The past two weekends I was attending an indoor field hockey tournament for my two young nieces. Last week was for the ladies that are in the 15-16 year old age group, this week was the younger 11-12 year old girls (and some boys). All I can say is that the high school and college field hockey world is going have some awesome athletes in the coming years! These kids played an amazing and exciting game (that I have no clue how it works other than trying to get a little ball into a net) And NOT only for Pennsylvania, these teams were from all over the East Coast, and some Midwest and the South! But that's not really the purpose of this blog.... it's mostly about the facility that had this competition;
Spooky Nook Sports!
This facility is a sight to see! Indoor courts for field hockey, baseball/softball, basketball, climbing, a full fitness center, etc. They also have a large domed field, and some outside fields. If you have the chance to go to something there, I recommend it...HOWEVER...their parking situation is like dealing with the Nazi's...oh there's PLENTY of places to park, but the way they force you into certain lots, and block entrances and exits is like dealing with the Hitler Youth movement of the 1930's... As you pull up to the facility, getting off of route 283, you see a huge flashing sign :SPOOKY NOOK SPORTS TURN HERE with big arrows ---->>>>>..ok, At least I know where I'm going, but once you make the turn and get close you are met with "security" and orange cones, and cones with bars on them making you go to certain areas. Once you get to the predetermined lot of their choosing, you are met with more cones and bars, to force you to go a certain way, and it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. So you follow, and look for a spot, and see one in the middle of the next row, so of course, you proceed to the end of that row, and you are met with more cones with bars on them...which means you need to do a U-turn (in between parked cars..most of which are more expensive than mine) and turn around...then when you DO get to the row with the parking spot, you notice that someone else has already pulled in (again with a more expensive car) and you need to repeat the process. (still with me) The one sad part of all of this, is that there is a HUGE lot for handicapped with maybe 8-10 cars in it (and enough space for about 200) (and PLEASE don't get me wrong, I'm not against handicapped parking, just against the people that park there that are fully capable of parking elsewhere, and walking who aren't handicapped, OR the people that drop the physically challenged person off THEN proceed to the handicapped spot to take the last space away from someone that is handicapped and DRIVING, who actually NEEDS to park there, but now needs to find another space in the lot and walk a longer path to the door...I see this constantly at Hershey Med while I'm waiting to pick up my wife from work) (anyway...that's another rant for another day) Ok, but besides the large handicap lot for a sports facility (I know parents and grand parents, and people attending things) there is another HUGE PARKING LOT out "back" by the dome (which is weird to call back since it's at the front of the facility from the road...never mind) that's cordoned off because the "front" lot isn't quite FULL yet? Sorry, this set up makes no sense...just let the people park, stop trying to route the traffic, and just let it flow the way people are used to using a lot.
Now...the facility charges you $5.00 per day to park there..but rather than make you stop on the way in creating a line, (which I think is a good idea) you have to purchase a parking pass on your way OUT of the facility. (and creating the line leaving...but you're just going home and not making your child late for their practice or game) There are a few places to get your pass, and signs on the doors reminding you..but I'm sure that people forget...not sure what they make you do if you forget, I'm so anal about things like that I made sure I got the pass...in fact I got the two day pass on Saturday (which has no price differential, it was $10.00)(and I was sweating out because of the weather being so bad this past weekend that they would have cancelled the festivities on Sunday, and I would have been S-O-L! Now speaking of doors...they also route you IN to the place from the out side...if you park in front, you just go in the main entrance..but if you park in BACK...you need to walk from the lot past the dome, then up a long windy sidewalk, past, two or three other closed doors, to the door where the security guy waits for you. Mainly (from my perspective) to make sure you aren't bringing in any outside drinks for food because they have a cafeteria area! Which means that if you are like me, when I go to my local fitness center for my daily work out, you CAN'T bring in your own personal Powerade or Gatorade, or even WATER in your "suck bottle" for when you work out! Really? So I need to pay your inflated prices (not the prices I get at Sam's Club for the bulk pack). Ok....so besides the fact that it's a good 30-40 minute drive from my house, I wouldn't be using their facility...so that's not my rant..
Anyway...with all that...it's still a cool facility, and like I said, if you DO get the chance to go see something there, I suggest it...just go with an open mind, and don't pull any road rage in the lots! (and leave your Gatorade home!)
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