Colorado Avalanche Opening Night is Here!

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

The Colorado Avalanche will hit the ice against the Dallas Stars tonight, and the season will begin. The day has come!

I’ve been waiting for the Colorado Avalanche to return to the ice every since I wrote this article:

That post was published on April 7, 2016. There were still two games left in the season at the time of writing that post. Nonetheless, Colorado Avalanche fans have waited the entirety of half of a year for hockey to return, and now it is back!

Tonight, I will waltz into the Pepsi Center elated, grab a cold snack and find my seat, ready to sit-in for the entertainment.

I drove ten hours on Friday to get to Denver for the game, and I will be leaving on Sunday and driving another ten hours back to Bozeman. I haven’t missed an opening night game in now five years, it’s tradition.

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And I imagine that is the same for a lot of people who visit the site; the lengths we’ll go to in order to ensure that we get to watch the hockey game. Sometimes, I’ll be working at my pizza joint and they don’t have a TV conveniently placed above the line — weird right? Anyway, I’ll prop my phone up above the line, and watch the game while I spin pizzas.

The point is, it’s that time of year again.

The Pepsi Center Atmosphere

Ever since I was a little kid I’ve enjoyed the walk from where we park to the front of the Pepsi Center. Even if it is cold.

There’s something about the anticipation of that stroll — the spotlights tracing arcs in the sky, and that Pepsi ball/globe that I’m not even sure still opens. Yeah, I couldn’t even find a video showing that Pepsi globe opening, but I remember I was fascinated by it as a tike.

Now, that walk is more about hoots and hollers and general pump-uppery — neologism. Everyone is headed to the same place as me, and we’re all stoked about it.

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And then when you’re inside everything changes. The anticipation of the walk becomes real, and it suddenly becomes clear why you are there. A sea of burgundy and blue herds themselves up the escalators. And this is tradition folks — I always turn around on the escalator as it takes me up and just take the view in. The view of rabid Avalanche fans flocking through the opening doors, mingling, yelling, preparing.

That’s when I get the shiver, the goose flesh that rockets its way into the psyche letting me know that the season has finally begun. In other words, there’s something special about congregating in mass fashion with people that love what you love.

Conclusion

It’s that time of year folks, and I couldn’t be more happy about it, I don’t know about you guys. If you anyone sees me at the game, then come grab a cold snack with me.

But most of all folks, enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy being back in the building for the game you love to watch and play. Enjoy the people.

Next: Keys for Opening Night

If you’re not going to be there, then grab yourself six cold snacks, find a nice comfy spot on the couch, and share the experience with anyone that can tolerate your yelling. And, if the tame environment of home isn’t enough for you, then find your bar, and settle in — rooted.

It’s that time of year again folks.

That’s all for today, thank you for stopping by.

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