In order to better understand AHL hockey, my boys and I headed North last Friday for the AHL game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Manchester Monarchs (LA Kings).
Background:
I’ve been to only two hockey games before, and my kids have been to none. I once attended a college hockey game—I think at Penn State (that period of my life is a little hazy). We were right behind one of the goals, right on the “glass.” The action in front of us was compelling, but at the other end of the ice we could see nothing. A few years later, I attended a Hartford Whalers game (when they existed) where I was invited to sit in a “sky box.” We were a long way from the ice, but the amenities were very nice. Also, the ability to look down on the play and see the whole ice at once—compared with SD TV at the time—was beautiful. What we experienced in Wilkes Barre may only resemble what is to come in Allentown as much as the old PNC resembled Coca Cola Park. But still, here is our report:
Tickets:
The Penguins had home games both Friday and Saturday nights, and we were free both evenings. The weather was a little questionable for Saturday—plus it was bobblehead night and tickets were harder to come by—so we picked Friday. I set about studying the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza to decide where to sit relative to the ice and the arena concessions. In the course of my studies, I discovered a banner ad at the bottom of a web page. It read, “Ticket Exchange. Buy/Sell Club Seats from Season Ticket Holders. Arena Approved and Endorsed.” I immediately clicked on it. I discovered that I needed a Penguins Ticket Exchange account. Ahh. I probably need to be a ticket holder to participate. ‘Create Account’ was an option, so I pressed on. Once I had my account, I selected my game. Then, clicked on [BUY] of the [BUY]/[SELL] option. Next thing, I had five choices of “Club Level” seats from which to choose. I needed three tickets, so I quickly just picked the choice that had three seats, as the ones with four would have wasted a seat—and there’s NO WAY Mrs. Kram wanted to go along. (She thinks she doesn’t like hockey.) Not observing where the seats were located was a mistake, as you’ll see below.
This is the kind of ticket exchange that I have proposed in the past for the IronPigs. In this case, it was run by Ticketmaster, and did include fees. However, I cannot say that the fees were any more than what I would have paid with Ticketmaster anyway. The seat price was fair; all choices were the same. I’m not sure what those seats usually go for, as they are not offered as single-game that I could see, but what I paid seemed to be within reason.
Game Day:
By now I realized where the seats were located. The kids were given some instructions about the game:
- We’re in the middle of a row of 20. You will not be up and down to the bathroom and the concessions except for between periods.
- We are right behind the penalty boxes. Do not heckle the players in the box. They are likely to NOT be in a good mood.
- Despite our affinity for the Penguins, we will not be purchasing jerseys and hats at the store.
- You may sample concessions as you like and without limit (see rule 1) so long as you don’t get sick in my car on the way home. (Side note: at the IronPigs games they have rules about the amount and kind of food they are allowed to order because of the sheer cost of eating there every single game.)
Travel:
The trip up was a familiar 1-hour trek which felt similar to trips to the SWB Yankees as well as the Kirby Center on the square in Wilkes Barre. The arena is located across the street from the Wyoming Valley Mall—an old haunt from my youth. In fact, my GPS took me right through the mall parking lot to get to the arena. Parking, in and out was easy and straight forward. The $5 parking fee is “included in the price of the tickets for hockey” according to the web site. This was accurate, as we didn’t have to pay anything. Club season ticket holders are entitled to preferred parking, but a pass was not included with my tickets so we parked in the regular lot.
“From the Club Level”
We explored the arena a bit on arrival, observing the concession choices and finding our seats. The Club seats are located at center ice directly across from the benches, and behind the official’s area and the penalty boxes. The seats are “padded and two inches wider” boasted the web site. They reminded me of average movie seats, compared with hard plastic elsewhere in the arena.
OK, so our row wasn't crowded
There were no pictures of a “club” on the web sites of either the Penguins or the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. But, there was mention of a private area. We set out in search. Directly behind the club seats was private access to the restroom facilities and concessions which also open to the concourse on the opposite side. Down a bit, I thought I saw something that resembled a “club,” but it was a bar area called “Stix”—a Grand Illusion indeed. An attendant who wasn’t happy to see kids headed into the bar was able to direct us to the “club.” We were to walk half-way around, take the elevator to the lower level, go through the double doors on the right, past the curtain, check with the fellow at the podium, through another curtain, and there it is. OK, then.
Ahh, the comforts of home...
We did find it, passing players and media on our journey through the bowels of the arena. It was a private room in the basement. It was nicely decorated and had a full bar as well as a “gourmet food” station (think: Pig Stop). It was very quiet. We decided not to eat there, but I ordered a beverage and we relaxed on the comfortable furniture in front of the (fake) fireplace to watch some ESPN on one of the 6 or 8 flat screens. Before my beverage was finished, the kids wanted to move on. “We can do this at home,” they said. They were correct. The area seemed not so useful, but could have been handy if there was business or socialization that needed to occur prior to a game. I imagine the game was on some of the screens during play. Luxury boxes were on the upper level accessible by elevator. We did not attempt to access them.
From what I’ve read, the “club” area at the Allentown Arena at Pawlowski Place will be above the club seats. It will be a restaurant on non-game nights, and for the club ticket holders on game nights. That is only what I’ve heard, though, and obviously could change. It would work a lot better and would allow for higher pricing, I guess.
Concessions:
Concessions were plentiful and as varied as usual stadium food goes. There was a Sonic location within the arena, which was interesting. It was dollar dog and draft night, so one could go up to the window and get 4 hot dogs and 2 drafts for $6. Many did just that. My kids sampled the hot dogs and nachos and fries and ice cream and candy without complaint. There was a “signature sandwich” available called the “Roast Beast.” I was all over that. It was roast beef au jus with bacon-flavored cheese on an onion roll over a bed of crab-fried chips. It was odd-tasting, but I didn’t have trouble finishing it. The dollar drafts included most every draft beer available as far as I could tell, with the usual two-per limit from 6PM to 7:30PM (7:05 game time.) Miller Lite and Yuengling were available near me, but a local brewery (Lion) had a window as well. I’m not sure if they participated in the dollar draft night. The drafts appeared to be 12-oz cups, but increased to 16-oz cups when the price reverted to its normal $6 at 7:31.
The Game: The Monarchs scored first several seconds into the game. The Penguins answered a minute later. Two goals in less than two minutes! Who says hockey is low-scoring!?
The score early on...
The Penguins went on to score three more before the Monarchs changed goalies. No further goals were scored as the home team held on to the 4-1 win. The view from our seats was poor. We were too low, and had to look through two layers of Plexiglas and dividers at the action. It was impressive to observe the speed and skill of the game from that close, but ultimately it was unsatisfying.
Our view...
Near the end of the game, as we went to the restroom at the top of the level and watched the end of the game from there, my youngest said—unprovoked—“Wow! This is A LOT better!”
"This is A LOT Better!"
From the ticket charts, I estimated about 75% of seats were sold, but observed fewer—more like 60%–in attendance. Perhaps it was the threat of imminent weather or season ticket fatigue or the pending bobblehead the next evening. I would think the opportunity for dollar dogs AND drafts would be a bigger draw. The game the next night ended up selling out, from email notification I received.
Kid 1: "Is that thing a phone?!?" Me: "Yup, and that thing next to it is a computer monitor." Kid 2: "Boy I hope they're not doing the replays on that thing."
Epilogue: The Kids enjoyed the game and look forward to going again. We’ve talked about trying the Sovereign Arena in Reading for a Royals game. We learned to get seats higher up next time. Back when I purchased my IronPigs season tickets, I asked to see the seats in person prior to signing on the dotted line. Perhaps I will ask the same with the Phantoms if they are amenable.
mmmmmm.....onion rings.....
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