Of Ice and Men
Written: Nov 20 '00 (Updated Nov 27 '00)
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Pros: Right-near-the-action seating, good food, clean place
Cons: Limited parking availability
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| lucky27's Full Review: First Union Center |
I've grown up basking in the country club glow of Camden Yards, reliving the good ol' days at Memorial Stadium, and drowning in the glory of Penn State's Beaver Stadium. I've even had the chance to play in Madison Square Gardens, Heinz Center in Pittsburgh, and the Superdome in New Orleans. As a budding hockey fan, I've enjoyed the echo of Hershey Arena, and the cozy little Philadelphia Spectrum.
Was I ever thrilled to get my paws on a pair of tickets to see the Flyers take on Capitals at the First Union Center! Not only was I going to see some real, serious hockey, but I also would have my first chance to see the First Union Center since it was built in 1996.
The adventure begins: Getting in.
Thank goodness that the raving Flyers fan I went with is not only an expert on city driving, but he knows his way around Philadelphia better than I do. Upon our arrival, not 15 minutes before the puck would be dropped at 7:00pm, we discovered -to our horror- that First Union Center parking was for VIP pass holders ONLY. Philly's finest directed us around the block to park at nearby Veterans Stadium. Ordinarily, a half-mile stroll with the particular Flyer Fan I was with would NOT bother me at all. Since it was a windy 30 degrees, darker than an outhouse at midnight and the middle of the city, I was less than delighted.
After an icy jog, we finally were admitted to the FU Center, as it is laughingly called, and our problems were over! We were directed through a clean and spacious concourse to our seats, assisted where needed by courteous staff. I was informed by the man on my left that I was fortunate to have missed pre-game warm ups, since I would have been hit by one of the errant slap shots. Sure enough, there was a large dent in the bottom of my seat. And what seats they were! Section 120, for those of you who will check the chart, behind and slightly to the right of the goal.
Even though I'm short enough to still contemplate getting a booster seat at the movies, I could see everything!
For the replays, the huge screens above center ice were fairly clear, and they kept a steady pace of statistics, ads, and Flyers moments that shouldn't be missed. With just over 19,000 people not quite selling out the arena, the FU Center felt huge while still letting me feel like I was really AT THE GAME.
During the second period, we toured the concourse in search of dinner and beer. Food service was speedy, and let me recommend Italian sausages and fries! Greasy and fattening, yes. Well done for stadium food, yes!
Upstairs we found a pub and I got to taste Red Bell, Philadelphia's microbrew. It's definitely worth the hunt if you're going to be in the City of Brotherly Love. Prices at the concession stands were pretty much in keeping with what most stadiums have asked. ($5 for a beer and $4 something for a sandwich.) There were even plenty of well kept restrooms available around the arena, which is nice when the beer vendors don't have a "last call" before the end of the game.
As we walked, we passed displays showcasing great Flyers events and players from Hall of Fame members to Championship seasons. My favorite was the case celebrating Hat Tricks: it contained the mountains of fan headgear traditionally flung to the ice when a player scores three goals in a game. Dads and kids played at dozens of sports arcade games scattered around the Center. Foosball, air hockey, and a basketball free throw game seemed to be the most popular, despite the hockey game I was there to see.
Back in our seats, it was chilly enough to keep the beer cold, and exciting enough to keep the blood flowing. After a Flyers Victory (WOOHOO!) we made our way to the car. Although still crowded, it was much easier getting OUT of the FU Center's parking areas than it was getting IN. Once safely on the road, we found ourselves within minutes of celebrating the victory in any number of bars in Philadelphia or even nearby downtown Wilmington, DE.
Overall, I was impressed with the First Union Center. I appreciated the cleanliness and convenient location to the surrounding areas, and I am planning to take in as many Flyers games as I can snag tickets for in the future. Next time, though, I'll take a sweatshirt and go early enough to catch a puck!
Recommended:
Yes
Parking Availability: Better Get There Early
Seat Location: Lower Level
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Epinions.com ID:
lucky27
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Member: melissa
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Bodhrani+emergency vet tech+hockey fan+Guinness drinker+cat owner+computer geek's significant other=ME.
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