Why limit yourself to seeing hockey games at your nearest hockey stadium? Combine your love of hockey with your next road trip.
A hockey stadium road trip can be a lot of fun, and even allows spouses or family members who aren't quite as enamored of hockey to have a good time. You can spend some of your trip sightseeing, and some visiting hockey stadiums or even seeing hockey games.
Here are some tips for planning a hockey stadium road trip:
Look for the stadiums that are nearest you, or plan for a visit to a hub of hockey (such as Toronto/Buffalo, New York/New Jersey, etc.). This is a great way to see two or three stadiums, without racking up too many miles.
Decide how many days you have for your trip, and how many hours you need to travel to get to each stadium. Try to allow yourself at least two days (one overnight) in each city.
If you plan to go during the hockey season, buy tickets well ahead of time. In some cities (like Detroit and Toronto, for instance) and for weekend games, you may not be able to buy tickets on the spot. If you want to see your favorite team play, some serious planning could be necessary (but so worth it).
See if your local team's booster club sponsors trips to away games. Philadelphia fans are always crowding Washington Capitals games, for instance. As you go into the stadium, you can see several busloads of Philadelphians pulling up.
Check your to-do list for trips you want to take anyway, and see if a hockey stadium is there or on the route.
If your main reason to visit is to go to the stadium, check for hotels near it instead of the city center. While some cities already have the stadium downtown, others have it outside of town where lodging is cheaper.
Bring back souvenirs. You can get official game pucks at most team stores. Some even sell much-coveted game-worn hockey jerseys or other team memorabilia.
Before you go, do some research to figure out when and where the team practices. Some NHL teams practice at their stadiums, but some practice at other facilities. Sometimes, you can even meet players and get autographs.
See if there are other hockey attractions in the town you plan to visit. If you're going to be in Toronto, for instance, you sure don't want to miss the Hockey Hall of Fame or Gretzky's restaurant.
Don't forget minor league, college and junior teams. It can be fun to see rising stars in action, and this opens up your city and destination options significantly. As a bonus, tickets are often cheap.
The copyright of the article Hockey Stadium Road Trip in Ice Hockey is owned by Mike Carr. Permission to republish Hockey Stadium Road Trip in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
