Hockey was never one of my favorite sports. My
hometown in Central Iowa had football and soccer
fields, a couple of baseball diamonds, basketball
courts and a track. I spent my childhood playing
and watching these sports. With no skates, hockey
sticks, or ice rink - hockey wasn’t an option.
A move to the Cedar Valley brought me to a place
where hockey is worshipped by many. It’s an ideal
entertainment option for the casual sports fan. The
Waterloo Black Hawks are the local hockey team.
They put on a show every time they step on the ice.
If you haven’t been to Young Arena for a
Waterloo Black Hawks hockey game, you are missing
out on an awesome sports experience.
Since 1962, the Black Hawks have been drawing
people from the Cedar Valley to the sport of hockey
- people like me, who never had a chance to play
the sport or to sit in the stands at a live game.
The Young Arena atmosphere with the music
playing, the spotlights shining and the crowd roaring
makes you fall in love with the sport and the
team. The Black Hawks play in one of the best venues
in the league. The smaller size and unique shape
puts the fans on top of the action. The home team
benefits most on weekend nights when the arena is
packed and the fans are loud and rowdy.
Let’s face it, every fan enjoys going to games
when their team wins. The Black Hawks have had
outstanding success the past several years, including
numerous championships. Last season, they
were named the league’s “Organization of the Year”
and “Anderson Cup Champions.” The Cedar Valley
has helped break the Black Hawks’ attendance records
five consecutive years. To date, the only other
hockey organization that has ever accomplished this
feat was the Boston Bruins in the 1970s.
It’s not just the die-hard hockey fans cheering
on the Black Hawks. The games appeal to a wide variety
of people.
For families it is a very affordable night out of
the house. By purchasing the Domino’s Family 4
Pack for $44.00 you receive four Blue Zone Tickets, four sodas, one large pizza and one souvenir
game program. The kids might have the opportunity
to go on the ice and participate in the “Chuck a
Puck” promotion or interact with the Tommy Hawk
mascot. A $5.00 membership in the Tommy Hawk
Kids Club gets your child a Black Hawks T-shirt and
folder, a subscription to the “Tommy Talk” newsletter
and an invitation to a skating/pizza party with
the entire Black Hawk team.
College students and young adults also can have
a good time. Adult beverages are served. It’s a great
place to kick off the night. Bring a group of friends,
have your office party or birthday bash at a game.
Make sure to check out the special discounts and
“College Nights” available throughout the season.
The Black Hawks play seven months of the year
with a total of 30 regular season home games from
October through April. Tickets range from $11.00
to $13.00 for single games. Special discounts for
groups and season tickets are available. There are
hundreds of promotions, contests and giveaways
from the time the puck is dropped and the final
horn sounds. My personal favorites are the mini
hockey sticks, the large blimp that floats around the
arena dropping certificates into the crowd and the
loud thunder sticks.
If you haven’t witnessed a live hockey game, there
is no better time than the present. The Waterloo Black
Hawks create a family friendly environment in a fun
and entertaining atmosphere. A lot of towns in Iowa
don’t have hockey so we should be thankful there
is a top-notch organization and successful team to
support here in the Cedar Valley.
Eric Braley is host and producer of “Panther Sports
Talk,” a weekly UNI Sports TV show airing Sunday
nights on KWWL after the 10:00 news, Monday and
Wednesday nights on Cedar Falls Utilities Cable TV
and Thursday nights on Cedar Falls Community Television. |
