Apel Sports Tour Year 1 Recap:
First of all, I want to thank everyone for donating as part of my fund-raising efforts and I encourage anyone else reading this to donate as well. To date, I have raised $2,074.54, of which $883.00 is from me as part of my pledge of $1 per point in the games I attend.
As many of you know, finding a cure for cancer is something that I am very passionate about and this is my small way in which to raise awareness and funds to someday wipe this disease out. Since starting this tour in May 2010, I have lost my grandfather to the disease, watched as my uncle begins his battle against brain cancer and have seen numerous other friends go through their own experiences with family members.
I thought I would take this time to update everyone on the progress I have made in one year (May 2010 – May 2011). The goal of course is to raise as much money as possible, while attempting to watch a home game of all 122 professional sports teams (baseball, basketball, football and hockey). I hope to complete this goal in 15 years, but as you can see below, so far I am well ahead of pace.
1 Year Recap:
· 21 games completed. To keep pace, I need to complete 8 / year. At this rate, I will finish in February 2018 (9 years ahead of schedule), but I’m not sure I can keep going this quickly over the long haul.
· 9 Baseball games, 6 hockey games, 3 football games and 3 basketball games.
· 883 points scored in the games I have seen.
· Total miles traveled: 17,762.
· Total attendance at the games I have seen: 631,718.
· Total teams seen (both home and visitors): 35. I have seen the Orioles, White Sox, Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Hurricanes, Capitals and Steelers twice (each at home and on the road).
· In the 21 games, 58 people have attended with me. Only the Colorado Avalanche did I have to go by myself. For the Pirate game, 14 family members attend with me. People that have attended the most games with me – Deb (8); the kids (6); Aaron Depew (4) and Chris Petersen (4).
· Number of hotels stayed at: Only 7 for 21 games….not bad.
· Record of the home teams in the games I have attended: 12-9.
· Largest crowd: Baltimore Ravens – 71,432.
· Smallest crowd: Phoenix Coyotes – 11,172. Indiana Pacers were a close second with 11,337.
· Of the 9 baseball games, 3 went into extra innings. I have not seen a shutout yet. The White Sox scored the most runs (10) in a game (at Cubs).
· Of the 6 hockey games, 3 have gone to over-time; 1 to a shoot-out (win by the Penguins).
· Indiana Pacers scored the most points in a basketball game: 124 vs. the Nets.
· The Steelers scored the most points in a football game: 35 vs. the Raiders.
· 5 times I combined 2 games into one trip: Penguins & Steelers; Ravens & Capitals; Bobcats & Hurricanes; Suns & Coyotes; Rockies & Avalanche.
· Best seats: Row 3 behind home plate at Reds game (great time with the Huots); Suite at center ice for Predators (fun weekend with the family); Suite at Ravens (thanks Jeremy and Karen); floor seats at Pacers (kids loved the view).
· Newest venue: Consol Energy Center (opened in 2010) – Home of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
· Oldest venue: Fenway Park (opened in 1912) – Home of the Boston Red Sox.
· Ironically the two venues listed above (newest and oldest) are two of my favorite that I have been to so far.
· Other highlights:
o Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles) - love the warehouse in the outfield.
o Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs) is a classic, much like Fenway.
o Busch Stadium (St. Louis Cardinals) – many great views of the Arch.
o Florida
o PNC Park
o M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore Ravens) – too much purple, but thanks to Jeremy Kahn for the opportunity to hang out in the suite.
o Heinz Field (Pittsburgh Steelers) – great museum under the stadium. Fun weekend with fraternity brothers, Aaron Depew, Matt Boyle and Chris Petersen.
o Conseco Fieldhouse (Indiana Pacers) – the quietest crowd ever.
o Coors Field (Colorado Rockies) – love the water fountain in the outfield and the “mile-high” row of seats. Thanks for the hospitality Raleigh and Laura.
o US Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox) – great monument park in the outfield.
o Phoenix
o Multiple trips with the family – St. Louis , Chicago, Baltimore, Nashville , Boston , Pittsburgh and North Carolina
To donate, please visit: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/christopher-apel/christopherapel
To read my blog, please visit: http://apeltour.blogspot.com/
With regards to study course is to raise as often money as you possibly can, though wanting to view a home game of 122 specialized activities squads.
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