Arena Bucket List: SAP Center - San Jose Sharks (2/30)

Game attended? October 29, 2016 vs the Nashville Predators

Where is the arena? About an hour south of San Francisco driving, but also accessible via train.

Why is it worth visiting? SAP Center is definitely a must-visit if you are in the San Francisco area during hockey season with an evening free. My favorite part of the arena was how hockey-oriented it is. Since the SAP Center only hosts the Sharks and their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, the arena is decked out in Sharks photos and branding. Everyone I interacted with during the game were incredibly happy and you could definitely tell they loved their job. I also sat next to Mike Fisher’s uncle during the game, so you never know who you will run into!

Cons of the arena? There is only one concourse, so it got pretty crowded during intermissions. The store is also pretty small and was pretty packed. The line outside was long, but once doors opened it moved fairly quickly.

Do they sell cotton candy? Yes

Arena Bucket List: United Center – Chicago Blackhawks (1/30)

Game attended? April 1, 2009 vs the St. Louis Blues and January 22, 2017 vs the Vancouver Canucks

Where is the arena? West of Chicago

Why is it worth visiting? I have visited the United Center twice. The first time was in 2009 and I only made it through one period after suffering a concussion while trying to obtain cotton candy. I made it through the entire game during my second visit in 2017. The Blackhawks have very passionate fans who sell out the arena every game. One interesting tidbit is that all fans applaud and cheer during the National Anthem. If you aren’t expecting this, it can be confusing. I was rooting for the Canucks during the 2017 game and everyone was very polite to me.

Cons of the arena? Beware of the concussion-causing concrete walls.

Do they sell cotton candy? Not anymore and I think I am the reason why.

I’m visiting every arena in the NHL for my bucket list

I grew up a hockey fan. More specifically, a Washington Capitals fan. These days I’ll watch any game at any time, with the Caps being my priority, of course.

In the fall of 2016, I decided I needed a bucket list. I couldn’t think of a better one than to attend a game at every NHL arena; combining two of my passions: travel and hockey. At the beginning of the 2016-2017 season, I had only visited two. Now, at the end of the season, I can say I have attended a game in seven different arenas.

Since I am taking the time to visit every arena, I am going to create a cheat sheet for everyone. Now YOU can decide if an arena is worth visiting. Stay tuned as I post about each arena as I visit them.

Next season, I hope to catch a game in Dallas, Denver, Boston and maybe even Las Vegas! Only time will tell... 

Cart (0)