This is my first write-up on what you can do and expect at a Kraken Game. These insights will enhance the experience and reduce stress. Trust me, take it from a five-year fan sitting center ice: these tips and tricks can be a great help. If this is your first time at CPA Clement Pledge Arena, then you are in for a treat. Take your time and enjoy the experience. Best to come early when the Arena opens up and suck it all in. If you’ve been to a bunch of games (without Jason) and know your way around the stadium, have at it.
Best Practices:
Dress casually, wear good walking shoes, and bring a light sweater or coat. The stadium is cold during the game, so it's better to layer than to be bone cold. No need for long underwear, but I do like a warm long-sleeve shirt, a good hoodie sweatshirt, a vest, and a warm winter hat. No need for gloves, binoculars, or a purse. You will need to walk past a medical doctor, so no bags, keep it light and tight.
To avoid parking stress, the smaller the car, the better. Have your phone ready with the Parking Pass and act like you own the place. Save the Parking pass to your Wallet for easy verification. You are going to the 1st Ave N Garage Parking. The pass is Valid starting 2 hours before the event. If you are a rule breaker, have your passenger jump out, move an orange cone, and slip your car into the space. This will help you when it’s time to leave. Closer to the 1st floor is better. Big vehicles can park in the lot, but it can be nerve-racking. CPA is across the street. Roads will be blocked with cones; follow the cars into the entry.
Once you pass security into the CPA, keep your phone and tickets ready. You must pass two additional checkpoints to reach the club seats. Ticket Scanners and Service Reps are at the top of each escalator to help you. 1st go right and look for the escalator down to the club/box suites. (about 20 feet away from Entry Door 17) The Band will be playing. Then, once you hit the bottom of the escalator, walk left again, past the Moet Dinner Room, about 400 feet, and find the escalator down to the club area. You will see a ticket agent, get your hand stamped so you can come and go, and pick something up in the General Population. (Jersey, Food, etc.) At the bottom of the escalator, you will see a coat check. If you have too many layers, drop those layers. This is the general party space in between periods. Get familiar with the bathrooms and food services, and make sure to go to the back of the bar area for free giveaways—coffee, Tea, etc. Ice Cream, drinks. Each game is different, but check it out. Watch out for Stadium Pricing for food and beverages, so don’t have a budget :)
Once the curtain starts getting pulled, make your way to the seats. This is about 15 min before the puck drops, but watching the pre-game introduction show is a must; there are lots of lights, sounds, and fanfare. They say we have one of the best pre-game shows in the NHL, so it's worth it. Just have your beer or soda complete and ready to go. The Periods are 20 minutes, and it’s best to stay in your seats the entire time during play. People are not fans of "excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom" or "I need a new drink." The players move fast, and the action happens quickly. Use the break periods to reload.
During the 1st and 2nd Period, you have about 15 minutes to grab food and drinks and socialize in the bar area. This can be a good time to check out the merchandise in the club area, with fewer lines, and usually have an engraved game day puck for sale if it's your first time at the event, around $15.00, and fun to have as a memento. They do sell out, so grab it early; it’s a limited edition for each game.
End of the Game. Traffic is going to suck. You have two options: leave about 3 1/2 minutes before the game ends (save about 35 minutes in traffic) or stick it out and go slow, try to have fun. The merchants will be closed in the CPA, but across the street is a bar, or jump back into the car and head your way home. I hope you all have a lot to talk about.
Go Kraken!
If you get to the CPA early, go upstairs and hit the Space Needle Bar, a cool lounge, and you can see the Inside of the Arena and the Space Needle. Very cool spot, and everybody can go.
Hit the CPA register and get your certification that you visited the NHL and the CPA. It is a free certificate handed out, and kids love it; it goes great with the game-day puck.
Tom’s Watch Bar - Across the street from the CPA, a good place to have food before or after the game. www.tomswatchbar.com, you can wait out the traffic.
Queen Anne Beerhall - 5 blocks West of CPA. https://thehall.group. If you come by Uber, or really want a German Beer hall experience, this is the place. 203 W Thomas St. Seattle, WA 98119 fun crowd.
Late Night Good Pizza: Marrio's on Capitol Hill