How To Prepare For The Grand Rapids Griffins Home Opener

Grand Rapids Griffin's hockey is back and if you are attending the home opener or any game this season, here is what to prepare for when you are not a stadium regular.

Get our free mobile app

Grand Rapids Griffins

The Grand Rapids Griffins season opener is Friday, October 14 against the San Diego Gulls. The Griffins will play them again on Saturday.

There are lots of Griffins diehard fans who have been going to games for years and they know what to prepare when going to a game. On the other hand, there are lots of people who get invited to go to a hockey game at Van Andel Arena, or it's a school field trip who have never been to a hockey game and there are a few things you need to prepare for or think about.

What Should You Wear To a Hockey Game?

Obviously, hockey is played on ice so the arena is going to be much cooler than when at a concert or other type of event. If you notice in the picture above, behind Griffins defenseman Jared Mclsaac there are fans with blankets, hoodies, coats, and odds are a few have a few layers of clothes on. You can always take off a coat or hoodie if you get too warm.  If you find out where your seats are that makes a difference in how cold it will be. If you are close to the ice, it will be colder. If you are in the upper deck it will be warmer.

When Should You Arrive at a Griffins Game?

It's good to be walking in Van Andel Arena about 30 minutes before the puck drops. This will give you time to locate your seats, grab something to eat, locate the nearest bathrooms and maybe get a little Griffins swag.

If you get to Van Andel too early, if the arena is empty it is going to be much colder. When the seats are full it is a much warmer place to enjoy the game.

How Long do Griffins Games Last?

The Griffins play 60 minutes of regulation hockey that is broken up into three 20-minute periods. There are 15 to 18-minute intermission breaks. If there are no penalties, no overtime, and no commercial breaks, these games last around an hour and a half. That being said, if a game has lots of penalties and overtime, this could go on as long as 2.5 hours.

Enjoy your Griffins game.