I noticed in the GDT people were pissing over the Vegas pregame production but frankly at least they have one, and theres some jam to it. Also like the entrance audio, booming sound. T Mobile, in every way seems like a better game day experience and atmosphere than what we got here in close to twice the price for arena project.
Whatever happened to the 100M in electronic goodies and tech that was going to be used in our new arena to refurbish the game day experience? We got one of the most expensive Arena jumbotrons in the world, with projection capabilities that allow it to do just what they do in Tampa for pregame audio/visual experience.
The thing is this is 2019 and high priced sports. You gotta make it a spectacle. That's what we paid for, to be able to do that. Each game should have a memorable opening. Renderings even depicted this kind of thing.
Just look at Connor McDavid out there in vegas pregame on the bench. He's pumped, smiling, into it, and was bouncing up and down like a kid with all that atmosphere. Haven't seen him that excited and smiling in months.
We have to stop filtering all this through what we find as silly or unnecessary. If our key players think this is pumping up the jam, and the home fans would like it, I bet they would, then it should happen, and be expected to happen.
The comments on social media and here mocking the Knights seems a bit jealous to me. This is now whats happening. We're not in Rexall anymore. Lets maybe have the production value of a new arena and expect the Oilers to provide it. They're quite happy stuck on doing nothing to improve the game day experience. It fits right in with their least possible effort approach to everything. Complete with the same droll between whistles montages and shticks they played at Rexall for years. party like its 1995 at the new Rogers Place arena folks..
Man, even the game in Cologne Germany, of a tier X team in a tier X league blew our production value right out of the water in what looked like a much better game day experience. lets start wowing the fans a bit and the players as well. Pump up some jam so that this even feels like top rank pro sports.
Opening the doors and throwing the lights on is no longer up to par.
The fans are just better in Cologne (generally speaking Europe). The 2 ends behind the nets are standing sections. Tickets are in the 20 Euro range. This is where the "ultras" go. They drive up the energy in the building. You can bring in flags and drums and stuff. My buddy walked into the arena with a Canadian flag on a stick for the IIHF World Champs in 2017, No issues. Beer is 4.70 Euro (0,5 Liter). Arena is central with amazing transportation. People party or hang out on the lawns out front or surrounding pubs. Post-gaming in the ancient inner city or more modern nightlife scene is normal.
We all saw the pre-game show and resulting energy in Vegas starting last year. I saw a video from 2017-18 off season where Nicholson or some Oiler front-man responded to a reporter about this topic. It was a really lame and political reply and tbh I saw NO CHANGES in the games I went to this year.
Example: I was @ The Florida game this January. Since I can work downtown it's very convenient, no big wait in the line, decent seating, overall nice facility. I can also afford the beer and food, so for me it's pricey but not a showstopper. What is a real bummer is the atmosphere/mood during the game play. Overall VERY negative, then these weird promotional segments and those DJ or Drummer up in the rafters, or some blasting obnoxious music. Somehow they just get it wrong and don't hype up the fans.
If I was in row 3 there were some fans in row 1 having a good time, drinking a little, and standing up in intense moments. From behind they were getting chirped by grumpy complaining fans to sit down and such. Those folks in Row 1 turned and said they were from out of town and just having fun. I noticed they appeared to be First Nations. With Oilers down 1 goal many fans started to exit. By the time the Oilers tied it maybe 5k fans were gone. Us who were left had a great time and certainly enjoyed the McDavid OT winner! I personally celebrated with those 1st row out of towners and told them not to worry about the crusty people (felt like the majority).
Overall it's a morgue type atmosphere where the praised behavior is to complain (about beer price, parking, logistics, GM, players, other fans standing or cheering, etc.). Meanwhile it's a massive and new interior space with kind of bizarre promotions and music which not many fans seem to enjoy. Exception is that they do the anthems great!
My suggestion: Have some cheaper areas, e.g. standing area behind one net with cheaper tickets. Maybe game-day-only box office tickets. Otherwise who knows... give the fans something to cheer about, get better weather, or better gastronomic/nightlife scene
