visit all NHL arenas

We might finish this season! We tentatively have games planned Detroit, Minnesota, and the new building in New Jersey, as well as a few other games, but that should take us to every existing arena (although 2010-11 will require a trip to the new arena in Pittsburgh, plus any other new buildings that may exist by then).

We only did two new cities last season (Denver and Columbus), but this season may be better. We already have plans for Phoenix and Dallas in October, and hope to add St. Louis and maybe NY (Rangers) later in the season.

So far this season, we know we’ll be going to D.C and Philly (been to both before), Colorado (Denver) and Columbus. I hope we’ll be able to work in at least one more new city.

I don’t think we’ll make any more trips to new arenas this year, so here’s my update for this season (only eight buildings to go—we could do this in two, more likely three seasons):

Visited so far:
(all are new/current arena unless specified)
Washington (old and new)
Carolina (old and new)
Philadelphia (old and new)
Chicago
Vancouver 12/29/01 & 12/31/01
Tampa 2/26/02
San Jose 3/15-16/02
Pittsburgh 3/23/02
Los Angeles 1/2/03
Anaheim 1/3/03
Boston 1/26/03
Buffalo 1/13/04
Ottawa 1/15/04
Toronto 1/17/04
Miami 1/23/04
Nashville 2/13/04
Montreal 2/5/06
New Jersey 4/16/06
New York (Islanders) 4/18/06
Edmonton 10/38/06
Calgary 10/30/06
Atlanta 1/28/07

Sort of visited:
Detroit 9/30/03 (preseason game; also saw three CCHA “Frozen Six” games)
St. Louis (roller hockey)
Madison Square Garden (arena tour on day of Rangers game)

Still to visit:
Columbus
Colorado
Phoenix
Dallas
Minnesota

Yesterday we bought game tickets, plane tickets, and booked a hotel room so we’ll see the Flyers play the Trashers on Jan. 28, 2007 at Phillips Arena.

We have plane tickets to Alberta at the end of October so we can visit both Calgary and Edmonton in one trip. Still need to get tickets for the games, though, which will be expensive because we’ll probably have to go through a broker.

Visited so far:
(all are new/current arena unless specified)
Washington (old and new)
Carolina (old and new)
Philadelphia (old and new)
Chicago
Vancouver 12/29/01 & 12/31/01
Tampa 2/26/02
San Jose 3/15-16/02
Pittsburgh 3/23/02
Los Angeles 1/2/03
Anaheim 1/3/03
Boston 1/26/03
Buffalo 1/13/04
Ottawa 1/15/04
Toronto 1/17/04
Miami 1/23/04
Nashville 2/13/04
Montreal 2/5/06
New Jersey 4/16/06
New York (Islanders) 4/18/06

Sort of visited:
Detroit 9/30/03 (preseason game; also saw three CCHA “Frozen Six” games)
St. Louis (roller hockey)
Madison Square Garden (arena tour on day of Rangers game)

Still to visit:
Calgary
Edmonton (we had a trip planned to visit these two during the 2004-05 season, but the lockout and my deployment derailed that)
Columbus
Atlanta
Colorado
Phoenix
Dallas
Minnesota

I set up a list on ListsofBests.com of all NHL arenas. If anyone wants to set up their own version of the list, please feel free!

We’re taking a trip beginning Easter weekend and running through the next week that includes a game in Philly (already been there many times, but hubby is a huge Flyers fan and it’s on the way), a game in New Jersey and a game in Long Island.

After looking at my list, that will give us 11 more to visit to complete this goal.

I’ve been to the following for NHL Games:

HP Pavilion – San Jose Sharks
Wachovia Center – Philadelphia Flyers
Spectrum – Philadelphia Flyers
Continental Airlines Arena – NJ Devils
Nassau Coliseum – NY Islanders

I’ve been to the following arenas for non-NHL events

Hartford Civic Center – Hartford Whalers
Staples Center – Los Angeles Kings
Madison Square Garden – NY Rangers
MCI Center – Washington Capitals
The Omni – Atlanta Flames
Cow Palace – San Jose Sharks