Golden 1 Center: Sacramento's new solar powered, LEED Platinum arena

The new home of the Kings NBA basketball franchise is the most environmentally sustainable sports arena in the world. The Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento is the first indoor sports arena to achieve LEED Platinum, the highest level of certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Golden 1 Center is also the first professional sports venue to be completely powered by solar energy, cutting nearly 2,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The Rancho Seco Solar Farm will provide 85 percent of the arena's solar energy with the remaining 15 percent coming from the arena's rooftop solar array.

New D.C. United stadium will be LEED Gold

Great news soccer fans in the nation's capital! The new D.C. United stadium that will be built at Buzzard Point in Southwest Washington will be LEED Gold certified, the highest sustainability standard from the U.S. Green Building Council. More details on how the new stadium will be one of the most environmentally friendly stadiums in the country from the application for review and approval of a consolidated planned unit development:

Islanders and Capitals face off at Brooklyn's Barclays Center

The New York Islanders are playing their first season at Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn. I recently took a train ride up from Washington to see the Capitals face off against the Islanders and here are some of my impressions:

Costa Rica National Soccer Stadium

I recently visited the amazing country of Costa Rica and took some pictures of the new national soccer stadium (Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica). The Chinese financed and built Central America's first major sport and event arena. Of course The Ticos are coming off an impressive showing at the World Cup in Brazil and the nation loves their football team. The stadium is located in the capital San Jose in La Sabana Metropolitan Park.

Baseball Exhibit at National Museum of American Jewish History

I recently visited the wonderful National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia and saw the exhibit "Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American." I highly recommend this exhibit if you are a baseball fan because it not only highlights Jewish achievements in the game but also the progress made in making the game more diverse and inclusive.

New Orleans Superdome

On a recent visit to New Orleans I decided to check out the Mercedez-Benz Superdome -- the home stadium of the Saints NFL team and the largest fixed dome structure in the world. The Big Easy loves their Saints, especially after winning the 2010 Super Bowl. One of the first things passengers arriving at Louis Armstrong International Airport see is a replica of the Vince Lombardi Trophy engraved with the Saints 2010 Super Bowl victory next to the Saints store.

A Trip to Best Ballpark in America: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Took a trip up to Charm City recently to see the Orioles. It had been years since my last visit to Oriole Park at Camden Yards and all the great memories came back to me as I walked up to the Eutaw Street entrance and looked up at the magnificent B&O Warehouse.

Wizards-Bulls Game 5 Viewing Party at Verizon Center

The Washington Wizards invited fans to Chinatown to watch game five on the Verizon Center's big HD video screens. The Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls at United Center to take the series four games to one and move on to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2005.

Canada Summer 2013: Montreal Impact Game at Saputo Stadium

August 17, 2013 -- After spending the day in Ottawa, I took the train back to Montreal, the subway back to the hostel I was staying at, changed clothes and headed to Saputo Stadium in Olympic Park -- the home of the Montreal Impact Major League Soccer club -- for an evening game against my hometown D.C. United.

Why I Ditched the D.C. Football Team and Became a Ravens Fan

When Washington football team owner Daniel Snyder was quoted in USA Today as saying he would NEVER change the name of the franchise that is a dictionary-defined racial slur, I posted on my Facebook page that I would NEVER root for my hometown team until the racist name changes and that until then I would become a Baltimore Ravens fan.

Canada Summer 2013: Montreal Olympic Park

August 10, 2013 -- Montreal hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics and many of the original venues are located in Olympic Park, which is easily accessible via the Montreal Metro. Just get off at either Pie-IX or Viau and it is a short walk to Olympic Stadium, Montreal Tower, Biodome, Planetarium, Saputo Stadium and other attractions.

Canada Summer 2013: Bell Centre, Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame and Old Forum

August 9-10, 2013 -- When I was a teenager I visited the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and it left a lasting impression on me. For the first time in my young life, I understood how hockey is not just another sport in Canada, but is actually deeply ingrained into the fabric of Canadian society, so much so that there is a mystical or religious quality regarding the reverence for hockey here that is hard to explain. For example, the Hockey Hall of Fame is housed in a former Bank of Montreal branch building, but with the stained glass windows you feel like you are in church. When you spend time in the Great White North, you realize why people say that hockey is a religion in Canada.