Where Do You Prefer To Sit When Watching Hockey?

[Big Glove Save 0]

Presuming that most of us play the sport, lets have a brief discussion about our preferences towards where we like to sit in an arena when watching hockey live. Where do you like to sit when watching professional hockey?

When we were younger, we would buy the least expensive tickets and then seat hop; moving like nomads from section to section every time the rightful seat owners would force us to move. These days, we prefer to sit no closer than eight rows from the glass, somewhere on the sides in the neutral zone, looking across the ice to the players' benches.

Who likes to sit in the corners right on the glass? Who likes to sit behind the attacking first and third period goal? Who likes to sit up in the nose bleed seats?

Tell us where you like to sit when watching professional hockey.

[sickwilly 37]

I prefer to sit fairly high up, somewhere in the neutral zone. I can see a lot more going on/developing from up there.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I've sat right at the glass for an NHL game...as as great as it is to be that close, you do miss some of the action.

I prefer...20-30 rows up at the corner.

[WSjo22 1]

As fun as sitting on the glass is nothing beats watching from a box at the suite level.... Can see the whole ice and how everything develops

[ddbowdoin 0]

fun topic... definitely two ways to go

1.) like 15 rows off the glass center ice is a great hockey experience mainly because you're up close to the stars you admire. You lose some vision and play development and add in the MUCH higher ticket price this is certainly a once a year at most kind of experience for me.

2) I really enjoy row 1 or 2 of the Balcony at the Boston Garden (TD Banknorth Garden for outsiders)... you get a great view of the ice and see the plays open. The tickets there are actually 90 bucks so you're not saving much but every penny helps. A loge seat runs roughly 125-150 so the difference comes down to seeing your favorite players up front or enjoying a hockey game unfold.

I prefer the second option, cheaper... more fights in the crowds up top (only kidding)

[RadioGaGa 162]

As fun as sitting on the glass is nothing beats watching from a box at the suite level.... Can see the whole ice and how everything develops

And, if food and drink is included...then it's the Sweet Level.

[dsjunior1388 81]

i always aim for the first row of the second deck on the rail, so the whole play is in front of me and I can see everything. I've never been on the glass before, And I've also never sat directly behind the goal so I'm going to probably get seats there next time we go to an OHL or college game. As far as going to a wings game, I just ake whatevers available, beggars cant be choosers.

[psh 25]

Suite level is nice, but the best vantage point, I think, is somewhere between the blue lines and 10-20 rows back. You can see the whole ice and watch plays develop and you aren't so far removed that you miss out on the sounds of the game and the reactions of the fans.

Except on rare occassions, I really don't like being in a corner, or behind a net or in an executive box. Though, it is nice to be on the glass maybe once a year so you can really see how amazingly fast the game is at the professional level. I think you lose a little of that as you move back from the glass.

[87vert 0]

my couch

[farhanshak 1]

I prefer to sit fairly high up, somewhere in the neutral zone. I can see a lot more going on/developing from up there.

yah i second that...although anywhere between 15-30 rows up in the netural zone usually is good for me...

[english15x 3]

my couch

agreed. i am too cheap to pay for tickets and its an hour drive for me. so i will just sit my ass on the couch. bathroom is only a hop skip and jump away, and all my snacks and beer cost much less.

[shotty 7]

As fun as sitting on the glass is nothing beats watching from a box at the suite level.... Can see the whole ice and how everything develops

2nd'd

not sure how the seats are configured at other nhl rinks, but the club section at gm place is spaced a little wider and farther, so even though you're sitting with a lot of suits and people who have no business at a game, it's much more comfortable. i'm only 6', but i feel cramped in the other sections. i like to be able to see above the glass.

[Chadd 916]

i always aim for the first row of the second deck on the rail, so the whole play is in front of me and I can see everything. I've never been on the glass before, And I've also never sat directly behind the goal so I'm going to probably get seats there next time we go to an OHL or college game. As far as going to a wings game, I just ake whatevers available, beggars cant be choosers.

That's my preferred place to sit as well. You get to see just about everything and there isn't much in your way. In Pittsburgh the seats at the ends hang down fairly low, before the nets went up I loved those seats.

[Jarick 5]

Recliner, because I don't like the hassle of driving to the rink and paying $80 for tickets, $20 for parking, $25 for beer and food, and the crowds. And then I usually get freaked out and have a mild panic attack.

But at the rink, nothing beats the "club level", first row, right on the red line. At the Xcel, you're right on top of the action and it's fantastic. A close second was right on the glass on the goal line...players would dump pucks in harder than my hardest slap shot, and it rings around the glass. You can hear the crunch of the hits and see just how fast everyone is.

[cptjeff 0]

Guys, this doesn't have to be NHL. It can be junior, college... So forget about cost.

For me, I only like to sit on the glass if I'm in a corner, otherwise it can be difficult to see parts of the ice, especially if you're a row or two back and not front row. And when you do get rid of that problem of limited sight due to the glass and boards, being right on the ice is amazing.

Other then that, 10 rows back or so on the sides are the best. Close enough to be close, but far enough to see plays develop better.

[Orange&Black 1]

I like the first row of the mezz. level, somewhere between the bluelines. Center ice is nice, but not necessary.

I used to like first row mezz. behind the goal, but can't stand watching through the net.

[flyers10 57]

I grew up going to Flyers games in the Spectrum with seats between face off circle and blue line on the glass. Guess spoiled of 17 years of that so I always try to get as close as possible to the glass. Given the Coyotes great ticket deals this year I've scored 7 games all 2nd or 3rd row for only $25 tix...plus they don't charge for parking. :D

[DarkStar50 679]

Any OHL game, go sit in the corner with the NHL scouts. That is where they all watch the game.

[larrivee 3]

Around row j-m on the 1st level, or club seats.

Suites are nice for the private bathroom though.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Any OHL game, go sit in the corner with the NHL scouts. That is where they all watch the game.

Must be a scout rule...that's where they sit in the AHL as well. Actually, anyone of notoriety sits in the corner. In the last few years at Bulldogs games, I've been in close proximity to:

Mr. Gilett and his son Foster

Steve Yzerman and Ken Holland (when they played Grand Rapids in the playoffs)

Walter Gretzky

Harry Howell

Trevor Timmins (head scout and Dir. of Player Develop. for the Habs)

Max Pacioretty (when he was hurt in the playoffs last year)

more nameless faces in suits taking notes or using blackberries all game than I can count *L*

But a lot of the scouts who are former players, stay up top in the PB, probably just to watch the game and do their job in peace. Quick Yzerman story (not sure if I told it here or not). He was bugged all through the period for autos. He told the kids to come back at the end of the period. He went up on the concourse and signed for the ful 17 minutes. I think he did it after the 2nd as well.

[Chadd 916]

Any OHL game, go sit in the corner with the NHL scouts. That is where they all watch the game.

Must be a scout rule...that's where they sit in the AHL as well. Actually, anyone of notoriety sits in the corner. In the last few years at Bulldogs games, I've been in close proximity to:

Mr. Gilett and his son Foster

Steve Yzerman and Ken Holland (when they played Grand Rapids in the playoffs)

Walter Gretzky

Harry Howell

Trevor Timmins (head scout and Dir. of Player Develop. for the Habs)

Max Pacioretty (when he was hurt in the playoffs last year)

more nameless faces in suits taking notes or using blackberries all game than I can count *L*

But a lot of the scouts who are former players, stay up top in the PB, probably just to watch the game and do their job in peace. Quick Yzerman story (not sure if I told it here or not). He was bugged all through the period for autos. He told the kids to come back at the end of the period. He went up on the concourse and signed for the ful 17 minutes. I think he did it after the 2nd as well.

Hershey has a section in the corner for "team" tickets. Wives, girlfriends, parents, scouts, etc... all get put in the same section and they generally don't make those tickets available to the public. I've been given tickets for that section for reffing their "rink of dreams" games for kids before the doors open for the real game.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Hershey has a section in the corner for "team" tickets. Wives, girlfriends, parents, scouts, etc... all get put in the same section and they generally don't make those tickets available to the public. I've been given tickets for that section for reffing their "rink of dreams" games for kids before the doors open for the real game.

That may be the case...

[Slapshot9123 0]

Nothing is better than 300 level tickets at the UC, not one bad seat up there. Needless to say anything 15-30 rows up in the lower levels is never bad. Ive sat first row a few times and the only time i actually didnt miss some of the game was when I was right behind the net.

[Orange&Black 1]

I grew up going to Flyers games in the Spectrum with seats between face off circle and blue line on the glass. Guess spoiled of 17 years of that so I always try to get as close as possible to the glass. Given the Coyotes great ticket deals this year I've scored 7 games all 2nd or 3rd row for only $25 tix...plus they don't charge for parking. :D

I miss the Spectrum so much...it's the building I was thinking of when I posted. I loved those first row seats in the second level, you were right on top of the players. I'll be crushed when they demolish it :(

[dontdumpdangle 0]

i like to sit on the red line so you're just above the glass on the pen box side or back in the day of the whale my god father had seats right in front of the camera platform, which was pretty legit