Life as an AHL fan

Most of you know the trials and tribulations of hockey year round. You grew up with it, and probably all have played it.

But growing up in Alabama, my passion as a kid was college football (Roll Tide!). I only started getting into hockey in the late 80s.

I was so excited when the Sharks came into the league in 1991. Mrs. Finest bought me tickets to my first NHL game: Sharks versus Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. An 8-0 shellacking by the Penguins was the result, but it only furthered my taste for hockey.

Being a couple hours away from both San Francisco and San Jose, and the cost of NHL tickets, kept our attendance to a few games a year after that. The most games I ever attended in a season was around eight, as the company I worked for had season tickets. We also mixed in some games while traveling. I have seen games in the following cities: Montreal, New York (MSG), Philadelphia (back when it was the First Union, or the F.U. Center), Atlanta, Nashville, Colorado, Phoenix, Los Angeles (the old Forum), and most recently, Las Vegas and Calgary.

Fast forward to 2015. I went to a few Stockton Thunder games, but never was a die-hard fan. When the Heat came to town, we were given some free tickets from a friend and sat in a section behind the goalie. That game, in early January 2016, set the appetite for additional games, maybe even a partial season ticket plan. After discussing with our Heat sales rep, we decided to take the plunge and purchase a full season plan.

During the offseason, I thought it would be fun to put together a list of differences between the two leagues from a fan’s perspective.

Duh… This is an obvious one. But the AHL does provide a firsthand look at prospects, draft picks, and some youngsters who all have passion for the game.

In July, Flames fans know about 90% of the roster going into the season. At the AHL level, Heat fans won’t know their roster until about a week before the season.

Plus an AHL fan only gets to see the star players for a short time before they get called up to the NHL. It is rare that a star player ever gets sent down to the minors.

The Heat will have multiple opportunities throughout the year for season ticket holders and other fans to meet the players, ask questions, and get autographs. Players are also signing autographs between periods at most home games. It allows Mrs. Finest to ask her “Why aren’t you playing?” question to a scratched player.

I would say there are more items related to the NHL, but I can’t remember ever seeing as many game-worn jersey auctions and raffles as I have seen the past 2 ½ years as I have seen with the Heat. Plus the Heat do a great job of finding different items for the fans.

When was the last time a season ticket holder for the Flames had a one-on-one meeting with Ken King or Brad Treliving? Or even saw either one of them on the concourse during a game? I have had two meetings with Brian Petrovek, the Heat’s CEO, about some marketing ideas and other topics related to the Heat. He can be seen walking the concourse on game days. I have even run into him when we were in San Jose at both a Heat and Flames game.

There are at least three “Coach’s Chalk Talks” held throughout the year where season ticket holders can ask questions of the various coaches. Petrovek also has an open meeting every Monday morning at the hotel coffee shop across from the arena to meet all fans who have questions.

I can read all about the Flames, and the NHL is general, all year long on various platforms, such as this great site (suck up points). As for the Heat and AHL in general, especially offseason moves, I have to hunt to find even a line or two on the AHL site and even HFBoards.

The Heat do provide some updates on their website throughout the offseason, but not as much as the NHL.

I know you pay for quality, but I can buy both my and Mrs. Finest’s entire season tickets – 34 games plus preseason and first round of playoffs – to the Heat (seven rows back from the glass behind the goalie) for the cost of three NHL games with the same seats. Plus, based on the night and crowd, I can actually sit glass-side without a hassle from the ushers.

The NHL has seven more games than the AHL (41 versus 34 for the AHL Western Division) for their advantage. But the Heat have only six games that are NOT on a weekend (two holiday Monday games and four Wednesday games). So I only have to rush home from work mid-week once in October, December, January, and April.

The AHL arena is typically smaller than an NHL barn which makes our home easier to walk around and parking is typically closer and cheaper. However, an NHL arena has more concession options (Canadian beer), a better sound system, and better video boards and replays.

I am in no way trying to say that the AHL is anywhere near the NHL in terms of players, games, etc. Everyone knows that the NHL is the greatest hockey league in the world. I just wanted to point out some of the things that Mrs. Finest and I experience as full season ticket holders in the AHL in comparison to that of an NHL franchise.