Predators & Stars Under Glass

January 5, 2012 - We decided to get off our wallets and check off an item on our bucket list and sit "on the glass" at one Nashville Predators hockey game in our life.  After some research on my part I found a pretty good online ticket broker (sorry Stubhub, we prefer TicketsNow...uh, now) and began watching the price of a certain set of 6 seats that seemed available for almost every game.  I noticed that they went for a higher price on the weekends which wasn't surprising, so we decided that a weeknight game would be the most economical.  Next, I noticed the price of the tickets went down as the game date approached.  Obviously, they want to get rid of them  if they don't sell early.  Finally, I noticed that if you looked at certain tickets on TicketsNow.com and entered your email address, but decided not to buy just then, you would get an automated message from them an hour or so later giving you a chance to complete your order and save 10 to 15% (Stubhub doesn't do that). 

I surveyed a few folks who I thought might be interested if the price was reasonable and got a rather surprising amount of interest.  Our friend, Wayne, was a go from the start which we figured he would be since he has gone with us in the past on road games to see the Titans and last year to the Indy 500 (see blog entry).  Our friends, Danny and Brenda, were also keenly interested, as were our friends, Chris and Tarryn.   Unfortunately that totals seven and as I mentioned there are only six seats available and you can't buy just five.  They only sell them in sets.  Danny and Brenda confirmed first (by only a few minutes) and Chris and Tarryn decided they did not want to see their first game on the glass without each other (totally understandable).  Our friend, Emily, who just went with us on our fabulous Southern California New Year's trip (see previous blog) was willing to take the sixth ticket and joined us as well.

The tickets were available a week before a Thursday night game vs. the hated Dallas Stars and when the price dipped below what we all agreed was the maximum price we would pay, we pounced on them before anyone else could!






The seats were amazing.   The speed of these guys on the ice and the
physicality of the game itself is incredible this close up. 
The roar of the crowd is mind-blowing down this low,
 and was at its maximum evidently when  it was announced
that the game was a sell-out.

   

Although not mentioned in the ticket description, our seats were kind of on the "sub-glass" as they were right behind the opponent's penalty box which actually turned out to be quite a hoot.  Here the hated Mark Fistric (he gave Preds captain, Shea Weber, a cheap-shot concussion during their last meeting which Predator brawler, Jordin Tootoo, reminded him of by putting his ass on the ice early in the game and sending him to the box also for retaliating).  We gave him as much verbal pounding as we could since our hitting of the glass behind him was quickly no-no'ed by security.  Oops.  Lucky for you, SISSYtric!!



To say a good time was had by all is kind of an understatement. 
Who knew cotton candy could bring this much joy to people over the age of six?



I guess fame has its advantages. 
Note that Preds mascot, Gnash, is not being  reprimanded
for smacking the glass behind  beloved PA announcer, Paul McCann.



Much thanks to our friend, Chris, for capturing this TV-grab
of Emily and me grinning like possums behind Dallas Star defenseman,
Trevor Daly , as he serves his time in the box for being naughty.  Fang-fingers, punk!!



The only sour note on the night was the 4-1 beat-down that the Stars put on the Predators unfortunately.  Still solidly in contention and playing well currently despite tonight's hiccup, the Preds are hopefully bound for bigger and better things.... like the playoffs.



Above is a lucky shot by me of the Preds first (and only, unfortunately) goal of the evening by the young left winger, Gabriel Bourque.  His first in the NHL!!