Last weekend, I attended an ice hockey game at Amway Center in downtown Orlando. This was my first time checking out the Orlando Solar Bears, which is a team in the ECHL league. Based on my experience, I compiled a brief list of pros and cons on attending a live Solar Bears’ ice hockey game.
Pros:
Affordable Tickets!
I purchased two lower bowl tickets, in row 15, for a total price of approximately $35 (this included Ticketmaster fees). That is hard to beat!
Comfortable Feel!
I’ve been in some hockey rinks in which I’ve had to bundle up with extra layers to stay warm. This is not the case in Amway Center. It is very comfortable. Plenty of people were wearing t-shirts, and some even wore shorts. You will not be shivering at a Solar Bears game.
Short Lines
Solar Bears’ games do not attract tens of thousands of fans. I was there on a Saturday night, and I believe there was less than 5,000 people in attendance, which is great if you are worried about long lines for restrooms and snacks/beverages!
Seats
The seats are comfortable, even for the “bigger” people like myself (6’0, 200lbs). In addition, the seats had cupholders, thus, eliminating the need to carefully place my beverage on the floor and worry about somebody knocking it over as they walked by.
Intermission Entertainment
During the first intermission, two youth ice hockey teams came out and entertained the crowd with a brief game. During the second intermission, numerous fans were allowed to enter the ice and compete in various competitions to win prizes. Both intermissions were entertaining enough to “make time fly by” as we waited for the players to get back on the ice to resume play.
Cons:
Quiet Crowd
I was at a Saturday night game, but the crowd made it seem like it was a Tuesday night. They were very quiet throughout the game. The only time you would hear any cheering or yelling from the crowd was when there was a fight on the ice, or when the Solar Bears returned to “Full Strength” after having to play short-handed during a penalty situation.
Obstructed View
I sat near one of the corners of the ice rink. When you sit on the corner or behind the ice, your eyes have to battle the protective nets. You will get used to it after a while, but nevertheless, it can be annoying. If you want to avoid having to look through the net, then make sure to purchase tickets that are side-view, as opposed to corner-view or goalie-view (there are no protective nets on the sides of the rink, just the ends/corners)
One other thing to take note of with visibility is the thick glass. I sat on the left corner of the rink, and when watching action as it moved toward the opposite end of the rink, I noted that I could not see what was going on near the left wall. At a certain point, the glass becomes impossible to see through. This is not your ordinary glass that is in your house or car window – this is very durable, resistant glass that gives off thick reflections. Depending on the angle of your seat, you may be missing out on some of the action due to this glass.
Overall, it was a great experience and I intend on going to several more games.
Go Solar Bears!
If you are interested in learning more about the Orlando Solar Bears, I suggest logging on to their home page: http://www.orlandosolarbearshockey.com
The address of Amway Center is:
400 West Church Street – Suite 200
Orlando, Florida 32801
