Riding the rails to a sporting event goes back to some of both transit and baseball's earliest days. It even generated one team's iconic moniker.

According to MLB.com, baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers take their name from the franchise's former home in Brooklyn, New York—particularly around 1896 when fans had to "dodge" New York City's trolleys on the way to a game.

But this sports fan's relationship with taking transit to the ballpark started during college days in Philadelphia, riding the SEPTA Blue and Orange Line subways to watch the Phillies complete a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees in 1997.

Since then, I've had the chance to watch America's pastime hopping the Coaster to Anaheim, a San Francisco BART train and the San Diego Green Line Trolley.

Here at home, the recent NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City saw the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) offering 10 days of free fares for all Wasatch Front bus and train routes. It was, to borrow the words of legendary NBA announcer Marv Albert, "a spectacular move!"

While it raised some discussion about waiving fares permanently, that's a subject for another day. However, I began to think about different ways that Utahns can take advantage of transit service to a sporting contest.

Utah's capital city and its surrounding areas boast robust transportation options for sports fans, with various modes of transit available to get around that I've made use of in my own excursions to games. Sports fandom has sent me on UTA light rail to Real Salt Lake and to University of Utah events (park-and-ride stations are your friend). And even though I live a 15-minute walk from Vivint Arena, I can cut that trip in half by riding the TRAX Green Line one stop on colder nights after a Jazz game.

So, how easy is it to get to Utah's various sporting venues by train or bus? To put the answer into sports terms: It's clear that the Wasatch Front transit network is sending signals to ride like a third-base coach, with stations that have the names "Arena," "Ballpark" and "Stadium." And making a game ticket count as transit fare—which UTA does often—is another winning combination.

Ideally, the less that sports fans have to drive, the better—saving them both the monetary and emotional costs of finding parking. Also ideal is reducing gametime vehicle traffic as much as is feasible. Any alleviation makes the area surrounding a stadium safer—and more vibrant—with fewer logjams.

So, as the broadcasters say, "Let's see how these teams stack up."

Utah Jazz (301 W. South Temple)
Transit options: Many, and the closest TRAX stop is even named "Arena," which makes it a good hard sell.

The TRAX Blue and Green lines go through this stop, so fans can travel directly from Draper or West Valley—and everything in between—or transfer from Daybreak at Courthouse Station. Plus, it's getting easier with higher-frequency trains to take FrontRunner either to Salt Lake Central or the North Temple Station and from there hop on TRAX for a short ride to the game (it's not too far a walk from North Temple, either, on good-weather days).

Several bus lines can also get you within a couple of blocks of Vivint Arena, or to the aforementioned TRAX stations. With its central location in the city, Utah's highest-profile team also boasts the highest number of transit connections going to games.

Analogy relevant to the sport: A team that makes those extra passes and puts players in position for high-percentage shots. This is a deep bench that gets buckets at close range, mid-range and long-distance. Having that dedicated Arena TRAX stop is a slam-dunk.

Suggestion: Closing South Temple to vehicle traffic between 300 and 400 West was a nice touch during All-Star Weekend. It created a comfortable space for pedestrians to cross the streets near the Arena without worrying about traffic—call it "setting a screen" for the hoops fans. One could make a case for this block to be temporarily closed to traffic during any arena event. It's not very convenient to drive through anyway.
Grade: A

Real Salt Lake (9256 S. State)
Transit options: A bit limited. Your best bets are the TRAX Blue Line and the 201 bus on State Street—but both yield what isn't the shortest or most pleasant walk to America First Field.

It's a bit baffling that the east side of the stadium sits on a major state highway, but UDOT doesn't include a dedicated space for bus riders as close to the stadium as possible (which would encourage RSL fans to take that mode of transit). And the high-frequency 200 bus stops short of Sandy, requiring a transfer to the less-frequent 201 bus to finish the trip down State.

Murray Central Station is a key spot here, as RSL supporters traveling from as far north as Ogden and as far south as Provo can ride FrontRunner (including park-and-ride stations along the way) and link with the Blue Line to Sandy Expo Station, one of the best-designed stations in the TRAX network. Murray Central would also be a great spot to hop on the 201 bus if it ran at 15-minute intervals and if the route along State Street were more attractive.

Analogy relevant to the sport: Incredible potential and buildup, but this is a club that needs better attacking and finishing in the final third. I'm left with the same feeling I have as a fan of Everton FC in the Premier League. Don't be so afraid to put the ball on frame.

Suggestion: Dedicate a bus-boarding space on the State Street side of America First Field as well as a shuttle bus before and after matches to and from the South Jordan FrontRunner station for fans coming from points south. Also, a pedestrian bridge over a very fast and busy State Street is worth considering, especially from the TRAX station and a nearby parking area to the east that is designated for stadium events.
Grade: C+

Salt Lake Bees (77 W. 1300 South)
Transit options: The location is about to change, but there's still one more season in the city to see some minor league baseball. The Bees are the only Wasatch Front franchise to have a stop served by all three UTA TRAX lines—Green, Red and Blue—so fans can park and ride from all over the valley to Smith's Ballpark or simply hop on if they live near the rail lines.

However, the walk between Ballpark station and the ballpark itself is treacherous, with only a narrow sidewalk protecting pedestrians (a lot of them on gameday) from heavy congestion. It would have been wise to explore better ways to move foot traffic around and across 1300 South. But despite the flaws, I'm looking forward to bittersweet final TRAX rides to Smith's Ballpark this summer.

Analogy relevant to the sport: The three TRAX lines are like having a pitcher with a great fastball, curveball and slider—but the walkability failures around the station are like said pitcher not using the whole strike zone: The batters have more chances to get a hit. (The last part of that analogy is exactly what you think it means, and it's not meant to be humorous. In baseball, and on the streets, it's good to be "safe.")

Suggestion: This advice is for the Bees' new location in Daybreak, which will be next to the current terminus of the TRAX Red Line—that's good! UTA should add an extra train car and/or more frequent service during ball games. Also, consider a shuttle from the South Jordan FrontRunner station (a good idea for Daybreak, generally).

Having been to the area of the new ballpark, I don't see it as a place where you want a lot of auto traffic. Call the shuttle "Driving You Home" as a baseball pun. Painting a bus like a bee with a baseball glove would be adorbs. A lot is on the table here.

Analogy relevant to the sport: Runners are in scoring position, and you can break the game open, though many of us fans are getting "Curse of the Bambino" vibes as you leave the city for the suburbs. It's a tough L to take, and it feels unearned.
Grade: A-

Utah Grizzlies (3200 S. Decker Lake Dr., West Valley)
Transit options: One option that basically does the job. The Green Line TRAX has a stop right next to the Maverik Center, with two small street crossings.

The station is wisely not placed where fans would have to walk through the massive parking lot (looking at you Rice-Eccles), and it features a wide walkway to the arena. Fans also have the option of taking the 35 bus from points east and west (pour one out for the shuttered MAX rapid line). The 35 originates at the Millcreek TRAX station on 3300 South, with just over a half-mile walk to the venue from its nearest stop.

Analogy relevant to the sport: Good centering pass for a one-timer goal. Blue-liners could play up a bit more.

Suggestions: Try running a shuttle up and down Decker Lake Drive to pick up or drop off folks who take the 35 bus. And resurrect MAX.
Grade: B+

University of Utah
Transit options: We can grade this on a curve—meaning the two uphill curves when traveling east toward Rice-Eccles Stadium and the Huntsman Center. The fact that a light rail line can get people up that far (and more importantly, continue to a hospital complex) is impressive.

It's also very handy to be able to park at Rice-Eccles and hop on a Red Line TRAX to Huntsman, and vice versa (when you include parking options like the LDS institute building). It even makes it worth it to park at another TRAX station or close to them downtown and ride the train up the hill.

Analogy relevant to the sport(s): For football, it's some reliable options to get across the goal line once you're in the red zone. For gymnastics, it's a floor routine's finishing flurry.

Suggestions: There must be better ways for University planners to accommodate pedestrians on their daunting walk crossing the Rice-Eccles parking lot en route to the entry gates from the Stadium TRAX station. We probably can't move the station to where it should have been all along—directly north or at least northwest of the stadium, but better pedestrian planning is needed.
Grade: A