photo courtesy of Traveling Fools Of America
In ain't Hockey Night In Canada, but its still a great time.
San Antonio has lots of things to do and one of my favorites is the San Antonio Rampage. Even if you don't like hockey or have never been to a hockey game, its well worth considering. As an AHL (American Hockey League) team these guys are one step away from the big leagues. Think of them as the "farm team" for the NHL (National Hockey League) - this is where guys go to build their skills and learn the ropes of being professional hockey players. Because they have a chance to move up to the NHL, these guys often play hard and are up for anything. They're out to prove themselves and play with a lot of intensity. Hockey is an intense game and once you get past the often low scores, you will begin to see what many see in it; a skilled game, with lots of action, full of defensive maneuvers, quick movement, body checking (the act of hitting another player), a goaltender who is trying to stop a 3 inch puck at 100 mph from going into the net, and yes, occasional fist fights (and there are rules to fighting in hockey - a lot of it deals with respect and honor - meatheads that just beat everyone aren't usually looked up too kindly, well, at least not since the Broadstreet Bullies). I can't get enough of it.
Who wants to save some cash?
These days everyone's checking their wallets before going out and I don't blame them. Who wants to spend more than they have to on a night's entertainment? Not me. Because San Antonio's team is in the AHL, it is much cheaper than a typical NHL game (and in certain markets, NHL tickets are very expensive). Seats range from about $10 to a little over $40. In Philadelphia, $40 barely gets you in the nosebleed section. Not only are the tickets cheap, but so is the parking (not like at Spurs' games). And if you plan correctly, you can save even more.
Season long promotions and special offers:
Tuesdays - 2-for-Tuesdays. Buy two tickets for the price of one! Courtesy of ESPN Radio 1250 The Zone.
Wednesdays - Dollar Dog Night. $1 hot dogs. Yum. Courtesy of K-ZEP 104.5.
Thursdays - Dollar Dog Night. $1 hot dogs. Yum. Courtesy of Ticket 760 AM.
Fridays - Kiss Rocks $1 Drinks Night. $1 draft beer and $1 fountain drinks. My personal favorite. Courtesy of 99.5 KISS Rocks.
Saturdays* - Express News Value Night. $15 gets you a ticket, hot dog, chips, and a soda. Perfect for the family. Courtesy of the Express News.
Sundays* - Express News Family Value Night. Same as above and includes a pre-game skate and is only $12! Courtesy of the Express News.
*Available for select games only.
Ready to plan your night out?
Check the San Antonio Rampage site for details on games and other promotional offers available. Here's the current schedule. I hope you have fun and maybe you'll slowly convert to a hockey fan. Its a hard game to learn at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be calling Gordie Howe hat tricks, yelling for boarding calls, and know where the "sin bin" is in no time.
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Matt Stigliano, Realtor® Becker Properties | (210) 646-HOME | www.RErockstar.com
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Matt,
Where do they play in SA? I had no idea they were there. I'll have to check them out when I'm up that way for a Spurs game. Keith
Keith - They play at the AT&T Center, same place as the Spurs do. Its not quite as packed as a Spurs game (the parking lot will look eerie to you since you've been to the Spurs), but definitely a great time.
Port Aransas question for you (haven't been out there yet, but heard the beaches are great). Do you know of any small fresh seafood/shellfish spots? Not necessarily a restaurant, but just a place to get a cold beer and some good steamed seafood - and perhaps a few oysters too - and watch the surf. There was a great place in CA for that (Neptune's Net) and I miss it so much.
Matt,
I'll have to check them out. You're right, it is hard to imagine the AT&T Center without a packed house.
Drop me a line before you head to Port A for the first time and I'll point you in the right direction(s). There is a great hole-in-the-wall called the Port A Beach Lodge. It is accessible from the beach and is located just S of Sandcastle Drive. One thing that takes some getting used to if you are from CA, we drive on the beach in TX. So, drive on over for a cold one at the beach lodge. I don't think they have any steamed seafood, but likely oysters.
A great seafood restaurant, sushi bar, steaks, etc is The Pelican Club which is located on the harbor in Port A. Great place. Virginia's at the harbor will definetely have oysters. The best bet for steamed seafood closed a couple of years back. There is no shortage of great food in Port A. I'm sure your fellow SA realtors that come to Port A can confirm that.
Keith
Keith - Thanks. I read about The Pelican Club and Virginia's (thanks to your site links). They sound great. I love the kind of dive bar/steamed fresh seafood spots - always have. Driving on the beach? I must be in Texas. Haha. I've heard nothing but good things about Port Aransas. When we first moved we thought we'd drive to the Gulf and check out Corpus Christi. I was disappointed. Not at all what I had expected. Still had a nice day there, but wasn't what I had envisioned in my mind.
No town can really satisfy every taste. That is certainly true here. We're nowhere near the red lamborghini crowd, but if you like fresh seafood, cold beer, some Bob Marley or Jimmy B on the juke box in a waterfront bar...you'll be quite content.
Keith - Well I'll drive my red Lamborghini on a beach like that anyday. Oh wait, I own a Honda Civic. The place I mentioned in CA (Neptune's Net) was basically a shack on the side of the road. Paper plates, no thing fancy, just awesome seafood and cold beer. It was often filled with bikers heading up the Pacific Coast Highway, surfers who were there from Malibu and Zuma, and a lot of celebrities "slumming it." My mother-in-law actually had a very friendly conversation with Kevin Costner on the beach in front of it. She didn't even know it was him at first, she was just talking to some guy on the beach with a dog. She was in love with L.A. after that.
there Matt
Glad to meet ya. I read about ya on our friend Shirley's post she wrote about ya. Shirley sure is a real nice lady.
I've joind your group, and have subscribe to your blog.
If you like the San Antonio Spurs, my good friends Carl and Ceil, hold Blog Alongs to cheer them on to a win. On game nights. We sure would be glad to have ya join the fun we have.
You can find the post's in any of the Texas group.
Matt , I love a good game of hockey. I remember when I first moved to Florida from Finland and we went to see a Tampa Bay Lightning game - my American friends were very impressed of my hockey knowledge - I apparently was commenting on strategy etc. throughout the game LOL. I work way too much now to go watch games here. ~Rita
Dale - I'm not much of a basketball fan. I'm pretty much pure hockey. Maybe because I was the kid who got picked last in gym class, but I'm not much of a sports guy in general. For some reason though (probably going to games with my dad as a kid), hockey stuck with me. I'll probably stop in sometime though, just to see what's happening.
Rita - Of course you do. I actually have a game worn Helsinki IFK jersey and met a few players over there from Jokerit (they were Americans, but played there). Being a Dallas Stars fan has proved to be good for my Finnish pronunciation.
there Matt
I understand about the being pick last thing, see that I also was pick last back then. The sports that I'm really in to are Hunten and Fishen. I enjoy go-en to the Blog Alongs, to injoy the company and helpen my friends cheer the Spurs on to a win.
We have food at the Blog Alongs, It a really fun why to just kick back. I'm sure Shirlet or Carl, will come by to leave ya an invite for the next Blog Along.When ya do stop by, ya sure will have a lot of fun.
Dale - I went and looked at some of the blog alongs and they did look like fun. Hopefully I'll get to one some time soon.
Hockey, Spurs & seafood. Some of my favorite things (seafood) :D. I haven't been to a good hockey game in years. The fights are what always get me, are they real or staged? All that seafood & Port A talk has me hungry for seafood and the beach! You should definitely make it to Port A Matt - hanging w/the Port A townies is like no other. Relaxed & fun.....and just a hop, skip and a jump from SA. YOu can definitely forget a thing or two there and go with the flow. KM
Kristin - You can keep the Spurs, but I'll take an extra serving of hockey and seafood. The Rampage are a pretty good time, I've been to several. I used to go see ECHL hockey games even...and even the occasional high school hockey (I had a friend who coached, now he's a college coach). The fights are real, this is no wrestling. I've seen some pretty nasty ones. First one I ever took an English friend to was Anaheim vs. Los Angeles and there was a lot of blood. He couldn't believe it. It is a whole respect and hierarchal thing to fighting. When guys break the "rules" they usually get their head knocked in pretty good by another player on the team. You can read a lot of great info about hockey fights at Wikipedia. I will definitely hit Port Aransas this year sometime now that I have all this advice telling me to do so.