Here is palatial Scotiabank Place, home of the Ottawa Senators and, unfortunately, the scene of a rather spectacular accident on Wednesday night in the upper deck. As the Sens toiled against the Atlanta Thrashers below, a gentleman was lugging beers to his seat when he stumbled and went a-sailin' clean over the railing in the third deck. The good news is that, except for some lacerations, the guy is fine. He landed on three fat people (I'm assuming) — one of whom sustained a minor neck injury — whom all seem to be relatively OK as well.
That no one was seriously hurt is rather surprising, considering the following account:
According to witnesses, the man sailed headfirst past and over a few stunned onlookers in the rows ahead of his seat before clearing the low railing at the bottom of the third level and falling onto a row of seats in the level immediately below.
Senators president and CEO Roy Mlakar said the man was carrying two beers when he stumbled over a purse.
Scociabank Place fun facts:
• The first event hosted there, in 1996 when it was called The Palladium, was not a hockey game. It was a Bryan Adams concert.
• The arena hosted the largest crowd ever to attend a Canadian Hockey League game — 20,081 — in Dec. 2004 when the Kingston Frontenacs beat the Ottawa 67's .
• Tickets still available for Canada vs. USA in the IIHF World Junior Championships on New Year's Eve.
• It rather looks like the Palace at Auburn Hills, wouldn't you say?
Oh, and the Senators won one for Falling Beer Guy, beating the Thrashers on Wednesday 5-1.
Man Falls From Upper Deck At Sens Game [NBCSports]