Sunday Open Thread: Game Day Rituals

We’re on an off day as the Calgary Flames, on the road, prepare for one of the biggest games of the season tomorrow night in Los Angeles.

The anticipation for tomorrow leads to this week’s Open question: What are your game-day rituals?

I would imagine everyone has different rituals for games at home or away.

For home games, do you have a specific routine for when you arrive at the Saddledome? Or do you have a specific place other than the ‘Dome that you tend to watch home games? A specific snack? A specific jersey you wear? And does your routine change significantly for road games?

Myself, for home games, I always try to get to the building early, whether as a fan or as working media. I like to wander the ‘Dome before it gets really busy to stretch my legs. I don’t have a set snack unless I’m there as a fan, in which case it’s pocket dogs early and then nachos near the middle of the game. I don’t have a set jersey or tie I always wear, other than varying my tie colour based on which team the Flames are playing (to avoid wearing the same colour).

For road games, I don’t really have a set routine, other than attempting to time my nacho-making exactly right so I can have second intermission nachos – which, if you eat before the game, is the perfect time for nachos.