Front Row Seats - Worth It?

[Riptide]

So am going to an Oilers/Caps game in Oct. I live nowhere near an NHL arena and can usually count how many games I get to watch on one hand over multiple years.

So I decided to splurge on a pair of tickets - front row on the end. It was roughly $200/250 CND or so more then what a pair of half decent seats 10-15 rows up or in the upper bowl would have cost. The money part doesn't really bother me all that much - I mean at the end of the day it's just money. What I'm more worried about is that the seats won't be nearly worth it from an experience POV.

I love live games. And in the dozen or so games I've watched in a majority of NHL arena's in Canada (sitting all over the place), I've never been disappointed with my seat. Sightlines have all been good/great, but I've also never sat lower then row 7/10 or so.

So other than not putting my beer on the ledge of the boards, can anyone give me some insight?

 

[SenzZen]

Pretty hard to bang the glass from the bleeders, bruh.

 

[djpatm]

No not at all. Your field of view is limited to what's directly in front of you and from a lot of angles you can't even see the puck.

You do get to see the speed a bit better though.

Best seats are always first row second bowl.

 

[ccarrigan]

So am going to an Oilers/Caps game in Oct. I live nowhere near an NHL arena and can usually count how many games I get to watch on one hand over multiple years.

So I decided to splurge on a pair of tickets - front row on the end. It was roughly $200/250 CND or so more then what a pair of half decent seats 10-15 rows up or in the upper bowl would have cost. The money part doesn't really bother me all that much - I mean at the end of the day it's just money. What I'm more worried about is that the seats won't be nearly worth it from an experience POV.

I love live games. And in the dozen or so games I've watched in a majority of NHL arena's in Canada (sitting all over the place), I've never been disappointed with my seat. Sightlines have all been good/great, but I've also never sat lower then row 7/10 or so.

So other than not putting my beer on the ledge of the boards, can anyone give me some insight?

I think everyone should watch a game on the glass. It's exciting, I think you can better see how fast they are, and some good physical action happens back there.

However, for my daily grinder seats I'm more of a 10 rows up corner to middle guy, shoots twice.

 

[Blufreezy]

I think everyone should watch a game on the glass. It's exciting, I think you can better see how fast they are, and some good physical action happens back there.

However, for my daily grinder seats I'm more of a 10 rows up corner to middle guy, shoots twice.

Exactly this.
Front row is cool, once, and might make for a cool facebook status. Other than that it's nothing special.

 

[Boxscore]

I hate 1st row. Best seats in any arena are center ice, row 1 in 2nd level.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

It's an interesting experience in its own right. Although, it's not the best place to watch a game as far as seeing plays develop.

 

[Lshap]

First of all, have fun! Yeah, you trade off some sightlines of the actual game when you sit that close, but what you lose in hockey perspective you gain in up-close player experience. It's worth doing at least once.

 

[ForsakenSabre]

I hate 1st row. Best seats in any arena are center ice, row 1 in 2nd level.

Go and do it once. Otherwise this^

 

[Preds Partisan]

Like above said, gotta do it at least once. I've taken people who've never been to a live game before and they got hooked.

 

[Goose]

If you want an experience, get front row tickets.

If you want to understand what's happening in the game and see everything at once, get first row on the second level in the center of the rink.

I would do front row again with a few boys if the plan was to have a few drinks, bang on the glass, act like clowns etc. It's a good time in a college frat boy sort of way.

For the most part though, being in the centre of the rink with an unobstructed view is the most important thing. I almost prefer first row upper level seats to first row second level, especially given the cost savings.

 

[Classicnamesup]

Not a good view. Worst seats I ever had was front row behind the bench. Couldn't see a thing with the coaches and trainers standing in my way. Got on the jumbo a bunch of times though

 

[Duke749]

First of all, have fun! Yeah, you trade off some sightlines of the actual game when you sit that close, but what you lose in hockey perspective you gain in up-close player experience. It's worth doing at least once.

I agree. Something I wanna do at least once. But don't think I'd want season tickets there.

 

[SI90]

Personally I don't like to be any lower than the top
Of the glass

 

[Canadian Time]

You've got to try it a time or two, it's fantastic. As others have said, you can really see the speed and size of the players on the glass. But for me, every time I am amazed at how fast they make decisions and react. You will especially see this in the ends, how fast a defenseman gets the puck, spins and passes with a forward barrelling in. You'll like it.

 

[Brodeur]

As others said, it was fun to do once but I enjoy the view from 15-20 rows up. If you're too close, you have a tough time seeing things at the other end. It's a little disappointing to react to a goal based on the other end of the arena going nuts.

Being able to hear the players was interesting. The one time I had those seats was for a Ducks/Devils game in 2003. Mike Rupp finished a check right in front of us. Even before contact was made, the Ducks defender was yelling at Rupp to come hit him (with several profanities).

You might end up on camera or in some press photos. From that game, the Ducks celebrated after a goal in front of us. So here's a pic of my cousin pounding the glass while half of me is seated.

 

[Bathcat]

For your first game it's absolutely worth it. It's really nice seeing the players up close after all those years watching them on TV.

For subsequent games, yeah, try to get row 15-20.

 

[Irishguy42]

Just ask this guy how much front row seats are worth it.

 

[whlscowt]

Not a good view. Worst seats I ever had was front row behind the bench. Couldn't see a thing with the coaches and trainers standing in my way. Got on the jumbo a bunch of times though

Some arenas make row 1 way too low to try and squeeze in more seats. The Saddledome is a great example. You're literally facing coach-butt all game whereas in JLA (Detroit) you're a good foot or two above the coaches. Nothing is worse than having your view obstructed by some assistant coach and then you have to bend your neck to try and see the jumbo to see what's happening.

Interesting side note, I'm noticing on TV and live in arena that the front row is slowly becoming a trendy/cool place to just be seen like in Basketball (courtside seats). Watch a game and you'll see tons of hot girls taking selfies all game, barely watching it, all along the glass. Even Leo DiCaprio goes front row to read his texts.

 

[Classicnamesup]

Some arenas make row 1 way too low to try and squeeze in more seats. The Saddledome is a great example. You're literally facing coach-butt all game whereas in JLA (Detroit) you're a good foot or two above the coaches. Nothing is worse than having your view obstructed by some assistant coach and then you have to bend your neck to try and see the jumbo to see what's happening.

Interesting side note, I'm noticing on TV and live in arena that the front row is slowly becoming a trendy/cool place to just be seen like in Basketball (courtside seats). Watch a game and you'll see tons of hot girls taking selfie all game, barely watching it, all along the glass. Even Leo DiCaprio goes front row.

Saddledome was where I had that awful experience

They should be lifted if they put seats there. Thankfully I got em for free

 

[Wild11MN]

I've never sat front row, but I sat 3rd row for Wild-Stars game 6 this year. That was my first time within the first 20 or so rows, and I've probably only sat lower level like 4 times out of 50 or so games I've been too. The sightlines certainly sucked trying to view the other end of the rink, but it was absolutely worth it for that one time. I couldn't believe how loud it was down there. My quarter-season tickets were in the last row of the arena, so maybe it's just a result of sitting down there coupled with the fact it was a playoff game. I'd certainly agree with others to say try it at least once. Much rather sit higher if I had season tickets though to be able to see everything.

 

[Wabit]

Glass seats are fun. Corners are what I pick, you see the whole sheet, ends are okay too. Stay away from blueline glass seat, you'll just see the linesman's back the entire game.

 

[Wabit]

I've never sat front row, but I sat 3rd row for Wild-Stars game 6 this year. That was my first time within the first 20 or so rows, and I've probably only sat lower level like 4 times out of 50 or so games I've been too. The sightlines certainly sucked trying to view the other end of the rink, but it was absolutely worth it for that one time. I couldn't believe how loud it was down there. My quarter-season tickets were in the last row of the arena, so maybe it's just a result of sitting down there coupled with the fact it was a playoff game. I'd certainly agree with others to say try it at least once. Much rather sit higher if I had season tickets though to be able to see everything.

You should pick up glass seats for a preseason game at the X, they can be found for like $100 each. Free food/beer make up for the price easily.

 

[RedHot]

I've sat right behind the penalty boxes, about 1 row back. You can see some of the ice real good, but viewing most of the ice through the glass on a steep angle is tough. If I could get tickets where ever I wanted, I would get centre ice, probably 15 rows up. Or first row second bowl, like others have said.

 

[TaLoN]

So am going to an Oilers/Caps game in Oct. I live nowhere near an NHL arena and can usually count how many games I get to watch on one hand over multiple years.

So I decided to splurge on a pair of tickets - front row on the end. It was roughly $200/250 CND or so more then what a pair of half decent seats 10-15 rows up or in the upper bowl would have cost. The money part doesn't really bother me all that much - I mean at the end of the day it's just money. What I'm more worried about is that the seats won't be nearly worth it from an experience POV.

I love live games. And in the dozen or so games I've watched in a majority of NHL arena's in Canada (sitting all over the place), I've never been disappointed with my seat. Sightlines have all been good/great, but I've also never sat lower then row 7/10 or so.

So other than not putting my beer on the ledge of the boards, can anyone give me some insight?

Not sure what benefits your arena there offers, but here at the X, if you have glass seats you get access to an exclusive bar that gives free drinks and snacks etc, and HUGE bathroom with no lines etc.

On top of that, you get the chance to get players attention for good or bad...

One time I won free on the glass seats, I was seated just at the faceoff circle - the Wild were playing the Flyers at the time and Kieth Primeau was was still there at the time... EVERY faceoff that took place right in front of me when Primeau was out there, he lined up right in front of me, so I layed into him every time yelling over the glass "PIMEAU YOU HAS BEEN!!!!!"

Most of the time he ignored me and played the game, but late in the game with the Wild up a goal I did it again, and this time he turned and looked right at me... and at that very moment the puck was dropped and he was left standing as his team lost the faceoff and play went in the Wild's direction - no thanks to him of course.

Little things like that can stick with you for years... I actually managed to get into a players head and affect the play on the ice... all because I won a pair of glass seats.

If I could choose any seat though, it would be in the first 4 rows of the corner or the ends... no obstruction to the view and you still get that up close in the game feel.