EVERETT — There was nothing cold about the Everett Events Center’s first public reception Saturday. Except perhaps the ice.
The crowd — somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000 people — thrilled city and arena officials.
And the arena seemed to please the crowd, some of whom came for a quick glimpse of the inside, while others settled into the new $71.5 million building for the better part of the day.
Lines at both the Silvertips and Disney on Ice ticket windows did not wane with the afternoon. At about 2 p.m., only 1,000 tickets remained for the hockey season opener Oct. 4 for the 8,300-seat arena.
Another crowd barometer was the free goody bags inside the front doors. Visitors snatched up 1,500 of them within 45 minutes.
The grab bags were stuffed with coupons for local businesses and little trinkets — everything from a mini rubber duck to an Everett Transit pen.
Concession stands served dollar hot dogs and soft drinks. The community spirit was free.
Evidence of this was a group of punky-lookingteenagers with big black boots and dramatic hairstyles. They were waiting in line for balloon animals, and on their T-shirts were wearing square red pins boasting downtown Everett’s new credo, "It’s a whole new game."
Lake Stevens residents Ed and Jenna Greenalch were waiting in line to buy Silvertips season tickets, negotiating where in the arena they would sit. The have couple lived in several cities across the country, and "followed hockey" in each of them.
After walking through the arena on Saturday, they called it much nicer than what they’ve seen elsewhere.
"There’s not a bad seat," Ed Greenalch said. "We don’t want to go to Seattle, we want to go here."
They decided on tickets in the green section — the first level up from the ice. And closer to the action, they said.
Reporter Jennifer Warnick: 425-339-3429 or jwarnick@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
