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- 2002-10-07
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PITTSBURGH Unlike Ottawa’s suburban Canadian Tire Centre, Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena is located downtown, and so it looked almost like honey bees returning to their hive at dusk, as thousands of people — most wearing black and gold — descended upon the rink from all directions on Saturday night for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sam Witucki and her friend Caitlynn Cook were the very first, the 22-year-olds arriving at 10 a.m., a full nine hours before game time, bringing along folding chairs, table, umbrella, cards and donuts, all simply to get the best spot from which to watch the game on the big screen outside. An hour or two later, four other fans arrived, plunking down their lawn chairs before disappearing. Others, mostly in pairs, began to arrive mid afternoon.
Sam Witucki, left, and Caitlynn Cook, both 22, were the first fans to show up at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, at 10 a.m. Saturday, nine hours before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. They plan on watching the game on one of the screens outside. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
Witucki and Cook admitted they know little about the Senators. “They’re in a different division and a different country,” said Witucki, “and they’ve been kind of quiet in the past few years.”
Painful to hear, but not inaccurate.
“But when it’s the playoffs,” she added, “all bets are off.”
By five o’clock — two hours before game time — Dave Stonebraker, along with his wife, Carol, daughter Alyssa and a few other friends, had pulled into the parking lot across from the arena, on the site of the Pens’ former rink, the Igloo, to start the tailgate party.
Dave Stonebraker, far left, has been hosting tailgate parties at Penguins games for about 10 years. Joining him before Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Senators were, from left, Carol Stonebraker, Alyssa Stonebraker, Lea Chrisman, Ryan McCandless, Jeremy Patora and Brian Little. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
“We do between 15 a year, for the past 10 years,” he said. “All the home playoff games, a few of the games early in the season — before it gets too cold — and the Winter Classics.”
Music blasted from a stereo, Reuben sandwiches were flipped on a grill. A deep fryer browned french fries. The hinges of a beer cooler got a good workout, as did a blender with hard lemonade and ice. “Or would you like a mojito?” he offered.
Stonebraker said he expected about 40 people to show up before Saturday’s game, although he’s had as many as 120 friends turn up. He offered sandwiches to passing police and the parking-lot attendants. The atmosphere was super-congenial.
“If you run into any Senators fans,” he called out, “send them here and we’ll give them a drink.”
But Sens fans Kevin Richardson and Eric Brown, wearing Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone sweaters, respectively, were doing fine on their own in that department. The two computer security experts and Sens season ticket-holders drove from Ottawa early Saturday morning after buying tickets online for about $200 apiece on Thursday, briefly checked into an Airbnb, then headed straight for the Souper Bowl, a restaurant/bar directly across from the arena, to whet their thirsts.
Again, pre-game congeniality ruled, as the bartender bought them a shot for wearing their colours, and some Pens fans followed suit with free beers. There were some catcalls and shouts of “Go home,” and even an offer to Eric to perform a homoerotic act on a Pens fan, but eight or so drinks apiece each later — “We’re seasoned,” said Richardson — it was time to bid farewell to their new friends and find Section 232, Row C of the arena.
Kevin Richardson, left, and Eric Brown, drove from Ottawa to Pittsburgh on Saturday to watch the Pens/Sens game. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
Ottawa Senators fans Kevin Richardson and Eric Brown were specks of red in a sea of black and gold at Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
Each graciously accepted the gold Penguins’ T-shirts given to every fan in attendance — part of the arena-wide “Gold-out” plan to create a sea of Pens-hued support, similar to the Winnipeg Jets’ Whiteout.
Ignoring for the moment such culinary arena offerings as coconut shrimp, edamame and smoked pulled-pork tacos, they ordered two more beers — $9.75 U.S. for a not-very-large cup. They didn’t see 10-year-old Addison Girdwood walk by holding her sign that read “Ottawa? More like Ottawon’t,” or another 10-year-old, Camden Martin, who carried a sign that declared “Pens. P.S. Ottawa Stinks!!!” as they found their seats.
Ten-year-old Penguins fan Camden Martin, doesn’t like the Senators’ chances in their series against Pittsburgh. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
Spectators sitting around them, Pens fans all, adjusted their eyes to the unaccustomed sight of red clothing and politely welcomed them and (perhaps half-heartedly) wished them luck. Tammy Wright, a Pens fan seated immediately beside Brown, promised she’d have them wearing the yellow T-shirts by the third period.
“Won’t happen,” swore Brown. Wright then loudly rang her cowbell. “I usually feel bad for whoever is sitting beside me,” she said, “but tonight …”
And then the house lights dimmed, the crowd roared, and the game was on.
bdeachman@postmedia.com
Ottawa Senators fan Bailey Loveless, wearing the red sweater, is joined by friends and Pens fans Austin Slater and Ronald Gregory for a photo with Penguins mascot Iceburgh. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
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Sam Witucki and her friend Caitlynn Cook were the very first, the 22-year-olds arriving at 10 a.m., a full nine hours before game time, bringing along folding chairs, table, umbrella, cards and donuts, all simply to get the best spot from which to watch the game on the big screen outside. An hour or two later, four other fans arrived, plunking down their lawn chairs before disappearing. Others, mostly in pairs, began to arrive mid afternoon.
Sam Witucki, left, and Caitlynn Cook, both 22, were the first fans to show up at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, at 10 a.m. Saturday, nine hours before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. They plan on watching the game on one of the screens outside. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
Witucki and Cook admitted they know little about the Senators. “They’re in a different division and a different country,” said Witucki, “and they’ve been kind of quiet in the past few years.”
Painful to hear, but not inaccurate.
“But when it’s the playoffs,” she added, “all bets are off.”
By five o’clock — two hours before game time — Dave Stonebraker, along with his wife, Carol, daughter Alyssa and a few other friends, had pulled into the parking lot across from the arena, on the site of the Pens’ former rink, the Igloo, to start the tailgate party.
Dave Stonebraker, far left, has been hosting tailgate parties at Penguins games for about 10 years. Joining him before Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Senators were, from left, Carol Stonebraker, Alyssa Stonebraker, Lea Chrisman, Ryan McCandless, Jeremy Patora and Brian Little. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
“We do between 15 a year, for the past 10 years,” he said. “All the home playoff games, a few of the games early in the season — before it gets too cold — and the Winter Classics.”
Music blasted from a stereo, Reuben sandwiches were flipped on a grill. A deep fryer browned french fries. The hinges of a beer cooler got a good workout, as did a blender with hard lemonade and ice. “Or would you like a mojito?” he offered.
Stonebraker said he expected about 40 people to show up before Saturday’s game, although he’s had as many as 120 friends turn up. He offered sandwiches to passing police and the parking-lot attendants. The atmosphere was super-congenial.
“If you run into any Senators fans,” he called out, “send them here and we’ll give them a drink.”
But Sens fans Kevin Richardson and Eric Brown, wearing Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone sweaters, respectively, were doing fine on their own in that department. The two computer security experts and Sens season ticket-holders drove from Ottawa early Saturday morning after buying tickets online for about $200 apiece on Thursday, briefly checked into an Airbnb, then headed straight for the Souper Bowl, a restaurant/bar directly across from the arena, to whet their thirsts.
Again, pre-game congeniality ruled, as the bartender bought them a shot for wearing their colours, and some Pens fans followed suit with free beers. There were some catcalls and shouts of “Go home,” and even an offer to Eric to perform a homoerotic act on a Pens fan, but eight or so drinks apiece each later — “We’re seasoned,” said Richardson — it was time to bid farewell to their new friends and find Section 232, Row C of the arena.
Kevin Richardson, left, and Eric Brown, drove from Ottawa to Pittsburgh on Saturday to watch the Pens/Sens game. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
Ottawa Senators fans Kevin Richardson and Eric Brown were specks of red in a sea of black and gold at Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
Each graciously accepted the gold Penguins’ T-shirts given to every fan in attendance — part of the arena-wide “Gold-out” plan to create a sea of Pens-hued support, similar to the Winnipeg Jets’ Whiteout.
Ignoring for the moment such culinary arena offerings as coconut shrimp, edamame and smoked pulled-pork tacos, they ordered two more beers — $9.75 U.S. for a not-very-large cup. They didn’t see 10-year-old Addison Girdwood walk by holding her sign that read “Ottawa? More like Ottawon’t,” or another 10-year-old, Camden Martin, who carried a sign that declared “Pens. P.S. Ottawa Stinks!!!” as they found their seats.
Ten-year-old Penguins fan Camden Martin, doesn’t like the Senators’ chances in their series against Pittsburgh. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
Spectators sitting around them, Pens fans all, adjusted their eyes to the unaccustomed sight of red clothing and politely welcomed them and (perhaps half-heartedly) wished them luck. Tammy Wright, a Pens fan seated immediately beside Brown, promised she’d have them wearing the yellow T-shirts by the third period.
“Won’t happen,” swore Brown. Wright then loudly rang her cowbell. “I usually feel bad for whoever is sitting beside me,” she said, “but tonight …”
And then the house lights dimmed, the crowd roared, and the game was on.
bdeachman@postmedia.com
Ottawa Senators fan Bailey Loveless, wearing the red sweater, is joined by friends and Pens fans Austin Slater and Ronald Gregory for a photo with Penguins mascot Iceburgh. (Bruce Deachman, Ottawa Citizen)
查看原文...
