Del Mar Arena vs the Sports Arena

        Since joining the PASL in 2009, the San Diego Sockers have played in 2 different arenas.  The first three seasons were played at the Del Mar Arena at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the last season was played at the Valley View Casino Center (VVCC), formerly the Sports Arena.  Each arena has it's benefits and drawbacks, and I have had memorable moments at both venues.  Yet which arena was the best venue for the San Diego Sockers?

         The Sports Arena.  Obviously.  The Sports Arena is the historic home of the Sockers and it's where the Sockers belong.  First of all, Del Mar was, like the Equine Arena where the Harrisburg Heat play, a venue for horse shows and is not an ideal setting for an indoor arena.  Harrisburg actually has the old boards from the Del Mar Arena at their arena.  Secondly, the Del Mar arena was not completely enclosed like the Sports Arena.  Despite what many people think, it does get cold in San Diego, and Del Mar was a place where you had to dress in your winter gear to watch most of the games.  Thirdly, Del Mar charged $9.00 a game for parking and VVCC does not, enough said.  Because of the history of the team playing at VVCC, the fact that it is an actual enclosed arena providing protection from the elements, and the fact that parking at the VVCC is free, the VVCC is the best place in San Diego for the San Diego Sockers to play.

          But...there were some things that the Del Mar Arena had that were pretty cool that the VVCC doesn't have.  First of all, the Del Mar Arena was not completely enclosed, so on many days we were able to enjoy beautiful San Diego nights and wear our hardly used coats and winter gear that we all have stashed away in boxes.  Also, because it was a horse arena, around the boards there was field level seating for like 200 people or something, and sitting down around the field was awesome.  Sitting there gave fans a close up view of the game along with access to the players, allowing for plenty of autographs, pictures, and a quick chat after the game before the players went to sign autographs or to the showers.  I was also able to go out on the field with my son before and after the game and kick some soccer balls around.  The seats at Del Mar were relatively comfortable chairs of the patio furniture variety, and there was plenty of room to stand up, which I usually did for the whole game.  There was also room for my wife and I to bring our stroller, park it, and let my son run around.  Sitting around the field also gave us fans a chance to walk around and talk with each other during the game.  Now at the VVCC I have to wait until half time to make the journey around the arena to talk to Dan Ryan, The Zellers, Eddie, and "Cowboy" Salazar.  Yet there are some things that carried over from Del Mar, like I still see the 7th man frequently during games at the bathroom or in line for a beer, Melissa Meehan is still hustling around behind the scenes, and the Sockers GM "Coach" John Kentera, who is often walking around shaking hands and kissing babies in the hallway, is always down for a quick chat.

        The Del Mar Arena also, in my opinion, had better food and drinks.  Hunter's Steak House brought their Southwestern Grill Cart and made one of the best tri-tip sandwiches in San Diego, the other tri-tip sandwich being the EL Toro from Phil's BBQ, which is conveniently located next to VVCC.  There was also funnel cakes, a sausage cart, kettle corn, and a coffee cart that, according to my Indoor Outhouse Food and Drink Analyst Austin, "has the best hot chocolate."  I liked the beer selection at Del Mar, and I remember in the first year when they had a selection of local craft beers, and you could purchase a 32oz bottle of beer for 5 bucks.  The VVCC has the Players Lounge, which has awesome historic photos of all of the great things that have happened at the arena, but the drinks are way over priced.  Last time I bought a round of drinks I had to take out a loan with some lenders at the Valley View Casino.  On a more personal note, Del Mar was closer, and the drive for my family was along the beautiful Del Dios highway.  Driving along Del Dios allowed for us to stop in at Hernandez Hideaway and have a drink and some appetizers at the bar.  I also remember some of the best games the Sockers had at the Del Mar Arena, like Susi's overtime goal to beat the California Cougars, or Farber's overtime goal to beat the Anaheim Bolts, along with the championship game in 2010 against La Raza when Sean Bowers high fived me right after the buzzer and then I kissed my wife, and the 2012 championship game against Waza Flo when the WAZA goalie put up the "O" hands after blocking a penalty kick, and then Susi responded by posted the "O" hands after scoring on the Detroit keeper.

          The Sports Arena (VVCC) is the perfect place for the Sockers to play their home games in San Diego, and I am pleased that the GM John Kentera and the Sockers ownership made the move to the historic arena.  If the Sockers are going to grow their fan base, the VVCC is the place to do it, but those of us who enjoyed the Sockers at the Del Mar Arena for those three seasons took part in a special part of San Diego Sockers history that will never be forgotten.