Have you gone to see the Sharks away from home?

[likewall32]

With the most modesty possible, I post the following:

I had the incredible opportunity to follow the Sharks during the entire 2006/07 season, attending all 93 games, including playoffs. Kept a blog and stuff. I also got to see them the following year when they did the entire Atlantic division in a one week span.

So to answer the op, I've seen the Sharks in every current NHL building except for Air Canada Center, Bell Centre, Consol Energy Center (I saw the Sharks/Pens in the Igloo, broken leaky zamboni game), MTS Center (saw the Sharks play this franchise when they were still in Atlanta), and Scotiabank Place.

 

[ScottyDont]

I went there twice for the 7-6/8-7? SO game and the year after 3/4-1 game with little to no problems at all. Stood up and cheered, wore a jersey, taunted the 11 year-olds behind me (Their parents thought I was mildly funny).

Is that the one where Roenick got the game winning shoot out goal? I was there too. That was some poetic justice.

 

[LadyStanley]

Anaheim, Los Angeles, Phoenix (AWA), Atlanta, Florida, Pittsburgh (Igloo), Buffalo (Murray's first game), Toronto (Thornton's second game), Minnesota.

Worst fans/experience: Phoenix.
Best: Minnesota

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Went to the clinching game 6 at LA. Drove all night after a 12 hour shift the night before, checked into my hotel and couldn't sleep. By the time the game ended and I got back to the hotel, I was going on 40+ hours of no sleep.

Good times.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Was in Denver visiting relatives. Only time I have seen the Sharks play (outside of TV).

 

[Barrie22]

i got to watch my 1st ever live sharks game in ottawa. heatley's return game.

nerve racking walking into the building (the hatred for heatley was hillarious), 1st thing i had to do was walk around a heatley jersey that was placed at the front entrance and got told i was a heatley lover lol.

bus ride home was fun, had my jacket on over my jersey. then seen another sharks fan getting peppered with insults so i undid my jacket to show my jersey and they got quiet after that lol.

 

[dwood16]

To me, it is almost more fun to root for your team away from home when the team has to step it up against the home team and their loud supporters.


I am curious. Have you ever gone to see the Sharks away from home? Which arenas have you seen them play in? What was the atmosphere like there? How were you treated by the home supporters? Which cities were cool and which were similar to how New York looked like in the movie- Escape from NY?


Any stories?

Well I live in LA now and have for the last 2 years or so. I have seen them play in Anaheim 3 times. All losses of course, with the last game being the most recent one where they actually outplayed them and lost on a bad bounce and bad officiating. This last time was by far the best because there were more Sharks fans there than ****s fans practically. Also, the time before that was the game we were beat like 8-1 and I literally ended up in scuffle with 2 Dicks fans on the way out lol.

Let's just say Anaheim isn't the best arena to watch probably. I prefer to be around other people who actually know what hockey is.

 

[HOOCH2173]

well i live in la now and have for the last 2 years or so. I have seen them play in anaheim 3 times. All losses of course, with the last game being the most recent one where they actually outplayed them and lost on a bad bounce and bad officiating. This last time was by far the best because there were more sharks fans there than ****s fans practically. Also, the time before that was the game we were beat like 8-1 and i literally ended up in scuffle with 2 dicks fans on the way out lol.

let's just say anaheim isn't the best arena to watch probably. I prefer to be around other people who actually know what hockey is.

this^

 

[Nighthock]

United Center in Chicago
Staples Center in Los Angeles
Honda Center in Anaheim (by far the worst ... yuck)

nothing interesting to share, really ...

 

[HOOCH2173]

Boston - Best I've been to so far (of course the Sharks winning that game as well as Worchester that year helped too!)

Phoenix - No one attends games.
Anacrime - Worst non edcuated fans there. Oh wait there are fans there?
LA - They leave you alone as long as there's a Kings fan in your group.
Washington Capitals - Decent Arena but man you pretty much take the Train to get there. I saw no parking for people on the streets.

 

[eastbayjoker]

Saw them play at Joe Louis Arena last season and the fans didn't give me a hard time at all until after it was over (4-2 SJ). Even then it was only one small pack of wannabe eminems that called me a "pu55y" from 50 feet away as they were walking backward. Even at all the bars we hit after the game people were very friendly. Even high-fived quite a few shark fans.

Best line of the night...at one bar we were at this dude lumbers up to me and says "Are you REALLY a sharks fan?" I thought he was blowing me crap, so I said "What gave it away, the teal Sharks jersey I'm currently wearing?". He says "No I'm not giving you a hard time, I've just never met anybody who's an actual Sharks fan. I didn't know they had real fans." He also didn't know they had been a team since 1991. Casual Wings fan I'm guessing.

 

[eastbayjoker]

With the most modesty possible, I post the following:

I had the incredible opportunity to follow the Sharks during the entire 2006/07 season, attending all 93 games, including playoffs. Kept a blog and stuff. I also got to see them the following year when they did the entire Atlantic division in a one week span.

So to answer the op, I've seen the Sharks in every current NHL building except for Air Canada Center, Bell Centre, Consol Energy Center (I saw the Sharks/Pens in the Igloo, broken leaky zamboni game), MTS Center (saw the Sharks play this franchise when they were still in Atlanta), and Scotiabank Place.

That is seriously rad.

 

[Broiler19]

away from home for me was seeing them in the tank (6 times, 2 playoff games), and there was nothing that beats that for me. i have seen them here in WPG at the MTS centre (last year) and there is no question that HP is louder and a better vibe. Yes, im biased, because i love the sharks, but I have also seen other games here in wpg that weren't with the sharks and where the jets happened to win, and the tank was still a better atmosphere in san jose. i hope to be back soon to catch some more shark games in san jose!

all time record with me in attendance is 6-1 for the sharks!

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

I've visited the Bell Cntre in Montreal, and while the atmosphere inside the arena is great, the concourse and the building was very poorly designed, and made for a bad experience.

 

[Danish Pastry]

I live in so cal so I've seen the sharks a ton...
Anaheim I hate that place and their fans they are terrible...
Staples center always fun kings fan u can get along with.
Great western forum before kings played at staples.
And then I drove to San Jose last year to watch sharks smash the avalanche near the end of the season.

 

[Hold the Pickles]

I've seen them in Buffalo and since I'm in LA I'll probably see them in Anaheim and LA. Buffalo was a ton of fun and everyone was super nice. Also Tim hortons....

Ya, sabre fans are alright. This guy saw me in my nolan jersey and swung his shoulder into me as he passed by on the concourse. I turned around with a raised eyebrow and a smile. He had a smile on his and gave me the head-nod of approval. I guess he figured if I'm wearing a Nolan jersey that I'd appreciate it.

 

[LEN]

When I lived in socal is go to pretty much all the games against the ducks. The only upside to that place was cheap tickets. I really enjoyed cheering for the sharks there.

Went to staples center for playoff games against la. A bit of tension between fans and saw a great comeback win. Their fans were very into it. I thought it was cool.

Wins make the walk back to the car so much sweeter. Otherwise is a long walk.

 

[Anstormning]

The only away game I've ever been to was against the Capitals back in February 2007. I think that was the first time I had seen Ovechkin in person, too. I don't remember much other than we won in a shootout.

 

[drthunder005]

Anaheim: Like most people have mentioned here, it's nothing special. It's literally 50/50 in terms of Sharks and Ducks fans, so it definitely feels more like a home game. Went to the final regular matchup, the year where the Sharks played the Ducks in the playoffs. Game ended with a furious rush around the Sharks net and a lot of skirmishes at the final horn.

Phoenix: Went to the game last year when Mike Smith shutout (*gasp* that never happens) the Sharks 3-0. Part of a Spring Training trip to see the A's, at the same time. Pretty dull atmosphere and that stupid howling that goes off after each Coyote goal....

Toronto: Fun, fun atmosphere. The crowd weren't as enthusiastic, since the Leafs weren't doing so well. But, the fans were cool and the area around the arena is pretty fun. And, Toronto is a real fun city to explore and check out.

Montreal: Went a couple of seasons ago, and it was a Hockey Night in Canada game, even though it was an afternoon game. But, like Toronto, great atmosphere inside and outside of the building. Stayed a couple of blocks from the Bell Centre, so hockey talk was everywhere.

Ottawa: Went to the Sens game, as part of the Montreal trip. It was the return of Dany Heatley to Ottawa. Definitely a lot of hate directed at Heatley, but not much at the Sharks. I wore my Cheechoo jersey, thinking that would help alleviate any potential anger directed at me....hahaha. But, I sat to some real nice guys who initially booed Heater but their hate turned towards the Sens, who were having an off year.

 

[Grave]

Vancouver and New York, I had fun in both places but I didn't get along well with Vancouver fans if you know what I mean.

 

[Wedontneedroads]

Every game in Vancouver from 2005-2008 when I went to school up in Washington. Sharks destroyed them my freshman and sophomore year, and then didn't win a game for the next two years. One of the best cities I have ever visited. Better than SF.

Saw JT get his 1000th pt in Phoenix. They even put an announcement on the jumbo tron. Very classy, but the whole Glendale thing really sucks.

The worst was when I convinced my dad to buy us tickets to the away games vs LA in the 2011 playoffs. What a terrible decision

I'm in the process of visiting every away arena. I am only missing 2 crucial pieces. Time, and money.

 

[iMikeyy]

Just read through all the posts on here, and I'll be going to my first away game against the Ducks on the 18th of March. Kinda wish I had bought tickets for the Kings instead, sounds like a sh1thole. But it's whatever, I'm going with like 5 buddies who aren't big on hockey like me, and tickets are mad cheap, so I'm sure it'll be alright. Looking forward to out chanting ducks fans with the other sharks fans, and hopefully not having to hear the ducks lame ass goal horn.

 

[fasterthanlight]

Was planning on going to a Wild - Sharks game here in Minnesota earlier this year. But then there was that whole lockout thing.

 

[Berto2k]

3 infestation trips under my belt

 

[Punk Rock Pete]

I moved from Sacramento to Seattle a few years back. I've been to games in Vancouver two January's in a row (2011 & 2012). We won both games in shootouts . Both times I was in full Sharks gear with a few friends, and we went out drinking in the city afterwards to celebrate.

My experience with Vancouver fans was pretty similar both times. Generally about 5 minutes of good-natured trash talk, followed by remarking how great it was Americans cared enough to come up. Many bought us beers, and were generally pleasant.

On the last trip, we also discovered how many Vancouverites hate the Canucks. Some were from other parts of Canada, but most just hated the arrogant attitude of their fans. Interesting to say the least.