|
Post by Krang7 on Feb 5, 2007 13:04:03 GMT -3
My father and I made the trek to Montreal this weekend to watch the Canadiens play the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon. This is just a recap of my trip for anyone who's interested in the experience, if they haven't had it before. My father acquired tickets from sources unknown to see the game Saturday, so we figured we might as well use them. We couldn't get tickets for the game Sunday, and we weren't willing to pay scalpers prices, so we could only get the one game in. After much deliberation we decided to take the Via rail from Moncton to Montreal. I'd never taken a train before so I figured it would be a new experience. The train left Moncton on Friday evening and arrived in Montreal on the morning of game day. After a quick breakfast we decided to take a walk up to the Bell Centre to take a look. Although we couldn't get into the actual rink right away, we had lots of fun dodging scalpers, and then we were able to get into the Canadiens' apparel store and then into the Cage aux Sports (the bar within the rink) where we partied with a huge number of Habs fans before the game, and where I had an encounter with TSN's John Lu. When we were finally allowed access to the rink, I was as excited as a pig in... well you know what. We found our way to our section and walked through the corridor into the arena, and I was floored. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight. The seats seemed to go on forever. The ice surface was as well kept as anything I've ever seen. The rest of the arena was just an incredible display of lights and colors and sounds that you have to see and hear to believe. The game was still an hour and a half away and there was hardly anyone else there yet, but I could already feel the atmosphere. This is was what a hockey game experience should be like. When the seats were filling up and the warmups finally started, I experienced the first eruption of pure europhic joy when the Canadiens hit the ice. I'm not even exaggerating a little, it's hard to describe how seriously these people take their Canadiens. I don't think "love affair" is a stretch at all, although it would be for other teams. For the warmup I went right up to the glass. It was a pretty awesome experience to be that close to players that I've only ever seen on TV, but I'll try not to get all puck bunny-ish. The way they can move the puck and how well they can shoot and skate is incredible. I have all the more respect for players that can play at that level. Our seats were about 20 rows up behind the Canadiens net for the first and third periods. They definetly weren't the best seats in the house, but I had no problems seeing every part of the ice surface, something that can't be said for some rinks.... I won't bore you with how the game went, but it was incredible skill all the way around. At one point the Canadiens had a powerplay and I couldn't keep up with the puck movement, it was that fast. The Habs seemed like the best team for the whole game until the 3rd period, where they kinda blew it, allowing 3 goals. So they lost which kind of put a damper on things, but the experience definetly made up for it. The noise in the rink was absolutely insane. At the start of the game they had a nice piece introducing each player for the Canadiens, resulting in thunderous applause (especially for the stars, Huet, Koivu, Kovalev, Souray, Markov, Abby, etc). Whenever they put up the "NOISE, BRUIT" graphic on the scoreboard, the building shook. At one point in the 3rd period they had a contest that would give a prize for the row that made the most noise. I'm sure if you listened hard enough you would have been able to hear it from Charlottetown. The music and the announcements had to be at least twice as loud as they are at the CCC, which would be much to the chagrin of some of the posters here. With the amount of noise the crowd was making it made the music seem about the perfect volume, so it equalled out. So other then the result it was just a fantastic experience for me, to 1) be in the Bell Centre and see all it's wonders, from the old historic stuff to the new modern lights and sounds, and 2) being a part of a crowd that, though about 8 times the size of a normal crowd at the CCC, felt like it was actually part of the game, and felt like one large group, like the cliche says a sixth player. After the game we hopped back on the train at about 6:30 and arrived back in Moncton at 12:00 noon on Sunday. We got back home just in time to watch the Canadiens vs. Penguins game on CBC. ;D
|
|
|
Post by scroogemcduck on Feb 5, 2007 13:16:34 GMT -3
My father and I made the trek to Montreal this weekend to watch the Canadiens play the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon. This is just a recap of my trip for anyone who's interested in the experience, if they haven't had it before. My father acquired tickets from sources unknown to see the game Saturday, so we figured we might as well use them. We couldn't get tickets for the game Sunday, and we weren't willing to pay scalpers prices, so we could only get the one game in. After much deliberation we decided to take the Via rail from Moncton to Montreal. I'd never taken a train before so I figured it would be a new experience. The train left Moncton on Friday evening and arrived in Montreal on the morning of game day. After a quick breakfast we decided to take a walk up to the Bell Centre to take a look. Although we couldn't get into the actual rink right away, we had lots of fun dodging scalpers, and then we were able to get into the Canadiens' apparel store and then into the Cage aux Sports (the bar within the rink) where we partied with a huge number of Habs fans before the game, and where I had an encounter with TSN's John Lu. When we were finally allowed access to the rink, I was as excited as a pig in... well you know what. We found our way to our section and walked through the corridor into the arena, and I was floored. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight. The seats seemed to go on forever. The ice surface was as well kept as anything I've ever seen. The rest of the arena was just an incredible display of lights and colors and sounds that you have to see and hear to believe. The game was still an hour and a half away and there was hardly anyone else there yet, but I could already feel the atmosphere. This is was what a hockey game experience should be like. When the seats were filling up and the warmups finally started, I experienced the first eruption of pure europhic joy when the Canadiens hit the ice. I'm not even exaggerating a little, it's hard to describe how seriously these people take their Canadiens. I don't think "love affair" is a stretch at all, although it would be for other teams. For the warmup I went right up to the glass. It was a pretty awesome experience to be that close to players that I've only ever seen on TV, but I'll try not to get all puck bunny-ish. The way they can move the puck and how well they can shoot and skate is incredible. I have all the more respect for players that can play at that level. Our seats were about 20 rows up behind the Canadiens net for the first and third periods. They definetly weren't the best seats in the house, but I had no problems seeing every part of the ice surface, something that can't be said for some rinks.... I won't bore you with how the game went, but it was incredible skill all the way around. At one point the Canadiens had a powerplay and I couldn't keep up with the puck movement, it was that fast. The Habs seemed like the best team for the whole game until the 3rd period, where they kinda blew it, allowing 3 goals. So they lost which kind of put a damper on things, but the experience definetly made up for it. The noise in the rink was absolutely insane. At the start of the game they had a nice piece introducing each player for the Canadiens, resulting in thunderous applause (especially for the stars, Huet, Koivu, Kovalev, Souray, Markov, Abby, etc). Whenever they put up the "NOISE, BRUIT" graphic on the scoreboard, the building shook. At one point in the 3rd period they had a contest that would give a prize for the row that made the most noise. I'm sure if you listened hard enough you would have been able to hear it from Charlottetown. The music and the announcements had to be at least twice as loud as they are at the CCC, which would be much to the chagrin of some of the posters here. With the amount of noise the crowd was making it made the music seem about the perfect volume, so it equalled out. So other then the result it was just a fantastic experience for me, to 1) be in the Bell Centre and see all it's wonders, from the old historic stuff to the new modern lights and sounds, and 2) being a part of a crowd that, though about 8 times the size of a normal crowd at the CCC, felt like it was actually part of the game, and felt like one large group, like the cliche says a sixth player. After the game we hopped back on the train at about 6:30 and arrived back in Moncton at 12:00 noon on Sunday. We got back home just in time to watch the Canadiens vs. Penguins game on CBC. ;D That's a great write-up, Krang, well done! The way you describe your reaction when you first entered the rink, made me think back to my old days going to the Montreal Forum - I had that reaction EVERY TIME I went. I don't mind the noise and music when the fans are into it, as they are in Montreal - it's when you get loud music and the fans are all sitting on their hands and nodding off that it bothers me. The glass in a big rink isn't as much of a problem in a big rink, because most seats are above the glass, and the angle is steep, so you can see very well. Strange you'd say that behind the nets 20 rows up isn't a very good seat, it sounds pretty good to me, lots better than 50 rows up, which is where I was last time. Quite the experience, great that you enjoyed it, too bad you had to come back so quickly....get any sleep?
|
|
|
Post by Krang7 on Feb 5, 2007 13:22:53 GMT -3
My father and I made the trek to Montreal this weekend to watch the Canadiens play the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon. This is just a recap of my trip for anyone who's interested in the experience, if they haven't had it before. My father acquired tickets from sources unknown to see the game Saturday, so we figured we might as well use them. We couldn't get tickets for the game Sunday, and we weren't willing to pay scalpers prices, so we could only get the one game in. After much deliberation we decided to take the Via rail from Moncton to Montreal. I'd never taken a train before so I figured it would be a new experience. The train left Moncton on Friday evening and arrived in Montreal on the morning of game day. After a quick breakfast we decided to take a walk up to the Bell Centre to take a look. Although we couldn't get into the actual rink right away, we had lots of fun dodging scalpers, and then we were able to get into the Canadiens' apparel store and then into the Cage aux Sports (the bar within the rink) where we partied with a huge number of Habs fans before the game, and where I had an encounter with TSN's John Lu. When we were finally allowed access to the rink, I was as excited as a pig in... well you know what. We found our way to our section and walked through the corridor into the arena, and I was floored. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight. The seats seemed to go on forever. The ice surface was as well kept as anything I've ever seen. The rest of the arena was just an incredible display of lights and colors and sounds that you have to see and hear to believe. The game was still an hour and a half away and there was hardly anyone else there yet, but I could already feel the atmosphere. This is was what a hockey game experience should be like. When the seats were filling up and the warmups finally started, I experienced the first eruption of pure europhic joy when the Canadiens hit the ice. I'm not even exaggerating a little, it's hard to describe how seriously these people take their Canadiens. I don't think "love affair" is a stretch at all, although it would be for other teams. For the warmup I went right up to the glass. It was a pretty awesome experience to be that close to players that I've only ever seen on TV, but I'll try not to get all puck bunny-ish. The way they can move the puck and how well they can shoot and skate is incredible. I have all the more respect for players that can play at that level. Our seats were about 20 rows up behind the Canadiens net for the first and third periods. They definetly weren't the best seats in the house, but I had no problems seeing every part of the ice surface, something that can't be said for some rinks.... I won't bore you with how the game went, but it was incredible skill all the way around. At one point the Canadiens had a powerplay and I couldn't keep up with the puck movement, it was that fast. The Habs seemed like the best team for the whole game until the 3rd period, where they kinda blew it, allowing 3 goals. So they lost which kind of put a damper on things, but the experience definetly made up for it. The noise in the rink was absolutely insane. At the start of the game they had a nice piece introducing each player for the Canadiens, resulting in thunderous applause (especially for the stars, Huet, Koivu, Kovalev, Souray, Markov, Abby, etc). Whenever they put up the "NOISE, BRUIT" graphic on the scoreboard, the building shook. At one point in the 3rd period they had a contest that would give a prize for the row that made the most noise. I'm sure if you listened hard enough you would have been able to hear it from Charlottetown. The music and the announcements had to be at least twice as loud as they are at the CCC, which would be much to the chagrin of some of the posters here. With the amount of noise the crowd was making it made the music seem about the perfect volume, so it equalled out. So other then the result it was just a fantastic experience for me, to 1) be in the Bell Centre and see all it's wonders, from the old historic stuff to the new modern lights and sounds, and 2) being a part of a crowd that, though about 8 times the size of a normal crowd at the CCC, felt like it was actually part of the game, and felt like one large group, like the cliche says a sixth player. After the game we hopped back on the train at about 6:30 and arrived back in Moncton at 12:00 noon on Sunday. We got back home just in time to watch the Canadiens vs. Penguins game on CBC. ;D That's a great write-up, Krang, well done! The way you describe your reaction when you first entered the rink, made me think back to my old days going to the Montreal Forum - I had that reaction EVERY TIME I went. I don't mind the noise and music when the fans are into it, as they are in Montreal - it's when you get loud music and the fans are all sitting on their hands and nodding off that it bothers me. The glass in a big rink isn't as much of a problem in a big rink, because most seats are above the glass, and the angle is steep, so you can see very well. Strange you'd say that behind the nets 20 rows up isn't a very good seat, it sounds pretty good to me, lots better than 50 rows up, which is where I was last time. Quite the experience, great that you enjoyed it, too bad you had to come back so quickly....get any sleep? The seats certainly weren't bad, I was really pleased with them actually. Just not the best is all. And I slept like a baby on the way back, which may have had something to do with the 6-8 beer I had before and during the game. I forgot to mention it in the first post, but after seeing the beer "girls", the bartenders at the Cage, and the cheerleaders that were apprently wearing referees uniforms, I can still safely say that we have the best looking beer girls in hockey.
|
|
|
Post by HockeyChick21 on Feb 5, 2007 13:41:23 GMT -3
That was a really good description, thanks for sharing. I never have been to a nhl game other then the pre-season ones in Halifax and Moncton...while they were great they would be nothing compared to the real thing in real NHL rinks. Like I said before not a fan of the Habs or the Leafs but would love to go to a game in their rinks simply for all the history and excitement that their fans bring and just the atmosphere itself would be truly amazing...of course would love to see a game in Ottawa even more though.
|
|
|
Post by scroogemcduck on Feb 5, 2007 13:45:01 GMT -3
That was a really good description, thanks for sharing. I never have been to a nhl game other then the pre-season ones in Halifax and Moncton...while they were great they would be nothing compared to the real thing in real NHL rinks. Like I said before not a fan of the Habs or the Leafs but would love to go to a game in their rinks simply for all the history and excitement that their fans bring and just the atmosphere itself would be truly amazing...of course would love to see a game in Ottawa even more though. There's no reason why you can't do it. Book tickets early next season, and go for it. Montreal is only 11 hours away, much less if you fly. I wouldn't bring Junior, though....not only might you not get into the rink, you probably wouldn't even get onto the plane! You'll just have to lock him up and make your getaway.
|
|
|
Post by deer on Feb 5, 2007 14:56:48 GMT -3
Great write-up, Krang.
I went to a game at the Bell Centre (Molson Centre back then I think, ugh) back in March 2002, as a 20th birthday present.
I'm not even a Habs fan, but I had the EXACT same reaction as you did when I first entered the actual arena portion of the building and gazed out upon the endless sea of seats, the cavernous ceiling, and the absolutely perfect ice surface.
I went with my grandfather, and two Montreal natives- my friend Sebastien (used to billet with us when he played for CB) and his father Georges. My grandfather said that the look on my face when the teams took to the ice for warmup and started throwing the puck around (like you said, their skills are 100X more impressive in person than on TV, heck there's even a huge difference between how impressive Q players' skills look in person vs on TV) was easily worth the trip in itself. Sebastien was practically a pro hockey player himself, but even he was giddy like a little kid when the game got started up....... it was his first NHL game in a long while.
Georges was the prototypical crazy French fan....... cursing in French at the referees all game, very animated and into it, knew EVERYTHING about the team and its players, the perfect kind of guy to watch a Canadiens game with.
Unfortunately, I was pretty sick that day which dampered the experience for me. I had the flu and could barely move....... felt like absolute shit....... but still managed to enjoy it all as best I could, and still managed to make sure to try a Montreal smoked meat sandwich from the Bell Centre concessions.
Speaking of the concessions, I couldn't believe how quickly they produced hot dogs! There were hundreds of hot dogs all in a row, and this lady went down the row and put mustard on all of them in about 30 seconds flat. It was crazy!
The walk to the rink was interesting......... strip clubs everywhere the eye could see, including Club Supersexe, which is MASSIVE- bigger than any shopping mall in Cape Breton I think!
The Habs played the Penguins that night, a Saturday night, and the game was on Hockey Night In Canada. Habs won 2-1 in OT, on a goal by Oleg Petrov. It was thought they had won it earlier, when Craig Rivet's point shot found its way in with just minutes remaining in regulation......... but it got waved off (forget why, high sticked on the way in maybe). That's when I got my best Bell Centre noise experience. The boos when that goal was disallowed were DEAFENING!!!
And the place went crazier for that not-to-be Rivet goal than it did for the Petrov OT winner that actually counted.
The game was very important in the standings, as the Habs were right in the middle of a heated PLAYOFF RACE (there you go scrooge!), and the two points were huge in helping them end up making the playoffs as the 8th seed.
That year, they upset the 1st-seed Boston Bruins in six games in the first round, with Jose Theodore having doubtless his finest moments of his NHL career. Theodore was also incredible in the game I attended, and was first star. The Habs eventually lost in six to Carolina in rd 2, with the turning point being Game 4, where they had a 3-0 third period lead and somehow lost 4-3 in OT. Difference between going up 3-1 in the series (and they probably would have finished it off) and being tied 2-2. Carolina never looked back.
Another thing I remember............ I'm going to bet it still holds true today.................... THE anthem of the rink that night was that song that goes "HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY EYYYYYYYYY BABY................. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH AHHHHHHHHHHH............. I wanna KNOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW............ If you'll be my girlllllllllllllllllllllllll".
They played it countless times that night, and MAN did the crowd get into it! It was so fun singing along to that extremely catchy tune. Everywhere I went in Montreal that weekend, I ran into that song. Like I said, I bet you heard it this past weekend too, at the game.
After the game, we walked down St. Catherine's St (did I spell that properly?), and people everywhere were honking their horns....... as I said, this game was a very important one in the playoff race.
Great experience, just talking about it makes me want to do it again, even though I generally don't like the NHL!
|
|
|
Post by Krang7 on Feb 5, 2007 15:14:22 GMT -3
Great write-up, Krang. I went to a game at the Bell Centre (Molson Centre back then I think, ugh) back in March 2002, as a 20th birthday present. I'm not even a Habs fan, but I had the EXACT same reaction as you did when I first entered the actual arena portion of the building and gazed out upon the endless sea of seats, the cavernous ceiling, and the absolutely perfect ice surface. I went with my grandfather, and two Montreal natives- my friend Sebastien (used to billet with us when he played for CB) and his father Georges. My grandfather said that the look on my face when the teams took to the ice for warmup and started throwing the puck around (like you said, their skills are 100X more impressive in person than on TV, heck there's even a huge difference between how impressive Q players' skills look in person vs on TV) was easily worth the trip in itself. Sebastien was practically a pro hockey player himself, but even he was giddy like a little kid when the game got started up....... it was his first NHL game in a long while. Georges was the prototypical crazy French fan....... cursing in French at the referees all game, very animated and into it, knew EVERYTHING about the team and its players, the perfect kind of guy to watch a Canadiens game with. Unfortunately, I was pretty sick that day which dampered the experience for me. I had the flu and could barely move....... felt like absolute shit....... but still managed to enjoy it all as best I could, and still managed to make sure to try a Montreal smoked meat sandwich from the Bell Centre concessions. Speaking of the concessions, I couldn't believe how quickly they produced hot dogs! There were hundreds of hot dogs all in a row, and this lady went down the row and put mustard on all of them in about 30 seconds flat. It was crazy! The walk to the rink was interesting......... strip clubs everywhere the eye could see, including Club Supersexe, which is MASSIVE- bigger than any shopping mall in Cape Breton I think! The Habs played the Penguins that night, a Saturday night, and the game was on Hockey Night In Canada. Habs won 2-1 in OT, on a goal by Oleg Petrov. It was thought they had won it earlier, when Craig Rivet's point shot found its way in with just minutes remaining in regulation......... but it got waved off (forget why, high sticked on the way in maybe). That's when I got my best Bell Centre noise experience. The boos when that goal was disallowed were DEAFENING!!! And the place went crazier for that not-to-be Rivet goal than it did for the Petrov OT winner that actually counted. The game was very important in the standings, as the Habs were right in the middle of a heated PLAYOFF RACE (there you go scrooge!), and the two points were huge in helping them end up making the playoffs as the 8th seed. That year, they upset the 1st-seed Boston Bruins in six games in the first round, with Jose Theodore having doubtless his finest moments of his NHL career. Theodore was also incredible in the game I attended, and was first star. The Habs eventually lost in six to Carolina in rd 2, with the turning point being Game 4, where they had a 3-0 third period lead and somehow lost 4-3 in OT. Difference between going up 3-1 in the series (and they probably would have finished it off) and being tied 2-2. Carolina never looked back. Another thing I remember............ I'm going to bet it still holds true today.................... THE anthem of the rink that night was that song that goes "HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY EYYYYYYYYY BABY................. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH AHHHHHHHHHHH............. I wanna KNOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW............ If you'll be my girlllllllllllllllllllllllll". They played it countless times that night, and MAN did the crowd get into it! It was so fun singing along to that extremely catchy tune. Everywhere I went in Montreal that weekend, I ran into that song. Like I said, I bet you heard it this past weekend too, at the game. After the game, we walked down St. Catherine's St (did I spell that properly?), and people everywhere were honking their horns....... as I said, this game was a very important one in the playoff race. Great experience, just talking about it makes me want to do it again, even though I generally don't like the NHL! Now I have post-envy (and yes that's exactly like penis-envy, before anyone asks). Great recap deer, and I'm glad that I'm not the only person who looks like they are about to drool when they first walk into the arena. It's too bad you were under the weather, but that should just be more motivation to go again. As for the song, I know which one you mean. They did play it a couple of times for sure, but I don't remember there being a whole lot more singing along to it then any other song. The people were singing along to everything. One of the coolest things for me was that the sometimes the fans started chants that prompted the people running the graphics on the scoreboard and the screen that runs around the entire rink to start displaying them, and not the other way around. More then once chants of "GO HABS GO!" and "OLE! OLE! OLE!" started up before they showed up on the screens. That's something you would never see at the CCC.
|
|
|
Post by scroogemcduck on Feb 5, 2007 15:28:45 GMT -3
So um......did the disc jockey at the Bell Centre have to tell the crowd to "MAKE SOME NOISE FOR YOUR MONTREAL CANADIENS"!
......or not?
Oh Deer!, it's spelled "Ste-Catherine" - but only because you asked.
I thought both of you did very good write-ups, no need for post envy.
Warmed my old heart up........not TOO much, though, but still.....
The first few years at the Bell Centre, it was kind of dead in there, and very easy to get a ticket.
It took an American, George Gillett, an excellent owner, to revive the team by doing all the right things and getting the fans back.
Anyone listening at The Morgue?
DOING THE RIGHT THING, GETTING THE FANS BACK!
|
|
|
Post by SwallowMyBitterPill on Feb 5, 2007 19:28:48 GMT -3
I've been to a few games at the Bell Centre , including one shortly after it was opened up and I can tell you my experience was the exact same. Hockey in Montreal is just an altogether different animal.. and I would definitely encourage any hockey fan to make the trip at least once in their lifetime.
I've also been to games in other NHL rinks and while I certainly enjoyed them very much.. the atmosphere couldn't compare at all to that of Montreal.
|
|
|
Post by spitz on Feb 6, 2007 22:25:30 GMT -3
Wow that brings back great memories. Been to the Mtl forum about 8 times. All good times. We would buy stand up tickets and when they opened the doors it would be a mad dash for the best ones, elbows flying, the works. standing behind the reds wasn't to bad. We rented a 15 passenger van each time,great drive there(except for the driver) long drive home.
|
|
|
Post by scroogemcduck on Feb 7, 2007 11:50:32 GMT -3
Wow that brings back great memories. Been to the Mtl forum about 8 times. All good times. We would buy stand up tickets and when they opened the doors it would be a mad dash for the best ones, elbows flying, the works. standing behind the reds wasn't to bad. We rented a 15 passenger van each time,great drive there(except for the driver) long drive home. Interesting. There wasn't much room to stand behind the reds, though, because you could do it only on the sides. More people stood behind the whites (used to be greys), because though they were higher than the reds, you could stand all the way around. I have old ticket stubs from the Montréal Forum - I have some from Fenway Park and a few other places, also. March 9th, 1963 - the night Lou Fontinato broke his neck. Sec 25, South end, where the injury happened. Cost of the ticket, $4.00 Rangers won, 5-2, and Habs goalie Plante was terrible, as he quite often was - bad night for the Habs all around.
|
|
|
Post by HockeyChick21 on Feb 7, 2007 11:53:16 GMT -3
$4 freaken dollars man I just paid $76 to watch a exhibition game lol
I wish it was still 4 bucks
|
|
|
Post by spitz on Feb 7, 2007 12:15:43 GMT -3
Yes scroogemcduck getting behind the reds was tough. We got them I believe twice then we ended up behind the top. Next few we went for white. I believe price was about 11 bucks in the late eighties.
|
|
|
Post by scroogemcduck on Feb 7, 2007 12:18:07 GMT -3
$4 freaken dollars man I just paid $76 to watch a exhibition game lol I wish it was still 4 bucks Chick, even accounting for inflation, $4 in '63 would amount to only $25 now. ....but of course, the $10-15K the players made then would translate to $60-$90K now. So it's not as if we don't know where the money is going. Salaries soar, fans suffer, and no one in professional sports gives a damn.
|
|
|
Post by Bobo_Sinclair on Feb 24, 2007 10:52:31 GMT -3
What a coincidence!! My first NHL hockey game was also at the then Molson Center... in March 2002.... against the Penguins! Donald Audette's (sp?) first game back after gaving his wrist almost cut off, with Oleg Petrov getting the OT winner.
Now, I didn't have seats half as good as you guys. Where I was sitting... well, you litteraly could not sit behind me. The back of my chair was against the back wall on the top-most balcony. Let me put it this way, during breaks, some people throw prizes and giveaways from up above the stands. They walk on the walkways where all the beams are and such. Well, we were at the same level as them almost! They couldn't even reach us!
Anyways, as for the game, like Deer said, the noise was absolutely ridiculous. I loved every minute of it! And it's incredible how everybody celebrates together! When Petrov scored that winning goal (Montreal was in the playoff race for the first time in a while, and in the thick of things were the Penguins. Big game!), it was like an explosion of sound. I've never heard anything so loud in my life, except once at an air show, when an engine blew up. That loud.
Sitting in front of us, we had 5 guys, all friends. When Petrov scored, they turned around to us (we were like 3 sitting togeter. Hockey team trip) and there go the high-fives, even big hugs, jumping around, it was incredible!
As for the music, it was loud, and did I ever love it. Everything Deer said (espescially that "I wanna know if you'll be my girl song") was right on. The atmosphere of the rink. The huge size. Everything.
That being said, I went to an Ottawa Senators' game once. Does not compare whatsoever. A lot of empty seats, not a lot of noise, with the fans mainly doing what McDuck hates the most. Nothing.
However, during the warmup, I got to go down to the glass and be right beside Chara. Now THAT's a sight!
|
|