Here’s a Frozen Four blurb from OFB field reporter Ordered Chaos.
The Marriott (12th & H) where Miami & Bemidji State are staying is buzzing with anticipation. The lobby was filled with supporters of both teams clad in their respective school’s gear. One of the teams was boarding a bus to go to the Phone Booth during my visit.
Of note for fans: a Frozen Four sales stand is operating in the hotel lobby. Thursday & Saturday they’re open from 8:00 a.m. until after the games end. On Friday, merchandise will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday morning as well.
I’ve no idea how the lobby’s prices compare to the arena, but I can guarantee the lines will be shorter at the hotel. For reference, I picked up a nice Frozen Four puck for 10 bucks. They have a wide variety of shirts ($22-$24), hats, pins, and other goodies. Merchandise was plentiful this afternoon, though so were customers. I still regret not spending more rubles in Moscow early in the IIHF championship when they had more items in stock… so if there’s something you know you want, don’t delay!
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From Pucksandbooks:
All NCAA events take place under a prohibition of alcohol sales. That means that hockey fans attending tonight’s two hockey games may not enjoy the games as God intended. There may be some merit to this policy for events at which thousands of undergraduate students attend, such as autumn Saturday football games, but this obviously isn’t that.
However well intentioned, it is not a policy I support.
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From Pucksandbooks:
Count me as one who was gravely concerned about Verizon’s ice quality for this event, given what the building has provided the Caps this season. But the puck stayed pretty flat in the first period, and there was a good bit of snow on it near period’s end. But guess what – it’s not warm in here, not by a long shot. It’s a new sheet, too, installed right after the Caps’ last home game on Sunday.
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From Pucksandbooks:
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts is in the house, which is cool, as we saw him up close at the Caps’ outdoor skate at Chevy Chase CC a few months back. But for my money the most impressive celeb sighting thus far – happily in my section – is 1980 Olympics hero Mike Eruzione. Folks in my section are all over him to pose for pics. He was a BU guy, if you didn’t know.
7 Comments
Do they have merchandise that is school-specific? Or just general NCAA Frozen Four stuff?
Good question! Yes, they have some really cool school-specific items. I noticed both hats and t-shirts for each of the 4 schools, and all the items had both the school logos AND the Frozen Four logos on ‘em.
Beautiful, I’ll stop there on my way over to the Phone Booth.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t imbibing allowed in the luxury boxes but not in the stands?
We need to find a way to have double-headers more often. That was fun
Odessa, you are correct: the beverages flowed freely in the luxury suites. But suite-owners purchase those beverages in advance, thus technically no beverages were sold at the event.
Seems like hotel prices are slightly up based on what I paid at VC, but not a big difference.
VC completely sold out of Bemidji shirts by the time the first game was over.
Alcohol can be served at some NCAA events, but not championships. I don’t know all the rules as to what venues are or are not allowed to serve alcohol and when, but go to a Hoyas game and there’s plenty of beer to be had.