Take 5: My Take On KC Hockey At The Indy
I took my first trip to a Missouri Mavericks game this week and got a good look at their new home, their product and their fans. Some notes from that night.
- 4,400 fans showed up on a frigid – I mean F-R-I-G-I-D Tuesday night to watch the Mississippi RiverKings take on the Missouri Mavericks. As I thumbed through my free program and perused the smiling faces of the Mavericks I had one thought – how many of these fans would even know if the two teams switched uniforms? Probably very few. Unlike the big leagues, minor league sports are rarely about the individual players. People just like watching and cheering the home team.
- The area where the Independence Event Center sits is perfect. There is easy access to the building from all directions off of I-70 or I-470. Numerous spanking new sit-down restaurants, fast-foodies and hotels are within walking distance of the arena. Unlike The K or Arrowhead, you can stumble out of the Indy and within a few minutes be chewing on a steak, a burrito, a burger or almost any other gastronomic delight.
- The parking lot is big and well lit. I parked on the lower tier and walked across the wooden-planked bridge that spans the creek. I arrived 15 minutes before face off and despite my late arrival, my walk to the front door was less than six or seven minutes. Oh yeah, the parking was FREE. Maybe this shouldn’t be such a big deal but I have a problem with sellers (and sports owners are nothing more than hyped retailers) charging their customers for an opportunity to buy their product.
- The Indy is far more impressive from I-70 than it is up close. It is kind of like that hot red head you’ve spotted on consecutive days during your I-435 commute. She looks like a 10 as she breezes past you in her Mazda R8. But once you catch up to her in the parking lot and you spy her exiting her auto, her total package drops her to a 7. Still very doable, just not nearly as impressive as my mind had built the experience to be.
- Clean. I mean boot-camp clean. Loved that. Remember the dirt in Kemper that seemed to be there from the last event you attended? My seat at the Indy still looked new. The floors were spotless. A filthy arena turns me off faster than neck tattoos. The Indy scored a 10 in hygiene.
- The Mavericks logo is weak. A silly looking horse snorting an odd combo of navy, orange and Carolina blue. I wanted to buy some gear at the onsite fan store but I didn’t like the Maverick name on everything and I don’t like the horse logo. A much cooler mascot name, logo and color scheme is sorely needed.
- Holly Starr was there to do what she does for the Chiefs at Arrowhead except that she was in a much more intimate setting. She is fabulous to look at. I mean drop-jaw gorgeous, which is not always the case when you see a TV personality in person. Holly interviewed a fan a few rows in front of me and she was everything you want in a team hostess – curvy (and dressed in Hannah Storm-tight blouse and jeans), funny and friendly. Even when the mic was off and the camera had moved on, Starr joked with the fan and assured him he had done a great job. The Royals need to immediately hire Holly to replace the sweaty guy they have on the JumboTron who yells and smirks at everyone.
- The hockey ain’t bad. The skating is decent, the stick play and passing are way above amateur. It is not NHL fast in anyway but the speed is consistent. The game started excruciatingly slow but really got crazy in the third period. It was almost as if the league had given each team a script to follow. The visiting team will jump out to a 2-0 lead and just before the end of the second period the Mavs will score a goal to close to 2-1. The lead will change hands in the third and then culminate with a shootout win for the home team.
- Ticket prices are too high for the product. I went on a Tuesday two-for-one night so it cost me $18 for two tix. But $32 and $35 for center section seats on a Tuesday night (or any night!) is goofy.
- The fans on this night were a potpourri of Kansas City’s population. A large number of high school-aged kids were there with their parents. As at every KC-area event, plenty of very large-bellied patrons populated the arena. Hockey crowds can be a bit coarse. I followed two 30-something moms walking from the parking lot to the entrance. One turned to the other and said, “God, it is fucking cold!” Their young kids simply nodded.
- An older guy who is Medicare age sat in front of the glass dressed in a Mavs jersey and boogied like James Brown during one dance-along number. He had the entire side of our arena watching and applauding. I’m guessing this guy is a regular.
- The two video boards are small but the arena is so intimate you can see one or the other without any problem. The movie clip drops they used were a mix of classics and current films. Very entertaining. The sound and PA were excellent.
- The Mavs will be home this Friday and Saturday nights at the Indy. Game time is 7:05. Take a kid, a date or some buddies and head down there to enjoy the show.
Greghall24@yahoo.com and Twitter / greghall24
February 25th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Thanks, Greg. Been wondering about this.
How about concessions … beer prices … etc.?
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GH: Concessions are higher than I expected for minor league hockey. My large Diet Pepsi was $5.00 and my bag of Kettle Korn was $5. I hit Wendy’s (just down the street) on the way in for our burgers. The concession stands are very well staffed, though, much better than the weird transients that The K rolls out each homestand.
February 25th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Moms swearing, kids nodding…funny stuff.
But hey, it is Independence,MO. after all.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:38 am
Wendys? You missed out on the Meth Burgers, they were only $2 each, and after 7 or 8 the action really did speed up in the third period. Fucking kids were lucky Mom was out on parole.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Don’t know why maybe just because its something different. But this is one of my favorite blogs. Felt like I was there. Plus I learned Holly is not that 10 at a distance but 7 up close. She’s just a 10 cool. I’m all for nice people.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Good post…Any fights? Isn’t that what hockey is all about. Greg I just have 2 scales…above 5 and below 5…… go through life happy.
Uncle Dick that is some cruel stuff…funny though. You need to send your “Kareem Of Wheat” idea to Lawrence t-shirt guy…thats gold.
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GH: No fights. I was glad to see that this league isn’t just a goon league with fights twice a period just to draw fans. Not that the fans weren’t wanting to see some blood. Each time players even crossed sticks the crowd was screaming for the gloves to come off. They probably hold off on the fisticuffs for the weekend card.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
“large bellied patrons”. Glad you saw me.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Go more often Greg. There are lots of fights. Hell, on opening night when the puck dropped for the face off there was a fight. Be careful with your lexicon. When you say you “hit” Wendy’s, that means you robbed it in Indy talk. Lots of chicks, MILF’s and desperate housewives lookin’ for love on the weekends. Same vibe the Comets had when they rolled into town. Although the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom in Independence isn’t lipstick, it’s herpes.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I don’t live in Independence or Johnson County (it took me a while to figure out what Indy meant).
I haven’t been to a game yet – but want to go. Sounds like a lot of fun. I don’t care for the negative comments regarding the area. If you Johnson County folk ever visited the area you’d realize that it is nothing like you think it is.
I’m sure meth is just as popular in Johnson County as it is in Independence.
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GH: They may have done this arena a disservice naming it for the town in which it resides. As JAM states, the area where the Indy sits is much more reminiscent of South Leawood than Independence Ave. On the other hand, maybe the Indy, the Bass Pro Shop and all the new retail around them will upgrade Independence’s image from Meth & Death to Ice & Nice.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Only in Olathe and Merriam, in the rest of the county it’s prescription drugs or cheap scotch.
Yeah, ManD, except in Independence, the dog and disease of preference is rottweilers and venerial warts, a sort of a poor woman’s built-in French tickler.
February 25th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Greg, you really need to get your stereotypes sorted out. Independence and Independence Avenue have never been in the same genre of lifestyles and life forms. You’re really showing your Waspy Whiteness. If you wanna grab a 40, an 8-Ball and a Glock sometime I’ll give you the metro stereotype tour.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Going to the game Saturday night with some buddies. Got our tickets on Tuesday and they were already out of the $12 and $18 tickets. You are absolutely right that the tickets are too high across the board for the seats, but it is a really good time. I sat in the $12 seats with my son for a game and they weren’t bad seats at all. Playing Wichita again on Saturday, which is the team I saw them play on Thanksgiving weekend. Three fights that night and they dislike each other more now. Gonna be a ton of fights. Can’t wait.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
The product is outstanding and the venue could not be more perfect for this type of hockey. The arena is incredibly intimate and can get pretty loud if the game dictates.
The team isn’t half bad for being an expansion team, either. They’re tied for the last playoff spot with Tulsa, who they play on friday. Big games this weekend as the season ends on March 13.
February 26th, 2010 at 8:44 am
The Mavericks are a great value. Just like the T-Bones. The facility is always well staffed and attentive to any needs. Like I said earlier it’s the same vibe as when the Comets were the HOT TICKET in Kansas City.
February 26th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Comets. Oh the days. They were the bomb!! And call me nuts but I miss indoor soccer. When the Attack won the championship I ran onto the field. I’ll never forget the fat cop chasing me and never catching me. Wes Wade and those guys. A local kid from Leavenworth. Jon Parry. Great stuff. How I cry out for pro basketball. I went to the KC Stars first game and it was the bomb to bad it didn’t last long. heck I would even like a women pro basketball team. O>P use to have professional volleyball. Lord, please give us something other then the Royals
February 26th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
I have to agree with you about the team name, colors and logo. It’s something that could be so easily fixed and yet they’re stubbornly sticking to it.
February 26th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I think parts of your article were correct, but parts were completely wrong. I understand that you were only giving an ‘opinion’, so I am going to give mine.
I think if you had taken time to talk with any of the fans in attendance you would find that a majority of them do know the players names and jersey numbers. Of course, I feel I should also note that the visiting teams name was the Mississippi RiverKings- not Rivermen- so maybe a bit more research would lend this article more credibility. If you had asked around, you would also know that the Mavericks and RiverKings are not as prone to the fisticuffs during their matchups (as compared to other teams the Mavericks play). The Mavericks may not be NHL but they have some amazing players- and the fans recognize this. Sure, we cheer because they are the home team. But we also cheer because we have players like Karl Sellan (who recently had a hat trick), or Jeff Christian (our top scorer), or Brent Hammond (who is amazing at creating opportunities for the team to score), or either of our Goalies- Festa or Effinger. I could go on and give you things to look for with each of the players on our team- but you seem to ready to dismiss the skill/ability that they possess, simply because they are not NHL.
You also did not like the team Mascot, logo or colors. But if you look around the CHL you will see that there are turtles, crawdads, and jackelopes as mascots- so I don’t think a Missouri Foxtrotter was a bad choice in comparison. That’s not to say it won’t change in the future.
You also didn’t really mention the staff/ management- and how supportive and attentive they are to fan needs/questions/comments. From what I have seen this season, they have done an amazing job and take a very pro-active approach to how things are done. I don’t know of anyone who has complained about the cost of tickets- although I am sure they are out there. Personally, I feel you get your money’s worth. It is a friendly, safe environment. Its clean, well maintained, well staffed and I think well worth the money!
Oh- and you completely confused me on the ‘Indy’ terminology at first. I think most people refer to it as the IEC.
And lastly- you mentioned ‘large bellied patrons’ but completely left out the anorexic looking patrons. Fair is fair- and seriously- nobody should be singled out based on appearances. One thing I have noticed about the Mavericks fans is that they are very big-hearted and dedicated to this team. For many fans- the Mavericks are like their extended family- they would gladly welcome them and their families into their homes and hearts. They get upset when favorite players get traded- but openly accept the new players as they arrive.
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GH: Anita, thanks for the RiverKings fix. Glad you got a chance to add your two cents on the Mavs.
February 26th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Anita, you are so turning me on! Chicks that dig hockey…Aycarumba!
March 21st, 2010 at 2:51 am
I mistyped, I meant to say that I learned Holly IS a “10″ up close.