I actually interested in your take on this Sykotyk, throughout all your travels, have you ever been to a game that you felt unsafe at?
... Good question.
I've been to a game in Brooklyn. Twice. Felt safe there each time. Though I was allowed to park inside the stadium complex. I went to many games in Philadelphia. Even in West Philly I parked on the street and walked into the stadium and felt safe. Saw a game in Chester. Saw numerous games in Cleveland at many different fields. Saw two games in Columbus (at Briggs and at Walnut Ridge). Saw games in Denver area (Jefferson County, the schools are spread out and not just in the city) and was fine. Tolleson, Arizona. Albuquerque, New Mexico at Milne Stadium. In fact, at Milne, I saw two games and parts of two soccer games at UNM and walked between them all and felt safe.
I saw one game in California. In Jurupa Valley, though the town was named Mira Loma at the time (it was Jurupa Valley High School, and the new consolidated city took the name of its high school). Didn't feel out of place there.
Games at Cupples Stadium in Pittsburgh always felt safe. Parking around Monessen, Cumberland MD, Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium (where the old War Memorial Stadium stood) in Buffalo, All-High Stadium in Buffalo,... There's only one game I think I ever felt 'at risk', and that was at Simon Gratz in Philadelphia.
The Gratz Super Site, aka Marcus Foster Stadium, sits in an area of north Philly called "Nicetown" and borders with "Hunting Park". With the 2021 spring season, Philly greatly restricted access, so very few fans. And the fans still showed up. And just stood outside around the fences to watch. Very heavy police presence and screening to get in. Luckily you could park inside the stadium fencing, and were screened by police to enter as media. Nicetown has a very high crime rate compared to surrounding neighborhoods. But, overall, I didn't feel much more at risk there than a few places around Cleveland or Pittsburgh at night.
Abraham Lincoln in Philadelphia probably had the roughest stadium/field. Even though Roxborough's looked worst. The Lincoln turf was ancient, and felt like sandpaper. Trash had blown across the field and collected along the chainlink fence to the east. Everything was tagged with graffiti. It was only used because the spring 2021 season didn't require seating for fans. So, a lot of afternoon games were held at the school's old fields that generally don't get used once the Super Sites were built (North East, Germantown, Gratz, and South Side).
Here's Abraham Lincoln:
And West Philadelphia:
(sadly, this building isn't used any longer. It's now apartments. This building sat kattycorner across the street from the field. Now, the school is a few blocks away)
West Philadelphia's stadium is Pollock Field. The school has a great nickname: The Speedboys and Speedgirls.
Very tall chainlink fences surround the field to keep balls from leaving. And also to provide a bit more security as well. They put up plastic to keep people from watching without paying, but that looks like it wasn't updated in quite a long time.
Overall, though, didn't feel unsafe there. Though that was daytime. I had parked outside the fence on a street, though could see my car from the field. But had to walk around the perimeter with all my camera gear. Though, if you've met me I'm a rather imposing person. I usually don't get much grief.
The most dangerous game? Sitting on the wooden bleachers at Mathews in Vienna.... now that was dangerous.
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