Pensacola is a city in northwestern Florida with plenty of things to do and see. In addition to the many beaches and attractions in the area, the city is home to a professional hockey team that competes in the Southern Professional Hockey League. The Ice Flyers are the sole professional hockey team on the Emerald Coast, and their downtown location and family friendly on-ice entertainment offer a fun experience for fans of all ages.
The Ice Flyers were founded in 2009 and began play that season at the Pensacola Bay Center, which was previously home to the ECHL’s Ice Pilots from 1996 until their departure in 2008. The Ice Flyers are owned by Greg Harris and have four President’s Cup championships, tied for most in league history. Their home games have been described as an event, not just a hockey game and are some of the most attended in the SPHL.
The Pensacola Bay Center, affectionately nicknamed ‘The Hangar’, is the first thing you see when you arrive in downtown Pensacola. The 8,049-seat arena is a striking structure with a unique shape that gives it a distinctive look. There is one concourse in the building located on the second level and is designed in a wraparound style. This design means that only the west and north sides of the building offer views of the ice. The east and south sides feature concession stands and a team store.
While the Pensacola Ice Flyers are the main attraction at The Hangar, there are also numerous other events held throughout the year to appeal to a wide variety of audiences. These include wiener dog races, a fireworks show on the 4th of July, a Star Wars night, a Bushwackers game and multiple Military Appreciation nights. Single-game tickets for a Pensacola Ice Flyers game start at an affordable $17, and there are a range of season ticket plans available to fit all budgets and schedules.
Pensacola is also home to the National Naval Air Aviation Museum, a large museum on the city’s navy base that features numerous exhibits and over 150 vintage aircraft. This museum is well worth a visit and is also where the famous Blue Angels flight squadron are stationed for most of the year.
Youth Hockey
The city has six different levels of youth hockey competition, ranging from mini-mite to Adults. The youth league is affiliated with USA Hockey and opportunities are available to compete in local and out of town tournaments.
The Ice Flyers host 28 regular season home games at the Pensacola Bay Center beginning in October and ending in March. The games are a fun and entertaining experience that includes mid-game activities, giveaways, and family-friendly fun. The Ice Flyers are the 2013 & 2014 SPHL Presidents Cup champions and you won’t want to miss their next run for the title. You can get your tickets online or at the box office.