For me, one of the best things about being a hockey fan is going to away games.  You get to support your team on the road, see what it is like at other arenas, and of course have a mini-vacation out of it (if you are able to).  I personally like seeing how other team's game day experiences are like.  Some do it really well - like Nashville - while others - RIP Atlanta - weren't that good.

I was fortunate to be asked if I wanted to go to the Caps home opener against our Canes on Saturday, October 8.  The Canes would lose 4-3 in Overtime, but I learned although we love to make fun of Caps "Fans" and their bandwagon nature, the Verizon Center is a pretty good venue to watch a hockey game.

A few things that I took note of at the Verizon Center.  First, unlike the RBC Center their is not a metal detector, there aren't camera restrictions, and they only really check your bags.  This surprised me being in the nation's capital.  Sometimes I think the RBC Center has a lot more security than other arenas, I've been to.  (Columbus, Nashville, Atlanta, and now Washington.) (I'm not sure how security is at the new arena in Pittsburgh).

Speaking of cameras, with the RBC Center size restrictions in mind, I wasn't sure what to bring.  I took my trusty Canon Rebel XSI, but only by 55-200mm lens.  I usually have a wide angle lens but after being told in Charlotte that I can't bring my camera bag with extra lens with me - I just took the camera.  But at the Verizon Center - you had folks with attached flash and more professional type lens.

And speaking of photos, my set from the game (233 photos in all) is over at flickr.  Or you can just make the jump for a handful with commentary. :-p

Continue reading this post »

That is going to the Panthers game at 1, then going over to the Time Warner Cable Arena for the Canes at 5?

We're thinking of it and didn't know if anyone here is.  It looks like there are still tickets available for the Panthers game this weekend.  It's not often - if ever again  here in North Carolina - that you can see two professional sporting events in the same city in one day!

If you are what are your plans?

From Bob's post about the new holding company that Karmanos is creating to attract new investors, Sgt. Stinky had a number of devil's advocate points about the team's finances and current management structure.  However, one point stuck out to me.

9) lack of continued investment in infrastructure for hotels, restaurants, etc. surrounding RBC center

I started out with a comment and figured why not do a fanpost out of it.

Very interesting as the Inside Wade development is starting back up again (that's the traffic light on Edwards Mill between Cardinal Gibbons and Wade Ave.)

Inside Wade has plans to be similar to North Hills but on what appears to be a smaller scale.  It will be more residential.  Lennar is planning on 300 homes though the original plan was to have 1500 homes.

"Original plans for Wade called for about 150,000 square feet of shops, 500,000 square feet of offices and at least 1,500 homes and a hotel."

It would be nice to see more development around the arena, and really when you think about it.  There isn't much development within reasonable walking distance of the ESA.  Yes, I realize the fairgrounds has a substantial impact of the lack thereof.

What I am getting at is...do you as fans think that the Karmanos' Krew should invest some money in infrastructure and development around the Arena? 

Have they ever hinted towards it? Do you think it's a civic responsibility of a sports franchise owner to invest in community development outside of the goodwill of having a team?

And what would you as fans want around the arena...what's missing?  A real sports bar and restaurant? More dining options? More hotels for fans making a weekend trip?  More entertainment offerings?

Look at how the area around the DBAP has grown in the past ten years?  Do you want to see that around the Arena?  Or would that take too much away from the tailgating experience..add unwanted traffic, etc?