Where do you belong?

Stay Tuned!

The FANHOOD's soon to come!

Cellular Field - Chicago White Sox

New Yankee Stadium - New York Yankees

WVU Mountaineers

Bradley Center - Marquette University

United Center - Chicago Blackhawks

O'Brien Field - Peoria Chiefs

Want to see "how it plays in Peoria", as the famous Vaudeville slogan goes? Single A minor league baseball that is. Just head downtown to O'Brien Field and see for yourself! Grab your blankets for the berm and get ready for your FANHOOD experience!

• The Cheifs are an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs so either wear your Cubs gear or red and royal blue.


• Check the promotions calendar before hand - for throwback prom night, you may want to find that old 80's poofy dress you've been saving for just the right moment. THIS IS IT! http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/promotions/index.jsp?sid=t443
  
  

• Parking is easy. $5 for the lots surrounding the stadium.


• Tickets, you can't beat it! $10 for club seats, $9 for regular, and $6 to sit on the lawn. Mondays are half price! Walk right up to the ticket counter!


• Here's the view from the lawn. Let your kids run wild after home run balls!
• When you enter, notice the difference between a minor league and a major league park. It's homier. It's part of the neighborhood. Fans are more laid back. The concession people wave hi. Kids run around carefree. It's just another great day at the ball park.
  
• Have children? Let them play on the playground behind center field.


• Get your picture taken in the HUGE Leinenkugel's chair. It's HUGE! PS. They have Leinenkugel's on tap!
• Again, check the promotions calendar. I went on a Wednesday and mistakenly ordered a burger on free hot dog and peanuts night... oh yeah, you bet I took that hot dog anyway! Who knows, you may even get a 3 in 1!

• Sit back and enjoy the game. They're kids out there, trying to make it to the big show. You may be watching a future World Series winner, you never know!
  
• Find Homer, the Peoria Chiefs dalmatian mascot, give him a high five!
  
• Feeling like the life of the party or want to embarrass your friends? Find the promotions team and be a part of the inter-inning festivities! Dizzy bat, keg rolling, chicken dance, musical chairs... take your pick.
• What do you want to do? Fall over running? Show how much you actually learned at college? Wear a nasty yellow costume? Fight over a blow up chair for a silly t-shirt? For me, all of the above.
• If you're with a group, after the game you get to run the bases! PLAY BALL!

So, how'd it play in Peoria? Hopefully your celebrating a Chiefs victory. Either way, you must admit, what a nice relaxing time at the ball park.

Share your FANHOOD experience in the comments section!

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Plug

FANHOOD got it's FIRST plug thanks to my friend Dan from Blog 'N Gold on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette webpage. Here's a plug right back at'cha!

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/blogngold/archive/2009/04/14/instant-schedule-analysis.aspx

Miller Park - Milwaukee Brewers

At Miller Park it’s all about the 3 B’s – Baseball, Beer, and Brats… this is Brewers Country! Fitting for the city of Milwaukee to have a team named The Brewers – it’s the home of Miller Brewing Company, Pabst Brewery, Lavern and Shirley, and many micro breweries. The Brewers are the pride of the blue collar heartland, so grab a bag of charcoal and a case of Miller Lite and get ready for your FANHOOD experience.

• At Miller Park it’s all about the tailgate, so get there early, fire up the grill and crack open a cold one. Bratwurst is traditionally served along with your standard tailgate fare. Bring your glove or football to play catch in the lot or get in on a game of bags, also known as cornhole.

• You have a variety of colors to choose from with the Brewers. Current colors are navy blue, white, and tan, or wheat if you want to be specific. Throw backs are more of a royal blue and yellow.





• Depending on how far you parked from the stadium, you may want to grab a roadie or 2 for the walk to the park.

• Hopefully rain won't ruin your tailgate plans. If so, at least it won't ruin the game! Miller Park has a retractable roof!

• No tickets? No worries, unless the Cubs are in town (RIVAL ALERT!!!), walk right up to the ticket booth. (Pay no attention to the kid mooning the camera)

• Are you a Harley rider? Sit in the Harley-Davidson deck, buffet included. Discounts are given to Harley owners.

• My favorite part about entering a park is that first view of that green green grass. It takes my breath away. I always need a moment to take it all in.

• Got children or you're a child at heart? Head to Bernie's Clubhouse behind home plate where there are a variety of activities to chose from. Bernie the Brewer is the Brewers mascot.
  

Hang out in the dugout.

See if you're faster than Corey Hart.

Hang out in the mitt.

Race with the sausages.

Pose with the sausages.

• Go to the other side of the park and test your speed. Think you can pitch as fast as a major leaguer? Eric sure does!
  
  
  
  
  
• When you get to your seat, look for Bernie in his dug out. He slides down the slide every home run! His original dugout is now located at Lakefront Brewery - a little plug for their delicious beer.
  


• Hungry? If you've had enough brats from the tailgate party, grab some waffle cut cheese fries and take home a souvenir hat!
  

• Seventh inning stretch! Time to cheer on your favorite sausage! Who's it gonna be? Brett Wurst the bratwurst? Stosh the Polish sausage? Guido the Italian sausage? Frankie Furter the hot dog? Cinco the chorizo?
  








Hopefully you'll be celebrating a Brewers win with the Brew crew. Head back to your car and once again, fire up the grill and wait for traffic to clear. Overall, I hope you enjoyed your time at one of the most modern and fan-friendly stadiums in the US, Miller Park.

Brewers are out of town? No worries, you can still see the field from TGI Fridays, located in center field. Grab some lunch as the grounds crew rakes the mound.

Special thanks to the Brunner girls Megan and Becky for modeling and Eric Broom for his spectacular pitching and content in this entry.

Share your Miller Park FANHOOD experience in the comments section!

Heinz Field - Pittsburgh Steelers

Welcome to The Point, where the Allegheny meets the Monongahela and creates the Ohio, river that is. Here you will find the fabulous Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

When I think Steelers, I think LOYALTY. The Rooney Family has owned the team since 1933. In an era where head coaches are fired after one losing season, the Steelers have had 3 head coaches in the last 40 years. See Mike Tomlin, the current head coach below.

Then, there is STEELER NATION. In the 70’s the Steelers dominated, many 70’s children became fans. In the 80’s the steel industry that fueled the City of Pittsburgh declined. Many were forced to leave the city to find other work, but they took their Steeler fanhood with them. Steeler Nation has been voted the best fans in the NFL, often giving the team home field advantage even when on the road.

Want to be a part of STEELER NATION? Here’s how:

• Get your tickets early. Most seats belong to season ticket holders and single game tickets sell out fast. You can ALWAYS find tickets on craigslist.org, e-bay, or on the street, but you’re going to pay.

• Most of the parking lots are permit parking only. Slip the attendant a little dough and he can probably fit you in.

• Forget driving and stay local. There is a Spring Hill Suites across from PNC Park (the baseball stadium) or Sheridan at Station Square across the mighty Monongahela River. From Station Square, take the Gateway Clipper across the river for only $5! Yes, they sell beer! See the Clipper in the photo below.

• Wear Steeler colors, black and gold. Don’t have any? I recommend visiting the Strip District on the east side of the city for cheap gear. Layer up if it’s a November or December game. It can get cold - note the frozen beer!


• Do not wear brown and orange, purple, or black and orange. The Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals are the Steelers biggest rivals and HATED by most Steeler fans.

• Understand that Pittsburgh revolves around the Steelers. During game time, streets and stores are empty. Everyone is glues to the game. These people bleed black and gold for their team. Even Santa stops for the Steelers.


• Pre-game, it’s all about the tailgate. Most lots surrounding the stadium are permit parking only, slip the attendant a “tip” and they just may be able to fit you in. Park, fire up the grill, and crack open that first beer of the morning. I recommend bringing a big pot of chili, gumbo, or sausage and peppers. Something hearty to fill you up and keep you warm before the game.


• If you’re not prepared for a tailgate party, head to Peppi’s Old Tyme Sandwich Shop on Penn Ave. for a Roethlis-Burger for $7, named after the Steelers quarterback #7 Big Ben Roethlisberger. Dig into the 1 lb. ground beef, sausage, scrambled egg, grilled onion, and American cheese sandwich. Wash it down with an icy cold Iron City beer from the Pittsburgh Brewing Company.


• Stroll down to the North Shore bars east of the stadium. I recommend visiting the Jerome Bettis grill owned by “The Bus” himself, #36, the Superbowl XL running back. Black and gold bar stools, a men’s room mirror that only you can see out, and a VIP area fit for a Bus.

• Take a stroll through the large parking lots east of the stadium. There you’ll find the heart and soul of Steeler Nation. Those season ticket holders who’ve passed tickets from generation to generation. You’ll see their flags waving proudly from their Steeler buses and RVs. You can’t miss them in their black and gold cammo pants. Kind of defeats the purpose of cammo!


• Talk to the locals. They have their very own language and distinct accent – “Is this your first Stiller game n’at? Yinz grab an Arhn!” http://www.pittsburghese.com/

• Grab a Terrible Towel from a local vendor. Every Steeler fan but me has one, for me, it’s a jinx. Yes, I am terribly superstitious. You may want to purchase one of these ahead of time and throw it in the wash or else you will be covered in yellow fuzz after your first wave.

• You must perfect the terrible towel wave so you don’t smack your neighbor in the face.

• Time to enter the stadium. I recommend entering through Gate B so you can stroll through The Steelers Walk of Fame. Check out the Lombardi Trophy, past players lockers stocked with memorabilia, and even Steeler art work.

• Just next to the Walk of Fame a live band plays. Get your pre-game jitters out by cutting the rug!

• Time to grab a beer and hit your seat. Take a look around. Feel the energy of the stadium… in a few moments, the place will be rockin’! Kick off!!! Here we go Steelers, here we go – clap clap!

• Know the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Steelers is and always has been the STEEL CURTAIN aka the defense.

• Listen… you’re at an NFL football game watching the XLIII Super Bowl Champions. The hits are bigger. The helmet cracks are louder. The atmosphere has more energy. Enjoy it!

• In the middle of the third quarter, keep your eye on the jumbotron. Have I mentioned I LOVE jumbotrons? You hear the quiet opening line to Renegade by Styx – oh momma I’m in fear for my life in the long arm of the law – thump thump… 40 seconds later the song turns up, picks up tempo, and ROCKS OUT! Added bonus, big defensive hits are streaming across the jumbotron screen, firing up the crowd! (I’m getting fired up just typing about it!!!)

• Game is over, time to head back to the car, and celebrate a win! Hopefully you’ll hear the chant “I’ve got a feelin’ – Pittsburgh’s goin’ to the SUPER BOWL!” Heat up some left over tailgate fare, play armchair quarterback, and wait for traffic to clear.

Win or lose, be excited! You just saw a SIX time Super Bowl Championship Franchise. That’s more championships than any other franchise!

Can’t get enough Steeler Nation? Chances are there is a Steeler Nation hangout in your town. Check it out! http://www.post-gazette.com/steelernation/steelersbars.asp Here is Chicago’s home for the Steelers – Durkin’s on Diversey and Halsted.

Anything to add to the Heinz Field experience? Feel free to add comments!