So what's the first thing you should do when you get to Brockton? Lately, the rehabilitated city's biggest draw has been a relatively new baseball team that has swept the city off its feet. In 2002, the city became the home of the Brockton Rox (www.brocktonrox.com; 508-559-7000), an independent professional baseball franchise that is a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball. The team plays its games at Campanelli Stadium, a multimillion-dollar, 4,750-person capacity venue adjacent to Brockton High School. In years past, former Red Sox pitcher Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd and retired Milwaukee Brewers two-way player Brooks Kieschnick have suited up for Brockton. Tickets for the Rox cost between $5 and $15--a fraction of the price of a Red Sox game--and a true bargain for the sheer enjoyment. In addition to fielding a competitive squad each year, the Rox strive to involve and entertain their audience throughout the games. The team holds a number of promotional events each season, including a summer celebration of Festivus (yes, the fictional holiday from Seinfeld). As an added bonus, every game held on a Friday evening ends with a fireworks display.
Perhaps golf is more your thing. If so, Brockton is home to two public courses. D.W. Field Golf Course (508-580-7500; http://www.brockton.ma.us/Departments/DWField.aspx)--the more popular choice of Brocktonians--is an 18-hole loop with sloping hills and very reasonable green fees. White Pines Golf Course (508-586-3260) is a nine-hole course situated on the southern edge of the city, and it's a perfect sanctuary for a quiet afternoon of golf.
Whether or not you're an art lover, an afternoon spent at the award-winning Fuller Craft Museum (www.fullercraft.org; 508-588-6000) is sure to be an afternoon well spent. The 21,000-square foot museum, nestled on 22 acres of woodland by the shore of Porter's Pond on Brockton's north side, is one of the most underrated art museums in all of New England and one of the most unique experiences in the city. Open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Fuller Craft Museum features a constantly changing schedule of exhibits: within the past year, displays of glass, mechanical sculptures, and textiles constructed out of handwritten correspondence have been showcased. Admission to the museum is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and free for children under 12. From June until January, the museum presents "The Perfect Fit--Shoes Tell Stories," an exhibition that explores the cultural implications of shoes in history through works from more than 100 artists from around the world.
Be sure to check out the Brockton Shoe Museum at the Brockton Historical Society (www.brocktonhistoricalsociety.org; 508-583-1039). The museum shows the evolution of the trade that put the city on the map. The museum also showcases a wide selection of footwear from celebrities and historical figures, from Red Sox legend Ted Williams to former President Bill Clinton, who donated a pair of jogging shoes several years ago.
And for those who love to shop, Westgate Mall (www.shopatwestgate.com; 508-588-8916), also on the city's north side, has seen drastic improvements in the last decade. With shops that include Best Buy, Old Navy, and Olympia Sports as well as a number of restaurants, it's a great place to wind down.
Brockton as a desirable destination? That concept might seem far-fetched to those who only know the city's hardscrabble reputation. But from professional baseball to shopping, inimitable artwork to freshly trimmed fairways, it's easy to see that Brockton is once again a city of champions.
Andrew Clark is a college student who is currently finishing a degree in English.