The Charlotte Checkers practice on the newly installed ice rink they will call home.
Elected officials and city representatives attend the grand opening celebrate of the completion of the Bojangles' Coliseum renovations. A ribbon cutting marked the recently revamped 60-year old venue. Phase 1 of the $16 million project includes improvements to seating, technology, locker rooms and more. The completed renovations came in time for the Charlotte Checkers season home opener on Saturday, Nov. 7 against the Manitoba Moose.
T. Ortega Gaines
ogaines@charlotteobserver.com
We went to a Charlotte Checkers game recently – now you should go, too. Here are 5 reasons why:
(1) It’s fun!
Hockey is a fast-paced sport that keeps the audience engaged. It isn’t like football where you spend more time waiting for the action than actually watching the action. One of the pluses of minor league games: No long commercial breaks that plague major sports.
(2) Big hits
If you’re looking for big hits, hockey has them. In fact, the hits in hockey have significantly more force than the hits in football. It’s just math. I’m sure a few of you remember from school that Force = Mass x Acceleration. While hockey players are generally smaller than football players, they also move much faster than the guys on turf.
Usain Bolt, Fastest Human Alive, tops out at about 28 mph – and he is running without wearing football gear. Professional hockey players regularly come close to reaching that speed during games. The guys on skates may have less mass, but they definitely win on acceleration.
(3) Bojangles Coliseum is great
None of the seats are bad seats. There are no obstruction concerns, and you feel like you’re right down on the ice. Plus, easy parking and no uptown traffic tie-ups like after a Panthers game.
(4) Rock out to an organ
The guy who plays the organ is named Greazy Keyz. When was the last time you heard someone rocking an organ outside of church? Maybe never. I have no idea what his real name is, but I prefer to believe he comes from a long line of organ players with the last name Keyz.
(5) Get cozy
It’s a more intimate experience than most professional sports. Fans can go down to the first floor and cheer on the players as they head to the ice before the game and in between periods. Some of the players even bump fists with the kids as they walk by.
