Puck Tour: American Airlines Center
FINAL SCORE: Dallas 5 - Arizona 4
February 4, 2019
Dallas was incredible. My best friends cousin lives over in Dallas, and works for the Sheraton, so she hooked me up with a hotel. In return, I hooked her up with a game ticket. She’s never been to a Stars game, and has lived in Dallas her entire life.
So, ya know, the big shot that I am buys a glass seat (honestly only ran me $160 after taxes, section 106 - row D - seat 14) behind the penalty box - it included the Lexus lounge upstairs. No free food or drinks, but ya still felt kind of important. For her, it was last minute, she shows up at the beginning of the second period, and at this point I’ve already made friends with Gabe, the security guard. You best believe I talked him into letting her sit in on the glass with me. Ended up being better seats than mine - I was one row behind the glass intially. He goes “well hey, I have two glass seats but they’re a little to the left.” Uhm - I don’t give a shit, sure.
The guys I was sitting next to initially ran to grab me a beer before I switched my seat. Four married dudes that worked in oil or something - really nice, genuine people. Felt bad I left, especially since I challenged them to a shotgun. So, next thing ya know, I’m waltzing down with a bunch of beers for ‘em and I. I stand up, chug a full beer and point to them and the crowd starts clapping. I’m in a Jamie Benn shirt the whole time so I mean, nobody had a problem with me blocking the game for a hot minute. At the end of the game, a cop was at the end of our row. I was like oh jesus, what did I do now? I asked him if I was in trouble, he asked me if I should be. I said uhhhhh, honestly not sure (the picture above pretty much explains it).
Going back to the Pittsburgh post, I love the penalty box seats. Those old dudes working the box have a soft spot for me for some reason. I was asking for a puck during the game, he was trying his hardest to get the dude to throw me one. But, even I saw, the little ice box they keep them in was really running low. So many pucks out of play this game. So, Rodney is his name, gave me his fucking number through the glass. We met up after, and he gave me two pucks and introduced my friend and I to a ton of his coworkers.
My friend Sandra was ECSTATIC about the puck. And the overall experience, which was so cool. I love those moments. I’ll never forget the time I got my sister onto center ice during intermission at a Devils game for a contest when I was working for them. Just felt awesome.
Afterward, we hop in the dudes car and head to a bar. I must have spent the most money here because I insisted on buying the entire bar shots. Had a cheese board and a pizza. Headed home. And of course, thanks for the ride, Rodney.
Sandra and I get back to the hotel. Blackout. She takes the garbage can, I take the toilet. We were not ok.
Recommended things to do in Dallas:
I stayed at the Aloft downtown, because Sandra HOOKED IT UP. Dude, this hotel was amazing. Overlooking all of Dallas and in walking distance of any bar/restaurant. Although, it was broad daylight and I was still kind of HUSTLING a couple blocks - just got sketched out because I was by myself. But, one really cool thing is that they have scooters everywhere that you can rent with your Uber app. You just scan the barcode and hop on - they go fucking fast, too! I rented one and went to the JFK museum and stood in the exact place where he got shot. It was really cool history and the museum was super interesting. Afterward, I went to Frankie’s downtown and had a couple shots with a few people I had just met, really nice guys giving me details on where to go in the city. Checked out Thanksgiving Square, the little church/cathedral is absolutely gorgeous. You can just walk in. These trips that I take are very short, so I did not have that much time to explore Dallas, but, I would love to go back. It is ranked at the top of the “young people move here” list, or whatever you call it. The next day (Tuesday, after the game) Sandra invited me to go to the “Hall of Americans,” which is basically a huge food court. Food was chain-like, but good.
MVP of the game:
I honestly could not fucking tell you. Thanks, shotgunning contests and Jameson.
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