So I drove all day to get down to SoCal, hit brutal L.A. traffic, but still managed to make it to my friend’s with time to spare.  When I drove back today, I hit traffic again.  At 11:30am.  On a Saturday.  How Los Angelinos deal with this is a mystery to me.  I wanted to get all L.A. Story on everybody- whip out my gun from the glove compartment, and open fire.

But we made to the Honda Center about half an hour early (after waiting in more traffic on “the” 5) in order to watch the teams warm up.  At this point we’ve wandered the concourse a bit, introduced myself to Earl Sleek (Sleek, that green shirt is like a friggin’ beacon, you can see it from anywhere in the arena) and I’m already making mental notes on what I like about the Honda Center, and what I don’t.

I suppose I should have at least a paragraph on the game.  I’m not sure it really meant as much as we wanted it to- both teams were missing some key people, and both backup goalies played.  The Ducks in particular were yielding lots of space in their zone, which is very uncharacteristic for them.  It was a nice win in enemy territory, and the Sharks have earned the privilege of relaxing a bit for the next two.  I was irate that Semenov played, and not Carle.  Ridiculous choice.

Enough of real content.  Here’s the list:

How the Pond is Better

• You can get chili with your nachos.  Big plus.
• Two concourses, so there are many more bathrooms.
• They post a lot of good stats on the Jumbotrons, and have little stats crawlers during the game on the “ribbon” screens.  The Tank people need to copy this.
• Two words: Ice Girls.  I really don’t want to see that mustache guy in tight pants, so get rid of him and use the Saberkittens or something.
• They are very kind to the many Sharks fans.  Of course this is a backhanded compliment.  I didn’t take hardly any abuse at all, which I was a bit disappointed about.  One guy booed at me when when I cheered a Sharks goal, and some drunk guy yelled “Sharks suck penis!” a few times as I walked by.  Not the most innovative insult I’ve ever heard.

How the Tank is Better

• It doesn’t look like a mall on the inside the way the Pond does.
• Better sight lines from the upper deck, and people don’t lean forward as much.
• Two words: cup holders.  How can Honda, a car manufacturer, put its name to an arena with no upper deck cup holders?
• We fill the arena.  It might have been technically a sellout, but I saw whole rows empty, and the two seats next to me in 410 were empty.  A Sharks-Ducks Friday night game in March, and you can see whole groups of empty seats?
• Living in a city that’s often maligned for ignorant fans, we don’t seem to wear it on our sleeves the way the Ducks fans behind me last night did.  They did the whole “Mick-a-lick” pronounciation the whole game, and spent a good 45 seconds trying to decide how to pronounce Pavelski.   As a capper, they made fun of “Gock’s” name too.  Something tells me they don’t watch the “On the Fly: Final” too often.

All in all, a great night.  Hopefully the first of many away Sharks games that I attend.  I think grier and I are planning on making one trip each season to a different arena.