Here's to the fan cave - those special spaces where we cheer on our favorite sports and teams. We asked you to show us those spaces, and we share a sampling today.

Some are chock-full of team tchotchkes; others, understated. One fan not only included the requisite flat-screen for watching big games, but also game tables to satisfy competitive instincts.

Fans wrote with pride of converting garages and bonus rooms into spaces that have become their very favorite rooms.

Buzzed about her teams

When we decided to enclose our third-car garage five years ago and make it into a sports/game watching room, it was a no-brainer that it would become my "Woman Cave."

As a former Georgia Tech alumni club president for the Triangle region, I have always been an avid GT fan in Tobacco Road country. After the Canes' run to the Stanley Cup, I became not only an avid Hurricanes fan, but also a general hockey fan too!

Key features of the Woman Cave: Painted walls in GT colors, (old gold and black with white molding); bookshelf with GT memorabilia from college days (plus kids' trophies): black leather couch (with reclining sections) and GT blankets. We have a wall-mounted 48-inch flat screen HDTV and end tables with stained glass tops in a "beehive" pattern. Our "Harry" the Hurricane standing hockey player is lit up in "rally cap" situations.

The room also includes some prized Georgia Tech possessions, including an original freshman "Rat" cap from GT days; a six-pack of GT Coke from our 1990 national championship as well as a 1990 National Championship license plate; and a set of GT nesting dolls from the Reggie Ball-Calvin Johnson era.

Prized Hurricanes' possessions include a hockey-stick trunk made by Cory Stillman's dad and signed by multiple Canes players; a 2008 All-Star stick and framed poster signed by Eric Staal; a framed 2011 All-Star banner signed by all four of the Hurricanes' All-Stars: Eric Staal, Cam Ward, Jeff Skinner and Jamie McBain; and a 2011 All-Star puck signed by Jeff Skinner. We also have a personal photo autographed by Mike Commodore, featuring my two kids and dog dressed up for Halloween.

Cindy Anfindsen

Apex

Rooting for the Yankees

My bonus room is a New York Yankees fan cave. I grew up 25 miles north of Yankee Stadium and went to college at UNC-Chapel Hill.

I have lived in Cary for the last 26 years. I have a collection of paintings and photographs of Yankee greats, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter.

But the most special piece of art is a mural of the old Yankee Stadium painted in 2004 by my mother-in-law, Lyn Lamont, who is an artist in Chapel Hill.

Todd Berger

Cary

Working in a Wolves Den

I work from home and my wife was nice enough to agree to let me turn our upstairs bonus room/office into my fan cave. I call it my Wolves Den. I literally spend half my life in my office so I wanted it to reflect me.

What makes my collection unique is the fact that I am the son-in-law of Amedeo DeAngelis, former owner of Amedeo's Italian Restaurant on Western Boulevard. Over the years, I did all the NCSU memorabilia at Amedeo's.

On the wall leading up to my office, in the stairwell, is a full-size replica of the Reynolds Coliseum center circle. I got that from a NCSU clothing store that went out of business several years ago. It's definitely an eye-catcher when you open the door.

Dave Parker

Raleigh

A multisport room

People who visit our house always talk about the fan cave and how well appointed it is. What hits you most when you visit is the huge mural of Bobby Orr's 1970 Stanley Cup goal; 12 personally autographed photos of Gretzky, Orr, James Worthy, etc. (I met them via sports marketing role at IBM). Hockey and football dominate, but we also mix in golf, baseball and basketball, along with classic memorabilia (framed 1970s baseball card collection, replica NFL helmets, etc.).

What makes it a favorite place? The open space that allows room for many simultaneous activities: shooting pool, playing ping pong, foosball or table hockey; watching the big games on the 50-inch flat screen from the wraparound couch; playing a Texas Hold'em match at an eight-seat poker table. We spend more time in the fan cave than any other part of the house.

Al Sibille

Apex