AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Avalanche rookie Cale Makar was unsure of what to expect from fans on Saturday night for their outdoor hockey showcase when the team bus rolled toward Falcon Stadium.
But one glance out the window as Colorado neared the Air Force Academy erased any doubt.
The Avs and Kings, undoubtedly, were must-watch entertainment.
“Seeing all the traffic on the one side of the road was insane,” Makar said.
Thousands descended upon Air Force for the NHL Stadium Series with significant vehicle congestion keeping some motorists stuck in hours-long traffic jams outside the academy well after the game started.
Only two points of entry, a driver’s license check for each vehicle, and a traffic accident in the area just made problems worse. For those who arrived early, though, the extra preparation was rewarded.
A continuous single-file line of vehicles rolled over mud roads and into snow-packed parking lots to tailgate when gates opened at 1 p.m.
Colorado Springs resident Steve Strauch brought an expert-level setup unloaded from a large van. Brisket, pulled pork, meatballs and fried chicken rested on tables beneath two tents and standing propane heaters, as temperatures hovered around 40 degrees. Strauch’s group even turned a pair of cornhole game boards on their sides, then used hockey sticks to blast pucks through their hole openings.
“We’ve had this planned for a long time,” Strauch said. “The Avs are my team. My son was born when they went to the Stanley Cup. … This is the perfect weather. It can’t get any better than this.”
The sound of live music performances from a pregame party stage on the east side of Falcon Stadium drew huge crowds. Fans also had the opportunity to take a picture with the Stanley Cup. Dave Oliver, of Monument, said he waited more than an hour for his chance to witness hockey glory. He didn’t mind the long line.
“It’s a perfect backdrop with the mountains,” Oliver said.
Falcon Stadium, the home of Air Force football, was retrofitted to seat about 43,500 fans and a near-capacity crowd was expected. John and Sandy Fraser, Avs season ticket holders from Denver, were among the first to find their spot in the west stands; 12 rows up and near the 50-yard line. John Fraser said: “Right when they announced the game, we got our tickets and room reservations.” The Frasers were initially concerned play might be obstructed by the boards, but they were just high enough for a near-horizontal view of the action.
However, seated high in the upper northwest corner, the Prouty family also had an excellent viewing angle. Mike and Sylvia, of Colorado Springs, have been hooked on Avalanche hockey since their son’s youth playing days. Their perspective proved that the experience of Saturday night was not dictated by ticket face value.
“It’s being played in a stadium, outside, when it’s cold and in Colorado,” Mike Prouty said. “I love it.”
