One Way to Move it and Shake it during the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Hockey Tournaments

By Lisa Ovens

In order to find new streams of revenue, the Vancouver Canucks began construction on a new club section high above the ice, close to the General Manager’s box. The Best Buy Club, formerly known as  the“Top Shelf Club” (great name by the way; not only is it a goal scoring reference, but this club is literally located on the top shelf, level 500 of GM Place) is an exclusive place offering food and beverages , a concierge all included in the member ticket prices (I know what some of you are thinking: a perfect place for rich, douchebag guys... haha!).

During the 2010 Winter Games, the club will become “The Vancouver 2010 Premier Lounge,” and if you were not able to score any hockey tickets during the pre-sale phases, this lounge could be your in. But, only after Canucks season ticket holders are done purchasing the packages. They were given first crack, and they have until October 9th, 2009 to buck up. And buck up they will.

Check out the packages, which include Men’s and some Women’s Olympic Tournament games. Seating is limited to 188 seats.

Prices (includes food, non alcoholic beverages, a Team Canada jersey, concierge, and chefs, yes, there will be chefs up there)

Full package 33 games —  $9750 per seat (includes men’s gold medal game)

Half package 16 games — $4500 per seat

Sport package 8 games — $2400 per seat

If there are any Men’s Gold Medal game tickets remaining in the Premier Lounge, there will be a lottery held for Half and Sport Packages holders. Lottery Winners will be able to purchase those remaining Men’s Gold Medal game tickets for $900 each.

Lisa's Tiny Rant

Just one tiny thing I consider controversial here, and I found it in the marketing materials: They push the men’s hockey as the big benefit (Follow your favorite NHL players as they compete for their country..., ... Coveted men’s gold medal game). The only time they mention the women’s hockey is in the package game lists. Come on, copy writers...this is Canada, it was our women that brought the Gold home from Torino last time, not the guys for crying out loud!!!

Half Pack 2 and Sport Pack D both include the Women’s Gold game. I’m sorry, but if the Women’s Team Canada wins Gold in Vancouver, mark my words, everyone in the arena, including you big tough guy hockey fans (and you douchebag guys, nursing the Grey Goose in your high ball glass, wearing your D&G sunglasses up there in the 2010 Premier Lounge) will be balling your eyes out with tears of joy, hearts all a glow, and you will never, ever forget such a monumental moment and feeling. Therefore it is only logical to promote the heck out of female players, too.

End tiny rant.

I have to admit, I'd love to be up in the Vancouver 2010 Premier Lounge for any Olympic game...or more. The question is how to get there. Now there's a challenge...

What to Wear: Canadian Olympic Athlete Uniforms to be revealed

By Lisa Ovens

A big Olympic happening will be going down on Thursday Oct. 1st, 2009 at the Hudson’s Bay Department store, downtown Vancouver. It’s time to see what Canadian Winter Olympic Athletes will be wearing at the games. Plus, the store is now decorated with huge Olympic Banners I am told (I will get pics very soon).

The Canadian Olympic Team Style Kits will be revealed with pumping DJ Music (DJ Hedspin) in the background, and guest appearances from the Cowboy Junkies at 12:15pm (remember them?), singer Dan Mangan at 3:30pm and Sam Roberts Band (5pm- don’t be late for the bearded one)

The first 500 people who show up at noon at the concierge desk will receive a free toque!

OMG, it’s going to be a “love it hate it weekend” I can see it all now!!

Just a heads up, but this Olympic clothing event does happen on the same day as Opening night of the NHL season on Hockey Night in Canada. Early game: Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs 4:15 pm PST. Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames 7pm PST.

So, it’s a tough choice for some: Free Sam Roberts concert in a store, or Habs and Leafs on the tube....

Gift With Purchase...Signature T-Shirt!

By Lisa Ovens

                                                       photo by Lisa Ovens

General Mills, the official cereal supplier to the Canadian Olympic Team and the 2010 Olympics decided to “Paint the Town Red” and get Canadians into the games by offering a free T-shirt. I stumbled across this give away a few weeks ago and decided I wanted in on some free Olympic swag: it can’t be all about the enamel pins! The red shirt is adorned with a white graphic shaped like a maple leaf, and its design consists of Canadian athlete signatures. It looks good.

I don’t usually buy boxed cereal. I am a “buy bulk, slow cooking organic oats for breakfast” kind of person these days. So I had to hit the grocery store to see what the selection would be. It seems to be either various Cheerios products or Oatmeal Crisp flavors. Oatmeal Crisps it is.

On the cereal box it says “Free signature T-shirt”. What they really mean is “Gift with Purchase”. It’s the only way to get the red shirt. Being the Maple flavour freak that I am, I chose Maple Nut.

Mini Review: Oatmeal Crisp Cereal

A bowl is about 260 calories (based on one cup dry cereal with milk). First of all, the box opened with ease. I’m a lefty and sometimes the package opening process doesn’t go well at the best of times. I garnished with carefully sliced strawberries, which for some could be considered risky blending the maple flavor with strawberry flavor. But the strawberries are in stock so I go for it. (Banana might be the better fruit pairing) This cereal tastes pretty good, but the crisps are quick to turn soggy. I am a little blown away by the sweetness of the Oatmeal Crisps, but what would I expect: I 'm used to eating organic oats and water with a little fruit. End review.

Now to get my free T-shirt...

Inside the box, I found the panel with the code needed. I logged onto General Mills website, and entered the code. Cool, it worked. I found out the shipping was on them – great! I arrived at the page to select my red or white T-shirt (the white one with red graphic “2010” was recently added). I selected red because it’s the one I know from the cereal box. Now things become dicey. When selecting the size, I am not able to check off the adult size medium, or any adult sizes. It’s not working. I call General Mills and ask the CSR about the glitch. She informed me there are no adult sizes left. “But this contest is only a few weeks old!” I exclaimed. Actually it started back in June she tells me. I said I wasn’t up on kid sizes, but this is approx. how big I am, "do you think a kids size large will fit?” She said the large would fit a teenager. I thanked her and hung up. I finished the transaction and received the confirmation email within 30 seconds. Start to finish, this was a good customer service experience.

I am locked in...The T-shirt is on its way.

Now, I am wondering why all of the adult sizes went first. Free offers on cereal boxes are usually considered kids territory. Once I am done with my box of Oatmeal Crisps, I just might pick up another one, get the code and order another shirt. But this time I’ll give it to a kid. We can’t paint the town red without the kids during 2010.

I’ll let you know when the shirt arrives!

Test Event: Hockey Canada Cup

By Lisa Ovens

This was my first opportunity to experience a 2010 Winter Games test event. My friend Michelle decided to surprise me with a ticket to one of the games during the Women’s Hockey Tournament at Canada Hockey Place (normally called GM Place, but I’m getting used to the name change for Olympic sponsorship reasons) featuring the best female players from Finland, Sweden, USA and Canada.

In order to boost attendance and bolster the cheering, Michelle chose a week day afternoon game: Finland vs. Sweden. We were two of 1100 in the crowd which definitely favored Team Finland. Michelle, who is quickly becoming an expert on Finland, cheered for them and I yelled for Sweden. My girls won the game 3-1.

a special desk

I noted one change to the venue that usually hosts NHL hockey: we sat in the club section, and one row of seats was transformed into a long table, with a variety of officials working away on laptops. Later I found out during the actual Olympic hockey tournaments, the entire club section will be reserved for officials, media, entourages, and hangers on.

So I now know I won’t be seated in the club seats for the one Olympic Men’s hockey game I secured during the lottery last November. People with tickets may not know where their seats are until December/ January when the tickets are delivered. However, I am waiting for an email reply to find out if we’ll know our seat locations before then.

Hockey Canada Cup Tid- Bits

Team USA won the Tournament in a 4-2 game versus Team Canada

Team Finland took the bronze

Team USA has won six of the last eight games against Team Canada

The tourney sparked many debates about whether hitting should be allowed in women’s hockey (currently it’s not).

Sidebar: It’s funny but, whenever a dangerous stuff like fighting and hits causing injury occurs in Men’s hockey, several sports media pundits passionately plead for a ban ons on the rough stuff  in the NHL, the game doesn’t need it blah, blah, blah. This always makes me shake my head. If these guys are so against the rough play in Hockey, then why don’t they watch, talk, analyze and give more media airtime and print space to women’s hockey? One would think...

Best. Hat. Ever.

Look what was sitting in our section...the best hat ever. After the game, I asked this couple where they bought the hats. The found the hats at a waterfront market place in Helsinki, Finland. My friend Michelle will be visiting Finland in January. She’s on a mission now. Find that market and if the hats still exist, bring some back to Canada. I’ll report on her progress come January.