If you have a minor league hockey team in the area, I highly suggest you get tickets and go check them out (provided you like hockey, of course). Last night we went to the Ontario Reign game, and it was GREAT fun! We'd gone to a Los Angeles Kings game last month and had fun, but the Reign game was much better in my opinion. There were only about 5000 people there, out of a 9700 capacity, which made it a little more up close and personal. The seats we had were 8 rows off the ice, and still cost us less for both than one seat in the upper section of the Kings game. Plus, I didn't feel like my extremities were going to suffer from frostbite by the end of the first period. BIG plus.
The team doesn't seem so great (their record is 4-3 and they looked pretty bad in the 2-0 loss last night), but the fans seemed REALLY into the game. During the break after the first period, they had sumo wrestling. Two fans selected from the crowd were dressed up in massive sumo suits, and escorted into the middle of the ice. I wish I'd taken a picture of these guys trying to stay standing while trying to knock each other down, because it's just hysterical.
My favorite part of the game is the fights. It's a little like a NASCAR fan only watching the race to see the accidents, but I can't help it. These guys are hilarious. Halfway through the first period gloves started being thrown and 2 players started circling each other with fists raised. It looked a little like 6 year olds emulating a boxing match. The rule is that the referees won't get involved until the guys hit the ground, so they're free to punch the hell out of each other as long as they remain standing. There were quite a few scuffles between players, which I think played a big part in why I had so much fun. I'm a little sick, I know.
While I love watching baseball, hockey is certainly way more entertaining to go see. Season tickets are pretty inexpensive for this team, so we might just become serious fans!
I know this is going to be blasphemy to you, but I feel this exact way about minor league baseball. Going to a Twins game is my own personal hell, but going to see the minor league team in St. Paul is so much more fun. They have entertaining activities during the oh so frequent downtimes and the atmosphere is less “professional baseball” and more fun.
I know a few people who are big fans of our area AHL team, the Chicago Wolves, and yes, they say it’s way more fun than going to see the Blackhawks. The Wolves win a lot so I’m thinking that has to be more fun than watching the Hawks! I have not been to a Hawks game for ages (how long? it was the OLD stadium) – I had a great time but also a lot of beer spilled on me :p
[...] been a season ticket holder to ANYTHING, so I am probably more excited than the average person. Last week I wrote about how much fun the game was, and that we were considering getting season tickets. [...]