Watching the Flames in other arenas (aka the Road Trip thread)

[Bill Bumface]

^I think Nashville was our favorite of all of them.

Washington is not bad, Tampa was actually decent. Not a big entertainment district, but lots going on outside the arena. St. Paul is pretty good too.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

What are some of the best arena-area or arena-district set ups? For me LA takes the cake,

Yeah the LA Live setup is awesome.

Chicago surprised me. It's like a wasteland around the arena.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Yeah the LA Live setup is awesome.

Chicago surprised me. It's like a wasteland around the arena.

Apparently it was even more fun when this was still standing nearby...

[troutman]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

What are some of the best arena-area or arena-district set ups? For me LA takes the cake, although I haven't been to as many rinks as some here. LA Live area is sweet.

Glendale's rink has a sweet district around it (I've been to football, not hockey there) but its so dumb that it is in Glendale at all. If that arena/stadium district was transplanted to Scottsdale, it would be world class.

I didn't care so much for a destination set-up with a bunch of franchise restaurants. Feels like being at the Mall. I hope that is not the plan for Calgary. Places like Bubba Gump, ESPN, Jimmy Buffets etc have no real character (or good food).

MSG was awesome, because you walk out the door and you are in Manhattan. Maple Leaf Gardens was that way too.

http://westgateaz.com/

http://www.lalive.com/

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by troutman

I didn't care so much for a destination set-up with a bunch of franchise restaurants. Feels like being at the Mall. I hope that is not the plan for Calgary. Places like Bubba Gump, ESPN, Jimmy Buffets etc have no real character (or good food).

MSG was awesome, because you walk out the door and you are in Manhattan. Maple Leaf Gardens was that way too.

http://westgateaz.com/

http://www.lalive.com/

Is Buffalo Wild Wings ok?

[CedarMeter]

The road trip the Flames are currently on is the one I'm thinking about doing next year. Hit MSG and then take a cab to Jersey. And off to Brooklyn a couple days after. Maybe even head to Philly if the Flames will be playing there.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Is Buffalo Wild Wings ok?

Do you like your meals thawed out and re-heated?

[JBR]

Originally Posted by CedarMeter

The road trip the Flames are currently on is the one I'm thinking about doing next year. Hit MSG and then take a cab to Jersey. And off to Brooklyn a couple days after. Maybe even head to Philly if the Flames will be playing there.

You can take NJ Transit from MSG to Jersey and also the subway to Brooklyn. Take the train to Philly.

Easy. Cheaper. No traffic.

[curves2000]

I have seen games in Vancouver, Edmonton, LA, Anaheim, Arizona, Montreal and Philly. I love the road trip games and will be going up to Edmonton for one of the final games this year.

Southern California is a great place for a road trip. Both rinks are great and the area around is awesome. LA fans are more "hard core" I noticed. They have won a lot, are a hot ticket in town and have a much longer history than the Ducks. Love the Tex Mex food options available at both.

Vancouver and Edmonton games have some solid ribbing from the fans which in my opinion is half the fun. I do watch what I say to a point, people forget your in someone else's barn so don't get too cocky.

Arizona is a great rink and I like the concept of having those all those bars and places to go to before and after. There are a lot of rumors the Flames love the "design" of the rink there and want to model it for the new Dome. I guess the functionality is key as is the viewing angles. Just a thought.

Montreal is an excellent experience for any hockey fan. Great atmosphere, the Hab's "Hall of Fame" is right in the rink with some amazing stuff there. They do omit the 89 Cup winning Flames winning in the Forum which I found kinda funny. Just an overall great experience and a true fan base.

Philly has an excellent sports set up with the hockey, basketball, football and baseball venues all within a parking lot away. Great set up for the city but I suspect traffic is a nightmare on multiple game days. Its not the greatest part of town and close to the downtown core and about 5 minutes from the famous Cheesesteak places.

Overall I recommend to any Flames fan to go on the road if you can with some friends. The games are always a little more fun, the ribbing with the fans I actually love, different venues with beer and food options are cool. I can truly say that some of the best memories of being "out with the guys" has resulted in us doing one of our annual trips. Even a place like Edmonton is only a few hours away, spend the night there and party afterwards and can make for some great times.

If anyone wants anyone tips on where to go eat, stay, venue info etc let me know.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by CedarMeter

The road trip the Flames are currently on is the one I'm thinking about doing next year. Hit MSG and then take a cab to Jersey. And off to Brooklyn a couple days after. Maybe even head to Philly if the Flames will be playing there.

Originally Posted by JBR

You can take NJ Transit from MSG to Jersey and also the subway to Brooklyn. Take the train to Philly.

Easy. Cheaper. No traffic.

Agreed. Go from New York Penn Station (under MSG) to Newark Penn Station (cause that's not confusing at all).

I actually drove from Queens to Newark, through Manhattan. Was interesting to do once, but I'll take the trains if I ever go back. Plus it is funny that the toll on the Holland Tunnel into New Jersey is like $1, but on the return to New York was something like $10.

[RinkRat13]

Myself and four friends try to go on a road trip every year.

So far we have been to watch the Flames in Anaheim, Atlanta, Chicago, Vancouver, Edmonton, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Sunrise, and in a month we will be going to Nashville.