A streaker tries to climb the glass during an NHL game in Calgary on October 17, 2002.
Listed below you will find the dates and information recapping each NHL arena I visited. My most exciting trip took place in December of 2005 when I travelled with a high school friend to see 7 NHL arenas in 7 consecutive days across the Eastern United States. People say hockey is Canada’s game, but with 24 NHL cities in the United States, I realized over the years that many of the games’ passionate fans do live and breathe the sport south of the border. Join me as I take you back in time across every NHL arena and re-live the memories of wathing the greatest game in the world!
#1 SATURDAY OCTOBER 2, 1999 @ 7:00 PM: NEW YORK RANGERS 1 @ VANCOUVER CANUCKS 2 - GM PLACE – KEVIN WEEKES GOT THE WIN IN GOAL, MARKUS NASLUND SCORED HIS 1ST GOAL OF THE SEASON & IT WAS THE 100TH OF HIS CAREER...
I attended this game on my own, not really knowing many people at the time in Vancouver. The arena is conveniently located beside the heart of downtown Vancouver, and is the most accessible in the league by walking, taxi, sky train, bus, and car. Concourses are average size, but the sightlines are great from every angle of the arena. I scored a ticket in section 106, row 15, in the Air Canada Centre club section, near center ice facing the players’ benches; spectacular view all around and very entertaining hockey game refereed by Kerry Fraser, displaying his then helmetless shiny hair style in all its glory! New Canucks goal horn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVDNGGdhseg Ticket price: $104.25 Attendance:17,124 (90.8% full)
#2 THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2001 @ 7:30 PM: VANCOUVER CANUCKS 1 @ TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 4 - AIR CANADA CENTRE – CURTIS JOSEPH GOT THE WIN IN GOAL...
I attended this game on my own; getting a pair was near impossible and expensive. I was visiting my godmother in the Toronto area, so I didn’t have to pay for a hotel. I had a ticket in the platinum club section which occupies the first few rows of the 100 level. There was a separate entrance, private dining areas, very chic and expensive feeling. My ticket was listed as being in section 112, row 5, but there were no rows in front of me, just the entrance to the Zamboni and referees. I had a great end/corner view. The Leafs totally dominated and won easily. Markus Naslund did score a late goal. The arena was very nice, lacked character and intimacy like the old Maple Leaf Gardens, but was situated perfectly downtown allowing fans easy access from all points of the city. Ticket price: $166...most expensive ticket I ever bought for a hockey game, so gross, but totally worth it one time! Old Leafs goal horn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIKAdadY7jQ Attendance: 19,216 (102.2% full)
#3 SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2001 @ 4:00 PM: VANCOUVER CANUCKS 0 @ OTTAWA SENATORS 3 – COREL CENTRE – PATRICK LALIME GOT THE SHUTOUT IN GOAL...
I convinced two high school friends (Allister and Michael) to drive with me from the Toronto area to Ottawa/Kanata for the game. The arena is located on farm land in a suburb called Kanata. This arena is a good 30-45 minutes away from downtown Ottawa without major traffic. The land was obviously cheaper, but has lost many fans over the years. The parking lot is the worst nightmare in all of the NHL by far. We parked about 1km away in a Home Depot/Harvey’s parking lot to avoid the parking fee and traffic afterwards. We enjoyed some tasty hamburgers at Harvey’s before walking to the arena. It was freezing outside: -25 at least! I foolishly walked through huge piles of snow and soaked my shoes and socks. Luckily I could dry them a bit in the men’s room during the intermission.
Vancouver was just flat in this one. They were 0 for 6 on the power play, and Ottawa went 1 for 8. We had seats in section 118, row C, 3 rows from the Senators’ faceoff circle facing the team benches. The view wasn’t good on the right side because of the glass distortion. I would recommend sitting about 10 rows up in this section above the glass. The arena had a very nice open atrium with large stairs going up to the upper levels. Sightlines from the upper levels were pretty decent, standing areas around center ice provide a very good bird’s eye view of the action. Ticket price: $145...too bad I didn’t know about eBay and Stub Hub back then, probably would have found a better deal than buying from Ticketmaster. Old Ottawa goal horn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLNqIni10Mk&feature=related Attendance: 18,500 (100.0% full)
#4 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2001 @ 7:00 PM: NEW YORK RANGERS 2 @ BUFFALO SABRES 2 – HSBC ARENA – MIKE RICHTER MADE 47 SAVES, LINDROS SCORED 1 GOAL, RANGERS TIED GAME 2-2 WITH 8.5 SECONDS REMAINING...
I went with an old high school buddy named Allister. We had bought nosebleeds in the 300’s but scored 2 empty seats about ten rows behind Mike Richter for two periods plus over time. The atmosphere and crowd energy was awesome. Being a battle of New York certainly helped. The arena was stellar: very comfy and spacious seating, good concourse with amenities and sufficient walking space for large crowds. The atrium was gorgeous and the stairs and escalators were well placed and designed at the entrance. The tickets and concessions are well below the average cost in the league. This arena is one of my top five favourites in the NHL. The U.S. Canada border is very close and convenient for those living in Southern Ontario. McCarthy vs. Boulton fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsQb_CfP0NI Ticket price: $23.00 Attendance: 15,656 (83.8% full)
#5 TUESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2002 @ 7:30 PM: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 3 @ MONTREAL CANADIENS 3 – BELL CENTRE – MARIO LEMIEUX HAD 3 ASSISTS...
I was visiting my uncle in Montreal and took the opportunity to catch a game with him. I had a blast watching Mario Lemieux set up 3 goals and get mixed reactions from the crowd. The Bell Centre is located right downtown, parking is a little pricey and limited, but can be found if you park a few blocks and walk. Unfortunately, the concourses are very cramped and taking a bathroom break requires a long walk down some stairs on the upper level. I managed to get seats in section 319, row A, at center ice facing the team benches. The upper level goes from row AA-FF, A-D, then A-D again, but listed as 400’s on ticket. Kind of strange because row D of the 300’s is right in front of row A of the 400’s with no actual level separation. The view was decent, but albeit very far, yet on top of the action. I didn’t like how our side had the press boxes blocking the view of the Stanley Cup banners. Row AA of the 300’s is my pick if you’re going to the Bell Centre because it provides a spectacular view of the game. The crowd was the loudest in the NHL by far, creating a great and memorable atmosphere. The arena just bleeds red everywhere and is just perfectly synonymous with the Canadiens logo and rich history. What disappointed me was how they only allow patrons with 100 level tickets to watch the pre-game warm-ups; Colorado was the only other arena in the league that enforces this rule. Habs goal horn from 2000 to 2004: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PedkARLqjGI Ticket price: $46.41 Attendance: 19,895 (93.5% full)
#6 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2003 @ 7:00 PM: COLORADO AVALANCHE 4 @ EDMONTON OILERS 1 – SKYREACH CENTRE – JOE SAKIC HAD 3 POINTS...
I flew from Ottawa and met my friend Allister who came in from Toronto and joined me in Edmonton for our weekend trip together. Allister was looking forward to the trip because he is a fan of the Edmonton Oilers. We explored Edmonton a bit, and I couldn’t help but notice all the restaurants everywhere. We ate a steak house and the steak was absolutely delicious. GPS’s weren’t readily around for consumers back then, so we kind of got lost, but I managed to drive us to the game just in time. We had killer seats: Front row on the glass to the right of the goalie in section 106, row 1. Allister took lots of pictures throughout the game of players being hit into the glass right in front of us. I noticed how it seemed the lighting over the ice appeared much more dim than normal. I only noticed this in one other arena: Tampa Bay. The Avalanche had a solid team back then and I got to see the great Joe Sakic put up a 3 point night. The food and concourses were very average at best. The overall atmosphere was very bland, but the crowd was above average in terms of cheering. With the passion and history that exists in Edmonton, a new larger arena would surely be beneficial. I did love the large statue of Wayne Gretzky outside the arena; we did of course take our pictures with Wayne after the game! Oilers 2003-04 goal horn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGbhbeXomiM Ticket price: $95.25 Attendance: 16,839 (100.0% full)
#7 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2003 @ 8:00 PM: VANCOUVER CANUCKS 4 @ CALGARY FLAMES 4 – PENGROWTH SADDLEDOME – BRENDAN MORRISON HAD HIS 1ST CAREER HAT TRICK, RYAN KESLER SCORED HIS 1ST CAREER NHL GOAL, AND MARKUS NASLUND HAD 3 ASSISTS...
I had this game marked on my calendar for a very long time. This had the makings of a great divisional battle between two beloved hockey teams. We left Edmonton Saturday morning and made the three hour trip south to beautiful, sunny, and dry Calgary. The arena is nestled in a semi-residential and commercial area, right next to a small casino. I wasn’t overly impressed with the outside of the Saddledome, but once inside, the concourse was above average and the crowd was electric. Each time Calgary scored one of their 4 goals on the night, flames were released from atop the scoreboard. We were sitting in section 105, row 11, behind the net and you could literally feel the heat from the Flames across your face each time Calgary scored. I purposely wore cowboy boots and hat with a Canucks jersey to jeer the fans; it worked because I got my share of dirty looks throughout the game. There was a large contingency of Canucks’ fans in attendance which only fuelled the fire from puck drop. After Montreal, this was the second loudest arena in the league. Too bad there were no shootouts in 2003, because it was a little unsatisfying going home without a winner. Calgary played the best pre-game hockey song I ever heard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCVWVWRaReg Ticket Price: $130.50 Attendance: 18,159 (94.1% full)
#8 FRIDAY MARCH 5, 2004 @ 7:30 PM: VANCOUVER CANUCKS 1 @ DETROIT RED WINGS 3 – JOE LOUIS ARENA – BRETT HULL SCORED CAREER GOAL #738 & BRENDAN SHANAHAN NETTED CAREER GOAL #553...
I drove to Toronto from the Ottawa area to meet my buddy Allister. We had planned a two game road trip to see the Canucks in action. We arrived in Detroit a few hours before the game and it was literally about 15 degrees Celsius that day, incredible for the first week of March. The area around Joe Louis is shady to say the least, but once inside, you will feel right at home, except for the men’s washrooms where they have open urinals with no walls; it can become quite the pissing contest if people are drunk enough! I bought 2 standing room tickets for the game. Normally, standing room would be at the very back with possible limited views. Standing room at the Joe is unique because it is against the wall between the first and second level of the two tier arena. There are about 17 rows in the lower tier, and then you’re right there standing with a great view of the action for a fraction of the price. Standing areas are first come, first serve, so even when you go for a bathroom break, someone with a standing ticket could come and take your spot; Allister and I took turns saving each other’s spot on the wall, while the other took a break. You walk up a few steps and find yourself in the 2nd tier (rows 1 – 26), where the view is pretty decent from all the side seats. Our Usher was named Ken, and he kind of reminded me of a younger American version of Don Cherry who ran a tight ship in his section. He was the epitome of what I consider firm, fair, and friendly. He got a kick out of how my buddy and I made the trip from Canada to see the game. The Canucks lost by 2 goals, but seeing Brett Hull score on his patented one-timer was priceless. Detroit new goal horn version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFxdLT1jHRU&feature=related Ticket Price: $27.00 Attendance: 20066 (100.0% full)
#9 SATURDAY MARCH 6, 2004 @ 7:00 PM: VANCOUVER CANUCKS 4 @ COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 0 – NATIONWIDE ARENA – NASLUND & BERTUZZI SCORED 2 POINTS EACH & JOHAN HEDBERG GOT THE SHUTOUT...
What a gorgeous arena and town! I felt as if I were in some quaint, American suburb watching the good old hockey game. This arena is definitely in my top 5 and is very fan friendly. The outside of the arena featured huge glass walls with an enormous Rick Nash photo, the face of the franchise. The concourse was wide, spacious, very clean, and provided clear views of the action on the ice even while walking around the arena. The building is so large that there is also another arena inside. I don’t think I can ever forget the crazed Italian lady fan who kept screaming at Todd Bertuzzi during the warm-up. We had good seats in section 101, row G, near the face-off circle on the side of the team benches. I managed to strike up very friendly conversations with Columbus fans and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. Jody Shelley vs. Wade Brookbank Fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsjAjDWOfaM Ticket price: $71.00 Attendance: 18,136 (100.0% full)
When the 2005-06 NHL schedule came out, I started planning with my friend Allister a dream hockey road trip. After thoroughly looking at the schedule for the first half of December, I proposed the games to Allister and he jumped on board. I was already familiar with eBay, so I checked and found us some good deals on tickets. We booked our hotels in advance, planned the road trip, and picked up a car rental for a full week...
#10 MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2005 @ 7:00 PM: MINNESOTA WILD 1 @ NEW YORK RANGERS 3 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN – PETR PRUCHA SCORED 2 POWER PLAY GOALS & MARTIN RUCINSKY HAD 3 ASSISTS...
With hotel prices being VERY expensive in New York City, we found ourselves an okay looking place to stay the night in New Jersey. We called a taxi, crossed one of the toll bridges and got stuck in Monday traffic. $55 later, we found ourselves in the heart of downtown New York City, just a few blocks from the legendary Madison Square Garden. I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the City and its imposingly gigantic and clustered buildings, as well as the amount of people roaming the streets. Once inside Madison Square Garden, we made our way up to the arena level. The concourses have zero view of the ice because you have to enter the tunnel of a particular section before you can see the arena surface. There is no other arena like Madison Square Garden. It is currently the oldest arena in the NHL, but holds its rich history and appearance quite well. The domed roof and large tiered levels are impressive. Some of the best views are 25-40 rows from the ice and provide a very intimate setting. The fans were very boisterous and passionate. We sat in section 132, row C, behind the Minnesota Wild goaltender two periods. There was a section in front of us with probably a dozen rows of seats, then a small walk-way before our section. There was a New York family with a clear Brooklyn accent of four in front of us constantly chanting and yelling throughout the hockey game. The daughter and son looked underage, but the whole family was drinking alcohol and having a blast. The game itself was decent, but what I really remember is how Jaromir Jagr would cherry pick almost the entire game at the blue line, waiting for that outlet pass that would spring him loose on a breakaway; it never happened, but it was a funny thing to watch. Petr Prucha interview after the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V26F6btNjwA Ticket price: $63.00 Attendance: 18,200 (100.0% full)
#11 TUESDAY DECEMBER 6, 2005 @ 7:00 PM: CALGARY FLAMES 0 @ PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 1 SO – WACHOVIA CENTER - ANTERO NIITTYMAKI AND MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF EARNED SHUTOUTS; FIRST SCORELESS NHL GAME DECIDED BY A SHOOTOUT...
Whoever thought watching a scoreless hockey game could be so exciting?! We got to the arena about thirty minutes before the pre-game warm-up and were given Peter Forsberg bobble heads upon entering the building. The wide concourse was already buzzing with fans that arrived early for a free bobble head. We had seats in the 300 level, but made are way down to the 100 level to watch the Flames take to the ice for the pre-game skate. We met a diehard Japanese couple who had made the trip from Calgary to watch the game and were wearing Flames jerseys. We made our way up to the 300 level after the practice and found our seats in section 222, row 7, in the Flyers corner, on the side facing the team benches. Both teams had great scoring opportunities, but this game went to a shootout scoreless, until Mike Richards beat Miikka Kiprusoff to mark the first scoreless hockey game decided by a shootout. Overall, I felt the arena was above average in terms of amenities and game experience, definitely a good place to watch a hockey game with passionate and knowledgeable fans. Highlights from the shootout: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSyWQyXsKj8 Ticket Price: $20.00 Attendance: 19,542 (100.2% full)
#12 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7, 2005 @ 7PM: NASHVILLE PREDATORS 5 @ WASHINGTON CAPITALS 2 – MCI CENTER – PAUL KARIYA HAD 2 ASSISTS & MAREK ZIDLICKY SCORED 2 GOALS & ALEX OVECHKIN HAD 1 GOAL, HIS 17TH OF HIS ROOKIE SEASON...
We drove to Washington and hit some traffic, so we got to the arena about fifteen minutes before puck drop. The arena is located in the downtown area of Chinatown. We found a garage parking across the street and made our way to the arena. Our seats were in section 417, row F, at center ice, facing the team benches. Although a bit high and far for my liking, the bird’s eye view was great; we saw all the plays develop from each side of the arena. Alexander Ovechkin scored a beautiful goal cutting across the crease and roofing the 17th goal of his rookie season. Washington was not a good team at this point, so we knew going in that they were the underdog, even on home ice, and didn’t expect the largest crowd. Our section was surrounded by young fans and families who seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. The arena has my favourite goal horn siren in the entire NHL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoG6ATEjJmU
Jamie Allison vs. Ben Clymer fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaHTVtTyOiI Ticket Price: $27.00 Attendance: 11,088 (60.3% full)
#13A THURSDAY DECEMBER 8, 2005 @ 7:30PM: MINNESOTA WILD 5 @ PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 0 – THE IGLOO – ALEX DAIGLE SCORED 2 GOALS & THE WILD DIDN’T TAKE A SINGLE PENALTY...
Having grown up a Penguins fan, I was looking forward to visiting the Igloo in Pittsburgh. I had been the Pittsburgh in April of 2005 to see a baseball game at PNC Park and absolutely loved the city. The scenery was beautiful and clean, people were friendly and I really liked the vibe of the city. The arena was very old and lacked the amenities of the modern venues, but the seating was intimate and we enjoyed seats from the first row in section A27. We had a great view of the Penguins and a young Sidney Crosby playing in just his 14th career home game at age 18. Crosby and company played atrociously and were suffocated by Jacques Lemaire’s defensive onslaught. Unfortunately, Mario Lemieux was unavailable because of an apparent heart scare which wasn’t life-threatening. The Minnesota Wild played a perfect road game, dismantled the young Penguins 5-0 and didn’t even take a single penalty. We definitely caught Crosby on an off game, but enjoyed the game from up close on the glass. The arena definitely ranked in the bottom five in terms of amenities and overall comfort. Kyle Wanvig vs. Brooks Orpik fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lCGpxtGqBw
AlexHenry vs. Ryan VandenBussche: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOndVNzAWfE Ticket price: $85.00 Attendance: 14,627 (86.3% full)
#14A FRIDAY DECEMBER 9, 2005 @ 7:30PM: COLORADO AVALANCHE 4 @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS 3 SO – CONTINENTAL AIRLINES ARENA – ANDREW BRUNETTE SCORED 2 GOALS, AVALANCHE BLEW 3-0 LEAD BUT WON IN 7TH ROUND OF SHOOTOUT...
This was one of the blandest arenas in the league, but the sightlines were good. At the time, we had no GPS and found it confusing to find. We had to park in a large lot, then cross this large tunnel by foot to reach the arena. The concessions and souvenir selection wasn’t good at all. I tried the hotdog and have to say it was the worst tasting wiener in the league. We had good lower level seats in section 120, row 15, near the blue line facing the team benches. The game was very exciting and looked like an easy win for Colorado early on. The Devils stormed back from a 3-0 deficit, but lost 4-3 in a 7 round shootout. There were some fans that were ringing a cow bell throughout the hockey game, something I had witnessed on many occasions while watching the Devils play on television. Devils goal horn in 2005-06: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n26Xc_0VPfI Ticket Price: $90.00 Attendance: 14,240 (74.8% full)
#15 SATURDAY DECEMBER 10, 2005 @ 7:00PM: EDMONTON OILERS 2 @ NEW YORK ISLANDERS 3 SO – NASSAU VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM – RICK DIPIETRO GOT THE WIN IN GOAL, 2 FIGHTS, TEAMS COMBINED FOR 16 POWER PLAYS...
My friend Allister was very much looking forward to this game being a fan of the Oilers. I even wore one of his Edmonton jerseys to support his team that evening. We drove from New York City to Long Island that afternoon in about an hour. The arena was located in a suburban area next to a hotel. There was ample parking available. The arena itself is old and lacks the amenities of the new buildings. However, the concourse was a decent size for walking. I met and conversed with many Islanders’ fans that day. One man had an old Islanders jersey and goal mask with a glove and blocker, he was a long-time fan who apparently rarely missed a game in twenty nears, had witnessed 4 consecutive Stanley Cup Champion teams, and shared very fond memories with me. We had excellent front row seats in section 107. This was the only arena where there was a large five or six foot gap between the front row and glass. You would need ‘Go-Go gadget’ arms to tap and hit the glass in front of you. The empty five or six feet of space went a few steps down from the first row and around the entire arena. I noticed some wires and cables on the floor as well. I never noticed this oddity on television, but although we had front row seats, we were a distance of about two and a half rows from the glass. The game itself was relatively entertaining considering it featured two average teams at that point of the season. This was actually the season when the Oilers made it all the way to the Final as an 8th seeded underdog and lost in 7 games to the Carolina Hurricanes. I have read how this is the worst arena in the league, but I couldn’t complain about the sightlines, atmosphere, or the beer selection, which was actually decent. I was looking for a game program, but they didn’t have any for sale in the arena. One sweet woman working in the Public Relations department took my mailing address and ensured me a year book would be sent to me. She was very friendly and I found her Long Island accent to be adorable. A few months past, but sure enough, the year book arrived as promised. Laraque vs. Godard fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vktnDXqJXs
Shootout highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDfiSn2iNs0 Ticket price: $95.00 Attendance: 12,249 (75.2% full)
#16 SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2005 @ 5:00PM: PHOENIX COYOTES 2 OT @ BOSTON BRUINS 1 – TD BANKNORTH GARDEN – LADISLAV NAGY SCORED OT WINNER ON A BREAKAWAY, HANNU TOIVONEN MADE 30 SAVES FOR THE WIN IN GOAL...
The final leg of our awesome road trip had us seeing a game in Boston against the Phoenix Coyotes coached by Wayne Gretzky. Parking is very limited and expensive in Boston, so arrive early and be prepared to walk a bit if you don’t want to get ripped off. They also have a great train service which runs throughout Boston and directly under the arena. This was definitely a very nice arena, with gorgeous and clean concourses featuring colours and lights which made me feel like a kid in a candy store. They also had good concessions and a solid beer selection. They did however, have a very strict I.D. policy whereby if you’re under 25 years old, you require two pieces of photo identification. They also didn’t sell beer or alcohol in the seating area, perhaps because Boston fans are known to be rowdy at times. Their pre-game video on the scoreboard was a thing of beauty displaying the history of the team with a wonderfully edited montage.
We had very good seats in section loge16, row 3, behind the Boston goal for two periods of play. We had a wonderful view of Ladislav Nagy win the game on a breakaway in overtime. The crowd cleared out very quickly afterwards. I noticed how the ushers were very quick to ask fans to make their way to the exit after the game. This practice seemed a little rushed and rude to someone who was visiting and wanted to take time to soak in the sights one last time. Nevertheless, the arena ranks high in overall game experience. Bruins goal horn in 2005-06: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhkUPg9Bw5o Ticket price: $79.00 Attendance: 16,544 (94.2% full)
#17 TUESDAY JANUARY 9, 2007 @ 7:30PM: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 2 @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 3 – ST. PETE TIMES FORUM – CROSBY SCORED 21ST GOAL OF THE SEASON, ST. LOUIS HAD 3 POINTS, LECAVALIER HAD 2 POINTS...
I decided to take a trip to Florida with a College friend named Kevin to watch two hockey games. We found a great deal ($300) with West Jet, non-stop return airfare from Ottawa to Tampa Bay. This was my first time going to Florida, and I was looking forward to avoiding the cold winter for a short while. I feel in love with Tampa right away when we landed, the palm trees and sunshine was a beautiful sight. Downtown Tampa Bay was very nicely developed and clean. The arena was located walking distance from our hotel, so we had a pleasant walk to and from the game. The arena was very big, and nicely built with palm trees adorning the exterior. The crowd was boisterous and really cheered on their home team, despite Sidney Crosby scoring on a breakaway in the opening thirty seconds. We had a very good view behind the Penguins goal for two periods in section 106, row M. After the game, we went to eat at Dave Andryechuk’s bar right across the street from the arena. Although busy, we had ourselves a comfortable booth. I ate a chicken sandwich which was huge in size and tasted delicious. I’ve had some of the largest and juiciest chicken sandwiches while travelling across the United States; much cheaper and larger in size compared to the majority of the chicken sandwiches I’ve eaten in Canada?! Dave Andreychuk was in his restaurant chatting with customers and he gladly posed for pictures and signed a puck for me. A top-notch arena with very affordable ticket prices, especially when shopping on eBay for deals comes highly recommended. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkIRdHBktqc Ticket price: $40.00 Attendance: 19,226 (97.3% full)
#18 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 10, 2007 @ 7:30PM: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 2 @ FLORIDA PANTHERS 5 – BANKATLANTIC CENTER – OLI JOKINEN SCORED 3 GOALS, FLORIDA BEAT PITTSBURGH FOR THE 14TH TIME IN THEIR LAST 15 MATCHUPS...
If there's a hockey heaven, this would surely be its arena! A bold statement, I know, but one I can confidently make in my humble opinion after having visited all the arenas in hockey. This place is an architectural marvel inside and out. The arena is situated on a huge plot of land, surrounded by green grass and palm trees. There was also free parking included with every ticket when we attended. Something the Phoenix Coyotes offered as well, and very nice if you ask me that they include the fee with the ticket. The arena is surrounded by very beautiful large windows all around the arena, contributing to its majestic feel. There are also beautiful green light posts surrounding the arena with an almost exotic umbrella like look. Once inside, you will be greeted by huge concourses, high ceilings, large elevators and escalators which bring people up to the suites and club level. On the main level, you will find a huge team store, and many concessions with shorter lines. We had tickets on the club level in section 329, row 2, in the corner of the arena with a good overhead view of the action. This was the first time I purchased electronic tickets, transferred to me via the seller’s season ticket holder account. I prefer hardcopy tickets for souvenir purposes, but e-tickets are very convenient for saving time and shipping costs. The tickets in Florida are much cheaper outside of the 100 level, so I would recommend once again searching eBay for good deals. They had cheerleaders beautifully dressed, and a cheering section in the lower level bowl between seating sections. The club level offered higher end meals for sale, and the desserts were like pastries you would find in a fancy French bakery. Everything about the arena was clean, shiny, big, and the sightlines were great from all angles. I never imagined that Florida would have the nicest arena in hockey, considering hockey is played on the ice in cold weather across many parts of Northern America. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-nU-ldLprw Ticket price: $35.00 Attendance: 16,098 (83.6% full)
#19 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3, 2007 @ 7:00PM: MONTREAL CANADIENS 3 OT @ CAROLINA HURRICANES 2 – RBC CENTER – OPENING NIGHT GAME – SAKU KOIVU SCORED 2 GOALS INCLUDING A POWER PLAY WINNING GOAL IN OVERTIME, CAM WARD MADE 37 SAVES FOR CAROLINA, ROMAN HAMRLIK’S FIRST GAME WITH MONTREAL WAS ALSO HIS 1000TH CAREER NHL GAME...
What a hockey game! This was one of the most exciting and memorable hockey games I attended. I was treated to a very fast pace game with great saves and a dramatic overtime come from behind win by the most storied team in professional hockey. To top things off, Roman Hamrlik was playing in his first game for Montreal, which happened to be his 1000th career NHL game. The arena was in a suburban area, nestled on a huge lot, surrounded by the largest and most beautiful pine trees I have ever seen. I arrived early and they had a type of fan fest because it was opening night. There were little kids playing hockey, balloons, face painting, radio remotes, barbeques and drinks, and lots of eager and exited fans awaiting the opening of the doors. The doors opened and I was greeted by a security check, similar to that found at airports. The arena had red colours everywhere, almost too much for my liking. The Canadiens colours are darker red mixed with blue and white which I find much more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. This was the first arena where I noticed ushers using mini stop signs, held up during the game so that fans waited until a stoppage in play to return to their seats. I had my first taste of the south with a pulled pork sandwich...yummy and very filling with a cold beer. They were selling authentic 2006 Stanley Cup champion hats for only $5, so of course I purchased one at that low of a price. I had obtained a ticket in section 328, row A, facing the team benches on the visitors goal line. It was a great bird’s eye view, albeit the 300 level at the RBC is much higher than what I expected. I was fortunate enough to be sitting next to a very friendly couple in their mid 30’s who shared their favourite hockey moments with me. I would highly recommend watching a hockey game at the RBC Center. Game highlights in French: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKkJL_a4Ves Ticket Price: $45.00 Attendance: 18,680 (99.7% full)
#20 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2007 @ 7:30PM: WASHINGTON CAPITALS 3 @ ATLANTA THRASHERS 1 – PHILIPS ARENA – OPENING NIGHT GAME – THRASHERS RAISED THEIR FIRST DIVISION BANNER FROM THE 2006-07 SEASON, BRYAN LITTLE SCORED LONE GOAL FOR ATLANTA, OVECHKIN GOT 1 ASSIST, VIKTOR KOSLOV SCORED 1 GOAL AND WAS NAMED 1ST STAR...
Before I get to talking about Atlanta and the game, let me back track to how I got there...After watching the Wednesday game in Raleigh Atlanta, I slept a good twelve hours in preparation for Friday’s solo road trip. I spent Thursday visiting North Carolina and got to sleep by about 9:00PM. I woke up Friday morning at about 6:00AM and after eating breakfast made my way to the car rental company via a short shuttle ride. By 7:00AM I was on the road to Atlanta approximately 410 miles away, or roughly 660 km away to see the 7:30PM hockey game.
I arrived by 3:00PM and managed to take the last CNN tour in a building which is literally adjacent to the Philips Arena. The tour was informative and impressive to say the least. The CNN building is very high and spacious and has lots of elaborate security measures in place. After the tour, I returned to the main level of the public plaza which has a large food court. I noticed a radio remote setup with many people standing and watching. I realized the commissioner of hockey Gary Bettman was giving a live radio interview about the state of hockey and the game in Atlanta. I grabbed a sandwich and listened in with others. There was already a few hundred Thrashers’ fans waiting and listening in to the interview with the commissioner. I noticed two men who were beside Gary, perhaps his assistants or personal body guards. I introduced myself to him after his interview, explaining my goal to visit all the arenas and how I loved the game of hockey so much. I asked for a picture and he obliged. He came across as a politician who was in a hurry to be whisked away by his two body guards or associates of some kind.
The Philips Arena was another modern arena with great amenities and sightlines. The atrium was gorgeous and very welcoming to fans. I had obtained a seat in section 109, row D, right behind the Thrashers goal for two periods and loved the view. I personally love sitting in the first five rows behind one of the goals, the view to me is spectacular when the play is in your zone, and you can see the entire length of the ice and the bone crushing hits from just a few feet away. I laughed so hard when one fan sitting a few rows behind me yelled: ‘’Is that an off-side, or too many men on the ice?’’ This same lady with a southern accent would frequently heckle and cheer on Kari Lehtonen (goalie) in a positive way throughout the game. You have to realize that Atlanta IS NOT a hockey town, contrary to what some optimists might try and tell you. It was kind of bitter sweet to see them raise their first and only championship banner for winning the soft southeast division in 2006-07; they went to the playoffs for the first time in the spring of 2007, only to be swept in four straight games. They even handed out collectible mini championship banners to the fans that night, an optimistic reminder of how they exceeded small expectations the previous season...
With the game ending shortly after 10:00PM; I had to get back to Raleigh, North Carolina, to catch an early morning flight! My two game adventures had been planned on a low budget and cost efficient savings. Staying in Atlanta and flying out was very expensive compared to leaving from Raleigh, North Carolina. What really peeved me was that I had to fly from Raleigh to Charlotte, then to Syracuse. I called and asked if I could take the flight from Charlotte to Syracuse, but because it was a direct flight, the price would have been much higher. Had I been able to bring the car rental to Charlotte, I would have saved myself one flight and about 275 km of driving. I drank lots of coffee and sucked it up while listening to cheesy eighties music in the car. By the time I was ready to board the flight from Raleigh, I had been up over 26 hours. When I finally arrived in Syracuse, NY, I had been up about 32 hours. I drove from Syracuse back home to the Ottawa area and crashed in bed after being up for about 36 hours, having driven about 1630 km and taken two flights. Call me crazy, but my passion for hockey and adventurous side got the best of me on that trip. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dJcQXHXDKA Ticket price: $74.00 Attendance: 18,707 (100.9% full)
I planned another hockey trip with my friend Kevin because we had a great time in Florida and we were looking forward to another travel adventure. I found a great deal with Air Canada which included return non-stop airfare from Montreal to Los Angeles for only $400, taxes included! This was the longest flight I took at roughly five and half hours long across North America. It was freezing cold when we left Montreal Sunday morning, and within a few hours I had a gorgeous aerial view of the Grand Canyon as we flew westwards. We arrived in Los Angeles in the early afternoon and headed to the car rental station. We planned to drive to Las Vegas, spend one night and head back to Los Angeles the following day to watch the hockey game. The drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas was only about four hours and we had a scenic view of the desert as the sun set. We stayed at the Flamingo hotel, did a bit of gambling, and I ate the largest hamburger in my life at Dan Marino’s restaurant inside the Hooters hotel. I fell in love with Vegas not so much because of the gambling, but because of all the beautiful hotels, endless possibilities of food, all the shows, and of course the dry weather was something I could take any day.
#21 MONDAY DECEMBER 10, 2007 @ 7:30PM: VANCOUVER CANUCKS 2 @ LOS ANGELES KINGS 4 – STAPLES CENTER – ROBERTO LUONGO WAS A LAST MINUTE SCRATCH DUE TO A RIB INJURY, DEREK ARMSTRONG HAD 1 GOAL & 1 ASSIST, TAYLOR PYATT & ALEX EDLER SCORED POWER PLAY GOALS FOR VANCOUVER, BRENDAN MORRISON PLAYED IN HIS 542ND CONSECUTIVE NHL GAME AND HIS STREAK ENDED AFTER THE GAME BECAUSE OF A NAGGING WRIST INJURY...
I had seen the Staples Center many times before on television while watching basketball games made famous by the Lakers dynasty. We stayed at the Holiday Inn just a few blocks away and stopped to eat dinner at an Italian restaurant on the way to the arena. We met a father with his two sons in their 20’s dressed in Canucks jerseys at the restaurant and walked with them to Staples Center. The arena was very attractive inside and out; there were palm trees on the outside, beautiful glass windows adoring the entrance with the Staples Center logo in shiny red. The inside was full of purple colours, representative of the Lakers and Kings logos. I found a pair of lower level seats just 8 rows from the blue line in section 110 for about $45.00 on eBay, an incredible deal to say the least! Unfortunately, the seating inside Staples on the 100 level is very flat and lacks elevation similar to that found in the new Cineplex theatres. The best views were actually in the last rows of the 100 level because of how little elevation existed between rows. We got inside in time to watch the pre-game warm-up; Markus Naslund was kind enough to sign a jersey for me before going back to the dressing room. We could tell Roberto Luongo was hurt while stretching during the warm-up because we could see him grimacing while he talked to one of the trainers. I was hoping to see his world class goaltending on display, but Curtis Sanford got the last minute start. The game was average in terms of entertainment value, but considering the building was about 80% full, the fans were into the game and the noise level was pretty good.
We met a very nice man named Bruce who brought his 11 year old daughter Carla to the game. Carla had her white Canucks jersey on and was very excited to be at the game. Bruce approached us after the game and invited us to go with him and his daughter outside the team locker rooms below the arena because his work had given him four VIP backstage passes. We walked pass the secure entrance with our passes and stood outside the Kings’ locker room and watched the coach give press interviews. We made our way to the Canucks’ locker area and saw Alain Vigneault finishing an interview. Within about a minute, players started coming out the locker right beside us and I asked some of them if they could sign Carla’s jersey. She must have gotten about half the players signatures on their way out. Markus Naslund, Trevor Linden, Roberto Luongo, and the Sedin brothers signed Carla’s jersey and Kevin and I posed for pictures with them. I joked with the Sedins about their wonderful commercial acting skills and how I couldn’t tell them apart. Roberto seemed very down and discouraged about his rib injury, Brendan Morrison also seemed very down about his nagging wrist injury which finally brought an end to his ironman streak of 542 straight games played. Trevor Linden was a true class act as many have often said; he signed Carla’s jersey, took his time posing for pictures and asked us questions about our road trip and where we were from. We eventually left the arena and I made a point of thanking Bruce for how grateful I was that he offered us his extra two VIP passes. Other than the 100 level seating issue and lack of decent concession food, I would recommend Staples Center to anyone wanting to watch an NHL hockey game. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we37OFWwRMI Ticket Price: $23.00 Attendance: 15,087 (81.6% full)
We had an off day Tuesday, so we decided to visit the birthplace of the Zamboni in Paramount, California, just 16 miles away from Anaheim. Frank Zamboni was the creator of the Zamboni used in NHL arenas today. Frank passed away in 1988, and today his son, Richard runs the business. We met Richard and he gave Kevin and me a beautiful book about the history of the Zamboni. The building we visited in Paramount, houses an Olympic size rink and the original Zamboni. The official Zamboni website: www.zamboni.com
#22 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12, 2007 @ 7:05PM: VANCOUVER CANUCKS 3 @ ANAHEIM DUCKS 2 – HONDA CENTER – MASON RAYMOND AND JASON JAFFRAY SCORED THEIR 1ST NHL GOALS TO LEAD THE CANUCKS...
The Honda Center is only about 30 miles from the Staples Center, but with traffic, the trip can take up to 2 hours. We didn’t experience this type of traffic on the largest Interstate I have ever driven on (I-5). There were lots of cars, but the five to seven lanes made for a fluid drive. I found Anaheim to be a beautiful suburban city, and the arena was no different. There was plenty of parking surrounding this beautifully built arena, including gorgeous palm trees everywhere in site. We had great seats in seats in section 201, row D, which was actually in the 100 level only four rows behind the Canucks’ goal. My only issue with the arena was the meanest usher we encountered holding up one of those stop signs I first saw being used by game staff in Raleigh, North Carolina. We wanted to visit the seating area behind the team benches after the game, but this usher rudely told us to leave and that we had no right to be there. There were even Canucks’ fans trying to obtain autographs near the visitors’ benches and told they had to leave immediately, or else security would be called to escort them away. This type of unfriendly behaviour towards the fans left a sour taste in my mouth, but I could only hope this was an isolated incident from employees abusing their authority that night. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOdkCuQ7Iyc Ticket price: $64.00 Attendance: 17,174 (100.0% full)
#23 THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 2007 @ 7:30PM: VANCOUVER CANUCKS 2 @ SAN JOSE SHARKS 5 – HP PAVILION – ONLY 40 TOTAL SHOTS IN THE GAME, JOE THORNTON HAD 1 GOAL + 1 ASSIST, DREW MACINTYRE MADE HIS NHL DEBUT REPLACING CURTIS SANFORD WHEN IT WAS 3-0 SAN JOSE...
We left Anaheim early Thursday morning and I drove with Kevin all the way to San Jose, a trip on Interstate 5 North which took close to seven hours and nearly 600 km of driving. It was a very scenic drive across the mountains once we exited the Los Angeles area. We reached very high elevations, Kevin and I experienced popping in our ears from the pressure. We arrived in San Jose a few hours before the game started and relaxed in our hotel just a few blocks away. We met a few Sharks’ fans at the hotel and on route to the game by foot. This was another arena like Columbus that felt like it was surrounded by a very suburban area. The exterior of the arena was above average in appearance, but the atrium was huge, and there were massive whitish grey steps leading to the main concourse level giving me the feeling I was entering a large cathedral. We had good lower level seats in section 123, row 16, behind the Sharks goal. The pre-game players’ entrance onto the ice is by far the best in the NHL; a large shark replica descends from above the arena onto the ice, and the players enter the ice through the shark’s mouth. The concessions were above average and I did find a delicious burrito that went down well with a cold beer in the second period. After the game, Kevin and I headed down the main street and we decided to try Owen Nolan’s bar (Owen was a long-time Sharks player.) I ended up meeting a really friendly Sharks fan named Thomson. We exchanged e-mails and to this day stay in touch on Facebook exchanging friendly hockey banter. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4T3_wTL_lI Ticket Price: $60.00 Attendance: 17,175 (98.2% full)
We had a flight to catch Friday night from Los Angeles to Montreal, so not wanting to drive another six plus hours, we slept in San Jose. The following morning we drove about an hour to San Francisco and took a tour bus around the historical city. It was very cool and windy outside, very typical for San Francisco, but the sights around this historic city are worth seeing. After a couple of hours of sight-seeing, we drove the rental car back to the San Jose airport and took a plane back to Los Angeles so we could connect with our evening flight back to Montreal.
Another hockey trip with my buddy Kevin...After looking at airfare and hotel prices, we decided to take a trip to: Chicago, Colorado, and Dallas. We found cheap airfare when flying out of Syracuse, New York; the airport was definitely on the small side and the planes weren’t as fancy and modern as Air Canada or West Jet, but the savings were substantial. It’s a shame Air Canada and West Jet force Canadians on a budget to drive to and fly out of the United States, but I will continue doing so until I either win the lottery or Canadian airfare drops down in price...
#24 SUNDAY MARCH 2, 2008 @ 2:00PM: VANCOUVER CANUCKS 1 @ CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 4 – UNITED CENTER – VANCOUVER WAS HELD TO 10 SHOTS, PATRICK KANE HAD 2 GOALS + 1 ASSIST, RYAN KESLER SCORED A BEAUTIFUL GOAL, AND MATT PETTINGER AND CAM BARKER DROPPED THE GLOVES...
I wrote in a previous blog about how the old Chicago Stadium was a reason why I wanted to visit arenas outside of my home town. It all starts from the National Anthem, where fans boisterously and proudly sing along to the Star-Spangled Banner. I was looking forward to this moment and it didn’t disappoint. You didn’t have to be an American to sense the patriotism from the nearly twenty thousand people in attendance. The stadium was located outside downtown in a remote and shady looking part of town. Kind of a shame because you could see downtown Chicago in the distance, and a beautiful arena like this would have fit just so much more appropriately in the heart of downtown. Outside, there were beautiful statues of the legendary Chicago Bulls player Michael Jordan, and of the Blackhawks, such as Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. The arena was very large in size and reminded me a bit of The Bell Centre in Montreal in terms of size and noise level, except the concourses in Chicago were wider. We had great seats in section 230, row 1, in one of the corners of the arena. The view was very good, and we saw just how slow and outplayed the Canucks were on this day. Vancouver mustered a measly ten shots on goal throughout the game. Patrick Lalime was in goal for Chicago and probably had time to eat a few hotdogs when he faced just two shots in each the first and third periods. Speaking of hotdogs, they were by far the juiciest and best tasting wieners of all the hockey arenas. During the 3rd period, Jonathan Toews received a bone crunching hit by Matt Pettinger who was subsequently lured into a fight by Cam Barker. The United Center ranks at the top when it comes to overall entertainment value in hockey, definitely a top 5 arena in my opinion. The audio and visual experience is number one in my opinion; the scoreboard displayed wonderful videos and montages throughout the game, and the sound system was top notch. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3I_YWNZTSU
Matt Pettinger vs. Cam Barker fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wNw9zElmGw
National Anthem from Game #5 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ3VLwJSzuM&feature=related Ticket Price: $32.50 Attendance: 19,670 (99.8% full)
Colorado is a beautiful state to visit with the mountains and surrounding nature. We drove to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and visited the railroad museum and shopped at the authentic Wrangler cowboy store. I would love to go back to Colorado and explore trails and do some mountain biking. We visited the Coors factory and took the free tour. You might not be a fan of the brewery, but the beer making process was fascinating and very informative. The guide told us that employees are allowed to drink beer at work and take home a certain number of cans and bottles home a week. At the end of the tour, each guest was permitted to sample three glasses of beer. One of the employees serving the beer told us that young college students come every day, by-pass the tour, and proceed to drink the three free glasses allowed. Each guest is given a wrist band which can be hole-punched up to three times for each glass of beer served. According to one of the employees, students collect the wrist bands, and at the end of each school year they cut the bands into small pieces and throw them up in the air like confetti while drinking beer in the sampling lounge.
#25 TUESDAY MARCH 4, 2008 @ 7:30PM: VANCOUVER CANUCKS 1 @ COLORADO AVALANCHE 2 – PEPSI CENTER – PETER FORSBERG PLAYED HIS FIRST GAME IN FOUR SEASONS AS AN AVALANCHE & JOHN –MICHAEL LILES SCORED THE WINNING GOAL EARLY IN THE THIRD PERIOD...
This was a gorgeous arena inside and out. The atrium wasn’t the largest, but it had the highest ceilings, beautiful Avalanche photos on the walls, and the longest escalators. We were disappointed when ushers told us we weren’t permitted to watch pre-game warm-ups unless we had seats in the 100 level. Montreal was only the other arena not allowing fans without 100 level tickets to watch the warm-ups from ice level. We had club level seats in section 250, row 3, that I found for half the face value on eBay. The concourse on the club level was very fancy and had staff taking food and drink orders from the seats. The arena provided great sightlines, the atmosphere was great and Peter Forsberg was given a very warm reception. This is definitely a top ten arena in the NHL and won’t disappoint many fans. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ_j7tl4mAQ
Rick Rypien vs. Cody McLeod fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI6t5zhFK_w Ticket price: $45.00 Attendance: 17,621 (97.9% full)
#26 WEDNESDAY MARCH 5, 2008 @ 7:30PM: PHOENIX COYOTES 2 @ DALLAS STARS 1 – AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER – BOTH TEAMS COMBINED FOR JUST 37 SHOTS, SHANE DOAN’S GOAL EARLY IN THE 3RD PERIOD WAS THE GAME WINNER...
Everything is bigger in Texas: the airport, the highways, the restaurants, and of course, the arena was VERY big inside and out. This was by far one of the least exciting hockey games I attended; at least Dallas scored one goal so I could hear their kick ass goal horn and theme song. We had good lower level seats in section 103, row O, in one of the corners facing the team benches. We were sitting next to a very friendly couple who drove a few hours from southern Texas to watch the game. Although they didn’t attend many games, they were quite knowledgeable about the teams and its players. The arena had some seats in the upper bowl that seemed like a mile away from the ice surface, so I would avoid those and stick to lower bowl seats which can be found on eBay for under $50 a ticket. This is definitely a top tier arena with all the amenities, but local fans told me the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team that also plays games inside the American Airlines Arena, draws more passionate and hardcore sports fans.
I really had a good laugh when they played Mike Tyson’s original Nintendo music when a fight started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJB6g0xrNTc
Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIWObAocpEc
The Texas couple beside us: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AlTTnUCknc Ticket price: $45.00 Attendance: 17,942 (96.8% full)
I had seen the Devils play at home in December, 2005, but with a new arena, it was part of my mission to see them play in their new building. The Rangers were underdogs heading into the first round of the Eastern Conference quarter finals against the Devils, but found themselves up 3 games to 1 headed for game 5 in Newark, New Jersey. I decided to see this game last minute and then drive to Nashville to see game 6 of the Western Conference quarter finals between the Predators and Red Wings. I drove from the Ottawa area on Friday morning and listened to the NHL satellite radio throughout my road trip; the hosts and reporters did an outstanding job of thoroughly dissecting each playoff series as they unfolded.
#14B FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2008 @ 7:30PM: NEW YORK RANGERS 5 @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS 3 – PRUDENTIAL CENTER – GAME #5 OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINALS – THE RANGERS DEFEATED THEIR RIVALS ON THE ROAD, JAROMIR JAGR HAD 1 GOAL + 2 ASSISTS, HENRIK LUNDQVIST STOPPED JOHN MADDEN ON A PENALTY SHOT IN THE 3RD PERIOD TO PRESERVE A 4-3 LEAD AND MARTIN BRODEUR DIDN’T SHAKE HANDS WITH SEAN AVERY AFTER THE GAME...
I arrived outside the arena about thirty minutes before puck drop and was impressed by the number of Rangers fans who made the trip. The majority of the fans were chanting the moment I stepped into the Prudential Center. Some people were verbally abusing other fans because of the bitter rival that exists between New Jersey and New York. This was more than about hockey. You could see the hate and resentment people had for one another by all the yelling and insults that were going back and forth. I arrived dressed completely neutral, not caring who won the game, but rather as a fan of the game and observer of human behaviour on this night. The Prudential Center was a huge upgrade from the old Continental Arena; it had all the amenities and great sightlines, while being located in the heart of Newark made attracting fans much easier. I purchased a seat in section 22, row 17, located near the goal line and facing the team benches. I had a wonderful view and absolutely loved the electric playoff atmosphere inside the building. After the Devils lost the game, their season subsequently came to an end, but the hate between New Jersey and New York fans continued as fans filed out of the arena. As I walked out the entrance, I witnessed a mob of people surrounding a young man who lay motionless on the ground. It was obvious from all the commotion that the man had apparently been knocked out cold by another fan. I heard sirens in the background and realized help was on the way, and could only hope the man would be okay. If you’re going to see a game in Newark, you may want to attend a regular season contest against a non rival opponent to lessen your chances of avoiding a confrontation. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBbrF55XRvs Ticket price: $95.00 Attendance: 17,625 (100.0% full)
After the game in New Jersey, I wanted to get out as fast as possible. I got on Interstate 81 South and drove for a few hours before crashing for the night in a hotel somewhere in Pennsylvania. New Jersey to Nashville, Tennessee is about 14 hours by car or a little over 1400 km away. The Predators and Red Wings game was on Sunday afternoon at 2:00PM, so I drove Friday night to cut down my driving on Saturday. After driving all day Saturday, I stayed in a hotel close to Knoxville, Tennessee, about 3 hours away from Nashville. On Sunday morning I drove to Nashville and arrived a few hours before puck drop in the ‘Music City.’ I am not a big country fan but can appreciate the music and the passion some people have for it. The arena was smack dab in the middle of the town. I found a parking spot about 2 blocks away at a gas station and paid JUST $6.00. I found this quite cheap considering how close I was to the arena and the fact it was the playoffs.
#27 SUNDAY APRIL 20, 2008 @ 2:00PM: DETROIT RED WINGS 3 @ NASHVILLE PREDATORS 0 – SOMMET CENTER – THE RED WINGS DEFEATED THE PREDATORS AND WON THE EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINAL SERIES 4 GAMES TO 2, NICKLAS LIDSTROM SCORED THE WINNING GOAL FROM BEHIND CENTER ICE ON A SLAP SHOT, PREDATORS WERE OUTSHOT 43-20...
The outside of the arena was very nice and featured a huge photograph of the Predators captain Jason Arnott, who was unfortunately injured at the time. The team had setup activities for children outside the arena while they waited for the gates to open. There was a man waiting in line wearing a Red Wings jersey, so I struck up a conversation with him about hockey. He told me that he came from Memphis, Tennessee, and that he was a fan of the Red Wings since the ‘’original eight teams.’’ (Diehard fans all know it was the original six) His southern accent only made what he said funnier as I tried not to laugh out loud. He was a very friendly guy, so despite his confusion with the number of original teams, I enjoyed our chat and wished him and his team good luck. I had bought my ticket on the ticketmaster website and picked it up inside the arena. It was the first time I picked up a hockey ticket via a machine similar to an ATM which printed the ticket on the spot. The inside of the arena seemed dark, a bit dreary, and looked older like a garage in parts of the concourses. I did however, have an outstanding seat in section 115, row GG, just 5 rows behind the Red Wings team bench. The first two rows (AA-BB) were occupied by the team benches. As far as I remember, every arena in the NHL starts at row 3, C, or CC behind the players’ benches. My seat provided me with the best view I’ve ever had at a hockey game. I never saw so many fans place anti Red Wings’ banners plastered on the glass all around the 100 level. The Predators fans seemed very optimistic they could win game six and force a seventh and deciding game in Detroit. The crowd noise and enthusiasm was great until about six minutes remaining in the second period, when Nicklas Lidstrom silenced the fans with a slap shot from behind center ice and scored on a crazy bounce that made it 1-0 Detroit. The Red Wings played great defensive hockey the rest of the way and won 3-0 and took the series 4 games to 2. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk5nlr9b6YMTicket Price: $102.00 Attendance: 17,113 (100.0% full)
I was very much looking forward to seeing the Pittsburgh Penguins play on the road in Phoenix and St. Louis. I decided to fly to Las Vegas, play poker a couple days, then rent a car and drive to Phoenix and watch the first of two hockey games. I left Las Vegas Thursday morning and the temperature was about 72 degrees Fahrenheit, as I drove south towards Phoenix the temperature steadily increased and the air got drier. It took me about six hours to reach Phoenix and it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit two days before the month of November! I had brought about 2 litres of Gatorade with me, yet I still felt dehydrated as I reached Phoenix. It was so dry that even a bit of blood came out of my nose that evening. On the day of Halloween I flew out of Phoenix and stayed in St. Louis and played poker at Harrah’s casino. The day after Halloween I went to watch the St. Louis Blues play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
#28 THURSDAY OCTOBER 30, 2008 @ 7:00PM: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 1 @ PHOENIX COYOTES 4 - JOBING.COM ARENA – SHANE DOAL HAD 2 GOALS + 1 ASSIST, STEVE REINPRECHT HAD 2 ASSISTS, OLI JOKINEN HAD 1 GOAL, SIDNEY CROSBY WAS INJURED TOWARDS THE END OF THE 2ND PERIOD...
It’s a shame not enough people attend NHL hockey games in Phoenix. The arena is gorgeous inside out, the team has been fairly competitive lately, but other sports rule the area, and people can’t be blamed for what other sports they may prefer supporting, or where else they choose to spend their disposable income. Similarly to Ottawa, the arena is situated quite far from the main downtown core, so some fans are less inclined to make the lengthy trip back and forth to Glendale, Arizona. I had a great seat in section 115, row D, behind the goal, one of my favourite spots to sit at a hockey game. It was inside this arena that I enjoyed the most delicious sandwich/meal of all the arenas I visited, a large hot Reuben sandwich which included: layered corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and a Thousand Island dressing. The sandwich was grilled between slices of rye bread. I also liked how the parking was free, just like in southern Florida where the Panthers play. There was a large contingency of Pittsburgh Penguins’ fans in attendance, but they left unhappy because the Phoenix Coyotes won in convincing fashion. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEk9cBNINDM Ticket price: $62.30 Attendance: 15,178 (86.7% full)
#29 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2008 @ 7:30PM: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 6 @ ST. LOUIS BLUES 3 – SCOTTRADE CENTER- MIROSLAV SATAN HAD 1 GOAL + 2 ASSISTS, EVGENI MALKIN HAD 1 GOAL + 1 ASSIST, SIDNEY CROSBY HAD 2 ASSISTS, AND PAUL KARIYA HAD 2 ASSISTS...
The Scottrade Center opened in 1994 and has held up in terms of looking like other arenas built since the new millennium. I had many friendly conversations with fans and staff working at the game. There were a handful of Penguins’ fans in attendance, but there were far more in Phoenix. The St. Louis Blues definitely have a solid fan base as evident by the team’s long history in the league. The Blues made the playoffs for 25 consecutive seasons between 1980 and 2004. I had a seat in section 120, row E, behind the goal, slightly to the corner next to where the Zamboni and officials entrance. At the end of the second period as the referees and linesmen exited right beside me, I called out for a puck, and one of the linesmen threw me the game puck that was used during the second period; the piece of vulcanized rubber showed lots of game use with a couple chipped areas and scratches. I’m pretty sure it was the same puck used when Evgeni Malkin and Tyler Kennedy each scored in the last seven minutes of the second period. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhlz35rO80Q Ticket Price: $65.50 Attendance: 19,150 (100.0% full)
With just one arena left on my mission to see all NHL arenas, I was growing continuously excited and couldn’t wait to visit Minnesota and the Excel Center. I took the plane from Vancouver, connected in Colorado, and then flew to Minnesota where I met my godmother who took the plane from Toronto. My godmother was the one who took me to see my first NHL game in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens. I thought it would only be fitting that she joined me and we went to my last arena together just hours before my birthday on January 14th...
#30 THURSDAY JANUARY 13, 2009 @ 7:00PM: PHOENIX COYOTES 3 @ MINNESOTA WILD 6 – XCEL ENERGY CENTER – CAL CLUTTERBUCK, MIKKO KOIVU, AND OWEN NOLAN EACH HAD 1 GOAL + 1 ASSIST FOR MINNESOTA...
I was very impressed with the Xcel Energy center in terms of overall game experience; in my opinion, it ranks third overall after Florida and Columbus as having the nicest arena in the league. The exterior of the arena is massive and beautifully constructed. Once inside, I was impressed by the large concourses, and really liked seeing the jerseys of every hockey team from Minnesota beautifully adorned on the walls around the arena. Minnesota is a hockey state, and is well reputed for its minor hockey at various levels. Being a northern state they benefit from cold winters which provide great outdoor rinks for people to play the game of hockey. The Wild organization were in the midst of the longest sell-out streak in hockey, but it came to an end during a pre-season game in late September of 2010 at 409. The sell-out streak is held by the Colorado Avalanche at 487. Many factors including the new Minnesota Twins baseball stadium, the Wild’s less than stellar play, and economy have drawn less fans. Even when we were at the game, I noticed empty seats despite the supposed sell-out that night. I purchased seats that provided an outstanding view in section 104, row 10, between center and the blue line, facing the team benches. We were high enough to see and feel part of the game without having obstructions from the glass. We could see Wayne Gretzky, coach of the Coyotes, who seemed less than pleased, often yelling and grimacing at the Phoenix players and officials that night. The Wild have what I consider to be the best team theme song that’s played when they score a goal and immediately following a home victory. The song is called ‘’Crowd Chant’’ and is performed by Joe Saitriani. The song is so popular in fact, that other teams such as the Vancouver Canucks have used it as their theme song...After the game, my godmother took me to a bar across the street and at midnight we toasted my birthday and accomplishment with a glass of wine. Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRVflF5Y5D4 Wild theme song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twgExz9EPLM Ticket price: $86.00 Attendance: 18,568 (102.8% full)
TOP 5 FAVOURITE NHL ARENAS:
1. BANKATLANTIC CENTER – SUNRISE, FLORIDA
2. NATIONWIDE ARENA – COLUMBUS, OHIO
3. XCEL ENERGY CENTER – ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
4. HSBC ARENA – BUFFALO, NEW YORK
5. ROGERS ARENA – VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
TOTAL SPENT ON TICKETS: $2141.71
AVERAGE TICKET PRICE: $69.09
MOST EXPENSIVE TICKET: $166
LEAST EXPENSIVE TICKET: $20
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 535,095
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 17,261.129
SELLOUTS: 13
LONGEST GAME: 7- ROUND SHOOTOUT
TOTAL GOALS SCORED EXCLUDING SHOOTOUTS: 155
AVERAGE TOTAL GOALS SCORED PER GAME EXCLUDING SHOOTOUTS: 5
HOME WINS: 15
VISITOR WINS: 13
TIES: 3
OVERTIMES: 8
OVERTIME GOALS: 2
SHOOTOUTS: 3