ArenaBowl XVIII Adventure, Part I
Guest Writer
Wednesday July 7, 2004
Part 1 of 3
I almost didn`t go this year. I wanted to go, but had planned otherwise. Due to work restraints and some other key points of interest this year that I had planned on doing, the ArenaBowl became a second thought, something I thought I could `pass on` this time around.
After all, I had gone last year. The uniqueness of going would be duller this time around. The specter of never being able to say I had been to an ArenaBowl was gone now that I had attended ArenaBowl XVII in Tampa. I even tried to justify to myself that watching on television would be no different than being there first hand.
In truth, nothing could be further from reality.
Saturday, June 26
I awoke on Saturday tired with the mindset of doing some chores around the apartment that I`ve been putting off, and to prepare to head into town that night for a rare minor league baseball game at PNC Park. No, the Pirates weren`t playing Montreal. It was actually a regular season game between the Eastern League affiliate of the Pirates, the Altoona Curve, playing host to the Erie SeaWolves.
The game was set for 7:05 p.m. This is what I had planned to make up for me not going to the ArenaBowl. This, and a few other trips to smaller sporting events that were cheaper, and all generally one-day events easily accessible from Pittsburgh. Just the week prior I went to an NIFL game in Wheeling.
But, as morning turned to noon, the thought of going to the ArenaBowl crept in. I didn`t want to go because of how many complications could arise. I couldn`t miss work, since I hadn`t scheduled off. And where I work, doing that on Monday affects your pay as that, bar none, is the busiest day. The reason I declined going to the ArenaBowl at first was a change in my company`s policy regarding Monday absenteeism. Even a scheduled day off resulted in the loss of your commission for the entire month. The reason was, of course, because of so many people calling off Monday morning after a long weekend.
That policy has since changed so that if you request off, and are approved, you keep your commission. But it was Saturday; already too late to request off. Even had I said something Friday, it would`ve been too late.
So, I perused the Internet sites for airfare that would return me to Pittsburgh in time for work on Monday morning, but still be able to catch the entire game. After searching, I found on one such site; a round trip ticket for $437, that would depart at 7:15 p.m. in Pittsburgh today, and return to Pittsburgh at 10:30 a.m. on Monday morning. But, that was my dilemma; the return trip would be a few hours late for work.
I looked at ArenaFan and asked about tickets being available, hoping someone would answer in the next hour or so with regard to a possible single ticket in the lower bowl. To no avail. Finally, a response to check out Ticketmaster, as there were still upper-deck singles available.
I bought my ticket even before verifying my travel plans, or the cost for a hotel. Although, I knew I had my way into the ArenaBowl; Section 201, Row 11. I was in. With the Ticketmaster charges, it was still shy of $40. So the next test was airfare. I didn`t want to go with ATA for $437 because I would be late for work. So, I shopped around. Not only were the other quoted prices so far off from what I could sanely afford, they were beyond comprehension.
$1,000. $1,110. $1,400!
They were all unbelievably high. So, I returned to ATA`s website to buy my plane ticket. It was now just 4 hours before the flight was scheduled to depart Pittsburgh International Airport.
Now, as the time got closer, it was too late to order the ticket online, so I had to call the phone number on the website. I got through to a woman, and was told, with all surcharges and taxes, it`d be about $500. The final price was $512.
I now had my game ticket, and my plane ticket. I had three hours and some change left before the flight was to leave. I quickly called some friends up to let them know, also informing the people I was to meet at the Altoona-Erie game at PNC Park I wouldn`t be able to make it because I was flying to Phoenix and wouldn`t be back until Monday morning.
I called my parents to let them know. I then went online and informed a few ArenaFan members via IM, namely ArenaKen and derekhagen. I also let DestroyersFan know via email. I told all of them to keep it a secret. I was planning on surprising those in Phoenix still with Internet access.
I then started packing. I couldn`t afford to lose luggage, so I had to pack light enough to fit into a bookbag that I could carry on. Basically, the essential stuff. I left for the airport at around 4:45 p.m. I stopped at the ATM to get some emergency cash, and then cut across through Carnegie to bypass the Parkway West which was under construction and just generally backed up.
I got through past the construction areas and got onto the Parkway at the Robinson Town Centre exit and took it out to Pittsburgh International Airport. With traffic, I arrived about two hours before the flight was scheduled to depart. I had packed and put into the trunk my work clothes and shoes, as well as my work badge and ID so that it would be safe when I arrived Monday morning to head straight to work.
Parking at the airport was easy. I parked in the extended lot, which has no hourly rate. You just pay by the 24-hour increments. I arrived at the ticket counter with no one in front of me waiting for an ATA ticket. Quickly, I got my boarding passes for Pittsburgh to Chicago Midway and Chicago Midway to Phoenix. In both instances, I was scheduled for a window seat.
Being that this was my first flight ever, I wanted to have a window seat to watch from. I went through security, which was actually very quick and easy. Those who know what I look like, know that I tend to be first on the list for any extra scrutiny. I headed to the shuttle, which is the great thing inside Pittsburgh International. It`s a quick ride to take you at to the Airmall, which is the central hub to the four main terminals.
I`d been there a few times in the past before 9/11, and it was nothing like it was then. Before, you had it packed with people who were there simply to say goodbye to friends and loved ones. Now, it`s just those who are actually flying. I made the trek down Terminal A to my flight.
After waiting much longer than I anticipated—with going through security much quicker than I expected, we finally were given a chance to board. At around 7:00 p.m. I was on my first ever plane about to ready to taxi out for takeoff. My seat, I found out, was given to another person by the flight attendant. Not that I disliked the reason, it turns out there was an unattended minor flying and she wanted her in a window seat right near the front of the plane. Due to the PIT-CHI route being under booked, I easily got a window seat a few rows back.
Finally, the doors have closed, we`re taxiing to the runway, and it sets in. I`m actually going to the ArenaBowl in Phoenix. I`m actually taking my first ever flight. And, nobody in Phoenix knows I`m actually going to show up. My thoughts were quickly diverted as we made a quick 90° turn and the pilot immediately hit the throttle. We`re now accelerating and the markers on the ground are going faster and faster. This was it. Quickly, the plane tips up, and I watch as the Parkway passes below.
At this point, I consider the $552 or so I`ve paid for the trip to be well worth it, and I haven`t even left the Commonwealth yet. Finally, we`re traveling through clouds, and then we are above them and I watch as they quickly become farther and farther below us. Drinks are served once we reach cruising altitude. At the same time, I can see Lake Erie and the Geneva-on-the-Lake nuclear power plants. We were only at cruising speed for about 15 minutes when it`s announced we`re starting the descent to Chicago. After only 76 minutes, I`m back on the ground in the terminal at Chicago Midway.
It`s now just over 7:30 p.m. CDT and I`m waiting for the next connection. I made the stupid mistake of buying food at the airport—a calzone the size of a Hot Pocket and a drink for about $8. Definitely something I didn`t plan on repeating.
On the plane again, this time on my way to Phoenix, I have a ticket just behind the wing, right at the emergency exits. I didn`t care much, as I wanted to try to sleep a little bit. At this point, I still hadn`t decided whether I would get a hotel room or whether I`d just sleep in the terminal at the airport. We experienced some small turbulence, so it became a little more difficult to sleep. That coupled with my bad knee, and it made the final hour or so before descent rather mundane.
I could see Phoenix off to my side of the aircraft. It starts as a lit triangle that disappears into the horizon. As you get close, you can see the interstate leading to the east and another to the south. You can see the highway as it comes down the southeastern corner of the metropolis and the veers to the east. As we approach, it`s a little more difficult to stand. The intensity of the heat finally starts kicking in, especially as you leave the plane. Even though it`s a short walk into the air-conditioned terminal, the fact that it`s 97º at 10:51 p.m. signifies I`m no longer in `The North`.
The other reality sets in. I`m now in Phoenix, Arizona with no contact phone numbers for anyone, no map, or directions. No concept of where the arena is compared to hotels, or how much cab rides would be for this weekend. I check out the hotel board in the terminal. I knew that Fran (ArenaZone), who I`ve met at ArenaBowl XVII in Tampa as well as again when I went to a Philadelphia Soul game, was staying at Hotel San Carlos. However, there was no advertisement for them on the courtesy board.
So, I walked around a little bit, and tried to see if I could find a map of the city. I knew it`d be a four-plus mile walk from the airport to the arena. Which, depending on whether my knee wants to ache, would be anywhere from 50 minutes to two hours in the Phoenix night heat.
So, I finally stopped at the information booth at the airport and found a Phoenix visitor’s guide. After flipping through it I found an ad for Hotel San Carlos with a toll-free number. I dialed it and asked for Fran Stuchbury`s room. Of course, they started with the `we can`t give out room numbers` speech. It took a minute or two for the language barrier to be broken when he realized I wanted to speak with Fran, not get the room number he was in.
Sure enough, Fran had no clue who was on the phone. It basically went this way:
Syk: “Fran, hey. You know who I am. Remember Philadelphia, late February, Columbus at Philadelphia.”
Fran: “Huh?”
Syk: “S-Y-K-O-T-Y-K.”
Fran: “Oh, Sykotyk. Hey {my name here}. What`re you doing?”
Syk: “I`m at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.”
And that`s how I introduced myself. I do not usually say my screen name aloud, as saying “I am psychotic” tends to draw more attention than I need, especially in an airport terminal.
It was now approaching 11 o`clock local time. I took the initiative by Fran to book myself a room at Hotel San Carlos. I was informed of a cheaper rate for the night, and that it was where many of the fans were staying and easily within walking distance of the arena and Focaccia Fiorentina, which was just a few storefronts down. I took a taxi down at a cost of $12 to Hotel San Carlos and checked in.
After getting my key, I head up to Fran`s room to meet him and to see what there is to do on the late Saturday night before the ArenaBowl. We then head down to the pool on the 3rd floor to meet some ArenaFan members and other Rattler and SaberCat fans.
That`s where I finally got the meet the AF member who paid for my membership in 2003, natedawg330. Now, for those who have met both, natedawg330 and Jpreds look very similar. For a moment I thought Jpreds had somehow made it out for the game. Natedawg330 did call me `psycho-tyke` though. After hanging around the pool for an hour or so with some Smirnoff Ice, I headed down to my room to get some sleep.
Tomorrow, part 2 of 3
