Went to my first NHL game

[JCE]

And my god was it the sweetest thing since going to an NBA game. Watching it on TV is definately not the way to go. We had $120 seats about 9 rows up (I think?) almost centre ice. I'm spoiled now, I don't want to get any other ticket if I go next time. My Ford dealer gets suite tickets and these tickets we used. So, I plan on going again.

I went to this game at the American Airlines Center: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=271210009

Man, if you only knew how awsome it was for those of you who haven't ever seen a live hockey game. Any casual fan NEEDS to go see at least one game in their lifetime. I'm itching to go back!

Oh, and it also helps that we won and there was lots of scoring!

 

[V1P3R]

Nice, yeah... Ya go for the sounds mos def. Although with these huge ass HD tvs they have up it's literally like watching Hi and low def tv at the same time, LIVE. xD

Anyway, My sis and dad have Sharts erm... Sharks season tickets, I'm the "sub" Their seats are right in front of a wall to the lower suite so we don't have to worry about leaning forward and blocking people's view.

 

[a6m5]

Only Major League games I've ever attended are baseball and basketball.

I'm gonna keep it that way.

 

[Max Powers]

You hit the nail on the head there. Watching a game on tv just does the sport no justice. It's really hard to appreciate all of the speed in the game while watching it from the couch, even if you do have a nice HDTV. Usual tv camera work for hockey games is pretty awful too, making it hard to see the plays develop

You're missing out big time, a6m5, seeing these guys live on the ice and just realizing the talent it takes to play at their level is really impressive, even for somebody who doesn't consider themself a hockey fan.

 

[Speedy Samurai]

I remember attending my first hockey game. (I have since seen many). I was the only guy in my section wearing a Buffalo Sabres jersey at GM Place, home of the Vancouver Canucks.

Pavel Bure scored 21 seconds into the game for Vancouver and the taunts started coming my way. The Canucks added one more later in the period, triggering more taunts and jeers in my direction, and kept it at 2-0 through the second period.

When the Sabres got 3 quick goals to start the third the Cnuckleheads in my section started their glaring at me. That's about the time Mike Keenan started switching goalies back and forth. The Sabres added two more that period and won 5-2. I almost go into 3, no 4, fights on the way out.

ahhhhh, Hockey!

 

[Omnis]

Yeah, Hockey in person is awesome. I love going to the games.

 

[Silverzone]

I'm going to my first game Thursday! I am so excited, I can't wait.

 

[JCE]

Only Major League games I've ever attended are baseball and basketball.

I'm gonna keep it that way.

You're missing out then. The NHL in person is just about as good as watching the NBA live and in person. And that is considering I prefer the NBA over anything else.

You hit the nail on the head there. Watching a game on tv just does the sport no justice. It's really hard to appreciate all of the speed in the game while watching it from the couch, even if you do have a nice HDTV. Usual tv camera work for hockey games is pretty awful too, making it hard to see the plays develop

You're missing out big time, a6m5, seeing these guys live on the ice and just realizing the talent it takes to play at their level is really impressive, even for somebody who doesn't consider themself a hockey fan.

You said it. The little things you don't see on TV either, like the fact that they substitute players just about ever trip down the floor just like the NFL substitutes players on every play. Seeing someone skate full speed and stop within 3 feet and instantly change direction at full speed is mind-blowing. And you are 100% spot on with the TV coverage--they just can't keep up with the game. Watching the plays develop is just awsome. You also really appreciate the level of talent and toughness that these players have. I've always maintained that professional hockey is the toughest sport to play around here (since we don't get rugby). You get the brutality of an NBA like schedule with more phyiscal play than the NFL. You FEEL the checks against the boards from across the arena--or at least we did in my seats 9 rows up or so. Its just brilliant, I can't say enough how awsome it was. I've gone to NFL games and NBA games, but the one thing I can say about having gone to an NHL game is the fan interaction. In every direction every fan was interacting with each other--it was like one big family. You didn't know the person but you felt like you were in someone's living room with your mates watching the game.

I'm going to my first game Thursday! I am so excited, I can't wait.

Awsome, I'm excited for you. Win or lose (your team) you're going to have a blast. 👍

Oh, and another thing you don't notice on TV is actually how fast the game goes by. Those three hours seemed like an hour. And that was with the overtime!

 

[Diego440]

Only Major League games I've ever attended are baseball and basketball.

I'm gonna keep it that way.

Well, I've gone to the exact opposite. Only NFL and NHL games. Oh, and one Arena Football and one AAA Baseball.

I have to say, the most fun was ice hockey... especially during the Stanley Cup Finals! No Goal!

 

[Boundary Layer]

Good stuff. Too bad the Oilers didn't come out on top though

I still vividly remember seeing my first NHL game when I was 6 or 7, and when Winnipeg still had the Jets. They lost to the Habs 5-3, and I didn't get Steen's or Essensa's autograph after the game. I've had to settle for IHL and AHL since '96/97. The goal this spring is to drive down and catch a Wild game when Vancouver, Calgary, or Edmonton go through.

 

[JCE]

Too bad America just doesn't watch the NHL--its really pretty good. Oh, and I'm glad the Stars won. Edmonton just doesn't play well down here, they're like 3-17 or something like that.

 

[V1P3R]

^You lose lots of points now sir.

Only Major League games I've ever attended are baseball and basketball.

Only sport I'll attend is Hockey.

 

[Max Powers]

You're missing out then. The NHL in person is just about as good as watching the NBA live and in person. And that is considering I prefer the NBA over anything else.



You said it. The little things you don't see on TV either, like the fact that they substitute players just about ever trip down the floor just like the NFL substitutes players on every play. Seeing someone skate full speed and stop within 3 feet and instantly change direction at full speed is mind-blowing. And you are 100% spot on with the TV coverage--they just can't keep up with the game. Watching the plays develop is just awsome. You also really appreciate the level of talent and toughness that these players have. I've always maintained that professional hockey is the toughest sport to play around here (since we don't get rugby). You get the brutality of an NBA like schedule with more phyiscal play than the NFL. You FEEL the checks against the boards from across the arena--or at least we did in my seats 9 rows up or so. Its just brilliant, I can't say enough how awsome it was. I've gone to NFL games and NBA games, but the one thing I can say about having gone to an NHL game is the fan interaction. In every direction every fan was interacting with each other--it was like one big family. You didn't know the person but you felt like you were in someone's living room with your mates watching the game.

I'd completely agree on it being the toughest sport to play. These guys play a brutal schedule, playing every other night for the most part, and take a pounding out there. I played ice and inline hockey for around 10 years, and I know how much just one or two games a week could take out of you, and that was only at the high school level, the pros play much faster and hit much, much harder.

I really think the perception of hockey in this country would be so much better if people would just give it a chance and go see a game, even for the casual fan, it's pretty incredible to watch. The problem is, that many people don't have a team close by, so they're stuck watching mediocre tv coverage, but it's sad to see markets that do have teams taking no interest anymore (not a problem here in Pittsburgh, the Pens have a huge fan base here). I'm not even a Penguins fan (Maple Leafs), but I make a point of seeing at least 4 or 5 games a year in Pittsburgh, it's a great night out, and the best experience you can get without actually being out there playing.

 

[Omnis]

First hockey game I went to was Panthers vs. Hartford Whalers. Hahaha. It was back in the Miami Arena-- back when they used to share the Arena with the Heat.

 

[Max Powers]

The Hartford Whalers ruled, I really liked the old expansion teams better before they moved.

 

[Boundary Layer]

^ hell yeah!

 

[a6m5]

I just don't like NHL. Fighting thing is just silly to me. I've heard the excuses, and I just don't buy it. A huge turnoff.

On the other hand, hockey games I've caught on TV from the Winter Olympics, they were pretty exciting. If you like NHL, good for you. It's just not for me.

Well, I've gone to the exact opposite. Only NFL and NHL games. Oh, and one Arena Football and one AAA Baseball.

Oh my god! I think I'm getting a migrane!

Only sport I'll attend is Hockey.

You've made that clear to me. More than once.