Have you always wanted to come up north to see the Baby Preds play, but have never quite been able to pull the trip off?
The AHL released their schedule recently, and we can now make some recommendations on ways for you to get the most out of your hockey roadtrip to include some time with the Milwaukee Admirals.
A few thoughts about the schedule first. Per the request of the NHL, to try to help prevent players from breaking down, the AHL has removed four games from their workload. While the 3-games-in-3-days conditioning still remains, the AHL has also removed all 4-games-in-5-days stretches. Add that to making the season a week longer, and you’ve got a recipe for an Admirals schedule where 32 of their 38 home games fall on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. That’s good for business, and that’s good for travelers!
In addition, with the Admirals playing 18 road games against division rivals from nearby Chicago Rosemont (It’s next to O’Hare), Rockford, and Peoria, you are within a comfortable drive to catch the Admirals on the road as well.
Frontier Airlines has direct flights from Nashville to Milwaukee. And everyone flies into Chicago. If you’d rather drive, Mapquest calls it about a 9 and a half hour ride from Nashville.
After the jump, some suggestions for you, as you check your frequent flier miles and plan your hockey roadtrip.
1) Piggyback when the Preds travel to play the Blackhawks.
You could make a long weekend for yourself with a lot of hockey.
Friday October 28th: Admirals @ Chicago Wolves
Saturday October 29th: Grand Rapids Griffins @ Admirals
Sunday Octover 30th: Texas Stars @ Admirals
Monday October 31st: Predators @ Blackhawks
Or here’s another scenario. A doubleheader.
Tuesday January 24th: Admirals @ Peoria Rivermen — 10am start
Tuesday January 24th: Predator @ Blackhawks
Come spend some time here! Buy stuff! Eat at our restaurants! Visit the Miller Brewery! Visit the Bronze Fonz statue! Tell us we talk funny!
Maybe a weekend trip? Here are dates when the Admirals have home games on consecutive days on weekends.
Saturday and Sunday, October 29th and 30th.
Saturday and Sunday, November 12th and 13th.
Friday and Saturday, January 6th and 7th.
Saturday and Sunday, January 14th and 15th.
Friday and Saturday, March 2nd and 3rd.
3) When the Preds are on a long roadtrip, do the same!
By my count, the Preds have 10 weekends during the season where they don’t have at least one home game on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The majority of weekends only have one game scheduled, period. And there’s the gaping hole of games surrounding the NHL All-Star break at the end of January (The Ads have a home game and a game at Rockford that weekend)
4. Take advantage of 3-in-3’s in the region.
These are the dates of 3-games-in-3-days sets that have two Milwaukee home dates, and the one road game in Chicago Rosemont, Rockford, or Peoria. All of these are Fri-Sat-Sun.
October 28-30
December 9-11
December 16-18
January 6-8
January 13-15
February 24-26
March 23-25
5. Keep an eye out for the Promotional Schedule.
The team may book your favorite band to play a post-game concert, or maybe your favorite former Admiral/current Predator will be getting a bobblehead this year. The promo schedule should be released in the next couple of weeks.
So check your calendars, and maybe we’ll see you at the Bradley Center sometime this season.