Delayed start, long concession lines, then a loss to Miami
By JASON SCHNEIDER
The Jacksonville Times-Union
Fans who came into Friday night's game excited about the Jacksonville Barracudas' home opener in the new Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena were left with little to cheer about.
The start of the game was delayed by an hour to accommodate fans stuck outside trying to purchase tickets and also to give the arena staff enough time to complete the setup of seating and barriers, which would not have been completed by the scheduled start time of 7:05 p.m.
Some complained of having to wait for over 45 minutes to purchase tickets. Those frustrated fans also had to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to purchase food.
The on-ice action didn't do much to get fans excited as the Barracudas lost their second game in a row to the Miami Manatees 6-2.
The 'Cudas played the first period as if they were the ones stuck outside in the drizzling rain, generally being outworked by the Manatees, who got out to a 3-0 lead, thanks to two power play goals.
Miami also beat Jacksonville 5-2 on Nov. 15 on the strength of four power play goals.
Unfortunately, because of the long lines, many fans didn't get to see Miami right winger Oak Hewer score the first-ever goal in the arena because the goal came just five minutes in the game.
One fan complained about the long lines and added that he "probably won't be back."
Most fans, though, said they would write off the lines to the crowd, which was announced at 9,589. The crowd was the largest to ever watch a hockey game in Jacksonville, breaking a 20-year-old record. In 1973, 9,189 people watched the Jacksonville Barons' debut.
"It's the first Barracudas game in the new arena and everything is understaffed," fan Gary Thomas said. "I'm mad. My first impression of this place isn't very good. The sad thing is that the on-ice stuff is fine; it's everything off the ice that needs work."
Thomas said he and his friends waited in line to get food and beer for almost 35 minutes and missed most of the first period, not getting out of line until the first intermission had already started.
Those fans whose first view of the on-ice action came in the second period saw a Barracudas team close Miami's advantage to 3-2 on Lyle Steenbergen's second goal.
Steenbergen's first goal, the 'Cudas' first goal in their new home, came with just under four minutes remaining in the first period. Mike Johnson assisted on both goals, as Jacksonville played with more energy in the second period.
Coach Ron Duguay even switched goalies, pulling starter Brandon Snee for Nate Ziemski to start the second, but Miami scored twice as Hewer and Eric Perricone pushed the Manatees' advantage to 5-2 as the second period ended.
By the third period, the crowds at the main concession area had shrunk to just a few people, but the crowd inside the inner bowl had also shrunk as most people had left the building.
Part of the problem can be attributed to the size of the crowd, but not all the concession stands were open and there were no vendors selling food or beer in the stands.
Scott Allerding, Jacksonville's general manger and vice president, saw little of the game as he spent most of the game with the fans in line -- not buying food, but trying to reassure fans that future games wouldn't be so problematic.
"I feel for the fans," he said.
There was not much Allerding or the Barracudas could do. The Arena's concessions are run by Levy's and SMG and not the Barracudas' organization.
"I just think no one had any insight into what type of crowds were going to be here," Torrence Cullen said. "I'll be back, because I want to support our local teams, but this ridiculous."
Web posted on Nov. 29, 2003
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