I’ve been calling Montreal Canadiens games for nearly five years now and because of that, I’ve been fortunate to visit all of the league’s cities at least a handful of times. Here are some random thoughts about each stop along the way:
Anaheim – The Honda Centre is a beautiful building with a real California feel to it. Still, I manage to get lost on the dressing room level every time I’m there. And if you plan on going, leave early. There’s a lot of traffic in California, if you weren’t aware.
Arizona – The Gila River Arena is in the middle of a perfect complex. You can walk from the team hotel to the front door in three minutes. There are many fun bars, restaurants and shops at your disposal and it’s great to stroll around and enjoy the weather. The football stadium is there, too. I’d recommend Arizona for a hockey vacation. Please Mr. Bettman: Don’t ever let the Coyotes relocate.
Boston – Great city. The Gahden itself is looking a bit shabby compared to some other buildings in the league these days, but a Habs-Bruins game always means a good atmosphere. Boston features, for my money, one of the top five media meals in the league…a lot of variety and good quality. For those with a sweet tooth, there are plenty of good desserts on press row. I always appreciate seeing Doug, who is one of the veteran audio techs on the circuit. When we did the Winter Classic in Foxboro a few years back on New Year’s Day, he took a ton of pictures with his high end camera and shared them with me. It’s cool to have those mementos from what was the highlight of that Canadiens’ season. I think it was last year when Doug had to leave the Garden for a few minutes an hour before the game. The problem was, he didn’t have his credentials with him and it took him a long time and some intervention to get him back to our booth. Our operator back in Montreal was frantic that we wouldn’t make it to air; Doug was steaming when he finally did get back in our booth. Sergio and just laughed and went about our business.
Buffalo – it’s a lot better now that we stay in the hotel that adjoins the arena. When I first started the job, we stayed at a hotel a couple of kilometers away, normally not too far to walk but Buffalo can get cold and I could never find a ride. Good broadcast location, incredible vintage photos all around the building (my favorite is one of Jerry ‘King Kong’ Korab in a marvelous pair of 1970s slacks) and an excellent media meal. Gabriel’s Gate, a short ride from the arena, has some of the best chicken wings you will find in a city renowned for the delectable little buggers. Come to think of it, a few years back we were in Buffalo during U.S. Thanksgiving and Gabriel’s Gate was the only restaurant we could find that was open. Might have been the best turkey dinner I ever had. I would have walked to Schenectady and back to work it off. (For the free plugs, Gabriel’s Gate can feel free to send wings to my Montreal home….)
Calgary – Those with fear of heights need not apply. To get to the booth, you have to take a grated walk right over centre ice. Looking down, one’s mind can go to a dark place. There’s also no bathroom on the press level, so we have to run to the concourse during intermission and it’s always full. Some drunken fool made fun of Sergio for wearing a suit to the game during an intermission bathroom break last year. I doubt he knows how close he came to being dangled over the ice surface from that elevated walk way. Five dollar media meal featuring Alberta beef. Perfect.
Carolina – I like going to Raleigh…beautiful pine trees coming in from the airport and we stay in a nice area just outside the city, complete with a cool little shopping complex. I really like the arena, there’s just not enough people in it. Head to ‘Lucky B’s Bar’ in downtown Raleigh for cheap drinks, beer pong and a fun atmosphere. Former NHL’er Bates Battaglia is a co-owner.
Chicago – On everyone’s list of favorite NHL cities. Terrific for walking. Amazing architecture. Big and busy but not ‘New York busy’. The United Centre features a great media meal and great snacks in the intermissions. There’s a reason the NHL is referred to as the ‘Never Hungry League’. The rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and the fan’s cheering during the anthem will raise the hairs on your arms. As with a number of other arenas, often times Sergio and I don’t have a booth in Chicago because there are too many broadcast crews to accommodate. We end up being wedged in a small space but it’s a minor price to pay for such a great experience. And we appreciate the pre-game classic rock they play as opposed to the mind-numbing garbage you hear in too many other cities.
Colorado – I like going to Denver, as I lived there for a couple of years in the mid-90s. It’s a fun city to bar hop, but don’t get me started about the arena. The media meal is one of the worst in the league and the last time we called a game there, we were basically behind a net. Identifying players at the far end of the rink was guesswork at best. Apparently the owner commandeered a big section of the press area for his own sky box, pushing the working folk to the outer regions. You can do that when you own the building and the team, I suppose
Columbus – Clean, quaint downtown area, I think I like Columbus more than some of my colleagues. There’s a nice market there and a great Mexican restaurant across the street from the arena. However, whoever came up with the idea for that cannon should be forced to spend a winter in Siberia. Horrible and heart-stopping.
Dallas – The radio booths are way too far from the ice, but that’s the only negative for me for ‘Big D’. The friendliest staff in the league; detailed; comprehensive press notes; free, top notch media meal; tremendous area for restaurants in the neighbourhood where we stay. Add the fact that the weather is usually good and Dallas rates really high on my top cities on the circuit.
Detroit – Brand new Little Caesar’s Arena is sparkling. Apparently, the broadcast booths were built with the Bell Centre’s vantage point in mind. The sight lines are good but nothing matches Montreal. Five dollars will get you a varied, tremendous media meal, though the price may have to increase to allow for the damage my friend and colleague did in his first visit to Motor City. The amount of food he put away was truly impressive.
Edmonton – Rogers Arena is new and extremely impressive but why the broadcast booths are so far from the ice boggles my mind. It is tougher to see the ice in Edmonton than anywhere else in the NHL. Connor McDavid is always easy to pick out. He’s the guy who’s twice as fast as anyone else on the ice.
Florida – Another great building wasted (see Carolina, Arizona). It is always interesting when Habs’ fans outnumber the Panthers’ fans, which is even more pronounced around Christmas. It’s great when we stay in Fort Lauderdale, but the commute to the arena in Sunrise for practice or the game is a real pain. Had a hippie for an audio tech a few years back who practically begged me to bring him a big bag of Tim Hortons coffee the next time we came to town. I did not.
Los Angeles – The Staples Centre is HUGE and colder than a mother-in-law’s kiss. It’s in a fun area called ‘L.A. Live’, just don’t wander too far, you can end up somewhere you don’t want to be. We’re pretty far from the ice but it’s manageable. The chocolate covered caramel corn in the press box is entirely addictive and not too far from the arena is The Original Pantry Café. Opened in 1924, it is open 24/7 and is flat out the best diner I’ve ever visited. Massive breakfasts at good prices, it’s worth waiting in line to get in. Four years ago, I struck up a conversation with a man whose daughter used to work for CHOM. Big city, small world.
Minnesota – I always look forward to a trip to Xcel Energy Centre in St. Paul. We stay in a hotel with an amazing bar. The arena is adorned with high school hockey jerseys from across the State of Hockey and the Wild merchandise store is far and away the best in the NHL. I got my son a vintage North Stars jersey that is one of his favorites of all the jerseys we have between us.
Nashville – There aren’t proper press booths. We basically get jammed in the stands, though the view isn’t bad. For the last few years we’ve been stuck with a tech that has no clue what he is doing. I go over what we need during the game and he just can’t get it. He also has incredibly bad breath. Sergio had gum with him last year and offered the tech a piece or three. When he declined, Sergio said: “No. Seriously. Take one.” The live band that plays before the game and during intermissions is a bonus. As a jersey connoisseur, the yellow abominations the Predators wear offend me.
New Jersey – Our booth is too far from the ice…very tough to see the players’ numbers. I don’t remember there being a good atmosphere at the Prudential Centre, but they have a good merchandise store. The highlight is always getting a police escort through rush hour traffic on the drive to Newark. The guy who drives our bus has nerves of steel.
New York Islanders – The Barclay Centre is freezing cold. We sit on the concourse and when the puck is to our right side in the corner, I have to look on the monitor to find the puck. Two years ago, we had a problem getting connected to the station in Montreal. The audio tech was visibly shaken. At one point he looked at me and said: “I’ll be right back”. He returned with four hot dogs and sucked them back in record time. I was shocked, but it seemed to do the trick. He calmed down and he got us connected.
New York Rangers – I recently called a television game at Madison Square Garden and I allowed myself a bit of pride because of it. It’s obviously a legendary building for hockey, boxing, concerts and other great events. And there are some interesting characters working at the building. Two years ago as I walked through security toward the elevator, a security guard said: “Hey! You know you guys are getting your ass kicked tonight, right?” I had to laugh.
Ottawa – Our booth is in a good location with strong sight lines. That’s all I got.
Philadelphia – We usually get the same audio technician every time we go to the Wells Fargo Centre. A nice man in his 80’s…possibly too nice. He’ll talk your ear off while you’re getting ready for the game and I don’t have the heart to tell him I don’t have the time to chat. Sergio sometimes will bail me out. Even though he’s sitting right next to me, he’ll call me so I can pretend to have a conversation to save me from get the one I’m having with the tech. We usually stay right next to City Hall, which is the largest municipal building in the United States and a really fascinating structure. The arena is right next to the football and baseball stadiums. It’s a great set up with tons of parking. The Habs don’t usually play well in Philadelphia, for whatever reason.
Pittsburgh – The view when you come out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel says ‘Welcome to Pittsburgh.’ As a Mario Lemieux/Penguins fan in my teens I’d always hoped to get to Pittsburgh to get a feel for the city and the people. They are hard core fans, especially when it comes to the Steelers. The hotel where we stay has a view of beautiful PNC Park, home to the Pirates. It’s also across from Heinz Healey’s men’s store, where I always buy two ties every time I visit the city. Great arena, adorned with lots of cool photos and memorabilia from a storied history, but I regret never visiting the Igloo.
San Jose – Nothing special about S.A.P. Centre but we hang out on Santana Row, one of the nicest places in the league. There are some crazy beams in the broadcast booths and to get there, you have to get off the elevator and hike up a floor. Strange. Great fans with lots of energy, though.
St. Louis – Certainly not a favorite destination for me, it’s just kind of vanilla. I like the plaques of recognition of the Blues various broadcasters over the years on the press level. There’s a great picture of the legendary Dan Kelly up there; just looking at it reminds me of that great booming voice that rings me back to Canada Cup ’87.
Tampa Bay – When Amalie Arena was built, apparently the designers forgot to install an elevator. As a result, everyone piles into a freight elevator that stops on every floor and if you miss it, it could be a while before the next one comes along. When I think of that rink, I recall Phil Esposito coming into our booth and chatting with Sergio. I’m never star-struck but I’m looking at him thinking “without you, the Russians win in 1972…”
Toronto – Now that the Maple Leafs are a contender the atmosphere is improving but before that, I never sense a lot of fun in the stands in the arena. There’s usually a disappointing media meal in a cramped room and there’s barely enough space to scrum the coach in the post-game. There’s a couple of ushers that work around the dressing rooms who are beauties. They always strike up a conversation with Sergio and are two of the many people along the way that help make the job a lot of fun.
Vancouver – I wish I could visit Vancouver all the time. Incredibly beautiful city and we always seem to get an extra day there in the nicest hotel I’ve ever been in. Great sight lines and we always get our own booth, which is a bonus. I know he called games at the old Pacific Coliseum but I get a kick out of broadcasting hockey in the same city that the great Jim Robson did.
Vegas – What you see and hear on television tells the story – the game presentation in Sin City is unrivalled. The arena is easy to get to and though our booth is kind of off in the corner, it’s not so bad. Pretty tough for me to find anything negative about going to a Golden Knights game.
Washington – A very interesting city to tour, if you have the time. Nothing really stands out one way or the other about building but a few years ago the team travelled on Boxing Day to play that night in Capital One Arena. I was just so strange to see the team play on a travel day. My head was kind of in the clouds that night and remember calling a terrible game. It was a holiday in Canada…I should have been on the couch after a bug turkey dinner!
Winnipeg – Winnipeg is a great hockey town. It is the smallest building in the league and because of that we are really close to the action, so calling a game there is a real pleasure. Would anyone be disappointed if the Jets are able to win the Stanley Cup one of these years? And hey, it’s a dry cold.
Hope you enjoyed the trip!
