Sometimes you need to leave home to appreciate what you have in your own backyard. A recent trip to Key Arena for a Silvertips vs. Thunderbirds hockey game defined this saying for us.
To begin with, Key Arena is not set up for hockey. The 10,000 empty seats and high ceiling made us feel like we were in a warehouse. Some seats actually blocked off parts of the ice from view! The Everett Event Center, on the other hand, is built for hockey; there isn’t a bad seat in the house. The size is just right for the crowds that come.
We can honestly say that the Everett fans are far more supportive of our team than what we encountered in Seattle. When the T-birds scored, very few people rose to their feet. We, and the scattered Tips fans, made just as much noise when the Tips scored, and we cheered more throughout the game than the stuffy people around us.
Finally, the Everett announcer isn’t exaggerating when he introduces Lincoln as the best mascot in the WHL. Cool Bird was flat footed (no skates!) and did absolutely nothing to get the crowd cheering. We shouldn’t take for granted the fun of seeing our big brown bear skating around before the game and getting us going with his “Go Tips” sign.
Our bottom line is that Everett is a great place for hockey. With a beautiful new facility, supportive fans, a fun mascot, and a young expansion team that has far exceeded the expectations for its first year, the Silvertips are the best ticket in town. We don’t need to leave home for a great time.
Go Tips!
Everett
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
