An All-American Experience

Official Review by Paul Derrick, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Located in one of the many suburbs of Dallas, Texas you'll find the CHL's Allen Americans. In just their second year of play, the Americans are quickly making a name for themselves. An affiliate of the Dallas and Texas Stars, the Americans give fans of these franchises an opportunity to see their up and comers. The Allen Americans call the beautiful, 6,225 fixed-seat multi-purpose Allen Event Center their home. Opened in 2009, the event center is a perfect venue for hockey and makes an incredible home for the Americans.

Food & Beverage    4

You may want to leave your belt buckle at home, because at the Allen Event Center, they have a variety of food options to temp your tastebuds. You've got local favorites Bar-B-Cuties, El Grande Burrito, Maui Wowi and the Allen Station Grill, and you'll also find traditional arena concessions at American Dogs, County Fair, and CiCi's Pizza. On the premium level, there's exclusive and personalized catering available, including the Absolut Bar.

Bar-B-Cuties offers an assortment of options such as BBQ Sandwiches, sausage on a stick, loaded baked potatoes and a variety of meat salads. County Fair and American Dogs have some goodies that I especially enjoyed, such as the jalapeno cheddar sausage. They also offer jumbo and regular hot dogs, as well as chili cheese fries and frito chili pies.

All the food options are fairly priced including alcoholic beverages, which are priced three dollars for a small and $5.50 for a large. Overall you should have no problems finding something to please your appetite at a reasonable price.

Atmosphere    4

Due to it being a day game, I'll start by saying that I had my doubts about how great or rowdy the atmosphere would be for this game. I quickly figured out that the time of the game didn't matter to Allen fans. The arena was nearly 75 percent full for a Monday day game, which was shocking to me. The fans kept the atmosphere top notch throughout the game, with perfectly timed cheers and jeers. The atmosphere at times was on par with an NHL game, especially during the final minutes of the third period. The Allen Americans staff do a great job keeping the crowd on their feet throughout the game with timely music and chants.

Even though it did seem as though the majority of fans had migrated from other more profound hockey regions, they were there to see great hockey and cheer on the Americans. The only downfall I saw was that besides a couple of banners hanging from the rafters, there wasn't much of a hockey
feel walking through the concourse and arena. But overall, the Allen Americans definitely have one of the best minor league hockey atmospheres I have experienced so far.

Neighborhood    5

With over 35 choices at The Village at Allen and The Village at Fairview, you can also grab a bite before or after your visit to the Allen Event Center. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, Dodie's Place Sports Grill, Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food, and the Cotton Patch Cafe are just a few of the
full service restaurants that are all within walking distance. If it's your sweet tooth calling, try Coffee 'N Cream, Elizabeth's Cakes, Saxbys Coffee or Yumilicious for just the icing on the cake.
I found Dodie's Place Sports Grill to be a sports fan's dreamhouse, with big screen TVs showing ESPN at every angle in the bar. Dodie's also offers a great beer selection and some of the best fajitas that I have ever tasted. Dodie's is a place that is sure to please any sports fan's eyes and
stomach.

Fans    4

When most people think of great hockey fans, they think of Red Wings, Blackhawks, and Rangers fans, and that may be a fair assumption. When it comes to minor league hockey though, the Allen Americans fans are right on par with some of the best. The state of Texas is not known to be a hotbed of hockey, but due to the great job market in some of the bigger cities like Houston and Dallas, many people have come to call Texas home. With the growing interest in hockey in the state of Texas, this means the sky is the limit.

Access    4

The stadium can be reached from many different angles, all of which are easily accessible. The Event Center is located on the southeast corner of US Highway 75 and Stacy Road, inside the Village of Allen. All the concourses are very wide and make for easy walking around the rink. Bathrooms are plentiful and I never noticed a line, even during peak times. The Allen Event Center does have an added bonus of free parking for all events which is always a plus in my book. Overall, you should have no problems making your way to or around the Event Center.

Return on Investment    3

I did find tickets to be a little steep, ranging anywhere from ten to twenty-one dollars. I think the ten dollar tickets would be sufficient for anyone except the die-hard, center ice glass fans. I can promise you though, for minor league hockey, you will be hard pressed to find many better venues or
fans. Allen American fans make sure their players know they are there and what they expect of the players. With free parking and decently priced meals, I think the return on investment on a trip to Allen Event Center is worth every penny.

Extras    3

I definitely have to give a point for the beauty of the newly built Allen Event Center; a job very well done. Another point goes out for free parking, something that in today's economy is harder and harder to find. I will also give out a point for the magnitude of things to do, places to eat and overall entertainment value of the Village of Allen and surrounding area.

Final Thoughts

The Allen Americans provide a great experience for any hockey fan or family. The next time you're in the Dallas area, I definitely suggest making a trip through Allen - you will be pleasantly surprised.