The Coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts is one of over 20 buildings within the exposition complex. The Coliseum is the centerpiece of "The Big E" and where all 34 IHSA Nationals classes will take place.

STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS HOSTS IHSA NATIONALS FOR THE FIFTH TIME

2007 IHSA Nationals will take place at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts starting Thursday, May 3rd and finishing sometime in the early afternoon on Sunday, May 6th. Though it will be the first time IHSA Nationals have taken place at the Eastern States Exposition (known simply as "The Big E" to many) it will not be the first time the season-ending IHSA show has been held in Western Massachusetts. Mount Holyoke College hosted IHSA Nationals on their campus in 1976, 1982, 1989 and 1997. The 1997 show was the last two-day Nationals and possibly the last ever to be held in an on-campus facility.

Simply put, the IHSA has outgrown nearly every facility to host Nationals prior to 1996 (the 1996 show was held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, home to the 2008 National show). As a result, sites such as the Coliseum at the Big E are in order. One of the original buildings constructed when the Big E opened for the National Dairy Show in 1916, the Coliseum has a modern feel to it (the Coliseum features a working electric scoreboard, the first to be in use at an IHSA National show this decade). While the five-year-old Equine Area at Harrisburg was capable of seating up to 1,800 people at 2006 IHSA Nationals, the Coliseum at the Big E has permanent seating for over 4,000 spectators. Recording artists such as Reba McIntire, Willie Nelson and Jessica Simpson have held concerts in a portion of the same oval ring that will feature many of the IHSA's best next week.

Though this writer was originally told that in lieu of ringside tables schools could purchase groups of box seats which are closest to the ground level, it now appears that a limited number of ringside tables will be present at Nationals (they may be sold out however). While the majority of the seats in the Coliseum are orange, the box seats are green and can be easily divided to accomodate teams of one or one hundred. One thing that will be noticably missing from 2007 IHSA Nationals is food from outside the complex. The Big E strictly prohibits anyone from bringing in food that was not supplied by the official food vendors. However the Big E offers many food choices within the Coliseum while IHSA Teams may pre-order platters also supplied by the Big E. For more information on the food platters or the box seats, visit the IHSA's official web site at http://www.ihsainc.com/default.aspx?mid=65.

The Coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition is so well preserved spectators will have a hard time believing it is over 90 years old!

Those making their way through Big E property will notice the entire complex is gigantic. If you park beyond Gate 9 you will likely walk past Mallary Arena, which recently housed a dog show. One building to the left of the Coliseum is the Better Living Center, which includes a convenient ATM. If you enter through Gates 1 or 2 you are in for a real treat. Each of the six New England States has a replica of their state houses appropriately along the Avenue of States! Across from four of the state houses is 'Storrowton,' which can only be described as an early 19th century village. Back in the 1920's a Boston philanthropist named Helen Osborne Storrow arranged for several buildings in various parts of New England to be de-constructed and re-built on Big E property. These buildings, all of which date from between 1760 and 1850 were scheduled to be demolished before Storrow stepped in to have them moved to West Springfield. Since 1930 these structures serve to show what life was like in a typical New England village of that era. Though tours of the buildings themselves are only available by appointment before June 16th (including the blacksmith's shop), the Storrowton Tavern serves New England fare and continental cuisine for lunch and dinner within Storrowton Village every day of the week except Mondays.

Two other buildings of note are "C-Barn" and "D-Barn." Located to the right of the Coliseum, C-Barn will likely house a combination of vendors (many of which are official IHSA sponsors) and perhaps several of the horses that will be used within the show. D-Barn is slightly off the beaten path, beyond the far end of the Avenue of the States. D-Barn is next to the outdoor horse ring, where some of the horses will be schooled concurently with schooling or showing in the Coliseum. The Big E has an official web site, and a map of the grounds can be found within their site at http://www.thebige.com/area_map_of_grounds.html. This writer highly recommends printing out the 'larger view' version of the map. For those who will be at the wheel when driving to the Big E, the Gate 9/Circuit Avenue entrance to the property will be on the left hand side of Route 147/Memorial Avenue heading west just past Debbie Wong's oriental restaurant on the right. If you overshoot gate 9 keep going another half mile to Gates 2 or 1 which will also be on the left.

Expanded directions: Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut serves both the Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts areas. Located only 18 miles south of the Big E, Bradley is served by American Airlines, America West, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Midwest Connect, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways. Knowing that for perhaps the first time a Canadian school will be represented at Nationals, an airline called Air Canada Jazz also flys in and out of Bradley. Once the plane lands and you have a vehicle follow signs to Interstate 91 North. Follow I-91 North into Massachusetts and take Exit 3 to Route 5 North to the Circle (they call them 'Rotarys' in New England) and then follow Route 147 West/Memorial Avenue for a mile from there. The Big E will be on your left.

Those who will be traveling from Upstate New York and the Boston Area will want to get on the Massachusetts Turnpike (also known as Interstate 90) and take it to Exit 4, which is the exit for Interstate 91. Take I-91 south to the first exit (Exit 13B) and follow Route 5 South/Riverdale Street to the Circle - Excuse Me - Rotary - and take Route 147 West/Memorial Avenue for a mile from there. The Big E will be on your left.

Attendees who are driving from Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Parts of Pennsylvania can avoid the New York City Metro area by taking Interstate 81 North in Pennsylvania to Interstate 380 East just outside of Scranton to Interstate 84 East. Follow I-84 East through New York State (you will be north of New York City) into Connecticut and then follow another 65 miles to Hartford and Exit 51 for I-91 North. Once on I-91 North drive for roughly 20 miles and you will be in Massachusetts. Take Exit 3 to Route 5 North to the Circle/Rotary and then follow Route 147 West/Memorial Avenue for a mile from there. The Big E will be on your left.

The Skyline of Springfield, Massachusetts as seen from the Riverfront Visitor Information Center. Located on the Springfield side of the Connecticut River less than two miles from the Big E, the Visitor's Center offers discounted tickets for Six Flags New England and the Basketball Hall of Fame among others.

Our third annual 'Exit Strategy:' Every year this writer drives around the vicinity of the IHSA Nationals site in search of places to stay, eat, shop, etc. Unlike in past seasons when several interstate exits featured an assortment of hotels and eateries, the Big E is essentially close to a variety of places off of only two Interstate exits, with one exit being on the Springfield side of the Connecticut River while the other is slightly further north on the West Springfield side in less of a city atmosphere.

I-91 Exit 6 "Springfield Center:" Marriott, Sheraton, Hilton Garden Inn, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, McDonalds, Cold Stone Creamery, Six Flags New England. This exit puts you right into the heart of Springfield. If you follow signs to the Basketball Hall of Fame you will pass the Riverfront Visitor Information Center, where discounts for area attractions are available (save $2.99 off the $16.99 adult admission at the Basketball Hall of Fame as well as discounts for Six Flags). Six Flags New England will be open on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of IHSA Nationals weekend and is located south of the Big E (from the much-discussed Rotary take Route 5 South to Route 57 West to Route 159 South/Main Street and the park will be on your left).

I-91 Exits 13B and 13A "Riverdale Street:" Clarion Sovereign Hotel, Hampton Inn, Quality Inn, Red Roof Inn, Comfort Inn, Candlewood Inn and Suites, Bertucci's, Carrabbas, On The Border, Friendly's, Chili's, Ninety-Nine, Outback Steakhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse, KFC, Burger King, Showcase Cinemas. Riverdale Street and U.S. Route 5 are one and the same. By following Riverdale Street south from exit 13B visitors will pass several hotels and restaurants on either side of the street before the road becomes an expressway leading to the Rotary intersection with Memorial Avenue. It should be noted that as of April 25th IHSAinc.com was still listing the Clarion Sovereign Hotel as the Best Western Sovereign Hotel. This hotel became a Clarion around April 6th (part of the Choice Hotels conglomerate) though this is still the recommended host hotel for the IHSA according to their web site. Among the stores along Route 5/Riverdale Street include Kohl's, Stop & Shop and Costco. This writer passed an establishment called Double J Western, which upon doing a google search turns out to offer New England's largest selection of Western Cowboy Hats, Boots, Jewelry, Western Apparel and Coats (they have a web site, www.doublejwestern.com). Double J is located on the southbound side of Riverdale Street but north of Interstate 91, so a U-turn someplace north of Outback Steakhouse may be necessary to get there.

More recommendations from one of the locals: Shortly after we posted this article we heard from Jackie Darling, who competes for Ithaca College in Zone 2, Region 3. Darling is from the Springfield area and she asked if she could make some recommendations of her own, to which we said yes.

For breakfast and lunch, Darling recommends 'Partners' on Springfield Street in Agawam, not far from the Big E. Also on Springfield Street is 'Tomassos,' which is only open for dinner. For a quick bite (hamburgers and hot dogs) there is 'White Hut.' Located just down the road from the Big E, it is inexpensive. However White Hut is also a landmark in the area, for which Darling warns "Be prepared to stand!" For a nice dinner (more $$$) there is 'Pazzo’s' or 'Max’s,' which are both at the Basketball Hall of Fame (in the same complex as Cold Stone). The chain Uno’s Chicago Bar & Grill has a location next to the Hilton Garden Inn (both of which appear to share a parking lot with the Basketball Hall of Fame). Another great place is 'Virtuoso' on Worthington Street in Springfield. Though Darling indicates Virtuoso is new she has yet to have a bad meal there!

When we prepared our story on Harrisburg last season, gas prices in Pennsylvania's capitol were running around $2.89 a gallon for regular. Most of the gas prices in West Springfield were in the high $2.70's. However we saw two Sunoco stations - one on Riverdale Street and one on Memorial Avenue just before Debbie Wong's - charging only $2.52 per gallon for regular. It might have been part of a 'Super Friday' or 'Wacky Friday' promotion but keep your eyes out for these Sunoco stations just in case before returning your rental car.

East Coast Road Trips: The city of New York is technically less than a three-hour drive down I-91 to I-95, but traffic can make the drive take longer. If you make a trip to NYC this writer recommends the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Central Park Zoo, a walk down Fifth Avenue, a walk through Times Square, a trip to the top of the Empire State Building and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. There are other places to visit in Midtown Manhattan but they are too numerous to mention.

Boston, on the other hand, is only 90 miles away. Interstate 90 East (accessible from Exit 14 of Interstate 91) will take you right into the middle of Beantown. Among this writers recommendations are Faneuil Hall, the Boston Tea Party site, the Boston Massacre site, Paul Revere's House, Quincy Markets, the New England Aquarium, the Bull and Finch Pub (the exterior for the TV show "Cheers"), a trip to the top of either the Hancock Tower or the Prudential building, and Fenway Park. The Red Sox play Oakland at Fenway both Tuesday and Wednesday evening at 7:05PM but tickets for a Make-Up Game on Thursday the 3rd versus Seattle at 7:05PM may actually be obtainable! (Seattle faces the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York May 4th through 6th in case there are any Yankee Fans headed east).

And if all else fails and there seems to be nothing to do, there is at least one horse show to watch! Good luck to all the competitors and enjoy your time in Western Massachusetts.

--Steve Maxwell