Hockey “Research,” vol. II: Reading Royals

Last Friday, the boys and I made another hockey trip—all in the name of research.  This time we visited the Sovereign Center in Reading for “Pint Glass Night” last Friday.  Here’s a bullet summary of our trip, along with a couple pictures and a few observations.  I’m planning to apply some of this to what I expect, what I hope, and what I recommend for Allentown—but that will come another day.

View From Our Seats

• Tickets.  I purchased my tickets on the internet through the Royals web site affiliated with Ticketmaster.  Our seats were center ice, higher up than before, but not in the less expensive zone (I let one of the kids pick them this time).  Each ticket was $19.50.  Plus, $1.00 EACH for “facility fee.”  Plus, $6.15 EACH for “convenience fee.”  Plus $2.15 once for the order for “processing.”  That’s not all!  I declined the $2.50 EACH for “printing fee” for my own printer, opting to stand in line at will-call instead.  I also declined the $7.00 EACH for “insurance,” in case we weren’t able to attend the game.  In the end, I paid $82.10 for three $19.50 tickets.  When we picked up the tickets at the will-call table, the young man asked me if I had purchased the tickets online.  When I responded that I had, he encouraged me to call the ticket office on the phone next time to save all the fees (save the $2.15 processing).  Will do!
• The trip to Reading seemed easier despite the rush hour traffic on 222 and my poor choice of routes within the Reading city limits.  It took exactly the same amount of time as the Wilkes-Barre trip; without the traffic and driving errors it would have been shorter.  GPS doesn’t take into account “lights” and “other cars.”
• Parking was easy at a garage across the street.  It was $5 even though I read on the internet to expect $8-$10.  Super-short walk.  Well lit.  No problem at all.
• Based on what I read and saw on the internet, I was expecting the Sovereign Center to be a somewhat “lesser” facility.  Let me just say that it wasn’t at all.  It seemed cleaner and better lit and friendlier than the Mohegan Sun.  There were more and better concessions.  The seating was better.  The video board was nicer (the arena is two years newer, I believe) but located at the end rather than on the scoreboards.  I suppose then you need only one.  It was hard to look at and watch, though.

Our View of the Board

• On the way in, I received a small slip of paper.  It was my “ticket” for my free pint glass, which I could receive on the way out.  I did.  It’s nice.  Standard fare.
• The seating at the Sovereign was a complete oval, whereas the Mohegan was a capped-U.  While I believe the capacities were similar, the seating at the Sovereign felt closer to the ice (despite the difference in my seating location—I mean in general).  An added benefit was the 360-degree concourse, which was convenient for perusing the concessions.
• I was told shortly before the game that the Reading Royals are owned by the same team (Finley/Stein) that owns the Reading Phillies (and Lehigh Valley IronPigs…).  Indeed the game had a similar feel to the Reading Phillies games I’ve been to.  I think the PA announcer was the same guy.  I didn’t recognize any ushers, though.
• There wasn’t a “club level” per se.  My section was labeled “club,” but there was nothing “club” about it as far as I could tell.  There were two special bars, one at ice level—below concourse level–and one at suite level—above concourse level.  We didn’t check out either; although I found out after the fact that both should have been open to all ticket holders.  Access was not well marked and they were not well promoted.  Plus, I had the kiddos with me.
• Quick word on concessions:  Nice!  Grilled Stickies, Wraps, Soups, Coffees, Stadium Food, BBQ (I had a brisket sandwich.  Yum!), Yuengling bar, Stoudt’s bar, Ice Cream.  
• Royals won with 0.1 seconds on the clock in overtime.  I let slip to Mrs. Kram via phone on the way home that we intend to get Phantoms’ season tickets (I thought she knew…looks like just two seats then), but the kids are hooked.  They really enjoyed it again, and I didn’t have to drag them to go (I would have gone with just one kid or by myself if need be). 
• The Hockey:  ECHL is “AA” to AHL’s “AAA.”  I think I could tell (remember I’m not really a hockey guy) as pucks were jumping over sticks a lot more, and players were less quick to get off a good shot when it looked like they had one—just couldn’t pull the trigger a bunch of times.  My older kid said he could “tell” because they were “sloppier.”  Maybe.  Happy to have AHL anyway, with Trenton as Philly’s ECHL team.
• The crowd:  attendance was reported as 3900 or so.  It did seem about half full, or a little better.  There were more kids, compared with Wilkes-Barre, and it did have that more family-friendly feel that we are used to from R-Phils and IronPigs.  The crowd seemed more into it and louder than up north.  Perhaps it was the bells and the vuvuzelas.  (I’m not kidding)

So there it is.  I’ll have more about the Allentown Arena and the coming of AHL hockey to the Lehigh Valley in the weeks ahead.