What’s your best and worst road game attendance experience?

[Machinehead]

Haven't really had any bad experiences, aside from the Rangers playing like horseshit.

UBS Arena is a palace and I love going there. Near my job too.

Flyers fans will get on your case and then high five you for the good chirps.

Hawks fans are very loud but harmless (this was at MSG).

By far the two most obnoxious people I ran into were at home. One was a Rangers fan just being a dick and trying to start a fight with a Flyers fan, and he backed down when the entire section sided with Flyers fan who didn't do anything. The other was a guy who wore a Tom Wilson jersey to MSG when the Rangers were very much not playing the Capitals and I hope he got beat up.

 

[Sheppy]

I’ve always had a blast in Edmonton/Calgary watching the Bruins play.

Vancouver during game 5 of the cup finals was a cesspool of absolute shit heads. Had shit tossed at me, spit at, you name it. A little kid with a Bruins jersey was harassed as we walked downtown.

f*** that place. I was so glad the Bruins dummied them.

 

[Ivo]

In Anaheim, my Bruins lost 0:4. It was my worst road experience. It was also my best road experience, by definition, since, in fact, it was my only road experience.

 

[MartinS82]

As far as overall experience - The Winter Classic - or whatever they called it at the Air Force Academy - game between the Kings and Avs was terrible. Took over 2 hours to get into the stadium and once there thought my two kids were going to be crushed to death in the mob on the upper level. Not a good scene - as you could feel the surge from behind pushing you, and the smaller children were having a hard time finding space to breath. This experience had nothing to do with either team, but just the overall lack of Security/attendants at the game. It was actually pretty scary, I picked up my youngest and put him on my shoulders and a young guy offered to do the same with my older boy (now about 7).

For fan interactions - and not to indict all Sharks fans - but my worst experience was at a game in San Jose. I was there with my son who was probably about 4...I was wearing a Lemieux jersey and the boy was wearing a Crosby or Malkin jersey. After the game some fans (drunk college age kids) saw us outside and were yelling profanities at us. My son was pretty scared. And in case you are wondering, I am from the group that believes when you go to an opposing rink you behave with class so it was definitely not warranted. I've probably taken in 20+ games there, and usually the experience is a great one.

 

[severian]

Bruins fan.

Best:

Tampa - home fans + arena staff are super welcoming, nothing more than lighthearted ribbing & calling me a "Masshole"

Worst:

EASILY Philadelphia - Saw a severely disabled man in a wheelchair wearing bruins gear have food thrown at him in the concourse. Had 3 people behind me whipping rally towels at the back of my head all game. A group of ~10 men in the parking lot told me they were going to r*pe my girlfriend while we were walking to our car.

Username checks out.

Road - Habs/Flyers.

Philly sports fans are awful to begin with.

I went to a Devils/Habs game in Montreal and had a great experience. And this was a game where the Habs blew a 2-0 third period leads to lose in OT. Loved that building, loved the passionate and overwhelmingly classy fans and obviously the outcome was great for me.

 

[Chainshot]

Worst:

Greenville SC for an ECHL game, as a teenager with my mom. Was followed to the parking lot and challenged to a fight by a full grown man because I chirped his (Messier Canucks) jersey after he chirped mine.

Best:

Actually Raleigh back before I was a Canes fan, but for the sake of a non-homer answer I’ll say Dallas. It was a lot of fun with zero hassles.

That's wild. I've yet to have a bad experience on the road having taken in games in Toronto, Pittsburgh in the old Igloo, both the Greensboro and Raleigh rinks for Carolina and Tampa. Probably the worst for me was Broome County Arena and shenanigans with local fans of the the Binghamton Whalers - only time I've ever been tossed out of a game and there were a number of us who were all guilty by association for what was happening on the ice (a game which featured Amerk disturber Kevin Kerr being ahead of his time and biting someone on the Whalers).

 

[Rude Dog]

My best experience was in Edmonton it was when Brodeur's career was coming to it's conclusion and I had an Oiler fan come over shake my hand and say it's been an absolute pleasure watching Marty play all these years.

Worst was when I was younger I was surrounded by Leaf fans and forced to remove my Devils jersey "or else"

Vegas was cool too, went the first time NJ played Vegas, their fans were awesome and even though the Devils were blowing the Knights out, nobody left

This sounds very odd. I have been to over 100 leaf games and have never seen anything like what you describe above. Normally it's no problem if you wear another jersey. If there isn't more to the story, that is shitty.

I saw a game in Philly in the late 80's. Habs / Flyers. Habs fan was at the urinal, and a Philly fan walked up behind him and started peeing on his jeans. Hab fan was just a guy. Turned around and heard all the Philly fans cheerings and laughing at him. Had no choice but to walk out and didn't say a word. That was awful.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

This sounds very odd. I have been to over 100 leaf games and have never seen anything like what you describe above. Normally it's no problem if you wear another jersey. If there isn't more to the story, that is shitty.

I saw a game in Philly in the late 80's. Habs / Flyers. Habs fan was at the urinal, and a Philly fan walked up behind him and started peeing on his jeans. Hab fan was just a guy. Turned around and heard all the Philly fans cheerings and laughing at him. Had no choice but to walk out and didn't say a word. That was awful.

I'm never an overly yappy visitor, I wasn't really doing anything other than existing.
It was over 20 years ago, so maybe things have changed but I've never been back.

 

[tarheelhockey]

That's wild. I've yet to have a bad experience on the road having taken in games in Toronto, Pittsburgh in the old Igloo, both the Greensboro and Raleigh rinks for Carolina and Tampa. Probably the worst for me was Broome County Arena and shenanigans with local fans of the the Binghamton Whalers - only time I've ever been tossed out of a game and there were a number of us who were all guilty by association for what was happening on the ice (a game which featured Amerk disturber Kevin Kerr being ahead of his time and biting someone on the Whalers).

Honestly I think minor league rinks are just a little more prone to bad outcomes. The price difference draws a different crowd, and people aren't quite so afraid of the threat of being kicked out. And security is generally a lot looser at smaller venues. That's not to say I don't enjoy the minor league atmosphere, it's just a bit different.

FWIW I think the NHL has actually changed quite a bit in this regard over the past 10 years or so, with prices going up so quickly. I see way fewer fights and other security incidents at Canes games than I used to, largely because the "rowdy drunk" crowd isn't there any more.

 

[Chainshot]

Honestly I think minor league rinks are just a little more prone to bad outcomes. The price difference draws a different crowd, and people aren't quite so afraid of the threat of being kicked out. And security is generally a lot looser at smaller venues. That's not to say I don't enjoy the minor league atmosphere, it's just a bit different.

FWIW I think the NHL has actually changed quite a bit in this regard over the past 10 years or so, with prices going up so quickly. I see way fewer fights and other security incidents at Canes games than I used to, largely because the "rowdy drunk" crowd isn't there any more.

I have seen fights in the stands in playoff games "back in the day" but the NHL has gotten a lot better about this sort of stuff. IIRC, the thing with the mini Whalers was in the spring of '89. The following spring was the last time I've seen fans throwing punches at one another in the arena. So yeah, it's been a minute.

 

[kicksavedave]

1998, Caps vs Sabres ECF, I drove up to see the game in Buffalo. Wore my Caps jersey, sitting in the nosebleeds at HSBC. Some guy three rows up chucked a peanut at me. I turned and asked him to throw another one in my mouth, which he did and I caught and ate. Caps won 2-0 on a Craig Berube goal vs Hasek. I got the last laugh, and a free peanut.

 

[boboche]

I got headbutted by someone in Boston, I was called a effin frog and a commie all game long by a bruins fan, wasn't the most enjoyable experience. Got my revenge with Habs winning in OT.

Sometimes the most enjoyable experience happens when I have no expectation. I was at a Philly-Florida game in Sunrise. It was the first game between the two teams since Booth suffered a terrible concussion from Mike Richards; or maybe the first game between the two with Booth back in the lineup, can't remember for sure but that night the Panthers kicked the Flyers' ass and the crowd was amazing (panthers fan didn't have a lot to cheer for back then).

Atlanta and Glendale were the most boring experience I had.

 

[tbcwpg]

I only have one (unless you count cheering for the road team in your own city which I used to do with one team and have stopped doing 8+ years ago), but I went down to Minnesota to watch the Leafs. It was a great experience - the Wild fans were friendly, the bar across the street was friendly, the arena is excellent, it was half Leafs fans anyway, and the Leafs won 3-0 so I didn't hear that goal horn that made me jump 6 inches out of my seat when it went off when the Wild took the ice at the start of the game.

 

[super6646]

Went to see the Jets play the Islanders a few years back at the Barclays Centre. Got awesome seats for pennies compared to the tickets at MSG the day before. Sat in front of a group of young Wall Street douche bags. One was complaining that he hated the Jets because his front row tickets in ATL cost him under $20 a game. Wanted so bad to turn around and tell him that's exactly why they lost their team and to shut the f*** up about banging strippers and doing coke in front of my 7 year old.
MSG was awesome, except for getting food poising from Katz Delicatessen, thus ruining smoked meat for me forever. Was also my only chance to see Big Buff play, but he was injured.

Tried it out when I went to New York this past summer. Tasted good, but way overpriced and by the time I was finished I felt nauseous. Probably should've split the sandwich between someone else hahaha.

 

[Carl Hungus]

Bruins fan.

Best:

Tampa - home fans + arena staff are super welcoming, nothing more than lighthearted ribbing & calling me a "Masshole"

Worst:

EASILY Philadelphia - Saw a severely disabled man in a wheelchair wearing bruins gear have food thrown at him in the concourse. Had 3 people behind me whipping rally towels at the back of my head all game. A group of ~10 men in the parking lot told me they were going to r*pe my girlfriend while we were walking to our car.

username checks out

went to a bruins game in philly with my dad (we're boston fans) when i was probably 10 or 11 and got harassed by a bunch of grown men, was something else

 

[Golden_Jet]

Best - Hawks and Bruins in the old stadium as new one was being built. Was filling up with gas after game and attendant told me to get back in car, he’d do it, not a good area he said. Anthem and organ was amazing at start, and fans were loud.

Worst - Maple leaf gardens vs Chicago, could hear people talking on other side of rink it was so quiet. Lacked atmosphere at game compared to Chicago stadium.

 

[Rob Brown]

I'm never an overly yappy visitor, I wasn't really doing anything other than existing.
It was over 20 years ago, so maybe things have changed but I've never been back.

Sorry to hear that. I must have been to close to 100 games at the ACC/SBA and haven't noticed anyone treating away fans poorly other than friendly banter. I try to chat with away fans if I can as well.

I've been to 16 NHL arenas, most following the Leafs. My original goal was to hit 31 before I turned 31, but then Covid hit and I've had no progress since then.

My best - went to Columbus on a Friday night Halloween game in 2014. We went to R Bar before the game and were treated REALLY well by the fans. Really good atmosphere, had a few darts with fans outside, shots with strangers, and they were all super friendly. Arena staff/ushers were very nice and helpful, no issues whatsoever at the game. I've had other great experiences at other arenas but this one sticks out to me.

Another good experience, largely because of the win - I was in Boston for Game 5 in 2018 and remember being a bit nervous going into it. We went to an Irish pub right near TD Garden before the game (I forget the name), and we were legitimately the only Leafs fans in a sea of black and yellow, which you never know how it will go. Spoke to an old guy from Cape Cod at the table next to us. Had some fans chirping us in the concourse at the game but nothing bad, and then after the game walking to our hotel TONS of Bruins fans stopped to congratulate us, followed by a 'you'll lose Game 6'. We went to a bar after the game and the manager came over and gave us a few free shots to celebrate.

My worst - went to Washington for Game 2 in 2017, the game where Kapanen scored in double OT. Later in the game I was standing in line for the washroom and the line extended outside into the concourse. My friend was coming out of the washroom, stopped to talk to me, and the guy behind me got super upset and confronted my friend. I turned and told the guy that he had just come out of the washroom and his response was the standard 'do you want to take this outside?', getting in my face. Nothing transpired because I'm not an idiot, but that always stuck out to me. Not a really BAD experience but still enough to remember even despite the win.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

Sorry to hear that. I must have been to close to 100 games at the ACC/SBA and haven't noticed anyone treating away fans poorly other than friendly banter. I try to chat with away fans if I can as well.

I've been to 16 NHL arenas, most following the Leafs. My original goal was to hit 31 before I turned 31, but then Covid hit and I've had no progress since then.

My best - went to Columbus on a Friday night Halloween game in 2014. We went to R Bar before the game and were treated REALLY well by the fans. Really good atmosphere, had a few darts with fans outside, shots with strangers, and they were all super friendly. Arena staff/ushers were very nice and helpful, no issues whatsoever at the game. I've had other great experiences at other arenas but this one sticks out to me.

Another good experience, largely because of the win - I was in Boston for Game 5 in 2018 and remember being a bit nervous going into it. We went to an Irish pub right near TD Garden before the game (I forget the name), and we were legitimately the only Leafs fans in a sea of black and yellow, which you never know how it will go. Spoke to an old guy from Cape Cod at the table next to us. Had some fans chirping us in the concourse at the game but nothing bad, and then after the game walking to our hotel TONS of Bruins fans stopped to congratulate us, followed by a 'you'll lose Game 6'. We went to a bar after the game and the manager came over and gave us a few free shots to celebrate.

My worst - went to Washington for Game 2 in 2017, the game where Kapanen scored in double OT. Later in the game I was standing in line for the washroom and the line extended outside into the concourse. My friend was coming out of the washroom, stopped to talk to me, and the guy behind me got super upset and confronted my friend. I turned and told the guy that he had just come out of the washroom and his response was the standard 'do you want to take this outside?', getting in my face. Nothing transpired because I'm not an idiot, but that always stuck out to me. Not a really BAD experience but still enough to remember even despite the win.

I'm not worried about it, even at the time I didn't blame all Leaf fans just the guys involved.
I've been to multiple different arena's over the years and most people are just curious about how I became a Devil fan in Canada. Heck even at that game most people were nice, until those guys showed up.

 

[Rob Brown]

I’ve always had a blast in Edmonton/Calgary watching the Bruins play.

Vancouver during game 5 of the cup finals was a cesspool of absolute shit heads. Had shit tossed at me, spit at, you name it. A little kid with a Bruins jersey was harassed as we walked downtown.

f*** that place. I was so glad the Bruins dummied them.

If that was happening during Game 5 then it's not much of a surprise what happened afterGame 7.

 

[Sweetpotato]

Best away game was actually at the Saddledome during the BoA playoffs. Other than some light good hearted ribbing Flames fans were cool even after their team lost.

Best Rogers experience was actually the watch party in the final game. Was electric in Rogers even though the game wasnt there.

 

[easton117]

Wasn’t bad but mildly humorous. Went to Buffalo back when I was in university, they had a Canadian at par for tickets night so a bunch of us hopped the border to see the Rangers play. Was Pat Lafontaine’s first (I think) time back in Buffalo.

I didn’t think of it before leaving so didn’t have any US dollars. Went and bought a beer and nachos. Nice fellow said it was like 5 dollars. I showed him the Canadian money I had and dude said $24 bucks. Dude invented an exchange rate on the spot.

I gave him a $20. Tried giving him two twoonies and he told me those weren’t real and they didn’t accept them. I’d had enough at that point and just walked away to the next vendor who thankfully wasn’t trying to rob people. God knows the exchange rate was bad enough at the time.

Fun game though. Our group got a Let’s go Rangers chant going through the building at one point.

 

[Lou is God]

My favorite hands down this game in Montreal:

New Jersey Devils vs. Montreal Canadiens Box Score: April 10, 1995 | Hockey-Reference.com

Get the latest box score updates on the New Jersey Devils vs. Montreal Canadiens game played on April 10, 1995 on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

I wanted to make sure I got to a game in the old Forum before it closed down and I did. And it was glorious even so the Devils lost 2-1.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

I'll just say this, American Airlines Center in Dallas is incredible. Even if your team isn't playing it's a great venue to see an event. Awesome sightlines, great location, Texas-sized food, symphony hall-esque concourses. The Stars have a great fanbase too

Echoing this.
Went last season - worth the visit.

 

[Whoot Whoot]

Best place to watch an away game is Vegas
Clean stadium, awesome atmosphere

 

[awegrzyn]

Worst - Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Stanley Cup Final. Brother who just had broken leg had to fight security guards (more like scumbags). Was thrown out for nothing he did. Don't go there. They are known for this.

Best - Games in Tampa.
Best - Syracuse Crunch. Went with my son to play at a tournament there and we went to watch an awesome game where people were donating Teddy bears onto the ice. Maybe best experience ever. If I had them local I would go to those old buildings and watch AHL instead. Less commercialized