball sights.

One way I achieved that was through bus tours, traveling with other baseball fans, relaxing in a charter bus, and watching baseball movies along the road. For most of my trips, I used Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours, although there are several other companies.

The travel group at Angel Stadium
The Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours group in front of Angel Stadium (aka The Big A) in Anaheim, CA.

Taking the bus trips, along with just visiting the stadiums, is about more than just seeing the ballparks. It’s about meeting other baseball fans, stadium employees, and fellow travelers, and the conversations you have with them. It’s about the friendships you develop along the way and continue, even after the chase is over.

It wasn’t easy by any stretch. There were some extremely tight schedules, which included late nights and early mornings. But you push through, and that makes the completion even sweeter.

Thankfully, rain delays did not play a big factor during the chase. There were just two stops where rain affected the outcome. Coincidentally, it was the two ballparks that are at the top of everyone’s list to see: Fenway Park and Wrigley Field.

This brings up another conundrum. How do you count the stadium? There are no set rules. Everyone determines it on their own. I had already seen Wrigley before, but I did return later that year and took in the rescheduled game. Fenway was another story. We had taken a tour of the park, so we were able to get inside, but I haven’t actually seen a game yet. So I counted it with an asterisk, which I’ll remove after seeing a game.

Clockwise from upper left, some mascot frivolity at Loan Depot Park in Miami; the Houston Astro’s Hall of Fame at Daikin Park (top) and the homeplate view (bottom); Hank Aaron’s mighty swing is immortalized in bronze outside Truist Park in Atlanta; the Texas Rangers play in Globe Life Park; Fenway Park was a washout but I still managed to tour it; the view of Oracle Park from across McCovey Cove; the main entrance to Dodger Stadium; the view from leftfield in Atlanta’s Truist Park.

Collecting souvenirs is a part of the chase as well. You always need something to remember. For me, I chose to collect lapel pins as well as a picture from behind home plate, looking out onto the field.

But the collection is more than that. It’s about completing a dream and all of the unforgettable moments along the way.

It’s a good correlation to the beauty of baseball, which is also about a chase. Baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s about the long journey throughout the season and achieving little goals throughout. You must persevere through the season, just like you must do during the chase.

There are ups and downs for both the players and the chasers, but you stay strong and keep your eyes facing forward to achieve the ultimate goal.

Finishing the chase doesn’t mean the end of anything. It just creates more room for a new dream. While I’m not exactly sure what that may be, it may mean just starting over and doing all 30 again. It could also include trying to see the Detroit Tigers at all 30, some of which I have already done. Or it could mean starting a minor league ballpark chase, adding to the 60 stadiums I’ve already accumulated. There are more than 400 ballparks in the country, when you include major league, minor league, collegiate, and spring leagues.

But whichever happens, it’s great just to be able to have that chance to achieve them. This summer has brought that into focus even more, after having successful heart surgery.

And while I didn’t get to finish the chase with my brother, I took him along the rest of the way, in my heart, and with a photo that went along.

I also got to make more memories with my mom, who helped fill the void and, in the process, complete her own quest for 30!

And, really, that’s what life is all about, isn’t it?

Completing and achieving goals and showing the determination to do whatever you set out to do.

Clockwise from upper left, Busch Stadium at night; Cal Ripken Jr. in bronze at Oriole Park at Camden Yards; American Family Field in Milwaukee; the view from behind homeplate at Minnesota’s Target Field; the Phillie Phanatic appears to be up to no good at Citizens Bank Park; a view into the outfield at T-Mobile Park in Seattle; and the view from behind home plate at Yankee Stadium.

Previous Installments

Todd Russell
The author’s brother, Todd, was a major reason for Tim to pursue his Chase and was with him – at least in spirit – throughout the journey.

Conversations with Sports Fans – James Rowlands

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Englishman James Rowlands celebrates his visit to Tropicana Field, marking the 30th MLB park he’d seen a game in. (Photo by James Rowlands)

The mysterious way people are connected continues to amaze me.

Nearly 13 months ago, I attended a soccer match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at River Plate‘s famed Estadio Mas Monumental. Among the fellas who were part of that tour group attending the match was Tim Walker, an English ex pat who was living St. Petersburg, FL.

During the ensuing year, Tim and I have remained in contact.

We trade occasional WhatsApp messages about whatever sporting event either one of us recently attended. Tim was even kind enough to join me on a previous episode of Conversations with Sports Fans (S:4, E:59) when he totally buried the lead by failing to divulge early in out chat that he once had a business meeting with then-International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch.

That aside, it’s been terrific to get to know Tim a bit better and, in fact, he’s joining me for the 2027 Daytona 500.

So it was a pleasant surprise when he called me late this summer about a fellow Brit he’d just met through a mutual friend: James Rowlands.

“I think he’d make an excellent guest for your podcast, Doug,” Tim began.

He then went on to inform me that, despite living in Leeds, England, James had just visited his 30th MLB ballpark with a visit to Tropicana Field. Oh yeah, Tim went on; he’s also been to FIFA World Cup finals, countless English soccer grounds, Cricket World Cups, and Rugby World Cups. And he’s seen quite a few music acts live.

What Tim didn’t disclose early in the discussion (or maybe he did and I’ve just conveniently forgotten) is that James is a long-haul pilot for a major commercial airline and thus has major logistical and financial components (flight and lodging) covered by his employer.

So Tim put us in contact with one another, and the result of that contact is the episode you find before you today.

In the event you needed any more reasons to listen, James has also attended golf’s four major championships, eight Formula 1 circuits, four European Soccer Championships, a Super Bowl, a soccer match in all 92 English soccer league grounds, and more.

Talk about a man after my own heart!

My Conversation with James Rowlands.

Inside Baseball – September Edition

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A few images from my two most recent events (Springboks vs. All Blacks rugby in Johannesburg) and the U.S. Open Tennis Championships in Flushing, New York. From left, the All Blacks move into formation for their pre-game Haka; shortly before 2 a.m. Alexander Zverev (near) and Lorenzo Sonego completed their opening-round match after five sets and nearly five hours; Arthur Ashe Stadium was full for Coco Gauff’s opening match; the Springboks’ buses drew quite a crowd.

(Reminder: You’re receiving this edition of Inside Baseball because you’re a subscriber to The Sports Fan Project. It’s just my way of providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse as to what’s happening [and being planned] here and at our podcast, Conversations with Sports Fans. If you know of others who might enjoy our content, please invite them to subscribe. The link to do so is found along the right-hand column on the website.)

Welcome to September!

Where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday I began these monthly subscriber-exclusive “Inside Baseball” posts and this is (checks notes) already the 13th such installment.

Crazy!

What to share this month?

As I type this, I’m 19 events away from accomplishing my goal of attending 80 (thus the project’s name, Around the World in 80 Sporting Events) of the world’s most iconic sporting events/venues by June 2027, when your author turns 60.

By the end of September, with trips this weekend to NASCAR’s Food City 300 under the lights at the famed Bristol Motor Speedway and next weekend to Oracle Park for some Dodgers-Giants rivalry, I’ll be left with 17.

The path to 80 is becoming clearer each day and I’m securing tickets, lodging, and flights where I’m able. Only a pair of potential hiccups exist: Super Bowl LXI ticket prices and the likelihood of no Grapefruit League action due to MLB-MLBPA labor negotiations.

With that, I have two asks of you, my loyal readers:

  • If you have pair of Super Bowl LXI tickets you’re looking to move for a reasonable rate, please let me know.
  • If you’re able to knock some sense into the MLB ownership and the MLB Players Association to avoid a work stoppage, please do so.

Worth Reading

Like several of you, I suppose, during this summer’s FIFA World Cup, I became acquainted with a fella going by the name “Freddy from Germany” via his Twitter/X handle @FreddyLA7. He and his mates came to the U.S. and embarked a monthlong roadtrip that took them through large swaths of the south, midwest, and even into Canada. They intentionally kept their identities obscured by emojis on their posts and went about captivating the hearts of half a million new followers.

Well, Freddy and friends returned to the States for a 3-week trip to experience college football. It all started last weekend at the annual Cy-Hawk Game between Iowa State and Iowa at Kinnick Stadium. For the first time (I believe), they sat for an interview with The Athletic, which you should be able to read here.

Also Worth Reviewing

In the event you haven’t seen it yet, I published my reflections from Event No. 41 (the Hope-Calvin men’s basketball rivalry) as well as the entire page from the event that includes some more photos, video, and a link to a Conversation from earlier this year with the two athletic directors.

Winner, Winner!

For the better part of 10 days, my inbox was accepting entrants for an author-signed copy of Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling. The very compelling read that I highly recommend by previous Conversations with Sports Fans’ guest, Danny Funt.

Does no one read anymore?

I had one entrant!

So, rather than sitting for makeup and an expensive video production session to announce the winner, I’m just going to do it here:

Congratulations to Michael O’Connell, an 80 for 80 Circle of Champions member from Virginia. Your book will ship before I head south.

Looking for Another Online Game?

Someone shared this game, Instant Replay, with me earlier this week.

I’m only partaking in the free level of play, but so far I’ve found it enjoyable as a fan of sports, geography, and history. The gist is that you’re shown an image, and you need to place a pin on the map where you think it occurred and also slide the timeline to the correct year.

It is similar to GeoSports where you’re provided five sports-themed questions each day and asked to place a pin in the globe that answers the question. We actually have Sports Fan Project group for this game if you’d like to join a few of us.

Follow this link to join The Sports Fan Project Group: https://geosports.app/groups?join=AE6Q6R. If prompted to input a code, it is: AE6Q6R

Army-Navy Anyone?

If you’ve read this far, you are a fan!

Thank you:-)

As of this writing, I am currently flying solo for the 127th playing of the annual Army-Navy Game on December 12th at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. I’d welcome some company. No game tickets have been purchased yet (history indicates the price will come down), but I do have lodging secured in a hotel with a pair of beds not too far from MetLife for two nights (Friday and Saturday).

If you’d like to ride shotgun on this trip please let me know at hilldouglast@gmail.com.

Images from South Africa

It’s going to take quite a while to fully catalogue and process the myriad photos and videos I shot during our time in South Africa, especially the majestic landscapes and wildlife shots from our time staying in the Makalai Game Preserve. Here are just a few of the highlights, most of which have not been previously shared on social media.

Clockwise from upper left, at one point during a wild game drive, we were surrounded by close to 20 Cape Buffalo, these are a few; the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Town; it took a while, but we finally spotted an elephant; giraffes were plentiful; some of the termite mounds were incredibly tall; this sunset in the South African bush screams Africa to me; similarly, this sunrise was magnificent; the view of Lion’s Head in Cape Town from Table Mountain.

The Great Ballpark Chase: Rogers and Out for this Chaser

timothynrussell1 Comment
Author Tim Russell Visited his 30th Active MLB Ballpark
Author Tim Russell notes his accomplishment at Rogers Centre, his 30th active MLB ballpark visited. The
glow emanating from above is no doubt shining from his late brother who started the journey with him 11
seasons ago. (Photo courtesy of Tim Russell)

(Contributing writer Tim Russell returns with another set of entries in his Chasing Ballparks series. Leading off this year is Toronto’s Rogers Centre.)

Baseball was meant to be played outdoors.

The fresh air, the sounds and smells of the environment around you just add to the ballpark experience.

So after pulling up to Toronto’s Rogers Centre and seeing the roof closed, it was a little disappointing, especially since I was finishing up the Chase for 30. It was part of the “Niagara Baseball Tour” with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours this past summer.

The stadium marked the 30th Major League ballpark that I’ve visited to complete the circuit of active ballparks. The Chase started in 2015, when I went to the Tigers’ spring training in Lakeland, FL, with my brother. The next year, we spent a week in Baltimore and Washington, following the Tigers against the Orioles and Nationals.

While my brother wasn’t able to finish The Chase in body, he was there in spirit. And our mother took over for him and ended up finishing The Chase during this trip. She joined me during our Pittsburgh stop.

I’ll give a cap tip to my brother, though, because as we got settled in our seats, the Rogers Centre roof started to open, and we were able to enjoy a beautiful night at the ballpark with a great view of the CN Tower, which sits at the base of Rogers Centre.

Clockwise from upper left, the full expanse of Rogers Centre prior to the game starting; as the roof opened the CN Tower became visible from our seats; despite only being 50 years old, the Blue Jays have plenty of banners hanging in the rafters; I was able to capture the roof in mid-opening; the exterior of Rogers Centre.

Rogers Centre is the first stadium in the world that has a fully functional motorized retractable roof. It is also the first one with a hotel attached to the stadium. There are currently six other active stadiums with retractable roofs: Arizona, Houston, Miami, Milwaukee, Seattle, and Texas.

The stadium opened in 1989 as SkyDome, but Rogers Communications later bought it in 2004. The sale did not, however, include the hotel.

A unique thing about the stadium is that some of the hotel rooms overlook the field.

Early in the existence of the facility, the stadium earned nicknames such as “SexDome” and “Exhibitionist Stadium.” The Blue Jays used to play at Exhibition Stadium.

When SkyDome first opened, there were several instances when people were caught in various sex acts. Since then, the hotel guests have to sign contracts stipulating they will not perform any lewd acts in view of the stadium.

Recently, the Blue Jays started a major $400 million renovation of the stadium, which was completed in two phases. The objective of the renovations was to extend the ballpark’s shelf life by another 10–15 years, while continuing to plan for a new stadium or a more significant rebuild of the Rogers Centre within the next 10 to 12 years.

In 2022-23, they reoriented the outfield seats to face home plate, raised the bullpens, and adjusted the outfield dimensions. They also added social spaces, which helped enliven the atmosphere around the ballpark.

The following year, the Blue Jays reoriented the infield seats to face home plate and added cup holders in the 100-level seats. They also reduced the size of foul territory and improved the dugouts.

Those renovations lowered the seating capacity from 41,500 to 39,150.

The renovations also made the field dimensions more symmetrical. The left-field and right-field lines are 328 feet from home plate. It is 368 feet to left-center and 381 feet to the left-center power alley. Right-center is 359 feet away, while the right-center power alley is 372 feet. Center field is 400 feet from the plate.

Clockwise from left, the CN Tower by night; the sculpture entitled “The Audience;” and Vlad Jr. on the big screen getting ready to bat.

Around the stadium are various forms of artwork, but the most recognizable would be the ones above the northeast and northwest entrances. It is a larger-than-life depiction of fans in all kinds of celebration and is entitled, “The Audience,” by Michael Snow.

  • The Game: The Houston Astros were in Toronto for the final night of a 3-game set. Toronto youngster Trey Yesavage, who burst upon the scene in September last year and was a post-season mainstay for the team, was on the hill for the Blue Jays, facing Houston’s Mike Burrows. Both teams scored single runs in the first inning before seven innings of relative silence (each team managed just four hits). Houston scored a run in the eighth on an errant pickoff attempt by reliever Jeff Hoffman, and then added an insurance run in the ninth on an infield single.
Niagara Falls
You can’t go on the “Niagara Baseball Tour” and not get a glimpse of Niagara Falls, can you?

Previous Installments

UConn’t Stop Them, UConn Only Hope to Contain Them

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Doug and Fran at Gampel Pavilion
My traveling partner, Fran, and I in UConn’s Gampel Pavilion.

First, a mea culpa.

As I set out on this journey Around the World in 80 Sporting Events, I had, I believe, the best intentions to try and get to more women’s athletic events. As I compose this post, I’ve been to exactly two women’s events:-(

The 2024 Solheim Cup in Gainesville, VA, and the Wisconsin Badgers’ Round of 32 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament match against North Carolina in Madison. (A third if you count the Milano Cortina Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Semifinal between the USA and Sweden.)

That’s it.

And that’s, well, disappointing.

Women’s sports, you might have noticed, are having a moment. Business in the WNBA is booming (and expanding), there are women’s sports bars popping up across the U.S. (I even had the owner of Austin’s 1972 Women’s Sports Pub on Conversations with Sports Fans), there’s now a Women’s Pro Baseball League, the Professional Women’s Hockey League is expanding, and the women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament continues to attract a wider audience.

A few paragraphs below, I’m going to write about my third dedicated women’s event, seeing a University of Connecticut women’s basketball game at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT, and it was glorious for all the reasons you’d expect. I have two more women’s events scheduled: the 2027 Women’s NCAA Final Four in Columbus, OH, and the 2027 Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, OK, and maybe a third as another mulligan in the event I get priced out of the Super Bowl, as one of those PWHL teams is coming to Detroit.

Maybe, just maybe, if I decide another 80 are in order or some fraction thereof, I’ll craft a list of events that include a majority of women’s events to absolve myself of this guilt I’m feeling.

Storrs is UConn and UConn is Storrs

At left, the exterior of Huskies, remnants of an ice storm that hit the area a couple of days earlier, the menu at Huskies, and part of the 1999 NCAA Championship floor from Tropicana Stadium in which the UConn men won their first championship.

Admittedly, I knew nothing about Storrs before I began planning this trip. Well, aside from the fact that an absurd number of college basketball championship trophies were housed there (12 by the women and six by the men)!

What I discovered is the reason I didn’t know a lot about Storrs is that there’s not a lot to know.

It’s classified as a village, comprises just 5.7 square miles, and received its name back in 1881 when brothers Charles and Augustus Storrs (founders of UConn, then known as Storrs Agricultural College) donated 170 acres and $6,000 to develop the community.

I also learned that as of the 2020 Census, there are just under 16,000 residents, and the median age was a mere 20.6-years-old. With 21,000 undergraduate students, it certainly seems plausible that many of them are full-time residents who help drive that median age down.

That all said, my traveling partner on this trip, Fran, and I did manage to find ourselves a spot for a pregame bite to eat: Huskies Restaurant & Bar. And after flying into Boston from Detroit and then driving the hour-and-a-half to Storrs, this spot featured all the pub fare we could ever hope for and UConn memorabilia aplenty for us to admire.

That Championship Feeling

Clockwise from upper left, the 12 UConn Women’s National Championship banners hang in Gampel Pavilion’s rafters; longtime men’s coach Jim Calhoun has his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction honored; Fran and I with a championship trophy; the six men’s banners hang on the opposite side of center court; the amount of success the women’s program has enjoyed is astounding; fortunately there’s a bit more room to add to this display; women’s coach Geno Auriemma’s Hall of Fame banner flies next to the names of the UConn alumni who are in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

I’d really hoped there might be some UConn Hall of Fame or Legends Concourse or even a Trophy Case around that highlighted the many notable accomplishments by the men’s and women’s teams.

Alas, Gampel Pavilion is not such a place for that. The concourses are tight, and there’s not a lot of surplus space to be lauding the school’s oodles of hardwood championships (one need only look to the rafters for that, I suppose).

That said, an NCAA Women’s Championship Trophy was on display and welcoming photo opportunities, and Fran and I were sure to grab a moment with the hardware.

Beyond that, Gampel was a bit of a throwback. That is, a place that hosts sporting events and not much more.

While the other major college basketball gyms I’d visited before, Butler’s Hinkle Field House and Kansas’ Allen Fieldhouse, and shortly thereafter, UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, all leaned into the building’s history with expansive displays of artifacts and highlights of past accomplishments.

Shortly after the 2025-26 season, it was announced that a nearly $100 million improvement to Gampel would begin. I hoped maybe something similar to what I experienced in the other college basketball shrines might be part of those plans … nope:-(

UConn was Good … Scary Good!

Notre Dame vs. UConn Women's Basketball
The Irish offense goes to work during its first possession of the game.

When I first identified this game as an event, Notre Dame was coming off a 28-6 overall record and won the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title with a 16-2 record. Of course, that team featured the double-barrelled attack of Olivia Miles (currently tearing up the WNBA) and Hannah Hidalgo. That team handed UConn just one of its three defeats during the 2025 NCAA Championship season when the Irish won, 79-68, at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.

What a difference a year makes.

Miles spent her final year of college at Texas Christian, and Hidalgo was pretty much left to her own devices against a Husky team that was determined to not let her beat them. Notre Dame had lost three of its previous five games and had fallen completely out of the national rankings when it arrived for the MLK Day showdown in Storrs.

In addition to tormenting Hidalgo all game (she finished with just 16 points, nearly 10 off her season average), UConn featured a balanced attack led by All-Americans Azzi Fudd (15 points) and Sarah Strong (18 points [including the 1,000th of her career], 11 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals) and raced to a 16-7 lead following the first quarter and then used a 27-12 third quarter to leave no doubt en route to an 85-47 shellacking. If UConn had shot even moderately well from 3-point range (just 6-for-24), it could have been far worse.

Fran, who is an inductee in the Michigan Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame for his decades leading the Rochester Adams Highlanders girls’ team (including former Irish player Jeannine Augustin, who played with current Notre Dame coach Nielle Ivey for one season), walked out of Gampel impressed by the relentless defensive pressure and physicality of the Huskies.

I think he and I were in lockstep that it would be a tough team to beat in the NCAA Tournament.

We wound up being wrong.

The Gampel Vibe

From left, UConn’s Ashlynn Shade rises for a jumper; the Huskies lean into their wealth of basketball titles; the exterior of Gampel Pavilion; and Sarah Strong is recognized for her 1,000th career point.

This was my first major women’s college basketball game … ever.

I had zero preconceptions walking in. Having said that, the environment exceeded anything I could have imagined.

First, there was a full house of 10,244 crammed into the place! And the fans get extra credit for arriving early.

Second, this was every bit the equal of my time at Kansas or UCLA or Butler for men’s games. There was a full pep band, cheer squad, dance team, and sizable student section. And the crowd was – at least before it got out of reach – into the game and responding to the cues from the band and the cheer team.

Finally, this was truly a women’s basketball experience. And by that I don’t simply mean the product on the floor and fans in the stands, but even the television screens near the concession stands aired other women’s games in the lead up to tip-off. Fran and I were part of a small group who cared not at all about the popcorn and hot dogs but rather the final moments of the 7th-ranked University of Michigan versus 10th-ranked Vanderbilt University game from Newark, NJ. The Wolverines trailed by 17 at the half, but had opportunities to tie or take the lead down the stretch before falling, 72-69.

(Almost) Another Music City Miracle

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From left, Wayne, Todd, and I; our view during pregame warmups; the captains gather for the coin flip.

To the moment, I’ve attended 38 events on this wild journey Around the World in 80 Sporting Events. (And, really, as I write this post I’ve been to 59 … I’m a bit behind in my reflections;-)

I’m able to say, without question, none – of the 38 or the 59 – has proven to be as exciting as the NCAA FCS National Championship Game in Nashville, TN, between Illinois State and Montana State. Montana State won in walk-off fashion, 35-34, in overtime.

It was an electric atmosphere and an incredible game that featured the type of finish a fan with no dog in the fight loves. That is, one that ends on the final play.

I know it’s been a minute since the Bobcats and Redbirds took to FirstBank Stadium‘s field that first Monday in January so let’s recap how they got there:

  • Montana State was the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament, though I’m sure the majority of their fans weren’t thinking about that when the season began with a 59-13 shellacking at the hands of the B1G’s Oregon Ducks and then followed it up with a 30-24 double-overtime loss to then-second-ranked South Dakota State. Yes, the Bobcats began their season 0-2 before winning 12 straight – including a pair of victories over their in-state rivals the University of Montana Grizzlies – to reach Nashville.
  • In stark contrast, Illinois State rather limped into the playoffs. It lost its regular-season finale to Southern Illinois, 37-7 (at home!), to finish in a 3-way tie for third place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Red Birds received one of the final at-large bids to the tournament before turning into road warriors, knocking off Southeastern Louisiana, top-seeded North Dakota State, California-Davis, and Villanova to arrive on Vanderbilt’s campus.

I got there via Chattanooga, as my friend Wayne and I spent a couple of nights with his buddy, Todd, who was set to join us in Nashville for the game as well.

Room with a View

FirstBank Stadium as seen from the Marriott
The view of FirstBank Stadium from our room in our hotel.

I was only at the FCS National Championship Game because its FBS brethren completely priced me out of the event the previous January.

If you recall, I was actually in Atlanta when The Ohio State University and Notre Dame University were set to play in the first 12-team playoff back in early 2025. Rather than coming down in the days prior to the game prices actually went up to levels only a Super Bowl could understand.

Because of this, I opted to pivot and make plans for the FCS Game which, as it turned out, would be in Nashville, a day’s drive from my home in Michigan.

That said, there was some surplus funds in the budget so I splurged on a room in the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University. Though not on a high enough floor to have a view of the field, we could see the scoreboard and, obviously, was within walking distance to the stadium.

Last One Out of Montana Turn the Lights Out

There was no shortage of fans – mainly Montana State fans! – trying to get into our section at FirstBank Stadium; I didn’t pack my overalls, but perhaps I should have!?! I also didn’t bring my guns with me either like the fella on the right;-)

I had no expectations when I decided to make the journey to Nashville.

Actually, that’s not necessarily true, I had a reasonable expectation to see the North Dakota State Bison – and Bison Bob, whom I met in Fargo at Event No. 31 in November – at the FCS Championship Game because, well, NDSU had played in 11 of the previous 15 FCS finales.

What I did experience was crazy. The announced attendance was 24,105 and I’m not exaggerating when I suggest that easily two-thirds of them were rooting for Montana State. Never mind that Illinois State’s campus in Normal, IL, was only about a six-and-a-half hour drive from Nashville. And, I might add, it seemed like the Bobcat fans all arrived at the same time and the same time as Todd and I who walked over ahead of Wayne. We were caught in the throng of fans on the concourse that rivaled the crush of people I’d experienced at venues multiple times larger.

Credit to the NCAA

Clockwise from upper left, this fan was pleased with the outcome of the game; hanging on the field after the game; a look at the stage where the trophy was presented; the ISU and MSU marching bands pregame; unironically, me holding the godforsaken media timeout placquard the red-vested fella stands on the field with that I’ve railed against for years.

I cannot believe I typed that heading, but I have to give credit where credit is due.

In addition to an ideal venue that’s relatively centrally located in the U.S. (Vanderbilt’s campus will serve as host for at least one more title tilt thanks to ongoing renovations at Frisco, TX, Toyota Stadium which hosted the previous 15), the NCAA made this as fan-friendly an event as possible.

There were fan zones prior to the game, a stadium that was small enough to provide excellent sight lines no matter where you were seated, a pregame performance featuring both marching bands, a halftime drone show, and, perhaps the coolest moment of the day, is that fans were invited onto the field 10 minutes following the game’s conclusion to celebrate with each other and be on the field for the trophy presentation. That, I can guarantee, does not occur following the FBS Championship Game.

A Fantastic Finish

From left, the overtime coin flip at midfield; Montana State celebrates postgame; a fireworks display ensued.

As alluded to at the top, I’m going to be hard-pressed to experience a more exciting event than this one.

It seemed for all the world like Montana State was going to cruise to victory. The Bobcats controlled the game from the outset, jumped out to a 14-0 lead 20 minutes in and Illinois State seemed adrift.

The Red Birds seemed to receive a spark with, just under a minute left in the first half, scored a touchdown to make it 14-7, only to allow MSU to score a touchdown with 18 seconds left before the break.

Illinois State cut it to 21-14 before MSU stretched it to 14 points again before the the start of the fourth quarter when the Red Birds scored on their next two possessions to tie it and then, with just under a minute remaining, had a 38-yard field goal attempt to take the lead.

Bobcat Jhase McMillan blocked the kick.

MSU failed to move the ball, Illinois State chose not to even try after receiving it back via punt, and it headed to overtime.

After losing the coin flip, the Red Birds scored on their second play from scrimmage and then had their point after attempt blocked.

Then, facing a fourth-and-10 from the ISU 14-yard-line, Bobcats’ quarterback Justin Lamson hit receiver Taco Dowler on a crossing pattern for a touchdown.

The Bobcats’ point after was good and pandemonium from the Montana State faithful ensued.

Pregame Eats

A few shots of Gabby’s, clockwise from upper left, my burger and sweet potato fries; the explanation why the accolades are displayed in the restroom; the quirky nature continues to the Take a Thought/Leave a Though area; the interior features a counter as well as a modest dining area; the exterior is not much to look at but the food is delicious; the aforementioned restroom with all the accolades.

We arrived pretty early in Nashville after commuting from Chattanooga. So early, in fact, that our hotel wasn’t ready to receive us yet and, serendipitously, it was around lunch time.

As fate would have it, I was traveling with Wayne who knows where to find some off-the-beaten-path grub that’s good, (usually) cheap, and in a memorable location.

Gabby’s Burgers & Fries is such a place.

The fact the joint is only open for four hours each day (10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) should tell you plenty about the business it does.

The fact that it’s just off I-65 and sits, essentially, on a railyard makes it all the more alluring.

And, finally, the simplicity of the menu is too good for it to not be good. Burgers, fries, shakes, and a few non-burger items … that’s it.

It all makes it, in my estimation, a must visit if you happen to be in Nashville … Monday through Saturday from 10:30-2:30, that is;-)

And if you don’t trust me, check out the restroom – yes, the restroom! – where all of Gabby’s awards and accolades are displayed. (I kid you not!)

Post-Game View

Post-Game View of FirstBank Stadium
The view of FirstBank Stadium from our room post-game.