Welcome to Part 3 of The Hockey News Toronto’s ranking of the media meals that are served around the NHL. This week, we move further down the rankings to look at the teams and venues
that ranked No. 9 through No. 16. Enjoy.
No. 16 Utah Mammoth
We have to cut Utah some slack since it’s their first year in the league and they don’t have a proper setup for hockey. They did provide a free voucher for $20 in concessions, which I used at Chick-fil-A. They had an upstairs area that provided coffee and snacks and elevated seating, which was really cool, but it was more fun to actually watch the game from the basketball media seating down low. We never sit this far down low, and you forget how fast the game is.
TikTok · David AlterCheck out David Alter’s video.No. 15 Tampa Bay Lightning
This is a pretty good meal for $8, and they have a traditional salad bar with several different protein options. They always have a serving station at the end of the line, and this time it was pasta. Among the places that serve us ice cream, Tampa is known for having one of the hardest to scoop. Not sure why that is. Up in the press box, they usually have some chips and some form of intermission snack.
No. 14 Anaheim Ducks
This by far was the most improved spot this season. They started accepting credit cards, which pleased me greatly since their arena isn’t in a city and it’s not easy to get cash. There wasn’t a lot of choice, but where they lacked in quantity, they certainly made up in quality. The BBQ chicken was full of flavor. The corn was delicious; I couldn’t get enough of it. They had pulled pork, but surprisingly, no buns were provided with it. I’m a pretty picky eater, so when everything is amazing, you have to rave about it.
TikTok · David Alter598 likes, 15 comments. “#media #meal in Anaheim for #Leafs vs #Ducks was quite delicious. Everything tasted good. Very happy.”No. 13 New York Rangers
The Rangers switched to a voucher system: a $25 credit for a suggested $10 donation. They actually told me they got this idea from the Leafs, but at MSG, your voucher unlocks a lot of options. I’ve done sushi or poke bowls. On my most recent visit, I went to the Carnegie Deli, and I was not disappointed. I loved it. I always tell people that New York is where my soul lives, and MSG is always a great time.
No. 12 Dallas Stars
Their media meal is good. But one thing Dallas does that no other NHL arena does is provide the media with a free morning skate breakfast. How cool is that? Bagels? Coffee? It’s a nice touch. I believe Tampa does do something similar, but not to this magnitude. Also, they are the first and only building in the NHL to offer Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar in the press box. This is one of my fave soft drinks these days. They also have all kinds of snacks and ice cream up in the press box. Fun vibes.
Ranking Every NHL Arena Media Meal (Part 2): Venues 17 to 24 RevealedWelcome back to the second part of our summer-long series ranking NHL media meals. With the schedule revealed this week, I've started booking road trips for the upcoming season, which is also making me hungry and excited for the media meals next season. This week, we count down the No. 17 through 24 media meals in the NHL.
No. 11 Nashville Predators
Nashville is interesting. Every time I’ve been to the building for a media meal, I have no idea what to expect, but I know there will be a lot of it. The snacks they have at the meal are unique. It's the only place I can ever recall having sour cola bottles. They cost $10, and they're delicious. The Preds don’t really have a traditional press box but instead an open space up top for us to work in. One section over is a room where we can get notes and additional snacks. They keep them coming, and I even had this Hunk A Pizza, which was delicious.
No. 10 New York Islanders
Ever since they opened UBS Arena in Elmont, the Islanders went from having one of the worst to one of the best media meals in the NHL. It can be pricey at $20 US, but I’ve been on some sort of list that allowed me to eat for free, which helps a ton. Decent hot dogs and snacks. Their meal room is in the press box. The protein is usually a high cut of meat, and a local Long Island dairy provides the ice cream for the building. They also have cookies, hot dogs, popcorn—you name it—a very traditional hockey experience.
Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)As I write this, I feel blessed that I get to travel as often as I do. And while on the road covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, I like to see what every city has to offer in terms of restaurants, amenities, etc.
No. 9 Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are known for one thing in their media meal: Pulled pork. It’s always at the very end of the food line of whatever they may be serving. But it’s really good, and it’s nice to know they have the option. They have other proteins, salads, and they serve Cheerwine on tap; it’s a cherry soda that is apparently widely available in the south. I had never heard of it until my first trip to Raleigh. It's decently priced at $11 and good quality.
So, which venue has the best media meal in the NHL? Find out next week when we reveal the Top eight venues.
(Top photo credit: David Alter on TikTok)
Mitch Marner's Return To Toronto And Other Key Dates As Maple Leafs Unveil Full 2025-26 NHL Regular Season ScheduleThe Toronto Maple Leafs unveiled their 2025-26 regular season schedule on Wednesday.
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