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Well - moving from the DC area - I am going to miss going to Caps games come this fall. While we'll probably go to Raleigh for a few games, it looks like the Checkers will be our easiest way to get a hockey fix in Charlotte.
Any Checkers fans on here? Do they draw good crowds? Do they draw enthusiastic crowds? Recommendations on the best seating sections in the arena (I looked on their website - what the heck are the "Royal Box" seats)?.
They draw pretty good, especially on weekends, and PACKED after football season on the weekends. I know the sunday afternoon game I took my daughter to this year was 11,000+ people.
The games are a incredible amount of fun...they really know how to entertain a crowd. They new arena is great although the concession prices are not cheap.
You will find that at the game there are plenty of repeat visitors. Most people know the chants and seem to know what is going on. Have to remember Charlotte is full of Upstate NY people who lover their Sabres and you will see other NHL jerseys around the arena.
As for seats, there really aren't any bad ones in the place if you sit in the lower bowl. They open the sides in the upper bowl and the entire lower bowl.
If you are used to going to watch a hockey game for the hockey, you might be dissapointed. If you have kids, I would guess it's a great weekend event. Seems there is more focus on the contests and intermissions than the actual hockey. Probably has a lot to do with it being minor league hockey with no household names that fans can follow
The minor league teams have to do that to stay afloat. The Checkers games are a lot of fun and have set several attendance records since moving to TWC Arena. Their STH base is about 3-4000 which is not bad for AA hockey. Canes games are fun too and the Thrashers are only 4 hours way too.
Well - moving from the DC area - I am going to miss going to Caps games come this fall. While we'll probably go to Raleigh for a few games, it looks like the Checkers will be our easiest way to get a hockey fix in Charlotte.
Any Checkers fans on here? Do they draw good crowds? Do they draw enthusiastic crowds? Recommendations on the best seating sections in the arena (I looked on their website - what the heck are the "Royal Box" seats)?.
Tober - I've only been to one Checkers game and it was ok. Nothing like going to the Richmond Renegades games in the Igloo back in the late 90's and early 2000's. That place rocked! I think the difference to me is that the TWC arena is too big for minor league hockey. The Checkers have a decent draw, but not enough to be in that arena. Thus, you never get the benefits of a home team atmosphere. Who knows, maybe the fan base will grow and fill in the void. Let's hope so anyway. Go Rangers!
Great family entertainment and the prices are great.
They have plenty of packages for the season and mini season packages. I will get a lot of co workers for the games or do family night out.
Thanks for the responses. We're looking forward to seeing some games come October. So we'll see you there.
Yes I know the ECHL is not the NHL, but I have family in Erie, PA (who had an ECHL team at one time and now have an OHL team) so I've been to a fair number of minor league games and, while different from the NHL, they can be just as entertaining, although in different ways.
As for the Rangers well....at least the team is not a Flyers' affiliate. That's all I'm gonna say in regards to that :>
We're probably going to plan on trying to go to at least one game against each of the other teams. Is there any particular team the Checkers have a rivalry with?
Oh yeah - please don't pick on the poor guy you'll see there in the Caps jersey (that'll be me) - growing up in DC I think I've had enough disappointment with my home team over the years...
You will find that at the game there are plenty of repeat visitors. Most people know the chants and seem to know what is going on. Have to remember Charlotte is full of Upstate NY people who lover their Sabres and you will see other NHL jerseys around the arena.
I resemble that remark!
There are a surprising number of Sabres fans around here ... and I LOVE IT!! I've only been down here a little over a year, but I've made it to Cary to watch the Hurricanes vs. Sabres last year and the place was clearly overpopulated with ex-WNY people in Sabres gear. Probably close to 40% of the people there were wearing their Blue & Gold.
As for the Checkers ... its the only game in town, unfortunately. (Hurricanes should've been here instead of Cary). I've been to one game and its a fun time ... but I'd compare it to minor league baseball in that its more about the experience than the game on the ice. There are a lot of fun things going on around the arena, but after watching Ovechkin & Kolzig for many years, you'll be let down by the style of hockey. Most of these guys aren't headed to the NHL ... at least not as top line guys.
Its a fun time & a new, clean arena ... so give it a go.
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