The JMCs attended our first two Heartlanders home games this past weekend, a 1-1 split for Iowa in tight scoring games vs. Indy & K'zoo. Very impressed by the Xtream Arena layout and aesthetics (I'll post some photos once I get back home), and by the enthusiasm and friendliness of the team & arena staff. Tough weekend for drawing crowds, with a Hawkeyes home football game on campus and college basketball season plus high school football peaking. But the sports fans who did choose hockey were clearly enthusiastic, and the in-game entertainment staff showed they have a solid formula & knack for keeping fans engaged.
The only negatives from this hockey fan's perspective were parking related (arena location within the
Iowa River Landing mixed-use complex is still confusing to visitors & arena/team staff), and seating related (very narrow seats within the single bowl, and designated & sold ADA seating spots have been taken over by video camera equipment). Hopefully the team & Xtream can work out the workable kinks in those areas, before what I hope is the post-Christmas rush for more Iowa City area sports fans to become acqainted with the new game in town.