Here in Vancouver, when asked their plans, people don’t say, “I am going to watch game 7 of the group A Preliminary round of hockey.” Instead they say, “I’m going to hockey.” This is probably because a trip to the rink is less about who is playing and more about the overall experience. Sure, if given the choice, everyone wants to cheer for the home team, but with these prices, many people are thrilled just to be inside the stadium for an Olympic event.

Yesterday, I “went to hockey” and was happy to watch the US defeat Norway 6-1. I suppose the game was not even close by NHL standards, but the crowd danced during the intermissions, waved at the cameras, and stayed until the final buzzer in spite of the lopsided score. I suppose this “laissez faire” attitude may change during the medal rounds, but it was nice to be among people who went to the rink, hoping for a good game, and being satisfied with a good time.