Vancouver: Part 5

30 April 2009, 23:01 | ,

I wake up. It’s 10. My breakfast is here. I sit up in bed, and quickly remember that I had access to free beer the previous night. I open the door and let the attendant in. I open the tray, take three bites of my omelet, and go back to bed.

I wake up at 1. I’m not due at GM Place until 4, so I have plenty of time. I shower and get my suit on. I check the directions twice, then head out. It’s hot, so rather than sweat it out for 30 minutes in my suit, I decide to take a cab. I arrive, and after a short phone call, I meet my contact with the Canucks. He gives me a security pass and we go in.

We go through a couple corridors past various security check points. The walls are all painted Canuck blue, which is good, because otherwise they would look like prison walls. As we travel, I see less and less people. I assume we’re heading toward the offices, which, because the game won’t start for another few hours, no one is in. This is a big difference between the Canucks and Moose offices. Most people in the moose office serve multiple functions; an office job during the week, and another job during hockey games or events. Thus, people need to be at work at regular times during a game day, and would not be able to take the morning off. On the other hand, none of us have to commute 2 hours to work.

He shows me around the offices. They are corporate, but nice: glass name plates on the outside of offices, cubicles, fresh paint, the whole bit. Kind of like saying “Were crushing your soul: in style.”

We go down to what looks like a lunch room, however the tables are pushed back to one side of the room. I’m told there will be a press conference here soon. The Aquilini’s walk in followed by a couple cameramen and three mascots for the upcoming 2010 winter games in Vancouver. The press conference is to announce the Aquilinis’ support for the games. It goes quickly.

We continue down the hallways to an elevator. Then we go up. The doors open, were in the press box. But this is also where we have a pre game meal. This is something I’m thankful we have in the Moose as well. Although the Canucks meal has about 4 times the selection. And I got it for free, so hooray for me.

During the meal, we talk about the moose. I tell them about seeing the players at moxies after the games.
“That’s so bush league.” one of them says.
This bothers me more than I thought it would. Our production quality rivals that of many NHL teams, and I am proud of the work I do there.

We walk down the press box hallway after the meal. As it turns out, the whole game production rooms are in the first level of the pressbox (yes, there are two levels.) I find that most of these people are part time, only coming in for games. This is very similar to what we have, except about half as many people.

I walk down to my seat. Wow. There are already alot of people in the building. There centrehung (jumbotron) is HD, with side panels for stats and two circular screens sitting on the top and bottom. The control system is just like ours, but with two computers, and two operators. One controls the ring and top and bottom screens, the other controls the side stat panels. Neat.

Warmup starts, theres already enough people here to make up half a moose game. Crazy.

Then the lights go down. Vancouver has ice projectors, which project video footage onto the ice. It’s Incredible what you can do with a budget. The team comes out, it is loud. The MTS centre is known for it’s acoustics for concerts, this place echos like crazy. Plus there are 18000 people here. That helps.

The game begins. This is where it becomes very similar to my time with the moose, except there are a few more people up here, and in the stands. About twice as many. They have a live organ player. This is something I wanted to try with the moose (and they did for playoffs in the 2008-09 season) but with a live band.

Vancouver scores, it is so loud. One thing I do notice, is they do not have many animations for their rings, only about 5 or so. NHL teams have large corporate

Their music guy is large, loud man that yells things when the team screws up. He’s funny, I tell him so after the game.

I walk down, thank the guy for the opportunity, give him my card and ask him to let me know if there is ever a position open, and leave. The reason for the trip is over, and I’ll be going home tomorrow. I feel a little sad walking back to my hotel. But I am hopeful, I’ve seen what I need to work at this level, and I know I’m good enough.

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