Thrifty Options for the Poughkeepsie Sports Fan
We are approaching a transition time in the sporting schedule leaving limited options for the avid Poughkeepsie sports fans.
College basketball is entering tournament season; therefore, local teams are heading to bigger venues. The Marist Red Foxes’ basketball teams head to Albany this weekend for the MAAC Championships, while Vassar College’s teams have already played their final games. This past weekend may have felt like baseball weather, but the Hudson Valley Renegades are a long ways away from being in season. Even the Mets and the Yankees are only just beginning spring training. Local college hockey season is over, too.
What now?
For the Poughkeepsie fanatic looking for a place to go and cheer their heart out, the primary outlet is likely Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Rangers and the New York Knicks. Tickets to this Saturday’s Ranger game against the Montreal Canadiens cost $120 on StubHub for just one seat. The cheapest pair of tickets comes in at $140 per seat, excluding online purchasing fees and transportation.
Amtrak tickets to Madison Square Garden will run you $27 per seat. Don’t want to buy train tickets? Then be prepared to fork over $40 dollars for garage parking plus toll fares on the drive down.
Knicks tickets for Sunday’s game against the Golden State Warriors? $230 gets you the cheapest seat in the house. New York City is a little pricey.
Tickets for Brooklyn events at the Barclays Center are more affordable, but you’ll have to ride the subway for a half hour after arriving at Penn Station. If you are going to spend half an hour on a New York City subway, you probably want something a little more uplifting than the Brooklyn Nets on the other side of the tunnel.
Although Dutchess County is not exactly a professional sports hotbed, there are some options that present a high-quality performance while not breaking the bank. Here’s some of your options…
- The National Women’s Hockey League
Looking for a pro hockey game on the cheap? The NWHL provides an entertaining product at a low cost. The New York Riveters are based at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
While the trek to another state may be a bit of a hike for some, the entertainment value is well worth the trip. The New York Riveters have locked up second place in the NWHL’s standings, and have developed unique and fierce rivalries with each of the other three teams in the league.
Crowds at the Prudential Center’s RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House rink are not only large, but they are also very loud. Riveters players comprised half of last season’s top 10 jersey sales list. Their current star, and current league leader in jersey sales, is Amanda Kessel, Olympic standout and sister of Pittsburgh Penguin Phil Kessel.
Matt McNamara, Hopewell Junction resident, was in attendance for the Riveters’ contest against the Connecticut Whales, where New York staged the biggest comeback in league history. Down 5–1, the Riveters tallied five unanswered goals to win in overtime.
“It’s everything I could have wanted out of a hockey game,” McNamara said. “I would definitely go back.”
After the game, players make their way to the lobby to meet with fans and sign autographs. Forward Rebecca Russo threw open the doors to the lobby and shouted, “What a game, eh!” After being met with raucous applause, Russo thanked the crowd, as did many of the 15 players at the postgame autograph table.
“You guys were awesome,” Russo beamed.
“Incredible,” teammate Lauren Wash echoed. “Our fans always show up and get loud, it’s incredible to play for them.”
Tickets for the Riveters’ home game on March 12 are $20 per seat. Given how close fans are to the action, how competitive the games are, and how accessible players are, fans get a great bang for their buck.
“I can’t say enough about how marketable these women are,” said Mike Murphy, SB Nation beat writer. “They’re still warm and friendly, whether it’s a win or a 7–1 loss.”
Murphy stated that player visibility and game affordability added to the league’s “allure.”
Jake Duhaime, Director of Media Relations, said that last season, New York state had the highest subscription rate to the league’s newsletter. Hockey fans, he said, are the least swayed by gender.
Ticket information can be found at NWHL.zone.
2. Westchester Knicks basketball
The Knicks’ D-League team is based in White Plains, with games held at the Westchester County Center. Westchester Knicks games are dirt cheap, starting at about $10 per ticket.
The Westchester County Center is a multi-purpose event arena. The outside lobby and seating arrangements resemble that of a stage theater more than a sports complex. Given the price, floor seats may seem enticing; however, the cheaper seats actually have the best view. At floor level, the seats are only marginally tiered and offer a tunnel-vision-type view of the game. In the open air of the balcony, fans have clearer access to the concourse for food and drinks, and a better vantage point to take in all of the game.
The drive is just over an hour from Poughkeepsie, but parking is free and even concessions (mostly Nathan’s products) are a fairly cheap price.
From giveaways on “Freebie Fridays” to half-court shooting mascots, minor leagues are geared towards fun at any level. Several NBA players, including collegiate legend Jimmer Fredette, Langston Galloway and current Knicks Ron Baker and Marshall Plumlee, have come through Westchester.
“There are some real players down there,” Craig Silverstein, MSG Networks Director of On-Air Promotion, said. “They do make it interesting; I’ll give them that.”
Like NWHL games, individual fans can enjoy a competitive game at a professional level, while large groups or organizations with children can enjoy an evening out with an entertaining game and family-friendly atmosphere.
While the Westchester Knicks do have a small, but loyal core of White Plains fans, the team relies heavily on groups venturing in from out of town looking for a professional game. With tickets almost always available in clumps, a family outing is a viable option.
More information on Westchester Knicks tickets can be found on Ticketmaster.
3. American Hockey League minor-league hockey
The New York Rangers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils all have their minor league teams relatively equidistant from Poughkeepsie.
The Hartford Wolfpack, affiliate of the New York Rangers, are the furthest away with a an hour 40 minute drive. Tickets start at $20, with children’s tickets at $10. Given the length of the drive and their current last place ranking, only die-hard Ranger fans should consider making the trip.
The Albany Devils, affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, are closest, roughly an hour and 20 minutes from Poughkeepsie. Tickets start at $19. The Devils have a 90’s themed throwback night on March 25.
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers, affiliate of the New York Islanders, are an hour and a half drive from Poughkeepsie. Next Tuesday’s game against the Providence Bruins will not only be a battle between two of the top teams in the league, but also $1 hot dog and $5 beer night with tickets starting at just $20. Their game on March 18th is “Pucks and Paws” night, where fans bring their dogs to the game night. It surely won’t be able to top their “Frozen Night,” though.
The Sound Tigers have considerably more promotions up ahead in March, including a Power Rangers night, a magic night with a trading card giveaway, “Pucks and Paws” night and a bobblehead giveaway of Casey Cizikas, Bridgeport alum and current Islander.
Ticket information for each team can be found at TheAHL.com.
4. Monster Jam
A little thing about me. I collect sports jerseys. I have more Chik-Fil-A Cow Calendars than I would care to admit.
And I absolutely love monster trucks. They were my jam as a kid (pun fully intended). They’re big, they do cool tricks, go fast and crush stuff. Plus, they have awesome painted designs and are eardrum-piercingly loud. How can kids not absolutely love them?
I collected everything Monster Jam as a kid. I have almost every Hot Wheels monster truck die-cast ever made. I watched every event on the Speed Racing Network. I went to live rallies at the Nassau Coliseum and on one occasion met the drivers at a “Pit Party.” It was one of the coolest days of my childhood.
So I can’t help but get nostalgic when I see the Monster Jam tour is stopping by Bridgeport this weekend. Tickets start at $22. Their next stop is in April at the Nassau Coliseum.
If you’re an auto-racing person and not a team-sport person, this is absolutely your kind of fun. If you have small children, bring them. It’s an entertaining show. It’s loud, dirty and just so dang cool.
Tickets can be purchased here.
