| 12 March 2010
Random impressions from a trip to Hershey, Pa., for last Saturday night's game:
* First indication this would be a bit different: Coco, the mascot, was standing in the parking lot, waving at incoming cars.
* Second indication: There was a parking lot.
* Giant Center: Somehow I thought the Bears played in an old building. Nope. Old team, modern building. Quite nice. Though the outside speakers disguised as rocks aren't quite as effective when they're arranged in distant groups of one.
* Sold out game, and somehow we ended up with really good seats. Didn't look like there was a bad seat, actually.
* No Chocolate-Out. Didn't seem to be many people wearing Bears jerseys. Is that because the Caps can pull your favorite player up, or trade him to Carolina, at any time?
* Judging from the NHL jerseys being worn, Hershey has an intriguing fan base: Caps jerseys, Penguins jerseys, Flyers jerseys. Hershey police must go on full alert for the tailgate parties.
* NASCAR trivia during stoppages in play. Hey, I seemed to be the only one who knew the Pocono Raceway nickname is "The Tricky Triangle" (and only because I had just seen an ad on the video screen).
* MUCH smaller video screen.
* Really weird to see players in a Hershey Bears uniform that you've seen in Verizon Center in a Caps uniform. And you get a real sense of what it must mean to these guys when they get called up, or sent down.
* Crowd seemed quiet, compared to Verizon Center. They do have a big-voiced guy who gets the cheers going. Goat Jr., I guess. And I think the Hershey equivalent of Horn Guy is Horn Kids -- they all seemed to have horns, on sale in the concourse.
* Incredible history here. This team goes all the way back to the Hershey B'ars (think chocolate, always think chocolate) in 1932.
* Wondered why so many Bears fans left the game really early. Found out. It takes FOREVER to get out of the parking lot.
Great fun. Felt like every Caps fan should make this trip at least once -- and those who do will leave talking about coming back.
TillyCapsFan for C.K.
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