Last weekend, I attended an ice hockey game at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando. This was my first time reviewing the Orlando Solar Bears, which is a team in the ECHL league. Based on my experience, I have written a short list of pros and cons in watching the ice hockey game.
Pros:
Affordable Tickets!
I bought two lower bowl tickets, in row 15, for a total price of about $35 (this includes Ticketmaster fees). That is hard to beat!
Feel Comfortable!
I’ve been to some hockey rinks where I had a bunch of extra layers to keep warm. This is not the case at the Amway Center. It is very comfortable. many people wore t-shirts, and some even wore pants. You won’t be shivering at the Solar Bears game.
short lines
Solar Bears games don’t attract tens of thousands of fans. I was there on Saturday-night, and I believe there were less than 5,000 people listening, that is. great if you’re worried about long lines for restrooms and snacks/drinks!
Seats
The seats are comfortable, even for a “bigger” guy like me (6’0, 200lbs). In addition, the chairs had cup holders, thus eliminating the need to carefully place my drink on the floor and worry about knocking someone over while walking.
Intermission Entertainment
At the first intermission, two youth ice hockey teams came out and entertained the crowd with a little game. During the second intermission, many fans were allowed to enter the ice and compete in various competitions to win prizes. Both had enough breaks to “fly by” as we waited for the players to return to the ice to resume play.
Cons:
Hush crowd
I was at the Saturday night game, but that crowd was like Tuesday night. They were very quiet during the game. The only time you’ll hear any screaming or yelling from the crowd was during a fight on the ice, or when the Solar Bears returned to “full strength” after being handed a short play in a penalty situation.
Prospect blocked
I was sitting near one of the corners of the ice rink. When you’re sitting in the corner or behind the ice, your eyes are on the net. You’ll get used to it after a while, but it can still be annoying. If you want to avoid having to look through the net, make sure you buy tickets that have a side view, such as a corner view or goalie-view (there are no protective nets on the sides of the rink, just the ends/corners)
Another thing to note with visibility is the thick glass. I sat at the left corner of the rink, and while watching him move to the opposite side of the rink, I noticed that I could see what was going on near the left wall. At a certain point the glass can be seen through. This is not your ordinary glass that is in your house or car window – this is very durable, stain resistant glass . gives a very dense thought. Depending on the angle of your seat, you may be missing out on some business from this mirror.
Overall, it was a great experience and I intend to go to more games.
Go Solar Bears!
If you are interested in learning more about the Orlando Solar Bears, I recommend checking out their home page: http://www.orlandosolarbearshockey.com
The address of the Amway Center is:
400 West Church Street – Suite 200
Orlando, Florida 32801
