St. Louis Blues fans will get at least two home games in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Blues will be a two seed in the Western Conference when the team opens up postseason play. Having been to the Scottrade Center a couple of times for hockey games, here are my suggestions for attending a playoff game.
Getting There
Parking near the arena will be packed. There are upwards of 6,000 parking spaces near the arena. If you don't mind walking two blocks, fans can park at Union Station and walk two blocks. Parking on the street will be cheaper than parking in a garage. If you really want to save money on parking and don't mind taking the MetroLink trains, fans can catch a train for a couple of bucks and park for free.
Get There Early, Leave Late
It's a playoff series and the downtown area will be packed. The sooner you get to places, the better chance of getting food and to the game in a timely manner. If you pick a game to go to, I suggest making a day out of it. Take off work early and get to a restaurant around two hours before the gates open. Ticket holders can get into the arena an hour before the game starts. The sooner you get to the venue, the better. Take your time getting out of the place after the game is over. You should leave plenty of time to get back home since playoff games don't end in a shootout and overtime periods can last several hours into the night. If you have kids that need to get to bed after three hours at a hockey game, you may have to leave early anyway.
Sit Really Low or in Second Level
As with any hockey game, pucks can fly into the crowd despite glass around the arena and nets above and behind both goals. The best way to see the action, in my opinion, is really low where flying pucks won't make a difference or in the second level above the arena. The best sections for me are the ones that give you views much like on television where you can see the whole rink. Sections 101 through 105 or 114 through 119 are the best in terms of a whole-ice view without having to ward off any pucks. There are seats higher up that give you similar views. Chances of getting a seat down by the glass at playoff time aren't the best in the world unless you have season tickets.
Food
There are plenty of restaurants near the Scottrade Center that offer food for a better value than the arena itself. I suggest getting food before and game and just snack during the game. Bistro 14 is pricey but offers great food at the downtown Sheraton. Oasis Cafe is also nearby which offers southern, home-cooked food and is cheaper than Bistro 14. There are also plenty of food choices at Union Station where you can eat before the game.
Enjoy
The best way to enjoy Blues' hockey is to get into the game. Know what's going on beforehand, clap along to the organ music and cheer on the zamboni. Fans of ice hockey don't have to know the nuances of the game to enjoy some postseason thrills in St. Louis. Attending a playoff game in downtown St. Louis is a tradition that goes back to the late 1960s when the team first arrived on the scene. Going to the Stanley Cup playoffs continues a tradition enjoyed for nearly 50 years from the Kiel Center to the present.
William Browning was born in St. Louis and has been a lifelong Blues fan.
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