1 Day to Go!: Lets Go!
February 11, 2010
Work is done...packing is done....lets go!!
Read more...
Showing posts with label Planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Planning. Show all posts
4 Days to GO: Light at the End of the Tunnel
February 8, 2010
Only 4 Days to go, and we’re making good progress on getting ready. A couple of weeks ago I sat down and put together a ‘to-do’ list…and I’m happy to say that I’m now at 11/14 tasks completed. Only things left to do are:
- Finish up the ‘Trip-Binders’…aka collection of directions, confirmation sheets, printed tickets etc.
- Get Jen/Beth pre-checked in for their flights
- Get our damn jerseys back from the Hockey Hall of Fame
Work I think will be OK as well. There is still a lot to do, but I THINK I’m going to be able to get it all done on time. In some ways, this big push from work has made this trip just as much about having a vacation as it is about sports/adventure. I’m going to be very relieved when I step onto the plane Friday Morning!
I wish I was posting more right now, there really is a lot going on out there...athletes arriving, final venue setup, leaks about the opening ceremonies...but there has just been no time!! Read more...
OK, Bring on the Games!
February 3, 2010
I've been procrastinating any Olympic planning over the last couple weeks due to the dreaded activity known as "moving." Andrea and I moved into a new place on Sunday, and I'll admit, after all the moving was done, the new place is pretty badass:
- awesome view of downtown Calgary? check.
- huge balcony (30' wide!)? check.
- huge kitchen? check.
- space for all our crap? check.
Space is the new black.
Now that moving is done I'm stoked to get to Vancouver! Andrea and I are driving out on the morning of the 12th, leaving from cowtown at 4AM, stopping in Golden for breakfast, maybe Kamloops for lunch, and hopefully arriving in downtown Vancouver (via Skytrain, parking in Langley) just in time for opening ceremonies... although we're sketchy that we'll actually make it on time (weather, traffic, bad lunchtime service in Kamloops). It will be tight. But we will get there, and be able to enjoy the games in all their glory! Wooo Hooo bring on Van2010!
-Ben
Read more...
10 Days to Go!!
February 2, 2010
Boy am I glad that I was such a nerd and did so much of the planning and organization for this well in advance! Its crazy how quickly it sneaks up on you, and combined with how busy I am at work, I just haven't had a chance to really do much organization or planning over the last little bit!
Overall, I'm getting very excited...but I'm trying to 'postpone' getting really pumped until at least this weekend. I think that if I started really 'getting into the mood' right now, I'd start getting overwhelmed by the feeling, and that wouldn't be good for my productivity!
Soon though, soon!
Vancouver 2010 Olympics Free Events Guide
January 26, 2010
If you're looking for a good list of the seemingly limitless free events associated with the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, I suggest you head over to CityCaucus.com
Their listing is the most complete that I've come across to date. I'm personally looking forward to the Irish House, Laser Show and Vectoral Vancouver the most...but hopefully I'll be able to get to most of these things.
Link Here
The page can also be followed on Twitter @CityCaucus
Three Weeks to Go!
January 22, 2010
At this time three weeks from now, I’ll be on a plane from Toronto to Vancouver!
As much as we have all the ‘big’ planning out of the way, its starting to dawn on me just how many little small things there are to still take care of before the games. Gotta get our Jersey’s crested, pick up a Canadian flag, verify this, look into that, print off this.
It’s going to keep me busy right up until I leave!
Google Calendar
January 19, 2010
So it might look a little messy when I cram everything into one embed, but over the last little while I've assembled a collection of Google Calendars for the Vancouver 2010 Games. These Calendars provide the schedules and start times for all events...either sepately or together!
If you think you might be able to find a use for them, feel free to steal...
Also, don't forget to check out my Google Earth venue map, which can be found here.
Read more...
One Month to Go!!
January 13, 2010
Starting to look like the Olympics might be coming to town...
It’s hard to believe that, as of yesterday, there is only one more month to go before the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics! I still remember watching the announcement that Vancouver had won the games way back in 2003….but fast forward 7 years, and they are almost a reality…wow…
With 30 Days to go, we’re essentially ready to go. Oh sure, there are the minor things…a couple tickets to still sell back, double check this reservation, remember to pack that, but we’re 95% of the way there. It’s all fine-tuning from here until I step on the plane February 12th!
From what I’ve been able to surmise from pictures, it really looks like the ‘Olympic Makeover’ is in full-swing in Vancouver. I suggest you swing on over to Gamesbids.com, where there is a good thread on “The Look of the Games”
The big thing for me over the next month will be to now find a way to mentally switch from ‘planning’ mode to ‘excited’ mode. I’ve been so involved with planning this all out over the last year and a half, that through the process it almost feels like the actual event is really never going to happen. The planning and preparation becomes the event itself, and you lose sight of the fact that at the end of it all there is a kick-ass trip planned… When you start planning to go a year-and-a-half before the event, you always thing of the Games as being way off in the future, and I just need to realize that things aren’t that far away anymore!!
I’m not sure if that makes sense….but it’s about turning the line on a spreadsheet that says ‘Men’s Hockey – CAN v. USA’ into…HOLY CRAP I’M SEEING TEAM CANADA….at the Olympics….On Home Soil…From the 10th Row…
I guess I've just watched the promotional videos one too many times to get really pumped up by them anymore:) I guess I'll just have to upgrade to the real thing! I know that when I step on that plane February 12th, I'll be ready and rarin' to go! Read more...
Google Calendar
January 11, 2010
So I've been sitting on this one for a little while, but I've finally been able to tweak the embed code enough to get our Google Calendars up here. This has been a super helpful tool along the way, in terms of scheduling out out time when we're in Vancouver! Wouldn't want to buy tickets for something that conflicts with something we already have.
There are two separate calendars at work here...the GREEN 'Our Events' calendar covers those events that at least one of us will be attending .The RED 'All Events' covers the rest!
I've updated the 'Our Tickets' page to include this as well!
Google Earth
December 2, 2009
So those that know me, know that I have a problem with being a bit of an organizational nerd. Need evidence of that fact? I present this blog as ‘Exhibit A’
Anyways, continuing in that vein, over the last little while I have been slowly assembling a Google Earth .kmz file on the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. Almost all of this was put together by me, except for the Vancouver Transit Plan, which I lifted from the web (can’t find the source now…)
For the uninitiated, a .kmz file is a collection of placemarks, overlays, paths etc. that can be downloaded and imported into Google Earth.
BC Place in all its Google Earth Glory...I’ve been able to compile quite the list of information really, including:
- Venues
- Celebration Sites
- National Houses
- 2010 Transportation Plans
- Media Locations
- Various Attractions
It’s a really good reference for seeing where everything is in relation to each other. I'll hopefully keep this updated as I find out more information....so check back every once in a while for the latest verson Read more...
One Year Anniversary
November 28, 2009
Hard to believe that its been an entire year since I first started blogging our trip. When we first started talking about doing this trip last summer, February 2010 seemed forever away.
Now the Opening Ceremonies are less than 3 months away. I'm so pumped.
Over the last year, we've accomplished alot. With that in mind, allow me to take you down memory road, and look back on the year that was.
_________________________________________________________________________
Blog Opening
Sumbittal of Phase I ticket Requests
December '08
First Credit Card Charges
Phase I Tickets Lottery Results
Phase I Exclusive Access Period
January '09
Sorted Out Phase I Money
February '09
VANOC Modifies Olympic Hockey Schedule
One Year to the Games
March '09
Booked the YWCA Hotel
April '09
Booked Our Flights
Added CAN-SWE Women's Hockey Game
May '09
Prepped for Phase II
June '09
Phase II Ticket Sales
Ticket Designs and Official Poster Unveiled
July '09
Curling Draw Announced
Purchased Official Poster
August '09
Team Canada Olympic Orientation Camp
September '09
Visited SLC while on work trip
Got Hockey Jersey/Other Gear for Birthday
October '09
Beth and Jen added to Trip
Olympic Flame Lit in Greece
Seat Assignment Results
Medals Unveiled
Official Olympic Cloting Line Unveiled
November '09
Booked Flights/Hotels for Jen and Beth
Phase III Tickets
Coal Harbour Olympic Rings Unveiled
100 Days to Go Mark
'Road to the Roar' Trials
Booked Aava Hotel in Whistler
_________________________________________________________________________
As you can see, both by the above list and the number of posts for November, this blog has gotten alot more active over the last six weeks or so. I expect that trend to only intensify as we keep getting closer-and-closer to the games.
76 More Days.....
Whistler Here We Come!
November 17, 2009
I don’t know how we keep doing it, but we keep lucking out.
The latest episode…finding a hotel in Whistler for one night, and at a reasonable price. This late in the game, it’s a miracle to find ANY availability, let alone what we were able to turn up.
Via Travelocity, I was able to get us one night at the Aava Whistler Hotel for the somewhat reasonable price of $260 + tax. That’s still a lot, but considering I was only able to find 2 other rooms, and they were $550 and $650 respectively…I’ll take it and run!
Now it’s 100% that we will be going up on the 23rd, see the bobsled, have a few drinks, stay over, before snowboarding/skiing on the 24th! I can’t wait to just get into Whistler at all, let alone have a chance to get up on the mountain and see bobsled. Just another one of the million things that I’m looking forward to!
Beth says this picture gives her the tinglys!The best part about this hotel find is that its right in the middle of everything….just like the YWCA is in Vancouver.
Whistler has 6 different Live! Sites going on during the games. Activities are as follows:
Village Common
• Whistler Live! studio headquarters
• Interviews & commentary
• Digital media arts
• 360-degree viewable studio
Skiers Plaza
• CTV sport broadcast
• Nightly Fire & Ice
• DJs
• Street performers
• Mountain canvas art show
Mountain Square
• CTV sport broadcast studio
• 22 hours/day
Village Square
• CTV sport broadcast
• Live music
• Digital arts
• Street performers
Town Plaza
• CTV sport broadcast
• Live music
• Digital arts
• Street performers
Whistler Medals Plaza
• Nightly Victory Ceremonies including national & international headlining concerts
• Paralympic Closing Ceremonies
Mapped out below, you can see how close we are to the action:
Read more...
Phase III Tickets - Lucky!
November 15, 2009
So, yesterday VANOC pulled off a delayed Phase III sell-off. As with Phase II, I must have a horseshoe and rabbits foot stuffed somewhere I don't know about, as we totally lucked out.
Although it wasn't the <5 Mins entry of Phase II, one of my multiple browsers hit about 20 minutes in. Thats pretty good as there are multiple stories of people not getting in for upwards of 6 hours, by which time things were mighty picked over. When I tried to get back in after the initial entry, it took me almost three hours to repeat.
I think that given the problems of last week, maybe VANOC wasn't letting as many people onto the site as they were even at the start of Phase III.
Anyways, onto the heart of the matter...what we got. With Jen and Beth on their way out there, the priority was to get them tickets to some of the events that Pam and I already have tickets for. We managed quite well:
VC008 - 2 GA - Day 10 Victory Ceremony
CU019 - 4 A - Men's Curling (CAN v. USA)
IH046 - 2 A - Women's Gold Medal Hockey
CU031 - 2 A - Women's Gold Medal Curling
SB006 - 2 A - Men's Parallel Giant Slalom Snowboarding
FS010 - 2 C - Figure Skating Gala
As mentioned, most of those are for Jen and Beth, with the exception of the two extra tickets to the CU019 session, which are for Pam and I. As with Phase II, the abundance of good tickets means that we went a little over the budget that was planned, so we'll work that out.
I think we totally lucked out, getting 'Prime' events such as the Figure Skating Gala and the Women's Gold Medal Hockey. This allotment now means that they now have events or plans on every day of their trip....not bad considering we just started putting stuff together for them a couple of weeks ago.
The only thing to do now...to make it complete...its to get two more tickets to the Bobsled Pam and I have up in Whistler, and maybe tickets to the next day's Whistler Victory Ceremony. Hopefully we'll be able to pick those up on the 'Fan Marketplace'...
Phase III - Whoops!
November 9, 2009
So, Saturday was intended as the start of the Phase III Ticket period…..
We (Jen, Beth and I) were all set...Jen had swung over to the condo, we had two laptops all ready, multiple browsers...the whole she-bang. Of course, it was all for naught, as VANOC and Tickets.com screwed the whole thing up. According to the post-fiasco press release:
Tickets.com, the Official ticket service provider for Vancouver 2010, experienced difficulties with the configuration between the virtual waiting room and the ticketing transaction site.In other words, they didn’t get the virtual waiting room up….so everyone went right to the site...crashing the whole thing. Not sure how many people tried to get on Saturday, but I know that when Phase II was opening up, the website was getting 1500 hits/second. That’s a whole lot of web traffic…..anyways, apparently about 300 tickets were sold via the call-centre, but they’re going to be replaced from the sponsor/media pool of tickets….so at least no tickets were stolen out from under us.
At one point, we were able to get into a broken down version of the site and at least see what was available. There should be some good tickets if we can get to them, I noticed that the USA-CAN Men’s Hockey Game, the Figure Skating Gala and the CAN-USA Curling were all available. I’m sure there are more ‘good’ events as well, that’s only what I remember.
Anyways, as a result of everything, Phase III has been pushed back to this upcoming Saturday, when we’ll give it another shot. Read more...
Beth and Jen - More Flights, More Trains, More Hotels
November 3, 2009
So….I remember a magical time……one of unicorns and lollipops and cotton candy clouds….a land where I had already sorted out all the flights and hotels and transportation and tickets for this trip……oh, it was ever so grand…
Well the dream died last night…. Thanks a lot Jen and Beth! Jerks….the both of you….
With Jen having officially gotten the time off work, it was time to start booking things for her and Beth!
In order to keep things cost efficient, Jen and Beth are going to be doing the ‘roundabout’ Buffalo-->Seattlle-->Vancouver route. It certainly takes longer than flying direct from Toronto to Vancouver, but it’s also a whole heck of a lot less expensive.
Anyways, here are the details….
Coming In
Saturday, February 20th
Fly from Buffalo to Seattle, via Chicago
Depart 4:05 PM, Arrive 9:48
Spend the night in Seattle
Sunday, Feburary 21st
Take the train from Seattle to Vancouver
Depart 7:40 AM, Arrive 11:40 AM
Going Home
Sunday, February 28th
Take the train from Vancouver to Seattle
Depart 7:45 PM, Arrive 12:10 AM
Monday, March 1st
Fly from Seattle to Buffalo, via Philidelphia
Depart 8:45 AM, Arrive 9:43 PM
All told, we were able to get them there and back for about $450…which is a little less than half of what Pam and I are paying to fly direct….so there are significant savings. We still have more details to work out, like 100% if they are going to stay at the YWCA, a hotel for Seattle, and more tickets….but all in good time….
Welcome Aboard!
October 29, 2009
It’s been in the works for a little while now, as you can see from Beth’s posts….but I’d like to give an ‘official’ welcome to Beth and Jen on our little trip!
They’ll be coming out starting the 21st, and staying through the end of the games more or less. Tickets and flights are still to be sorted out, as is really lodging…but we’ll find a way…
I’m also glad to actually have other posters on the blog as well…makes my nerdiness somewhat less apparent when I’m not the only one…
Seat Assignment!
October 26, 2009
So the day has finally arrived…..our seats have been assigned! The presentation below gives an overview of where all our tickets have landed.
The presentation includes the tickets we picked up for Holly/Kingston, and we're still waiting on the ticket placements for the ones we got from 'other' sources (Stubhub, Ms. Kauk)
The biggest thing we’ve noticed is how much our ‘A’ level tickets have been pushed to the end of the rink. Almost without fail, these are either right behind the net, or at best, in the corner. I suppose it was to be expected, sponsors and media getting all the ‘prime’ seats, but it’s still a little annoying that the best seats didn’t seem to make it to the public.
Now that we have our assigned places, we can better establish which tickets we’re going to sell for events where we have the choice. I think in general we’re going to sell the better seats, and keep the crappier ones. For example, for the USA-NOR and USA-SWI games, we’ll sell the lower bowl tickets behind the net, and sit in the upper bowl in the corner. Although we’re giving up the better seats, we’re also gonna be able to sell them for more.
I think overall, our ‘best’ assignment was for the Long Track Team Pursuit Finals at the Richmond Olympic Oval, where Pam and I have the 4th row, in between turns 1 and 2. However, since there is an aisle near our seats, that’s actually the 2nd row. Should be right on top of the action!
Updated as tickets change...
Ticketing Recap
June 9, 2009
With Phase II over, we're probably now about 95% done all of the planning for this shin-dig. We have the tickets, we have the hotels, we have the flights....we're pretty much good to go!
I thought given the addition of the Phase II tickets, I'd recap what we've got so far in terms of tickets. This list is only for Pam and I as Ben and Andrea have a slightly different lineup. How much does Day 10 Rock:
Day 1 - Nothing (Arrive, Opening Ceremonies)
Day 2 - Women's Hockey - Canada v. Slovakia - Lower Bowl
Day 3 - Men's Moguls - B Level
Day 4 - Men's Snowboard Cross - B Level
Day 5 - Men's Hockey - USA v. Switzerland - Upper Bowl
Day 5 - Men's Hockey - Canada v. Norway - Upper Bowl
Day 6 - Women's Hockey - Canada v. Sweden - Upper Bowl
Day 7 - Men's Hockey - USA v. Norway - Upper Bowl
Day 7 - Men's Hockey - Canada v. Switzerland - Lower Bowl
Day 8 - Women's Curling - A Level
Day 9 - Short Track Speed Skating - W 1500m/M 1000m - Lower Bowl
Day 10 - Men's Hockey - Russia v. Czech R. - Lower Bowl
Day 10 - Men's Hockey - Canada v. USA - Lower Bowl
Day 10 - Vancouver Victory Ceremony
Day 11 - Men's Curling - A Level
Day 11 - Women's Curling - A Level
Day 12 - Women's Bobseld - B Level
Day 13 - Nothing
Day 14 - Women's Hockey - GOLD MEDAL GAME - Upper Bowl
Day 15 - Women's Curling - GOLD MEDAL GAME - A Level
Day 16 - Men's Curling - GOLD MEDAL GAME - A Level
Day 16 - Long Track Speed Skating - Team Pursuit
Day 17 - Nothing (Men's Gold Medal Hockey Game)
Phase II Tickets - Holy Crap
Well the Phase II ticket sale was on Saturday....and holy crap did we make out like bandits!!
Going in, I'd really hoped for just one or two new events, just to fill out the schedule a little bit.
Somehow we were able to get all 3 accounts (Ben, Scott, Pam) signed in within about the first 15 minutes. Ben got in almost right away, not even being put into the Virtual Waiting Room. I was able to get in about 5 minutes into the process, and once Ben was done getting his tickets, he was able to get in with Pam's account too. I've heard of people waiting up to an hour to get in, so the fact we got in 3 times in the first 15 minutes is insane!
As a result, we went waaaayyyy over what I'd been expecting to spend. I'd estimated that we'd drop about $500 each MAX. However, when it was all said and done, we were up to $4162.
Well what did we get for all that money? Check it out:
Boo-YA!
A careful read of that list will show that not only did we get a crapload of tickets, but the ones we got were 'effin amazing:
- Men's Halfpipe for Ben and Andrea?....CHECK!
- Women's GOLD MEDAL HOCKEY for Pam and I?...CHECK
- BOTH Gold Medal Curling Games?.....CHECK!
- All 3 Canada Men's Prelim Hockey Games?....CHECK!
Effing Eh! Read more...
Phase II Tickets - Final Prep
June 5, 2009
Tickets go on sale tomorrow. Yesterday VANOC announced that they had come up with about 50,000 more tickets, bringing the total to about 200,000. I think things are gonna be really busy tomorrow, so I'm still thinking that getting tickets to even 2 more events would be a HUGE win.
As a result of discussions with the crew, and the fact that Ben and Andrea are now occupied on Day 2, I've revised our plan of attack. I'm still waiting to hear from Pam on what she'd want to do re: the Men's Gold Medal Game if by some miracle its there (Cause I'm Torn) but otherwise, this is the list we'll be using tomorrow:
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