Where to sit at an NHL game?

[Alistair]

Hi guys,

I'm coming over to the US in October and have timed my trip perfectly for the first weeks of the NHL season. I definitely plan to get to a few games in LA, Anaheim, NY and Washington DC.

I'm browsing StubHub and there are already a stack of good tickets on the market. As someone who has been to only a couple of games before, I was hoping to get your thoughts and opinions on where the best seats are.

I understand it will probably come down to personal preference, but any discussion/debate would be much appreciated!

Just so you know, I will have my DLSR camera with me, so I will want somewhere that allows me to get the best photos (if that changes anything).

- Is front row on the glass best, or is elevation better?
- Is it better sitting on the side or behind the net?
- Should I sit behind the benches to be closer to players or on the other side so I can face them?
- How far back would I need to sit to shoot photos OVER the glass (rather than through it)?

Cheers!

[kehlis]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

My favorite seats are center ice of the upper level (preferably as low as I can get in the upper level).

To me, those are the best seats.

[slickdtc]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

It depends. I think for viewing the game, sitting up high (at least in Philadelphia, where I've attended all my NHL games) is ideal. You get to see everything, and the fans are crazy.

But sitting a few rows (or right up on it) from the glass is awesome because you get to see all the players up close. Don't get a middle tier seat, because you're going to pay more and not get the perks of being up close and get the same experience as being up high.

[mkharsh33]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

Attend roughly 10-15 Lightning games a year. We sit 18 rows up (Row R) but straight up from the goal (Lightning team bench side). Preferably it would be more center ice, though no doubt more expensive. But if you can get lower arena - center ice you're set. Even higher up wouldn't be bad...

My wife got my son and I tickets to see a Penguins game a few years ago, 2nd row right behind the goalie. Great when they were in your end, but not so much at the other. I'd avoid getting behind the goals...depth perception is tough and you end up watching the screen above more than the ice (in which you might as well stay home).

[Fiddy]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

in any arena, 2nd level, first 5 rows or so, and directly behind the goalie. you get to see everything develop!! even some lower levels, last 5 rows or so, behind the goalie as well.

[mkharsh33]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

directly behind the goalie...

Really? I thought those were the worst seats I sat in. If I spend half the game watching the screen above me because I'm too far away to really see the action at the other end, I'd call this a waste of money...

[SidVish]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

My favorite seats are towards the last seats in the 100 level at mid ice. You can see everything. I remember my first time my jaw dropped because on tv you can't see what's developing besides where the puck is at.

I've sat on the glass for the 2010 Finals which is awesome but once the puck goes to the other end of the ice it's tough to see what's happening.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

I like sitting in the lower bowl around center ice, can favor either side but I prefer to be on the side as opposed to behind a goal. Row isn't really important to me, I've sat in the 2nd row and I've sat near the last row, I just love being down in the lower bowl. The seats have more leg room down there and that's a big selling point to me being 6'4".

I think it also depends what team you're seeing play also, tickets are a lot more expensive some places so you might want to sit up top there, then when you find a team with cheaper tickets look for better seats there.

I'm hoping to do some traveling this year as well, so far the only place I've ever seen a game is in St. Louis (I try to make it to as many Hawks/Blues games as possible and see a fair amount of other games just because Blues tickets aren't too expensive). This year though I want to go up to Chicago for a few games, and I also am hoping to fly up to Vancouver for a Hawks/Canucks game, looking at the November game as a possibility.

[Fiddy]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

Really? I thought those were the worst seats I sat in. If I spend half the game watching the screen above me because I'm too far away to really see the action at the other end, I'd call this a waste of money...

do you need glasses? lol.. jk

5 rows up behind pens goalie since around 87/88 season. great seats, at the igloo it was like you were on top of the action, at the CEC its a bit further back, but still awesome.

i have sat at about every angle in the igloo and last season checked out most of the cec, i wouldnt trade our seats for nothing. well, maybe lower level last row, basically right below us. lol..

[Greenevol]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

10 rows up, center ice - if you can afford it.


If you sit any closer, you start to lose the view towards the other end of the ice - people stand up, the glass tends to block the view, etc. It's flat out awesome when the puck is in your end, but not so much with it's on the other end.

If on a budget - center ice or corner in the upper level is usually great. That's where I have Preds season tix package

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

Everybody needs to experience a game from Row 1 Centre Iceish in the Lower Bowl. You won't believe how fast the players are until you see them up close.

[kehlis]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

Everybody needs to experience a game from Row 1 Centre Iceish in the Lower Bowl. You won't believe how fast the players are until you see them up close.

I agree that it should be experienced at one point, I wouldn't want to do it on a regular basis though.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

I agree that it should be experienced at one point, I wouldn't want to do it on a regular basis though.

This is true. It's hard to see plays develop if you're sitting in Row 1 in the Lower Bowl.

I'm biased, but there isn't a bad sightline at Rogers Arena. I've sat in the highest row behind the goalie in the Upper Bowl and I still got a nice view of the action.

[DrJones]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

Everybody needs to experience a game from Row 1 Centre Iceish in the Lower Bowl. You won't believe how fast the players are until you see them up close.

Yep. The one and only time I sat in Row 1 was a Flyers/Canucks game on New Year's Eve 1989. There was a 2-inch seam in the glass right where I was by the faceoff dot, I was half-amazed I didn't get a stick in the face. Perfect for yelling directly at the players at ice-level, though.

Among the highlights:

- heckling Keith Acton unmercifully during warmup, until at one point he kicked the boards where I was a few times and told me to "**** off, kid" with a big smile on his face
- heckling Pete Peeters (Pete Peeters!) unmercifully during the game itself
- making so much noise during a faceoff that Igor Larionov looked at me and my friends in amazement/disgust (obviously this kind of thing didn't happen in Soviet Russia)
- Kjell Samuelsson got hit into the boards (by Jim Sandlak) so hard that a chunk of spit/snot flew over the boards and onto my friend's jacket

Then we went to someone's place in the suburbs, got drunk on cheap beer, and played Axis & Allies all night. Ah, to be 17 again...

[Alistair]

Re: Where to sit at an NHL game?

Thanks for all of your help guys! I'm looking at going to Rangers @ Islanders in October.

Browsing tickets on StubHub now, there are multiple listings for Section 101 (Lower VIP Center) Click here to view map

Does anyone know what the difference between Row A and Row AA is? Which one is right next to the glass?