Great experience in Phoenix last weekend

[Lawson of Anarchy]

Just wanted to post how impressed we were with our experience in Phoenix last weekend. Flew in Friday and caught the Jets and then the Ducks.

Based on the boards, I was expecting a poorer turnout to the games. They were both pretty good crowds - Winnipeg better due to all the damn Canadians. The upper deck seemed packed for both games. The atmosphere around the arena is top shelf. I have and will recommend the trip to anyone. Would be a disappointment for the team to move out of Westgate, but I understand the issues.

Notes on the trip:
The people here are so f***in' friendly! Met a couple of guys from the board (AZvianj and doaner) who were great guys - and just all the people in general are really nice. We said it must be because of all of the nice weather.
As has been noted, a car rental is a must.
We hiked up one of the hills as someone had recommended and it was a good experience and vantage point to see the city.
Fortunately Barrett Jackson was on. That should really be put in the sticky as a highlight if it isnt because it was a great experience and coupled well with a boys weekend.

Click to read more...

 

[_Del_]

Would be a disappointment for the team to move out of West gate, but I understand the issues.

Westgate on game days is usually a great experience and atmosphere. It's too bad would lose that aspect with a new arena (hopefully).

Notes on the trip:
The people here are so f***in' friendly! Met a couple of guys from the board (AZvianj and doaner) who were great guys - and just all the people in general are really nice. We said it must be because of all of the nice weather.

Most of us in AZ are probably much nicer in person than we seem here on these boards haha

Glad it was a good trip!

 

[The Feckless Puck]

Most of us in AZ are probably much nicer in person than we seem here on these boards haha

It's true - in fact, I could probably say the same about much of HF, if we're being honest. Something about turning words into pixels...

 

[RemoAZ]

Glad you enjoyed your time. Westgate is awesome. It's a shame greed will ruin a good thing. Maybe the owners should try their luck at the casino next door so they can buy their own damn arena.

 

[TheLegend]

Glad you enjoyed your time. Westgate is awesome. It's a shame greed will ruin a good thing. Maybe the owners should try their luck at the casino next door so they can buy their own damn arena.

That's a lot of slot machine pulls....

 

[kihekah19*]

Glad you enjoyed your time. Westgate is awesome. It's a shame greed will ruin a good thing. Maybe the owners should try their luck at the casino next door so they can buy their own damn arena.

West gate is awesome and they really should do everything they can to make it work there. I think it may be a perceived (or more likely real) necessity, as opposed to greed though.

It's a poor market and the Westgate location just seems to make it worse - shame indeed.

 

[MIGs Dog]

I have a friend who was a Cardinals season ticket holder every year until they moved to Glendale. He cancelled his ST because didn't like the 40-45 minute drive, and that was for only 8 games per year, usually on Sunday.

I told him he was overreacting, but consider the Coyotes play at least 41 games at GRA, and many of them are weeknights, after work, rush hour, etc. You can see how a stadium closer to the fan base might pull in enough additional fans to make the franchise more economically viable.

 

[Spirit of Lindgren]

I have had a 50 minute drive from east Mesa since 2011-12 and the funny thing is you get used to the radio programs and look forward to them so the drive isn't bad at all.
And of course Tips post game interview featured on Lapinsky's wrap up show comes around just about the Sossoman exit in Mesa every time so Im nearly home..
I will actually miss that when/if my time is cut in half with the new arena.
What worries are:

1. A new exit off the 202 is going to have to happen..dont you think? The way it is now you'll have to get off a block or two from the arena and go down secondary streets to the new arena.

2. Parking...Nothing is better than the huge big lots at westgate/arena and I hope they can have that kind of parking at the new place. I was hearing about a parking garage but what a cluster that would be.

3. Westgate. Tempe marketplace is open I think only 3 days a week or 4. to avoid traffic over the course of 5 years I have always gotten there around 1:30 for a 7 o'clock game.
There is a lot to do to bide your time before heading off to stand in line.
You can eat, go to the show if you want, shop.....

4. Bathrooms. That little bathroom on the side of the arena where the ticket office is, is an absolute wonderful thing for we old people with prostate cancer..ha no joke though. And the two other bathrooms across from the Yard House and near the fountain....At Chase Field you always have to head up the elevators to the restaurant
Of course its early in the process.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

1. A new exit off the 202 is going to have to happen..dont you think? The way it is now you'll have to get off a block or two from the arena and go down secondary streets to the new arena.

Highly doubtful.

2. Parking...Nothing is better than the huge big lots at westgate/arena and I hope they can have that kind of parking at the new place. I was hearing about a parking garage but what a cluster that would be.

Also highly doubtful. Parking garages are titanically expensive and IA is already struggling to come up with capital.

 

[TheLegend]

RE: parking....

Isn't ASU planning to address parking at Sun Devil Stadium?? Could be something they would look into with running shuttles back and forth. Then there was talk of extending light rail and such in the plans in the near future.

 

[Dolemite]

Just wanted to post how impressed we were with our experience in Phoenix last weekend. Flew in Friday and caught the Jets and then the Ducks.

Based on the boards, I was expecting a poorer turnout to the games. They were both pretty good crowds - Winnipeg better due to all the damn Canadians. The upper deck seemed packed for both games. The atmosphere around the arena is top shelf. I have and will recommend the trip to anyone. Would be a disappointment for the team to move out of Westgate, but I understand the issues.

Notes on the trip:
The people here are so f***in' friendly! Met a couple of guys from the board (AZvianj and doaner) who were great guys - and just all the people in general are really nice. We said it must be because of all of the nice weather.
As has been noted, a car rental is a must.
We hiked up one of the hills as someone had recommended and it was a good experience and vantage point to see the city.
Fortunately Barrett Jackson was on. That should really be put in the sticky as a highlight if it isnt because it was a great experience and coupled well with a boys weekend.

When I first started my coyotes site one of the things I wanted to do was meet the fans and just chat with them. I did a ton of grassroots stuff like this (even after I got my credentials I went in between periods at home games for meet and greets with fans). With the exception of the head of the old Booster Club they're all great people. I've lived in multiple fan base areas (Vancouver, Anaheim/LA, Phoenix, and now D.C.) and every fan base is radically different. However there's one theme amongst all of them - their love for the game of hockey. Sure some fan bases don't like each other but the fans in Phoenix are a passionate and amazing group of people.

 

[AZviaNJ]

Just wanted to post how impressed we were with our experience in Phoenix last weekend. Flew in Friday and caught the Jets and then the Ducks.

Based on the boards, I was expecting a poorer turnout to the games. They were both pretty good crowds - Winnipeg better due to all the damn Canadians. The upper deck seemed packed for both games. The atmosphere around the arena is top shelf. I have and will recommend the trip to anyone. Would be a disappointment for the team to move out of Westgate, but I understand the issues.

Notes on the trip:
The people here are so f***in' friendly! Met a couple of guys from the board (AZvianj and doaner) who were great guys - and just all the people in general are really nice. We said it must be because of all of the nice weather.
As has been noted, a car rental is a must.
We hiked up one of the hills as someone had recommended and it was a good experience and vantage point to see the city.
Fortunately Barrett Jackson was on. That should really be put in the sticky as a highlight if it isnt because it was a great experience and coupled well with a boys weekend.

Great meeting you Steve. Glad you enjoyed AZ.

Hopefully you guys make it out again next year.

Cheers!