In recent years, hockey has enjoyed a significant spike in popularity across the globe. In fact, a recent survey suggests that the NHL is as popular as it ever has been in its 100-year history. While many sports sell themselves on their live spectator experience, you could argue that this is more true of hockey than many other popular enterprises. With close crowd proximity, a guaranteed ruckus and an electric atmosphere, there really is no other sport like hockey. That being said, watching your favorite NHL team on TV can be a bit of a drag in comparison. To that end, we’ve put together a quick list of things you can do in order to improve your overall hockey experience from the comfort of your own home.
Quick Snacks and Nibbles
No sporting experience is complete without something to munch on. When you’re at the game itself, this is a given, especially with sellers patrolling the venue at every available opportunity. However, it can be easy to forget to stock up on snacks when watching the big game from your armchair. Instead of the usual chips, garlic bread or French fries, why not try something a little more adventurous such as jalapenos stuffed with bacon, sausage and cheese or kielbasa wedges? One of the benefits of staying home to watch sports is that you’re not held back by what’s on offer and can mix it up whenever you feel like it.
Online Sports Betting
Back in the day (whenever that was), the majority of sports betting was confined to the NFL, NBA and sometimes, the occasional game of baseball. Since then, online betting has come a long way and the sheer volume of available NHL markets (or indeed, any other hockey league on the planet) means that you’ll be able to place a wager on almost anything and everything Habs related. In addition to this, when you start to delve into the world of online sports betting, there are a number of bonuses and special offers available on numerous sportsbooks. Whether it’s a deposit bonus or a free bet, there’s bound to be something which will help you on your way to enhancing your hockey viewing experience.
Turn It into a Party
OK, we are aware that this one may not be to everyone’s liking. Some people like to be alone when they’re watching their team (especially with the expletives that follow a loss) but if you’re a fan of “the more, the merrier” mantra, inviting a few friends over can be a good idea. This is especially true if the game turns out to be a real snoozefest (think of the Flyers/Lightning 2011) and who knows, you may end up going out for a few beers afterwards.
Hockey Is THE Live Spectator Sport
In our opinion, nothing beats being at the Bell Centre (or Centre Ball if that’s how you roll) and watching the Habs push for the playoffs in real time. However, if for some reason you can’t make it to the stadium then watching from the comfort of your own home is undoubtedly the next best thing. As long as you stock up on snacks and surround yourself with good company, you’re sure to have a good time. Unless we lose.