The Vancouver Canucks 2016-17 season ends Sunday, and the franchise is thanking its fans for hanging in there through a losing campaign. Saturday’s game marks Fan Appreciation Night at Rogers Arena.
On April 8 at home against the Edmonton Oilers --- who are headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2006, just to rub it in --- the first 13,000 fans to arrive at the rink will receive their own goal light to take home. It fits in the bottom of a beer glass, so don’t spill your drink.
The goal-synched glass is actually plastic (safety first) and is the first of its kind handed out and used at an NHL arena. It builds on the technology of the popular at-home Budweiser merchandise that mimics hockey arena goal lights. Fans will need the Budweiser Red Light app to synch the goal light at Rogers Arena with the one shining inside their beer.
Fans 19 years and older will take home the glass. Younger fans not of legal drinking age will be given a bracelet, which also illuminates for Fan Appreciation Night. Before the puck drops, the hockey club hosts Party on the Plaza outside Rogers Arena from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with music, face-painting and games. Canucks alumni will be signing autographs.
I have a goal-synched glass of my own and feel most appreciated, fair-weather fan that I am. It also came with its own batteries, so I'll use those for my toothbrush --- but just over the summer. Fair-weather and eternally hopeful for sunshine, that's my fandom.
The Canucks scored 175 goals so far this season, good for second last in the Western Conference. Their goal differential of minus-56 isn’t as lowly as the basement-dwelling Colorado Avalanche with their painful, minus-109 differential.
When being not last is something to be proud of, fill your new beer glass and drink to a better 2017-18 season, Vancouver.
Twitter: @MHStewart
