OK, the hockey game itself was not the adventure, since I’ve been going to these since I was a kid. But I’ve never sat this close before:
four rows up
Let me tell you, seeing hockey this close makes it REALLY vivid. You can see smoke from the Zamboni (who knew smoke was involved?!), the hits are a lot more, um, present, and you see all the little details that TV cameras miss, like the tape the players put on their socks, and the little asides the players have with each other. I was like a kid on Christmas morning, I’m telling you.
We started by having dinner at Boston’s, across from the arena. It was packed with game goers all dressed in hockey regalia, ready for some action. We had pizza and nachos–I don’t think I’ve ever seen my dad eat nachos–and were appropriately psyched. After eating we headed over to glorious section 116.
In my opinion, section 116 is the best at Nationwide Arena. You’re right by the Massive Food Court, the restrooms, and a little souvenir kiosk, as well as the silent auction, if you’re into that. And you get killer views of the ice. Of course the closer you are, the more awesome it is (lots of flying pucks that night….I should’ve brought a baseball glove!). HD TV’s got nothing on being up close and personal.
(There are few things I like more than freshly Zamboni’d ice..)
So, even though the Jackets lost, it was a great experience, and I had a lot of fun with my Dad.
How FUN!!! I’ve been to one hockey game in my life, about a million years ago when I was in college, Did you get to see players crash into the glass in front of you?