Roughnecks At The Saddledome

Official Review by Jim Flannery, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

The Calgary Roughnecks are one of the most successful franchises in the history of the National Lacrosse League. In 11 seasons, they have only missed the playoffs once (their first year) and they have won two championships, in 2004 and 2009.

Needless to say, their standards for performance are very high and their very loyal fanbase are dedicated and enthusiastic.

The home of the Roughnecks during their time in Calgary has been the Scotiabank Saddledome. The ‘Dome has been open for business since 1983 and is also host to the NHL’s Calgary Flames and the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. Conveniently, the Flames also own all three franchises, so it’s very much an All In The Family situation at the Saddledome.

While the Saddledome was state of the art when it opened for business, it is starting to be a little long in the tooth almost 30 years later. Consequently, the Flames have begun talking about building a new facility in the not-too-distant future. The on-again, off-again talks of a new arena in Edmonton have heated up Calgary’s discussions as well, so a new building might not be too far in the future. Still, it remains a solid structure that has seen a number of renovations over the years to keep it as current as possible, and is still a good place to watch an event.

Food & Beverage    4

The more I go to the Scotiabank Saddldome, the more impressed I am with the food options in the building.

For the most part, there are the standard concessions stands selling the standard selection of soft drinks, hot dogs, popcorn, etc., all fairly typical prices (hot dogs are $4.25, popcorn is $5.50). You'll also find Budweiser on tap at all the regular concession stands ($8 for a glass).

There are also a few specialty locations around the concourse. At Flame Broiled BBQ locations you can get hooked up with an excellent hamburger or cheeseburger made of delicious Alberta Beef (cheeseburgers are $6).

In addition, there are Pizza 73 stands, Italian ice kiosks, little doughnut stations and Good Earth Coffee available for fans who want something a little different than cola and popcorn. Additionally, a Jugo Juice stand on the east side offers some healthier choices with their yummy juice concoctions and wraps.

Duttons Lounge, a sports bar upstairs on the east concourse is open before games for a tailgate party as well as after games for post-game reveling, and has a fully stocked bar for those looking for a more sophisticated adult beverage. Likewise, there are several other kiosks with a selection of highballs, bottled beer and wine.

Atmosphere    4

Box lacrosse, as the indoor game is known, is the best spectator sport in the world, in my humble opinion. It is fast and furious, full of strength, finesse, speed and grace. I have never yet taken a sports fan to a game and had that person say they didn't enjoy the experience.

The atmosphere, not surprisingly, is pretty fired up. Music is played throughout the game and fans are encouraged by the announcer to cheer their team and taunt the opposition. As a result, the fans at Roughnecks games are quite boisterous.

The Roughnecks have won two league championships in their 10 seasons in the NLL and have earned the Champion's Cup both times at home in the Saddledome. Consequently, the energy and sense of pride the team brings to the stadium is very strong and the entire building and the people inside seem to feed off it. It is infectious and makes for a very entertaining, exciting night of entertainment.

The lacrosse community in town is 10 times larger now than it was when the Roughnecks arrived here, so the audience has a significant group of younger fans and their parents and the powers that be within the organization do a good job of appealing to them with meet- and-greet opportunities after games, youth-oriented events between quarters and at half time, etc. The net result is that kids of all ages are likely to have a great time at a game.

Neighborhood    3

The Saddledome is situated on the Calgary Stampede Grounds, located on the southeast edge of the downtown core. There isn't much happening in the immediate neighbourhood, but it is slowly becoming more and more gentrified, which means more dining and entertainment options in the immediate vicinity. Before long, I'm going to have to bump the neighborhood score up a notch.

One of the relatively new locations is the Cowboys Casino, just north of the 'Dome on the Stampede Grounds. The Casino now features no fewer than four different restaurants, including the always popular Cowboys nightclub.

Another best kept secret right on the Stampede grounds is Maverick's, located upstairs in the old Big Four Building (formerly the largest curling club in the world) and open for all event nights.

Just across Macleod Trail from the Stampede Grounds, on 14th Ave, you can find Loungeburger. It is a more upscale gourmet burger place, with burger selections running from $10.50-$17 (á la carte), but they're well worth it. I recommend the Black and Blue ($12.25).

Just a few blocks due west of the 'Dome lies the heart of what has come to be known as "The Red Mile," a string of nightclubs, bars and restaurants that gained a certain amount of notoriety during the Flames' Stanley Cup run in 2004. Melrose Café, with a dining area and a bar, is the best-known spot, but within a couple blocks of Melrose are several other excellent options, such as the Ship and Anchor Pub which has been named Best Neighbourhood Pub in Calgary several times by local publication "Fast Forward Weekly." My favourite Mexican restaurant in town, El Sombrero, is also found on the east end of The Red Mile.

Fans    4

Roughnecks games generally draw between 8,500-11,000 fans to the Saddledome, which fills it to about half capacity. The home opener drew just over 11,600 and the following game which I attended for this review drew 8,200. Calgary has sold the 'Dome out twice in past years, however, including for the 2004 Champion's Cup game, which the 'Necks won.

The fans are fiercely loyal and very enthusiastic, resulting in lots of noise and great energy during the game, especially in comparison to the relatively quiet crowds you might find at a hockey game in the 'Dome. With the explosion of interest in lacrosse within Calgary, the crowds have become more stable and have seen gradual but steady growth over the years.

Access    3

Located downtown, the Saddledome is relatively easy to get to, aside from the traffic woes that are par for the course in the inner city. Expect stop-and-go traffic and delays getting to and from the facility, which can be anywhere from distracting to downright irritating. Parking on the Stampede Grounds will run you $15 and fills up fairly quickly, especially if there are other events happening around the Grounds. There are other alternate off-site parking options at similar or slightly lower rates, but plan for a bit of a walk after that.

The other option is to take the city's Light Rail Transit system to the game. The "C- Train" has a stop on the west side of the grounds, making it easily accessible from all over the city heading north, south or west. This can be a much more convenient option for fans not wanting the hassle of driving downtown, although the trains can get pretty crowded after events. An adult fare for Calgary Transit is $3.00, youths are $1.75.

The concourse itself is quite spacious on the east and west sides, but gets pretty narrow to the north and south. This isn't too much of a problem at Roughnecks games where the building is only at half capacity, but it can get pretty crowded when the house is full.

Return on Investment    4

Compared to the price of a Flames game, the cost of a Roughnecks game is a bargain, with prices starting at $20 (these passes are available at local Safeway stores as well as at Ticketmaster) for upper bowl end zone tickets and going up to $65 for the Avison Young seats in the lower bowl.

With as good a price as this is for a professional sporting event, coupled with the sheer entertainment value provided by box lacrosse, this is a no-brainer.

Extras    5

The Saddledome provides a good environment for enjoying sports, with great sight lines for everyone.

There are a number of points of interest along the concourse walls, including 1988 Olympic displays and Alberta's inductees into the NHL Hall of Fame. Virtually every concourse wall has something to look at.

There is always a memorabilia auction held in the main concourse for collectors who are interested in bidding on autographed photos and jerseys.

Several times during the game, the Drill Crew dance team makes appearances on the floor to wow the fans with their award-winning moves. When they're not center stage performing, they can be seen in the concourse and the stands selling their always-popular calendars.

The Roughnecks also have a mascot, Howie the Honey Badger. In my opinion, Howie is not as cool as the team's previous mascot, Derrick the Rigger, but Howie seems to entertain the kids in the crowd and that's the most important thing. And besides, Honey Badger doesn't care what I think.

There are two locations of the Flames Fan Attic on the premises, on the east and west sides of the concourse. In either of those stores you can stock up on all the Roughnecks, Flames and Hitmen merchandise you can carry, from shirts and jerseys to hats, mugs and keychains.

As mentioned before, the players stick around after games to sign autographs on the field for dedicated fans. This is a really cool feature of attending one of the smaller scale pro sports and really helps get the fans in touch with the athletes they're supporting.

Overall, there's plenty of interesting touches to keep everyone interested and engaged.

Final Thoughts

When you put it all together, attending a Roughnecks game, or any NLL game, is almost guaranteed to be a fun and entertaining experience. The game itself is more than worth the price of admission and there are any number of other excellent reasons to make the visit to the Scotiabank Saddledome.