OUTDOOR GAME MARRED BY TRAFFIC, LONG LINES»
A lack of public transportation, Interstate 25 construction/ congestion and just two entrances/exits from I-25 contributed to angry Avalanche fans with tickets to Saturday’s NHL Stadium Series event at the Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium.
The game began at 6:14 p.m., and a sellout crowd of 43,574 was announced during the third period. But hundreds of those fans either missed the first half of the game or turned around to go home after sitting in traffic for hours.
“It”s not that people were being dumb and leaving too late, it’s that this place has absolutely no clue how to handle a crowd and event of this magnitude,” Ben Parker of Parker wrote in an email that had photos attached documenting his experience. “The sad part is that aside from the absolute disaster with traffic and parking, I think this was probably one of the best outdoor venues the NHL has ever had as far as actually viewing the game. (Darn) shame that it was ruined for so many people. Demands for refunds or partial refunds or at the very least refunds on all parking charges are 100% valid.”
Fans also complained of long lines for concessions, merchandise and the bathrooms, with con
cessionaires running out of food and beer. And those who took Uber or Lyft rides into the academy could not get one out because security at the two gates wouldn’t let them in after the game, according to fans, or the rideshare drivers canceled because they didn’t want to deal with the traffic, leaving those dependent on an app-based ride to walk several miles or hitchhike to one of the two gates.
Air Force spokesman Troy Garnhart, however, said the rideshare program should have been available at all times.
A man reportedly fell to his death from a bridge at about 11 p.m. just west of North Gate.
An Avalanche spokesman had no comment, saying it was a league event.
Former University of Denver goalie Jim Mullin said his evening “was a nightmare.”
“Waited in line to buy a jersey for my daughter for over an hour — get to front and cashier says ‘no youth sizes, only men’s large.’ Food lines 30-minute wait. Bathroom 30-minute wait. Getting up to the seats (only two entryways with narrow stairs on north and south sides) was almost 60-minute wait. We left after the second period anticipating leaving would be a nightmare. Was the worst-run sporting event I have ever been to.”
One fan and his father got exactly what they expected.
“Anyone who lives in Colorado likely knows about the horrific traffic we now live with. Throw in thousands of cars heading to the game in a construction zone, I’m not surprised about the horrific stories,” Tyler Ehlers of Aurora said. “My dad and I left from Aurora at about 1 p.m. We took Colorado 83 down to avoid I-25. We pulled into our parking spot at about 2:30.
“The parking lot was icy/muddy, but were people expecting the NHL/AFA to stop winter? That comes with having a game at 6,600 feet in February.”
Mike Rowe of Parker said a lack of parking attendants led to a “free-for-all” in the muddy lots and there were no ushers near his seats. Rowe said he has attended football games at AFA when Colorado State and Notre Dame have played there.
“It was the absolute worst experience I have ever had at the Air Force Academy,” Rowe said. “The NHL, AFA, and Colorado Springs should be ashamed of themselves.”
A second outdoor game at Falcon Stadium will take place Monday, between Air Force and Colorado College. Garnhart said the expected size of the crowd is 5,000 to 7,000.
Footnote. A day after losing 3-1 to Los Angeles at Air Force and seeing goalie Philipp Grubauer leave the game early in the third period, the Avalanche on Sunday called up goaltender Hunter Miska from the Eagles of the American Hockey League. Miska is expected to back up Pavel Francouz in Monday’s game against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.