Brooks: Excitement Level At An All-Time High In Lehigh Valley

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ALLENTOWN, Pa. - It won't be under completely 'normal' circumstances, but the Lehigh Valley Phantoms staff is plenty excited for the return of hockey - and to welcome back the team's fans at home games this season.

Phantoms' co-owner Jim Brooks, in a lengthy 1-on-1 interview with Inside AHL Hockey earlier this week, likened the mood and excitement level of their staff to the team's first season back in Pennsylvania and their preparations for that 2014-15 season - the first season in Lehigh Valley Phantoms franchise history.

"I can tell you that it was so exciting the day we were building ice here. And the excitement level is just through the roof here with our staff," Brooks said via phone earlier this week. "They are just so excited for the return of fans."

While the Phantoms were able to have a limited amount of fans at the tail end of last season, with Pennsylvania's COVID mitigation orders - and namely the capacity limitations for indoor venues - lifted on May 31st the organization will be able to host its fans in a much more closer to normal circumstance than they have been able to in the past 18 months.

"For us to welcome them back into our collective home here at the PPL Center is really, like, emotionally exciting for us. It's hard to contain the excitement that we have, and to get rolling here," the Phantoms' co-owner said. "It's basically the year of the return of fan, right? We're just thrilled to be heading in this direction."

Brooks explained that while we aren't quite back to the norm yet, we are certainly trending that way.

"It's exciting, because you're talking about, okay, how are we going to excite our fan base and our communities in a way that they haven't seen in a long time? And how can we make sure we do the best job we can to welcome them back. That part has been really fun to think about, almost what you dreamed about last year, because you knew you couldn't have it," Brooks said, adding, "And that's having our extended families - the fans - here that we celebrate the entertainment and game of hockey with."

While the upcoming season will no doubt come with its own set of challenges, Brooks said the excitement level of both his staff and the fanbase has really been at the forefront this summer as hockey season inches closer.

Some AHL teams, like the Syracuse Crunch, the AHL clubs in California and those in Canada, will be requiring fans over the age of 12 to be vaccinated in order to attend, the Phantoms will be following the state of Pennsylvania's guidelines to begin the upcoming season.

Fans won't be required to be vaccinated in order to attend games at the PPL Center this season. Those who aren't vaccinated will be required to wear a mask and mask-wearing in general will still be encouraged for all fans entering the PPL Center this season.

"We realize we're not experts. That's not our expertise. We need to follow the guidelines that are set forth for us," Brooks told Inside AHL Hockey. "We're going to follow all the state guidelines, and make sure everyone has the best experience that they can here. And we're going to do everything as safe as we can, and to make everyone feel comfortable."

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