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| - I bought tickets to a Checkers game for my parents as a Christmas gift, and finally was able to take them this weekend. I didn't know what to expect because all the Checkers games I'd been to before were at TWC Arena.
The three of us were pleasantly surprised. Despite being a minor-league team, the experience was just as good as any professional sporting event I'd been to. I can also confidently say that the move to Bojangles Coliseum has done them good -- the production value is wayyyy better than the games I saw at TWC with their bad sound quality and amateurish presentation.
We arrived about half an hour before the puck dropped so we'd have a chance to explore. As I stood in line to buy a shirt from the merch table, I realized I forgot to bring a Sharpie from home, as I wanted to get Chubby to sign the shirt I bought. Turns out, they sell Charlotte Checkers branded Sharpies at the merchandise counter for $1.50. That made my day -- and I would have happily spent more!
The game itself was great -- action right up until the final seconds. I could have done with a real, drop-your-gloves fight, but I suppose there are other venues for that.
My only complaint is the painfully slow concessions -- not because it was particularly busy, but because the people behind the counter were so terribly organized -- but I'm sure that's less the fault of the Checkers organization and more a Bojangles Coliseum thing. Regardless, be prepared to wait 10+ minutes for coffee or hot chocolate after you've ordered it.
All in all, a Checkers game is a really great way to spend an afternoon or evening, and there's something for everyone.
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