People of Blueland: Arena Entertainment

Sometimes at hockey games...they aren't playing hockey. It's intermission or we have a TV Time Out. Often during those periods of time the arena staff are hard at work making sure we morons in the seats are entertained.


I myself was lucky enough to be part of one of the games, The Match Game. Toby Enstrom, and my buddy Marisa, helped me win an autographed Enstrom jersey.



Marisa is a pro helper at the Match Game! She has yet to actually get a prize though. This year, Mo!



Another popular game on the jumbo tron, Higher or Lower. One of the lovely Ice Girls holds up a product from Home Depot and they display a price. You have to guess higher or lower. I suck at this game.



The Thrashers have another great game called the Two Minute Drill. If the Thrashers score within the next 2 minutes, you get a $500 gift card to Here To Serve Restaurants. Problem...they usually do it when the Thrashers are on a power play. Thanks JBird.



One of the most popular intermission forms of entertainment is when they drop the parachutes with Chick Fil A toys on them from the rafters. The Chick Fil A cow is there, too. Kids lose their minds over the cow. EVERYONE loses their mind over the parachutes. We've had our things trampled. I've seen kids knocked down. There aren't even coupons on the damn things people CALM DOWN.



Another great game is brought to us by the cool downtown sports bar Stats. You actually have to have some hockey knowledge for this one. I know both of these guys and they are so awesome the winner ended up splitting the card between them (can't remember if it was Travis or JB that won though).



Not really entertainment, but I like seeing the youth hockey players at the beginning of the game. This one was a special one for girls in hockey. Plus, it's an excuse for me to use this awesome Moose pic. He was so nice, chatting with the girl and smiling.



There are several games played during intermission. One of them is bowling. My buddy Marisa (she's been on all the games!) is pulled back with a giant bungee chord. She looks terrified, she said she was.



They skate her down the ice and BLAM! The person who knocks down the most pins wins. She won. She said she only won some kind of crappy CD. Booooo.



I don't think they will ever stop doing sumo hockey. At the last game I was like "again??" My husband informed me that sumo hockey "is a classic." Okay.



In addition to entertaining the masses, these games act as giant ads for the Thrashers' sponsors. They should call this one "Humiliate Yourself for Applebee's." You dress up as a fajita wrap, a steak, or a baby back rib and race around the ice avoiding obstacles.



Obstacles usually include hurdles, Thrash, and guys in sumo suits.



You WILL fall down at least once. Not to worry, Uriah and his crew are there to pull you up.



When they aren't whoring for Applebee's, they do the same game with dudes in puck suits.(thanks for the picture, Kerry)



Youth hockey is also a popular intermission. Once a year though Thrash has a big birthday party and various mascots from Atlanta teams and business come and play hockey with the kids. It's mascot-a-palooza and I love it! (thanks for the picture, Kerry)



Though prizes are usually small, a few times they played a game where if the key you were given started the car, you actually got a free lease of the car for a year!


The season is so close, I can't wait! I look forward to seeing all of the "People of Blueland" this season!