Trip of the Week: Philadelphia

Trip of the Week - 10/30/09 - 11/1/09 - Philadelphia

Friday – Milwaukee Bucks @ Philadelphia 76ers – 7:00pm

Saturday – Carolina Hurricanes @ Philadelphia Flyers – 1:00pm

Saturday – New York Yankees @ Philadelphia Phillies – 8:00pm

Sunday – New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles – 1:00pm

Sunday – New York Yankees @ Philadelphia Phillies – 8:00pm

Four Teams – 5 games – 3 days.  Quite the sports dilemma in the city of brotherly love.  After Cliff Lee’s dominating performance in Game 1 in Yankee Stadium, the Phillies are heading home tied 1-1 with a chance to win the title in their own beautiful stadium.  At the same time, the Flyers, 76ers and Eagles all host big games at home.  So what to do?  Luckily for the Philadelphia sports fan, all of these important events take place all in one spot, all sharing one lot, so there is nothing to worry about or no where to go.  Here is the SportsBound guide to seeing ALL 5 games this weekend (and can make it 7 if you find a way to get Monday off).  Enjoy the weekend Philadelphia, you couldn’t find a better one.

About Philadelphia

It's been an intriguing evolution for The City of Brotherly Love since it saw the signings of the United States' two most hallowed documents in the 18th century - the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Between the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the new National Constitution Center, Philadelphia still embraces its place in U.S. history, and it also has looked to achieve a new cultural sophistication despite its gruff exterior. A wide array museums and art galleries, a renowned symphony, picturesque parks and a revitalized waterfront area continue to prove that the nation's fifth-largest city has a lot more to offer than Rocky and cheesesteaks.

Pre Game Destinations

Because all the stadiums are packed into one spot, and all share the same local bars, restaurants and parking.  I have combined them into one section.

Bars/Restaurants

South Street

The Blarney South - The Blarney South is an Irish Bar that serves up good Irish-style food, plus an exceptional Philly cheese steak.  Definitely worth stopping into for a pint.

Who’s on Third - Who's on Third looks odd and small from the outside, but it is actually fairly large and is crowded.  Only a few beers on tap, but lots of beers in bottles.

Manny Brown’s - Manny Brown's is a good hangout place that isn't too crowded.  A lot of people start the evening here before going to the more well-known bars.  The menu is Tex Mex, but they serve Guiness as well.

Center City

Mcgillan Ole Ale House - McGillin's is a true brew pub with cheap food ($6-$13) and beer specials every night.  It has been in operation since 1860; the liquor licenses are on the walls to prove it.

The Bards - In addition to a wide beer selection, The Bards serves up traditional Irish food, including great shepherd's pie, at good prices.

Dr. Watson’s Pub - A nice pub atmosphere with live music.  They serve good food and also have some pool tables.

Philadelphia Sports Complex

McFadden’s Ballpark – 33 Hi Def Plasma TV's and 2 Giant projector screens, McFadden's provides the perfect venue to meet preand post game.  Also great food and great drafts. 

And of course tailgate for Eagles Game

NOTE: Liquor is sold only at state-run stores in Pennsylvania, so if you need a bottle you'll have to get it separate from your beer.

Trip Itinerary

Friday – Milwaukee Bucks @ Philadelphia 76ers – 7:00pm

Elton Brand, Andre Iguidala and the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Milwaukee Bucks.  While you’ve seen the Lakers, Cavs and Celtics play 2 or 3 games already, this is the Bucks first appearance on the court.  Losing top players last year, the Bucks struggled and look to step it up this year behind Hakeem Warrick, Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva and maybe make the playoffs for the first time in three years.  The Sixers had high hopes last season with the addition of Elton Brand and hope to live up to them this year.  If they don’t, expect some frustrated Philadelphia fans to let you (and them) know about it

Stadium Guide: The 76ers play in the Wachovia center, located int the Philadelphia Sports Complex.  Opened in 1996 as the CoreStates Center, later First Union Center and then Wachovia Center replaced the adjacent Spectrum as the home of the 76ers and the NHL's Flyers. Fans can check out the 76ers Zone, an area displaying memorabilia and historical highlights of the NBA in Philadelphia. The arena also has an on-site brewery and pub and a state-of-the-art HD scoreboard

Parking: A total of 6,100 parking spaces are available on the same site as the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum. There are eight parking lots that are brightly lit and patrolled by security personnel throughout the extent of the events. Reserved parking is available for numerous events and can be arranged when purchasing tickets through Ticketmaster.

Saturday – Carolina Hurricanes @ Philadelphia Flyers – 1:00pm

Stadium Guide: The Flyers play in the Wachovia center, located int the Philadelphia Sports Complex.  Opened in 1996 as the CoreStates Center, later First Union Center and then Wachovia Center replaced the adjacent Spectrum as the home of the 76ers and the NHL's Flyers. Fans can check out the Flyers Zone, an area displaying memorabilia and historical highlights of the NHL in Philadelphia. The arena also has an on-site brewery and pub and a state-of-the-art HD scoreboard

Parking: A total of 6,100 parking spaces are available on the same site as the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum. There are eight parking lots that are brightly lit and patrolled by security personnel throughout the extent of the events. Reserved parking is available for numerous events and can be arranged when purchasing tickets through Ticketmaster

Saturday – New York Yankees @ Philadelphia Phillies – 8:00pm

This should need no introduction.  Game 3 World Series tied at 1 game a piece.  Cole Hamels, last years World Series MVP, takes on Andy Pettite.  Whoever wins this game has a firm hold on the series and may win the title.  Enjoy the atmosphere, the game, and everything the World Series has to offer.

Stadium Guide: Citizens Bank Park opened April, 2004, as a fantastic facility replacing the old run down Veterans (known as one of the worst stadiums of all time) which the Phillies played in since 1971.  The ballpark combines Philadelphia's rich tradition of sports architecture with unmistakably modern style. The $336 million, baseball-only stadium has a natural grass field, multi-angled "bowl style" seating, breathtaking views, dazzling amenities and a staggering array of special, fan-friendly features.  The greatest feature is Ashburn Alley, one of the best outfield concourses in baseball.  Ashburn Alley is filled with shops and consessions named for Phils' legend Richie Ashburn, and a highlight there is Bulls' BBQ, where you may find former Phils' slugger Greg "The Bull" Luzinski hanging out.  Another great spot is McFadden’s Ballpark Bar.  Attached to the stadium this place is great for a pregame Phillies stop.

Sunday – New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles – 1:00pm

An NFC East battle that cannot be matched.  When the Giants head to Philadelphia.  The Eagles are coming off a big Monday Night victory over the Washington Redskins, while the Giants are hoping to prevent their third loss in a row after starting off 5-0.  As many know, the Eagles eliminated the Giants from last years playoffs, beating them in New York after the Giants were favored to win the title.  This will probably be in the Giants minds when they head to Lincoln Financial Field, so look for them to play with some added emotion

Stadium Guide: Lincoln Financial Field, a $512 million dollar complex opened in August, 2003.  The stadium was created, many believe, as a key component to transform the Eagles into anelite NFL franchise. The front row is 60 feet from the field's sideline, or half the distance of that at the old Veterans Stadium.  Stadium seating capacity is about 68,000 while they have 172 luxury suites, both improvements from Veterans Stadium.  The Eagles Pep Band strolls around that wide concourse before games and leads followers in rousing renditions of "Fly, Eagles, Fly," the team's fight song. The Eagles Honor Roll, a list of the franchise's greatest players, from Sonny Jurgensen to Harold Carmichael to Tommy McDonald, is located in the HeadHouse Lobby, next to the pro shop, and is open to the public.

Parking Information: $20 for cars.  $40 for oversized vehicles.  Wachovia complex opens at 6am for tailgating.  When full, the Citizens Bank Lot opens at 10am. 

Sunday – New York Yankees @ Philadelphia Phillies – 8:00pm

Game 4 is a MUST win for someone.  Whoever loses game 3 must win this one or the series could be over quickly.  Maybe the biggest ame for both teams.  If Philadelphia wins game 3, New York must win this one to prevent possible elimination in Philadelphia.  If the Phillies lose game 3, they need this one to prevent 3 must win’s including 2 in New York.

My Trips - From Seeing the Sports - Dudes Weekend Notre Dame

This trip wasn't for the day or just the game, it was for the weekend.  The first time I saw some roomates since college, embracing the city of Chicago once again enjoying the Holy War, and celebrating my birthday.  Couldn't have asked for anything more.

Reunions are sweet, and I am slowly starting to realize that.  As a recent Boston College Graduate, I'm still getting used to not seeing my friends every single day.  In the dining hall.  In the hallways.  In the quad.  In the bars.  EVERYWHERE.  I miss everything about college. 

The one thing I will not miss about college is the pure joy we all had when we first saw eachother, and that we kept all weekend.

Since my junior year my buddies and I have run an annual Dudes Weekend.  For this weekend we have all of our dads, brothers, friends etc in town for a weekend of good food, good sports, a lot of drinking and the chance for the guys to be guys with their old man.  This year we decided to have our Dudes Weekend in Chicago for the ND game!  (We actually made a video about it for class which I posted at the bottom of this write up)

While the official weekend didn't begin until Friday, I showed up to spend the night with the Chicagoians on Thursday night.  We figured we'd go to the bar, get a few beers, watch the FSU-UNC game and relax for the weekend.  Instead, we went to my friends bar where we ripped free shots, dollar beers and partied till 3am when we were forced out of the bar. 

You could say we were a little banged up on Friday when we got up and embraced one of the best parts of Chicago - Deep Dish Pizza.  Though it took a while and our pounding heads wernt happy about it, we finally got through the whole thing.  The rest of the day was spent with slow entries of our friends, where they were all greated with a jump up and down hug, some yelling and a few tears. 

Friday night, the real party started.  After going to MARKET, Kenny William's new restaurant/bar in downtown Boston, we hit up the Lasalle Power Company and were greeted with recent grads, newly seniors and even the occasional 21 year Junior (and plenty of those that wern't quite 21 yet).  The open bar event (which cost a cool 35 bucks) went from 10-1 with wild dancing, beers, mixed drinks and a lot of "how have you been's."  With a smaller group of friends (some part of the "crew," though many couldnt last the night) and plenty of others we added along the way.  Finally, at 3:15, we decided the night needed to be ended as we had a 9am train meeting the next morning.

After a rough morning, a long shower, and slowly getting dressed, we headed out in the rain and freezing cold, to meet our train to head to the stadium.  Though we took a bus last time, we tried a new package led by Dodds Athletic Tours that gave us open bar and food on the train both ways, and a bus inbetween with open beer and snacks.  Most trains, my bartender told us, were filled with quiet fans sipping on a few bloody marys and bagles and reading the paper... not ours.  We were ripping drinks, shotgunning beers, dueling against fans (a drinking game that involves shotgunning beers and throwing them at ur opponent) and having just a good ole time.  The same thing continued on the bus until we arrived at ND at around 1:00.  Giving us 2 1/2 hours to gametime. 

The tailgate came and went, multiple trips to the bathroom, more beers, brats, burgers and, more trips to the bathroom.  There were "Lets go Eagles" chants followed by boos, beers being thrown at us, and the occasional guy that would get in our face, as if we actually wanted to fight.

Then, it was finally time to enter the  famous stadium. The "home" of college football.  Where legends of the 40s and 50s played and Jimmy Clausen reigns (?) now.  We were entering College Football Heaven.

We had awesome seats, directly across from touchdown Jesus, upper deck corner where you could see absolutely everything. In the freezing cold and rain we sat through a tough BC loss after a drive that almost led us to victory.

For most people that would devastate you, I think on any other trip it would have done the same to me.  Instead, we got back on that party bus, had a few waters, only to lead to the train with more mixed drinks, beers and even some wine (?).  One friend got so drunk he passed out on the train and had to be brought back to his room, where he was then put to bed.

That night was just as wild as the others.  I turned 23 :( at midnight and proceeded to announce that I was "no longer college age" as I was bought shot after shot from my dad, friends and people I didnt even know.  Having all the guys and girls I spent the last four birthdays with at this event made the whole thing absolutely amazing and an experience I am happy about.  For the third year in a row my birthday happened on a big weekend (See BC-Virginia Tech 2007) and I am very greatful.  By the time the disaster finally subsided we headed back and got into our rooms at 4:00 that morning.

As I woke up in pain all I could think about was the awesome trip I had and how we had, once again, done it right.  Dudes Weekend was a success!

I hope you enjoyed this recap of my trip to Notre Dame for the 17th Annual Holy War.  Hope you follow me again for my next journey. Make sure to follow me on twitter @sportsbound, for up to the minute updates on all my sports ventures.

DUDES WEEKEND FROM 2007 - WEEKEND TOOK PLACE WHEN BC WAS #2 FACING FSU.  ENJOY!

Thursday Night Football Site: Virginia Tech

This weeks Thursday night game takes us to Lane Stadium where the Virginia Tech Hokies host the North Carolina Tar Heels.  While the Hokies lost their National Title hopes (and maybe ACC as well), with a loss to Georgia Tech two weeks ago, they are still alive in the ACC, though they MUST win out in order to be eligible for the conference title.  On the other side, North Carolina is still eyeing its first conference win of the season. The Tar Heels haven't beaten a ranked opponent on the road since 2001.

The Virginia Tech football team has enjoyed well over a decade of success, going to 16 straight bowl games. A big part of that success is the home-field advantage the Hokies enjoy at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. Billed as the toughest place in college football for opponents to play by Rivals.com, the Hokies play on not only one of the best playing surfaces in the nation, but with the south end zone and west side additions, the Hokies also compete in one of the best stadiums in the nation.
Now entering its 45th season as an arena of collegiate football competition, Lane Stadium/Worsham Field has gone through numerous changes, renovations and additions. But through it all, it has always been regarded as one of the finest places to watch - and toughest places for opponents to play - a college football game.

About the Stadium

Original construction of Lane Stadium began in April of 1964 and was completed four years later. The Hokies did not wait for completion, playing their first game in the stadium on Oct. 2, 1965. Tech defeated William and Mary 9-7 that day, with only the west stands and the center section of the east bleachers completed. Official dedication ceremonies took place Oct. 23 before a 22-14 win over Virginia.
Through the years, the stadium has seen several changes and renovations. In 1982, the lighting system was added to the facility. The system was first used in Tech's nationally televised 21-14 Thanksgiving Day victory over Virginia that season. The game was broadcast on WTBS and was the first nationally televised game from Lane Stadium.

Prior to the 1989 season, Lane Stadium underwent further improvements. Tech received a donation of 16 flags with the "VT" logo for the stadium. Lane Stadium also received a new paint job that included the addition of maroon and orange stripes around the inner walls of the facility.
In 1991, a new scoreboard bearing BIG EAST Conference logos replaced the old scoreboard at the south end of the stadium, while a new auxiliary scoreboard was placed at the north end. In the spring of 1994, renovations were completed on seven lower sections of the east stands. Renovations included replacing concrete risers and the addition of wheelchair seating.

Before the 1994 season, plaques bearing retired jerseys of Tech heroes Bruce Smith, Carroll Dale, the late Frank Loria and Jim Pyne were added to the wall in the north end zone. With the addition of the north end zone seats, the four retired numbers now fly on flagpoles above those stands.
In 2002, three more flags - those bearing the names and numbers of Frank Beamer, Michael Vick and Cornell Brown - were added, retiring their jerseys, but not their numbers. Two years ago, a banner for center Jake Grove was added to that collection.

Last season, banners were placed on both the east and west sides on beams honoring conference player of the year and national award honorees, including Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award winner Corey Moore and Outland Trophy honoree Bruce Smith.

Prior to the 1998 season, the oldest bleachers were replaced with new locust wood and the stands were waterproofed and top coated. On the east side, the roof on the former visitors' locker room was replaced along with the wooden bleachers in the three sections above the dressing room. Also, additional handicapped seating was added.

In addition to the seats in the north end zone constructed before the 1999 season, the interior block walls and concourse tunnels were seal-coated to match the exterior of Cassell Coliseum and the Merryman Center.
Prior to the 1999 season, 2,100 permanent seats were added in the north end zone. Before the 2000 season, another 3,000 permanent bleacher seats were added in the north end zone and a new scoreboard complete with "Hokievision," was installed behind the bleachers.

In 2003, permacaps were installed over all the wooden seats in the stadium to enhance fan comfort.
The south end zone construction project eliminated the old wooden bleachers in that area. But the north end zone bleachers were expanded down to the field, adding close to 600 new, permanent seats to make the north end zone look similar to the new south end zone. This is where The Marching Virginians - one of Tech's two marching bands - sit.

The past five years, fans saw new conference logos around the stadium, as the Hokies made the move to the ACC prior to the 2004 season. In that time, the Hokies have won three conference titles.

Before the game, I would recommend hitting up the tailgates that probably started 3 1/2 hours ago.  VT tailgates are supposed to be some of the best and friendliest in the country.  If that doesn't fit your fancy, head to Arthur's Aweful, famous for their daily-Steaks,Pastas, Salads and Seafood.  Stop by for their Thursday night Shrimp night and grab a few brews before you head out. Bar,Thurs Shrimp Night.  If you are more in the mood, stop by Cinco de Mayo Tavern and Grill.  Still, I'd suggest going to tailgate... maybe like now!

Parking Lot Hours of Operation

Saturday Games	Arrival	Departure
RV's (contributor)	after 3pm Friday	5pm Sunday
RV's (public at airport)	Noon Friday
Cars (contributor and public)	6am Saturday	6am Sunday
Weekday Games	Arrival	Departure
RV's (contributor and public)	Noon game day	6am following day
RV's (public at airport)	Noon game day
Cars (contributor and public)	5pm game day	6am following day																	e

Forecasted Weather
Forecast for Thursday, October 29, 2009
Lane Stadium BLACKSBURG, VA Updated: 10/29/09 11:45 AM ET	Lo: 51°F Hi: 67°F Precip: 10%

World Series Stadium Guide: New York Yankees

What a way to open up their new stadium.  Dominate the regular season, dominate the first two rounds with a few of their now famous walk off wins and face a cocky NL team that many people call "even," and have one of the best Game 1 matchups of all time with the last two AL CY Young winners on hand.  This is exactly how the New York Yankees would have wanted it, and exactly how they got it!.  Check out SportsBound's Guide to Yankee Stadium and some advice of what to do there.

Stadium Facts
Capacity: 52,325 (including standing room)
Modeled it after the original Yankee Stadium, and the famous roof overhang and other touches have returned.Same Field Dimensions of Old Yankee Stadium
56 Private Suites, 410 Public Suites
1 restroom for 60 Fans
LED Screen: 59' high by 101' wide
Monument Park moved from old stadium to Center Field

Gameday Recommendations
If you have never been, and even if you have, get out to Yankee stadium early and check out the scenery around the stadium.  Start by going to Stan’s Sports bar, the most popular by the stadium.  This bar gets crowded but everyone is friendly (if you aren’t wearing the opposing teams stuff) and get a few beers before it becomes uncomfortable.  After that, head to the Yankee Tavern, family owned since 1923 to grab a few beers and a bite of food.  Yankee Tavern is known as the best food by the stadium and its probably a little bit cheaper than an 8 buck beer and 5 buck hot dog.  Be sure to get into the Stadium early as you’ll want to see it.  Monument park is free to walk up to half hour before the game and its more than worth seeing all their history.  Whether you like the Yankees or not, its pretty amazing to witness all their history before they try to make more!  Get to your seats by the top of the 1^st and listen to the players roll call.  In the right field bleachers, the fans take turns chanting players names until they are acknowledged, every player participates (some more excited than others) and it is a famous tradition.  After that, enjoy the game!  It’s WORLD SERIES BASEBALL in BRAND NEW Yankee Stadium!  Not quite sure what could be better!

NBA SEASON BEGINS TONIGHT

Its the day many NBA Fans (especially those of the Celtics, Cavs and Magic) have been waiting for... Opening Night in the NBA!  And boy what a great set of games on tap tonight.  The night starts with KG, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and new addition Rasheed Wallace heading to Cleveland where LeBron has a new buddy and high title hopes with their addition of Shaq.  Next, see Gilbert Arenas and his Wizards head to Dallas to face off against Dirk Nowitski's Mavricks.  The night cap takes us Portland and Los Angeles.  In Portland, the Yao Ming(less) Rockets with new addtion Trevor Ariza take on Brandon Roy, Jerryd Bayliss and Greg Oden.  The night ends with an in-city rivalry as the Los Angeles Clippers, without #1 draft pick Blake Griffin, head to the visitors locker room and take on the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and their new addition Ron Artest in the Staples Center.  

The season has a lot of hope.  Will the Lakersdefend their title? Can the Celtics win one more for Kevin Garnett and co.? Will Shaq help put LeBron over the top (and maybe keep him in Cleveland)?  While these questions won't be answered on opening night, there's always a good time to start the debate!

Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavilers - 7:30pm - TNT

Washington Wizards @ Dallas Mavericks - 8:30pm

Houston Rockets @ Portland Trialblazers - 10:00pm

Los Angeles Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers - 10:30pm - TNT

      -For a guide to the Staples Center, check out the Sports Bound Guide's Trip of the Week from 10/15

       Trip of the Week: Los Angeles

Video You May Not Have Seen

Please dont try this at home!  Would love to hear this guy talk and see if its actually real, I can't believe that it could be.  If it is, wow.  Anyway, enjoy!

MNF Guide: Washington

FedEx Field is the largest and one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. The stadium was built in March of 1996 and completed in April of 1997 only 17 minutes after construction. Since he bought the team in 1999 Daniel M. Snyder has spend more than $100 million dollars to enhance the Field making the stadium even bigger. Located in the upper deck is the Redskins' Ring of Fame, with plaques honoring the team's greatest players and executives, including George Allen, Sammy Baugh, Joe Gibbs, Vince Lombardi, Sam Huff, Joe Jacoby, Sonny Jurgensen, Billy Kilmer, Doug Williams, Art Monk, John Riggins and Joe Theismann.

While your in D.C. there is always something to do, between the Capitol, the White House, the Smithsonian, the Presidential Memorials and the Holocost Museum, there is plenty to do that could take up multiple days. Once it gets to 5:00 and the game is around the corner, however, head over to the stadium and embrace the whole atmosphere. If you are on a budget, I’d recommend going to Fast Eddie’s Sports Bar and Grille where they have 5 meals under 5 dollars including a Hoagie Sub, Pulled Pork Sandwich and Personal 8”Pizza. You can also stop by the ESPNZone where they always have good food, all the games you can think of on TV and plenty of awesome arcades and more to entertain yourself.

After that head over to the stadium and enjoy the Hog Haven. As you may know, the Redskins are known as fans that dress up as Hogs. Get out there and enjoy the scene, Washington D.C. is a top notch. Tailgating is allowed for 4 hours so at 4:30 you will see a packed lot filled with people grilling, drinking and hoping the Redskins can put the ball in the endzone.

Cash parking is available at and operated by Jericho Church, located on Jericho City Dr., and easily accessible via Arena Dr.

College Gameday Look: BYU

This week College Gameday takes us to Provo, UT where the #16 BYU Cougars take on the #8 TCU Horned Frogs.  This is the going to be the most highly touted "non-BCS conference" game as both these teams have a chance to burst the BCS bubble once again.  This weeks guide takes you to Salt Lake as well as its neighbor Provo.   

The City
Set against the snowy backdrop of the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains, Salt Lake City raised its visibility as a top destination for winter sports addicts after hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics. Area resorts boast of "the greatest snow on earth," and skiers flock to world-class getaways like Snowbird, Alta and Brighton. During summer months, resorts open their lifts and runs to mountain bikers in what is becoming a booming business.

The city also is renowned as the original settlement, and now headquarters, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with Temple Square and the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir among the many attractions evocative of LDS history and culture. The arts scene is packed with theater, symphony and opera events, as well as a variety of downtown galleries. And annual events, like Pioneer Day, bring residents and visitors alike out for a week's worth of celebrations and festivities.

The Stadium
The big game takes place in Provo, about 45 miles away from Salt Lake at LaVelle Edwards Stadium.  LaVell Edwards Stadium, with its 64,045-seat capacity, huge video scoreboards and immaculate press boxes, is home to legendary BYU football.  This emmaculate stadium is one of the most beautiful and loudest in the country.  Surrounded by vast mountains and wild crowds, an old Air Force coach called it the loudest and prettiest stadium he had ever been to, noting the loud noise the seats make when the fans are banging on them

Originally known as Cougar Stadium, the stadium was renamed with the retirement of legendary head football coach LaVell Edwards at the conclusion of the 2000 season.  Edwards Stadium was built in 1964 with a seating capacity of 45,000 (including temporary bleachers placed at each of the end zones). As a result of increased seating demands, BYU made another renovation in 1982, adding stands to the north and south end zones, lowering the field eight feet and removing the track surrounding the field (home to the 1967 and 1975 NCAA Track and Field Championships).

The stadium expansion increased the seating capacity to over 65,000. The crowd of 64,253 that gathered for BYU's first game in the expanded stadium on September 25, 1982 was reported at the time as "the largest gathering ever in Utah history." Since its expansion in 1982, the stadium has consistently ranked among the nation's top 25 in attendance.

Some of the stadium's well-known features include a box-bowl seating configuration, a grass playing surface and a four-level press box

Not going to find much drinking near a Mormin college, but there are good restaurants near by.  Try China Lily, considered by many to be the best Chinese in Utah Valley.  When there, try the Salt and Pepper Chicken or the Ginger Beef.  This place is a little pricy but the locals make it sound like it is worth it.  If you are not in the mood for Chinese, try Tucanos Brazilian Grill.  With their fantastic selection of meats, poultry and seafood you are sure to find something that fits your fancy.


Get Tickets: BYU Tickets

Thursday Night Football Site: North Carolina

Thursday night's ACC battle takes place in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where the North Carolina Tar Heels host the Florida State Seminoles.  Unfortunately, at the beginning of the year (with this team ranked 20 and 18 respectively) this game was going to be a big ACC showdown.  These are teams that have gone from nationally ranked to a combined 0-5 in the ACC heading into late October. One boasts the league's best offense and its worst defense, the other has the best defense and the worst offense. And both have plenty of unfulfilled expectations and frustrated fans.  Don't let that fool you though.  Every game at this stadium is a memory and any time FSU comes to town, the place is rocking!

Carolina football plays its home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium (cap. 60,000), one of the most picturesque athletic venues in America. Kenan Stadium has been the home of the Tar Heels since 1927.

Considering its majestic setting among the Carolina pines, many observers say Kenan Stadium is the most beautiful football facility in the country. One national sports magazine rated Kenan one of the five best places in America to watch a college football game. For scenery, atmosphere and charm, it cannot be surpassed.

The stadium has been expanded several times since its completion in 1927. In each instance, though, great care was taken to keep its fundamental beauty intact. The addition of the Frank H. Kenan Football Center and the North Side Stadium Preferred Seating Box in 1997 have further enhanced the stadium's status as a campus landmark.

The Charlie Justice Hall of Honor, located on the ground floor, is a multi-media history of Carolina football. Photographs, awards, trophies and artifacts detailing the rich and storied history of the sport in Chapel Hill are on display. The players who have been honored by placing their names and numbers on display in the stadium are also featured in the Hall of Honor. Special plaques, flags and an audio-visual presentation on each player are highlighted.
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A number of rooms in the Kenan Football Center have been dedicated in the honor or memory of Carolina's benefactors, fans and athletic personalities. They include the Brinkley Lounge, the fourth floor reception area named for Harvey M. Brinkley Jr.; the Don McCauley/Paul Miller Head Coach's Suite; the Norman M. (Buddy) Black Jr. Lounge, the fourth floor hospitality area; the Oscar Davenport/Chris Keldorf Quarterback Meeting Room, as given by Bob Biggerstaff; the Jo Allison Clary Smith Weight Room; the Carolina Football Players' Locker Room, named in behalf of the more than 400 former Tar Heels who donated more than $2 million to the project; the Nassif Offensive Staff Meeting Room; the Ann and Paul Lawing Coaches' Locker Room; Koury Box North, box seating on the north side of the stadium named for Maurice J. Koury; the John W. Pope Academic Support Facility; the John W. Pope Stadium Box, a stadium box on the north side; the John D. Swofford Auditorium and the Jimmy W. Garrell coaches meeting room.

The most recent additions to Kenan Stadium are two ribbon videoboards on the facade of the North and South side upper levels. In 2003, a $2 million scoreboard at the east end of the stadium was added. The scoreboard was financed through an agreement with Learfield Communications, UNC's multi-media rights holder.

Before the game, visit Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery.  This restaurant was created to break up all the chains in the Chapel Hill area.  With awesome outdoor dining, incredible micro-brews and fantastic televisions this place was voted one of the best places to stop on Franklin Street.  Go down there early and grab a few beers before heading to the tailgates and into the beautiful stadium.

Forecasted Weather
Forecast for Thursday, October 22, 2009
Kenan Stadium CHAPEL HILL, NC Updated: 10/22/09 11:45 AM ET	Lo: 54°F Hi: 76°F Precip: 10%

Trip of the Week: Pittsburgh

Trip of the Week – 10/23/09 - Pittsburgh

Friday – Florida Panthers @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 7:30pm

Saturday – South Florida Bulls @ Pittsburgh Panthers – 12:00pm

Sunday – Minnesota Vikings @ Pittsburgh Steelers – 1:00pm

Head over to the Steel City for this weekends Trip of the Week.  Known by many as the “City of Champions” because it is the home of both the reigning Stanley Cup and Super Bowl Champions both play down the street from eachother.  You will get to see both these teams in action and another Champion Contender, the Pittsburgh Panthers.  Enjoy!

Friday – Florida Panthers @ Pittsburgh Penguins – 7:30pm

Our first stop on the trip of the week takes us to Mellon Arena, formally Civic Arena, to see the defending Stanley Cup Champions take on the Florida Panthers.  As of 2009, Mellon Arena is the oldest and lowest capacity arena in the NHL by official capacity.  Still, when packed this arena is known to be one of the loudest and wildest in the NHL.

Before the game, head over to Souper Bowl Restaurant.  The Scene – Appropriate that a '70s-era bar be named after the greatest decade of Pittsburgh sports. The Souper Bowl is what it is: A smokey, dark meeting place to grab an Iron before a game

. Its location across from the Chatham Center parking lot is perfect rendezvous point.  The Food – Fried food starters and sandwiches are the specialty of the house. All meals are nicely priced with the most expensive item being chicken parm with a salad for $6.50. Wings are tossed in a tasty, not flaming.

Saturday – South Florida Bulls @ Pittsburgh Panthers – 12:00pm

  On Saturday, head over to Heinz Field where the Pittsburgh Panthers host the South Florida Bulls.  Pittsburgh has only one loss and could compete for the Big East title and a shot at a BCS bowl game in January.  In order to do this, they must beat the one loss South Florida Bulls, coming off a tough loss at home to #8 Cincinnati.  You may be confused to hear that the Panthers play at Heinz field, but  the Panthers share Heinz Field with the Steelers even when they share a week of home games.  This could be a good thing as there is much to do around Heinz Field. 

Heinz Field, opened in 2001, is filled with much to see.  Start off at the two-storied Coca-Cola Great Hall, located by the east entrance.  This spot is the centerpiece and a great gathering spot at Heinz Field.   In addition to pregame and postgame entertainment, with TVs and concessions galore, the Coca-Cola Great Hall features six, huge Lombardi Trophy column displays devoted to the team's like-numbered Super Bowl titles, along with replicas of each trophy. There are a dozen graphic murals displaying Steelers, Pitt Panthers and other regional football history, complete with videos and music. Be sure to check out the seven interactive displays that feature trivia and other memorabilia. The stadium also has two, giant faux Heinz ketchup bottles atop the Jumbotron scoreboard that tip and pour ketchup on the screen when the Steelers reach the Red Zone. (If the Heinz Ketchup bottles were filled with ketchup, they would contain 1,664,000 fluid ounces each, enough, if emptied, to cover the entire football field three-quarters of an inch deep.) Heinz Field also has been dubbed The Mustard Palace by locals because of its yellow seats.

Start your day by getting to the Panthers game early and heading over to Jerome Bettis Grill 36.  Jerome Bettis Grill 36 is a food focused sports-themed restaurant.  It is the perfect spot before and after games as it is highlighted by over 50 HD Plasma and LCD tv’s, that show up to 12 separate sporting events at once.  Their dynamic, diverse menu provices a choice of appetizers, cooked burgers, sandwiches, salads and specialties such as pastas, steaks and seafood.  On gamedays, they live the college tradition and open up at 8:00am with kegs and eggs (breakfast and beer) and is the perfect spot to hit before a game.

After you get in there at 8:00,and gobble a few beers and eggs, check out the tailgate scene for a few hours before heading into the stadium. 

EXTRA NOTE: If the Pittsburgh game isn’t enough for you, at 7:30 the Penguins host the NJ Devils down the street.  If you can’t get enough sports, head over there!

 Sunday – Minnesota Vikings @ Pittsburgh Steelers – 1:00pm

End the trip with another defending champion, the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Watch Big Ben Rothlisburger and Hines Ward host the undefeated Minnesota Vikings led by the infamous Brett Favre and the unbelievable Adrian Peterson.  This should be one of the best games of the week if not the season.  Enjoy the different atmosphere for your second trip to Hines Field and see why Pittsburgh is known as one of the best home field advantages in the NFL. 

Not much different to do for the Steelers game, head out early and try to get into Jerome Bettis Grill 36.  If it somehow didn’t fit your fancy (or you want to try something else) head over to Peppi’s Sandwich Shop.

Peppi’s is a bustling sandwich shop serves loyal patrons an assortment of large sandwiches, including hoagies, cheese steaks and more.  Known to the locals as a place with some of the best burgers and cheese steaks and is known for its super large portions.  Try the Rothleis-burger, a massive burger with a fried egg on it, and see how far you can get. 

Other Things to do in Pittsburgh

-Carnegie Museum of Art

-The Strip District

-John Heinz History Center

-Tour PNC Park

Weather

Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
53º - 72ºF Rain: 20%	53º - 65ºF Rain: 50%	41º - 56ºF Rain: 40%	37º - 45ºF Rain: 20%

Video You May Not Have Seen

Is this cheating?  12 men on the field!  Pretty funny video though.  I guess the Raiders need whatever they can get with all their struggles.  Only thing better coulda been this bird flying into an Eagle and taking him down, imagine the locker room talk after that...

My Trips - From Seeing the Sports - The Weather Held Up! NC State @ Boston College

From My Personal Travel Blog - Seeing The Sports
http://seeingthesports.blogspot.com/2009/10/weather-held-u.html

It rained Friday and snowed Sunday, but Saturday afternoon was absolutely perfect.  Low 50s and sunny - perfect weather to throw on a Northface and hit up the tailgate spots, and boy did we take advantage.  BC tailgates unfortunately don’t start until 3 hours pregame, so a 3:30 game means that Shea Field (the most popular tailgate spot) didn't open until 12:30.  To deal with this, we first went to a friends place down the street to start off with his families famous breakfast sandwich and an ice cold bloody mary.

After that, at 12:30, we took the truck (packed with our grill, table, chairs, speakers, new flagpole and tent and of course plenty of sausages, beer, Champaign and bloody mary’s) and headed to Shea Field.  We arrived to Shea Field ready to party and had the perfect tailgate.  Our spot was filled with a packed crowd, good music, great food, tasty cheap beer and mixed drinks, and great company.  A few of our buddies (whose names I will not mention) barely made it to the game as the shotgunning, strong drinks and shots were just too much for them to handle - Who says that 3 hours isnt enough!

Game was as fun as a 52-20 game could be.  Pure domination, fun crowd (until the cold snuck in) and plenty of celebrations.  At the 7 minute mark of the 3^rd quarter, however, BC went up 38-13 and it was time to call it quits in order to save our hands, feet and rest of our body.  We packed up the group and headed over to Mary Anne’s, the most popular BC dive bar and indulged in some Busch Light bottles and Notre Dame – USC football. 

This led perfectly into the post game tailgate, where we met up, saw those that stayed the whole game, those that left early, and even met up with those that didn’t go at all.  At this spot we finished up the beers and food before heading out and passing out early.

While nothing amazing for the first trip of the Blog, a solid journey overall.  A day of awesome food, great football, a fun time with friends and plenty of drinking.

MNF Guide: San Diego

This weeks Monday Night Football game takes us to beautiful San Diego where the Chargers host the undefeated Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium.  Check out Sports Bounds guide to beautiful San Diego.

California's first city and its second-largest, San Diego is like a quiet southern neighbor to big-time Los Angeles. Blessed with plenty of beautiful beaches and recreational areas, plus attractions like SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, the city maintains a laid-back attitude even as it houses the largest naval fleet in the world and several military installations. Meanwhile, the technology industry - particularly in the field of bio tech - has helped San Diego diversify its economy and continues to foster growth throughout the area.

Qualcomm Stadium is typical of the "cookie cutter" design era, and served as home to the Chargers from its first year in 1967 and the Padres since 1969, until the Padres moved into a new stadium in 2004. The former Jack Murphy Stadium, originally built to a capacity of 52,000 at a cost of $27 million, has little color, except most notably for the ring of honor and banners of all 32 NFL teams. Concourses are narrow for the most part. Seating capacity was increased to 60,100 in 1984. The facility underwent another expansion in 1997 that included the addition of thousands of seats, a club level, 37 new suites and a new west-end Jumbotron screen.
  

Parking: The parking lot opens four hours prior to kickoff and closes two hours after the conclusion of the game. Tailgating remains one of the great traditions at Chargers games. So get out there early and check out the awesome scene with your t-shirt and shorts on Monday Night (game at 5:30 local time)

Restaurants and Bars:  
Burger Lounge: Located a little over a mile away from the stadium Burger Lounge is a fabulous choice for fresh food & a fresh atmosphere! Their organic cuisine of grass fed beef burgers, basil infused turkey burgers, & quinoa veggie burgers paired with a spunky ambiance is making Burger Lounge a local hot spot and awesome place for a pregame burger.
El Zarape Mexican: More interested in Mexican food?  This stylish little restaurant is proof that not all taco shop food is equal -- try a shredded beef or chicken taco or tostada with generous mounds of juicy, slow-cooked meat, or scallop burritos or well-prepared soups. Very inexpensive and pretty quick if you want to grab a few tacos before you head over to the stadium.
McGregor's Grill and Ale House: Once settled in, you can quickly forget that you're in suburban Southern California. The ambiance here is part sports bar, part neighborhood pub. With numerous apartment and condominium complexes in the area, McGregor's has become the place to go for the local set.  Choose from one of dozens of beers or one of a dozen specialty tequila.  Always tons of sporting events on TV if you want to check out the Angels-Yankees battle just a few miles away
Seau's : Gota check out the bar named after one of the most famous Chargers of all time - Junior Seau!  This vast sports bar offers 70 TV screens and varied pub grub: pizza, hefty burgers, wings with three sauces, sushi, and Junior Seau’s family recipe of Samoan teriyaki “plate lunch.”  It is pretty inexpensive and could be a nice stop before you head over to the tailgates.

Transportation: Parking is extremely limited at Qualcomm Stadium. Consider taking public transportation. Qualcomm Stadium is accessible on the MTS Trolley's Green Line; round-trip tickets range from $3 to $6.

Other San Diego Attractions
-San Diego Zoo
-San Deigo Wild Animal Park
-Museum of Contemporary Art
-Sea World
-Beach!!

College Gameday Look: Cotton Bowl

The Red River Rivalry, formerly known as the Red River Shootout, is the name for the annual college football game between the University of Texas Longhorns and the University of Oklahoma Sooners.  It is known as the Red River Rivalry because the of the Red River that forms a boundary between Texas and Oklahoma.  This is usually one of the biggest games in the country as one or both teams have been ranked in 60 of the 65 games and 5 of the last 9 meetings have involved someone who eventually played in the National Championship Game.  Texas leads the all-time series 58–40–5, with a 45–36–4 edge in Dallas.  In 2005, the Dallas Morning News asked the 119 Division 1A football coaches to identify the top rivalry game in college football, Texas-OU ranked third behind Ohio State-Michigan and Army-Navy.

 
Since 1932, this rivalry game has been held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas during the second weekend of October during the final weekend of the State Fair of Texas - the largest fair in the United States. The designated "home" team alternates from year to year, and ticket sales for the game are split 50–50 between the two schools, with the stadium divided along the 50 yard line. Historically, the Oklahoma fans have occupied the south end zone, which contains the tunnel where both teams enter and exit the field.

Though I'd suggest a weekend of tailgating and hitting up this famous state fair, some people want more.  If tailgating and the fair arent enough (or are too much for you) I'd suggest hitting up The Meridian Room. This Expo Park staple has the look of an old speakeasy with lots of polished wood, low lighting, a long mirror-backed bar and a row of booths against the exposed brick. Along with excellent food, the joint has a well thought out beer selection.  Located only a half mile from the stadium this could be an easy stop on your way.  If a bar is all you want, stop by the Uptown Bar and Grill.  If you're at Uptown Bar & Grill for one reason--to get a little soused--you're in luck, since it, like any decent bar, offers a great selection of spirits and beer. But if you need something solid in your tummy to soak up all the alcohol, Uptown has a wide selection of bar-food favorites plus more eclectic choices.

Other Things to do in Dallas
-Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
-Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame
-Billy Bob's Honky Tonk
-Dallas Museum of Art

Other Sports Events
-Friday: Boston Bruins @ Dallas Stars - 7:30pm
-Saturday: Cleveland Cavilers @ Dallas Mavricks - 7:30pm

Thursday NIght Site: South Florida

It's a battle of Big East unbeatens when Cincinnati's high-flying offense meets South Florida's stingy defense. The Bearcats, behind QB Tony Pike, bring in the nation's third-ranked scoring offense. The Bulls boast the country's fifth-rated scoring defense. The Bearcats lead the series 4-2. This will be the first meeting in which both teams are ranked.

The South Florida Bulls play at Raymond James Stadium, also known as "The Ray Jay."  The"Ray Jay" is a $168.5 million dollar multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida opened in September, 1998.  It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team.  The stadium seats 65,857 and its expandable to 75,000 for special events.  The stadium is probably most known for its Pirate Ship in one of the endzones, which hosts pirates and blasts fake cannons for every score!

From 1998 to 2007, only the lower half of the stadium has been typically opened for USF games, allowing for a capacity of 41,441^, (although the upper deck has been opened numerous times to accommodate crowds in excess of what the lower bowl can handle). However, as of 2008, USF has opened the upper deck for every home game and is selling season tickets in the upper deck as well. The largest crowd to see the Bulls play a home game came on September 28, 2007 against then #5 ranked West Virginia, when 67,012 saw the #18 Bulls pull off their first upset of the season.  This isnt their first string of luck, since beginning play in 1998 The Bulls have continued to enjoy a winning edge in Raymond James, building a 43-11 record, including one streak of 21 straight victories at home.
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Raymond James Stadium has hosted Super Bowl XXXV on Janary 28, 2001 between the Baltimore Ravens and the NEw York Giants and this most recent Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals.  The stadium also hosts the annual Outback Bowl on New Year's Day and the Monster Jam truck event after the end of the football season.

Sorry for the short post.  Its been a busy day.

Got any ideas or advice.  Send them over to sportsbound@gmail.com

BRING YOUR RAINJACKETS!!!

FORECASTED WEATHER
Forecast for Thursday, October 15, 2009
Raymond James Stadium TAMPA, FL Updated: 10/14/09 5:45 AM ET	Lo: 71°F Hi: 88°F Precip: 40%

Trip of the Week: Los Angeles

Thursday – Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers 5:07pm
Friday – Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers 1:07pm
Saturday – UC Berkeley @ UCLA 12:30pm
Sunday – Utah Jazz or LA Clippers @ LA Lakers 7:30pm
Monday – New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Angels - TBD

Thursday – Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers 5:07pm

Let the playoffs begin! Head over to Chavez Ravine for Game 1 of the NLCS in what should be an exciting rematch of last years series. In Game 1 Clayton Kershaw faces off against Cole Hamels, a pitching match up that should lead to a low scoring, quick game. Dodger stadium is one of the most beautiful in the major leagues. Even for an older stadium I still believe this. Unfortunately, there isn’t much else to do there but baseball. Get out to the stadium (and I the stadium) early and enjoy the beautiful scenery that is Dodger stadium. Enjoy the Think Blue mountains behind as you watch batting practice and the pre-game festivities. Make sure your seats are in the outfield or Field
Level, or else BP is kind of useless as Dodger stadium does not let you move around. If your not, don’t plan on getting there earlier and tailgating because unfortunately that is not allowed either. If you want to grab a quick bite, head over to Chinatown and stop by at Yang Chow. It’s a big go to spot on gamedays and is usually packed before a game. Some of the best Chinese food in town!

Friday – Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers 1:07pm

While you are already in town, why not hit up the 2nd game of the NLCS. This game will be a pivotal one for one of the teams, as they will be down 1-0 looking for a much needed victory. Beautiful day baseball at Dodger Stadium is a classic and the playoffs will make it even better.

After the game, head over to Westwood and experience some fun. If you want to check out the ALCS game, head to Q’s and play some pool, have some great brews and food, and enjoy the Yankees take on the Angels.

Saturday – UC Berkeley @ UCLA 12:30pm

A Pac-10 Battle in Pasadena! Don’t miss one of the most famous sports venues maybe in the world, the Rose Bowl. UCLA, off to a very promising start, takes on the University of California Bears who, after moving up to #6 in the country, have been struggling as of late and need this victory badly.

Get to Pasadena early (I mean like 9am) and get a good spot for a tailgate. The UCLA tailgates fill up quickly and, if your late, getting parking could be an absolute disaster and involve long walks or shuttles. The tailgate is set up on a golf course all around the stadium, and it an amazing site to get set up. All around you are beautiful greens, sand traps and lakes, surrounded by many other rowdy tailgaters hoping to get buzzed and full before heading into the Rose Bowl. Don’t just stay in your spot, however. Walk around, check out the UCLA pep-band pumping up the crowd, or all the amazing food and games being played and set up around the stadium. After you enjoy the game, don’t rush! The lot is a disaster to get out of, instead, open up a cold one and hang out in the back, or find someone else that has a TV set up in their cars, relax for an hour, you are in LA!

Sunday – Utah Jazz or LA Clippers @ LA Lakers 7:30pm

While its still the pre-season you want to be able to see the Los Angeles Lakers and The Staples Center. Especially with the new LA Live built right down the street ,this is the prefect place for your Sunday stop. Depending on your day of sightseeing or watching football, head over at about 5:00 for the Sunday Night Football Game (that’s right, on the west coast Sunday Night Football is at 5:00). Get a good seat at ESPN Zone and watch that game (as well as tons of other TV’s) while you enjoy some good food and a wild sports atmosphere. Head upstairs and take on a buddy in airhockey or pop-a-shot. Or take on an opponent in the multiple racing games as well. ESPNZone is just one of the staples (get it?) in the new and exciting LA Live scene. If you have more time, check out Lucky Strike, the all new bowling and bar combination that’s sure to fit your fancy.

Monday – New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Angels – 4:37pm

Another long weekend for the sports traveler. Would you have it any other way? Finish off the trip in beautiful Anaheim, known more for Disneyland than anything else but take the time to experience the beautiful area. Before the game, head over to Danny K’s. Located in an industrial park right near Anaheim Pond and Angels Stadium, the interior of Danny K's is a sight better than its exterior. The near-cavernous space is divided by a large bar boasting at least 33 beers on tap and an extensive food menu. Big-screen TVs dominate just about every wall and, if that's not enough, there's also a 13-foot projection screen. If you have more time, head over to Disneyland Dr. where restaurants and bars are plenty (including another ESPNZone) and enjoy the more adult feeling Disneyland experience without going to Disneyland.