Do Black People Go to Professional Hockey Games
Before a weirdo decides to waste their time and email me an angry “What is this racist crap…” message, this post is just answering a question that I get asked. Save your life energy and move on if this post annoys you. For the rest of us, who are sane, YES! Black people go to professional hockey games and if you’re thinking about going to your first game sometime soon, I thought it would be cool to share how to prepare for the experience and what to expect. I’m a Colorado Avalanche fan and have attended a ton of games at Ball Arena here in Denver. But, if you’re unfamiliar with attending hockey games there are some things that you might not be aware of that are important to prepare for.
* In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Please read my disclosure here.*
Book a Tour
Before I share the itinerary, I do recommend that you also make sure to book a tour while you’re here. There are so many places to visit such as Rocky Mountain National Park, Garden of the Gods and Red Rocks. If you’re not planning to rent a car, don’t feel like dealing with mountain driving conditions (a nightmare during the summer and winter) then I strongly encourage you to book a tour with Viator. Leave the driving and planning in their hands.
What Is the Atmosphere Like
Hockey has been in the pop culture conversation quite a bit during the past couple of years. Hockey romances like Heated Rivalry, Team Player and Facing Off have been flying off the digitals shelves and into people’s Kindles. Attending a hockey game is a fun time and if you’re a person who loves classic rock, some unexpected rituals and a surprising number of fights between the players of opposing teams-you’re in for a treat.
The actual play during the game is pretty fast, it can be hard to see where the puck is so I find myself watching both the game and the jumbotron. The atmosphere is pretty chill and involves singing classic rock songs, booing aggressively during bad calls and being really excited when the goalie has a great save.
In fact, one of the things about hockey that I find really interesting is the respect that fans have for the goalie and how important a role the goalie has on the ice. They are “the main character” in many respects on the ice.
What to Wear
If you get this ONE THING right, you will have a great time at the game. If you get this wrong, you’re going to complain all night long and annoy the people who are at the game with you. Hockey games are COLD. Seriously, it’s a cold experience because they’re playing on a huge ice rink. That means the stadium temperature is adjusted to keep the ice frozen.
Hockey is the time for you to shine if you’re a cold weather clothing lover. You can dress up, or dress down. Whatever you decide to do-you’ll be wearing cold weather clothing.
Some Examples
- Fashionable Girlies
- Faux Fur
- Real Fur (still see a lot of real fur in Denver)
- Cute ear muffs
- Heavy boots
- Cute Sweater
- A great pair of fitted jeans
- Gloves
- Tiny purse!
- Relaxed Girlies
- Puffy coat
- Cute Beanie
- A great pair of fitted jeans
- Gloves
- Cozy sweater
- Tiny crossbody bag
Some Important Tips
Before you go to your first professional hockey game I do have a few important tips to consider as you plan your experience.
- ALWAYS check the arena information details-Each type of game held at an arena potentially may have different prohibited items or allowed items.
- Do NOT bring a large bag/purse to a game–Parents are the exception-check the policy on diaper bags (they typically go through a different check in process) Again, triple-check the bag policy. You will be sent back to your car if your bag is too big per stadium rules. This sucks if it’s a cold day which it likely will be because hockey is a cold weather sport.
- Games last up to 3 hours and include two breaks between periods.
- Know what a “Hat Trick” is-That’s when a player scores at least 3 goals in a game.
You don’t have to attend a professional hockey game, you could also check out college hockey games which are a lot of fun to attend too.
Attending Professional Hockey Games
(As a Black Fan)
I love attending different sporting events and living in Denver there are a ridiculous number of professional games to watch in addition to hockey(basketball, football, lacross, rugby, baseball, soccer and rugby) so it’s really interesting observing the fan experience connected to each event. Hockey in Denver has a tiny number of Black attendees compared to football or basketball. That said, I’ve always felt welcomed, had a good time and most importantly-have never been bothered by someone because I was there. This doesn’t mean that a bad interaction won’t happen. I’m just saying, so far, I’ve been ok when attending a game.
The staff is a key part of the event experience. This can vary from venue to venue but ideally, they are there to help you have an exceptional experience while there.
Additional Tips
- Go with a group or a couple of friends to your first game. There are Meetup groups, Eventbrite communities, Non-profits, etc. that organize groups to go to different sporting events.
- Don’t get in your head about being a Black person at a hockey game. You belong anywhere you feel like going.
- Approach the experience with an open mind
Lean into your classic rock era and have a good time. Don’t forget to layer up and let me know how it goes.