Not sure if this type of thread is usually on here or not, but for lack of anything else to talk about, and because I find it intersting, here goes...
Do you usually take in an away game or two each season?
Do you have some planned for this year? Where?
What in your opinon is the best and worst places to go for a grand game experience?
Last year I took in the Flyers and Rangers. Took alot more poo at the Flyers game, but they both were massive amounts of fun... The year before I went to the Caps and Thrashers. The Caps game was amazing because of other Caniacs right below us... This year I'd like to take in another one or two, but not sure what direction to head...
Paging Kaberlay and CANES. They are the kings of road trips.
The first time I went to a game in a different NHL arena from G'boro and Raleigh was in 06, but not for the Canes. I visited Minneapolis and St. Paul and saw the Wild play the Blue Jackets on opening weekend. In a few ways this is almost more enjoying than seeing your own team play because you aren't the target of 18,000 other people. I was wearing a Gaborik shirt and cheering for the Wild, so I just got to take it all in.
This past season I think I became addicted to road tripping to see the team. I met CG and Afino in Buffalo in January and joined Kaberlay and SAMSOWNAGE who were on the first leg of their northern trip, and saw us lose I think it was our 5th straight game. Buffalo was actually the most pleasant experience. I had no real problems with fans, and in fact it was probably me who was being the jerk as from what I am told I actually tried to pick a fight in a bar at the end of the night because I was so disappointed in the lack of hostilities.
In March I went with some friends to the Verizon Center, and that was fun, although we lost in a shootout. Lots of Canes fans up there, but we also had some insanely drunk guys in our row who were there to start trouble. Luckily for us one of them tumbled through the seats all the way to the bottom of the section about 5 minutes into the game and they were all thrown out. After that it was a good time, and I talked to a lot of cool people up there.
Then, of course, I went to Game 1 of the Conference Finals in Pittsburgh, again a loss. Clearly I do not need to follow the team on the road (preseason only maybe). That was by far the worst experience after the game, as I detailed in threads around that time and don't feel like rehashing.
The Xcel Energy Center was easily the best venue and location for me, with Mellon being easily the worst pro sports venue I've ever been in. Their new area will be amazing, though, and the location is fantastic.
The top places that I want to see a game at some day are probably Montreal, New York, Vancouver, San Jose, and Chicago.
This year it looks like Montreal and Ottawa in April may be on the agenda. Just got to work on getting a job...
__________________
-Jonathan
Last edited by Gotta Catch Em Staal: 08-07-2009 at 10:30 AM.
Now this is a topic I can get behind. Kaberlay and I have been on several adventures on the road following the Canes. I highly recommend the experience to anyone who hasn't taken in a game on the road. I do not recommend going with us though, because we have the same luck as DaleCooper in that we do not tend to play very well. We did manage to see the Canes win one in Toronto last year, which was a welcome change from our previous losses.
In 07-08, we went to Toronto and Ottawa. Toronto was awesome, I highly recommend taking a trip there to take in a hockey game. Everybody was awesome, we didn't really run into any *******s at the game at all, probably due to the fact that Toronto managed to snap something like a 9-game losing streak in that game. Their fans were actually telling us they wanted us to win, because they wanted to see some front office changes and figured continued losing would make it happen. We were not able to fulfill their requests. Then we went to Ottawa for a game a couple of days later. We ventured over into Quebec so that we could say we've been there, other than that I don't really remember anything outstanding about Ottawa. It was cold and we never really ran into anything that exciting going on. We found an awesome restaurant (LOCAL HEROES) through a Senators fan board recommendation, and went there a couple of times. I'd go back to Ottawa, but it's not an exciting place from what I've experienced. Fans there didn't really care that we were in attendance, it didn't bother them. Only 1 guy talked ****, and that was after I stood up and went on a 30 second drunken rant directed at an official about a call on us.
Last year, as mentioned before we drove up to Buffalo and continued to Toronto again. I agree with DaleCooper's sentiments about Buffalo, I was definitely shocked to not really run into anyone that was an obvious obnoxious *******. In our seats I think we had some verbal jabs taken at us, but it was definitely by a minority and not most of the fans. Again, we lost. Toronto version 2.0 was more of the same as compared to our first trip to Toronto. Went to all kinds of bars and restaurants, including one bar where we talked with the owner who remembered us from the trip the previous year. Lots of people shocked to find out people would actually come up from Carolina to see a game in Toronto. We managed to win that one, which was nice to finally see on the road.
Later in the year we went down to Atlanta with a group. We were in the same section as the big group that went from here, but we were a few rows down from that crowd. Good experience, we were only in town for a day, so we didn't really do a whole lot of seeing Atlanta. We got in and went to the bar and started heading towards the arena area. We got invited to a tailgate party under I-85 or whatever interstate it was, but it was directly under an interstate. Lots of cool people and they had kegs and sound system equipment set up to play music. These guys were the hardest of the hardcore when it came to tailgating. They did it right. We lost that game too (blew it would be more accurate, should have won), no real altercations in the arena though. Interesting arena with all the suites stacked on one side.
My most recent experience was last year going up to DC to see us play the Caps. Stayed with my sister in northern VA, didn't do much of the touristy DC ****. We went into the city a few hours before the game, ran into DaleCooper in a bar down the street from the arena. Pretty good times can be had before a game, several bars in the arena area filled with Caps fans. No altercations at this point, other than 1 random dumbass who asked us "how we got through the gate", I suppose a reference at keeping southerners in the south. He looked like a ********* so I didn't really pick a fight with him on this one. At the game however, I sat a row behind one of the most obnoxious *******s I have ever met in my life. This was a 60 year old man who on several occasions turned around to talk **** to me, my friend, and my sister. He informed me that "Rod Brind'Amour is not as fast as Ovechkin." Real informative info there, dick. I told him this, and he went on to explain that Brind'Amour has NEVER been as fast as Ovechkin. Again, no argument from me, this is commonly known information. They score a few minutes after this and he proceeds to turn around and flip me off, tell me to **** off, and dance around like a jackass. Keep in mind this guy is at least 60. He continuously talked **** the entire time, if I had been drinking throughout the game I probably would have hit him, several times. We had a couple of other smartasses in front of us that thought they were being smart about talking **** using a lot of Hartford references, but they were extremely intoxicated and eventually realized we weren't *******s so they dropped the act and were civil after that. Another gentleman a section over chose to tell me how we choked away our playoff spot and division championship in 07-08. I asked him where their Stanley Cup banner was because I didn't see one in the rafters, and he started to make a beeline to me like he wanted to brawl. Several people held him back and he continued to toss obscenities at me for the rest of the game along with various choking gestures. We lost that one in a shootout, so there wasn't too much gloating from their fans after the game.
This year, I think Montreal and Ottawa is going to be the trip. I want to go to Montreal pretty badly and experience a game there. Maybe this year we can even sneak out another win, since I'm currently 1-4-1 on the road. I'll stop for now.
I have made several trips to Nationwide Arena in Columbus, though usually not to see the Canes but whoever is playing when i drive home to see the family. The arena district is a really good place to get something to eat and drink before and after the game. And of course the Arena is first class. Usually you could wear any teams jersey without much problem..until last season. i got a few verbal barbs thrown a me last year. i think in many cases the amount of mouthy fans is directly proportional to amount of winning a team does(though here in Raleigh we might have the exception), which would also explain why you guys didnt have problems in Buffalo last season...zing!
Thanks for the replies guys! I agree that going to an away game is something amazing... As long as nobody is being a total jerk to you, it's fun to be the enemy! I'm thinking of maybe doing the October Devils or Islanders game. That's just a hope yet at this point. Do plan on taking in one of the Caps games tho, too...
The Sens/Habs adventure sounds amazing. Do ya'll do the ebay or stubhub route for tickets, or is there a better source?
When I went to Minnesota and Pittsburgh, I used the official team ticket page (got a kick out of everyone in Pittsburgh asking "OMG HOW DID YOU GET A TICKET?!?!" "uhh... I went to the website and bought one"). For Washington I used StubHub.
Would it suck to go the the Islanders game? Just looking now and Stubhub has front row seats on the end Canes shoot twice for $79.00 each. It's a wednesday game, but thats not a bad price for front row!
Would it suck to go the the Islanders game? Just looking now and Stubhub has front row seats on the end Canes shoot twice for $79.00 each. It's a wednesday game, but thats not a bad price for front row!
If the seats you are looking at are on a row with only 2 seats, and are to the left of the goal (if looking from behind), I sat in those exact seats last season at the game where Sutter got hit by Weight.
The only problem was there was a camera guy planted on the glass in front of us which obscured our view of the crease at times. As an away fan, I didn't want to start *****ing at what I assumed was a usual camera position. However, after seeing highlights of the Canes broadcast, I realized it was a Canes camera! Bottom line is, I should have asked for the camera to be moved, and I only mention this if you are looking at getting those same seats.
Other than that, our game experience was fine. Nobody said anything to us as away fans, and the staff there was quite courteous.
I went to to a Caps game back in the early 90's, but the only other away Canes game I have been to is a Leafs game in Oct. of 07'. My experience at the Leafs game was similar to the Isle in that nobody said anything negative to us as away fans. The Canes won like 7-1, so that may have helped. The only interesting thing that happened at the game was being refused beer because the picture on my driver's license was a little washed out. I was 37 years old at the time, yet somehow they thought it may be fake, I suppose, despite my being decked out in Canes gear and the fact that they just served the guy I was with (my same age, also with NC license). I just walked around the corner and bought a beer from another vendor.
At the time I was astouded that someone could think I was 20 years old. I remembered later that the drinking age in Ontario is 19, so at 37, someone thought I may have been 18. No, I don't look that young.
__________________
Not for everyone . . . for madmen only.
We have an extra ticket to the Canes/Sabres game on 11/28. Its also the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so I doubt any of you guys will want to/be able to come up.
Which means I'll be stuck between Sabres fans, as usual.
__________________
....and nothing dims these stars.
Had thought about going to that game for my brother's bday... but it is the same day as NCSU/UNC, so both he and this road trip can go to hell, haha. We did have fun with you guys up there though. I actually want to go to Buffalo again!
There is another one Feb. 5th. I also be like....37 weeks pregnant at that game, so I'm not sure how much fun it would be with Afino & I. I'm sure every 5 minutes he will be asking me "ARE YOU OKAY?? DO WE NEED TO GO???". haha
We have an extra ticket to the Canes/Sabres game on 11/28. Its also the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so I doubt any of you guys will want to/be able to come up.
Which means I'll be stuck between Sabres fans, as usual.
Actually, It's probable that I'll be in Syracuse on thanksgiving. I go to school up in NY, and would be spending it with relatives, and would have to be going back up to potsdam on sunday.
Well, it looks as if we will be taking in the 10/17 game vs the Devils... In high hopes that we make it out alive as I'm quite sure we could possibly find a few souls that don't welcome us with open arms... If anyone has any knowledge of the place or area, feel free to pass it on. If not, we'll wing it like usual. So far, I can't say as I've been let down!
Anyone else wanting to meet us there for the Bump-A-Marty-Party would be welcome!
I always seem to get lucky with the scheduling when they play in Ottawa. A few years back it was on my birthday and this season it's the day before. I believe the 1st is a Thursday this year so I'll have to wait and see my course schedule to figure out if I can make it out to that one.
Just bought tickets for 3 of us to take in the Canes/Devils game in October. Lower level eleven rows off of the ice on the end the Canes shoot twice... I am psyched!!!!!
Not sure if it will make any difference, but the Devils play the night before and we have two days off... Not planning on it, but am in hopes that the great MB will be watching from the bench...
Last edited by Caniac4ever: 10-07-2009 at 03:03 PM.
I really want to find a game to go to this year on the road... I don't want to go to NJ, or to canada... I was thinking Pitt, Atl, Nash, or somewhere else.. Can someone recommend a good trip?
