AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com
Francine Fourner is organizing a reunion of former ECW talent at the ECW Arena on June 27 in order to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Over 30 “Legends Of The Arena” will participate in truly one nostalgic night for the ages at the world famous Arena in an event designed to benefit the American Cancer Society. Fournier is organizing this benefit show due to the fact that two members of her family recently died as the result of cancer.
On the card for Saturday June 27th are Arena legends:
More legends to be announced, plus much much more…
Legends Of The Arena pricing:
Super Tickets pricing $250, includes an all day Fan Fest starting at 1:00 pm, includes wrestling card, and the following items:
General Admission seating pricing $50; includes:
Donations to benefit American Cancer Society.
Tickets go on sale Monday, March 9 at 5:00PM. For more info checkout our website
Then, more updates on this March’s CHIKARA King of Trios 2009 tournament taking place at the ECW Arena from March 27-March 29.
All 16 trios in the tournament will be in matches on the tournament’s first night, Friday, March 27th. The surviving eight teams advance to Saturday, March 28th, with the semi-finalists moving on to Sunday, March 29. There will also be non-tournament matches featuring wrestlers eliminated from King of Trios on March 28 and 29th, as well as other matches, two of which are announced in this update
Tickets
Tickets for King of Trios 2009 are now on on sale. Front Row seating is already SOLD OUT. General Admission is $15. Kids age 12 and under admitted for just $5.
Tickets are available online at the CHIKARA’s US online store, CHIKARA CHIKARA online store, or at CHIKARA events.
Teams
Teams announced thus far:
Match pairings
CHIKARA King of Trios 2009: Night 1??
March 28, 2009 ~ The Arena, Philadelphia, PA
1. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
2. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
3. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
4. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
5. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
6. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
7. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
8. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
CHIKARA King of Trios 2009: Night 2??
March 28, 2009 ~ The Arena, Philadelphia, PA
1. Inter Species Wrestling (Montreal) Offer Match ~ ISW Title Match: Player Uno [c] vs. Twiggy
2. Lethal Wrestling Alliance (Missouri): The Submission Squad of Pierre Abernathy and Evan Gelistico vs. Davey Vega and Gary the Barn Owl
3. King of Trios 2009 ~ Quarter Final Match
4. King of Trios 2009 ~ Quarter Final Match
5. King of Trios 2009 ~ Quarter Final Match
6. King of Trios 2009 ~ Quarter Final Match
CHIKARA Fan Conclave:
The second annual CHIKARA Fan Conclave will be taking place on Saturday, March 28th from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM at The Arena in South Philadelphia, PA. Autograph sessions with both the tecnicos and rudos of the King of Trios tournament will be available, as well as an in-ring exhibition starring the fans, a promo station where you can film your very own promo in front of the CHIKARA banner with your favorite CHIKARA wrestler, the deadly game of Rock Band with the stars and much more! Tickets are only $6.
Directions
Directions from I-95 north (New York/New England/Central New Jersey)
– Take 95 South to Exit 19 (Front Street exit)
– Make left at light (Front Street)
– Go to next light (Oregon Avenue) make right
– Go under 95 underpass and make first left (Swanson Street)
– Follow Swanson Street 3 blocks to Ritner Street
– Make left at Ritner.ECW Arena is on the corner of Ritner and Swanson
Directions from I-95 south (Delaware/Maryland)
– Take I-95 North to Exit 20 (Washington Avenue)
– Make right at light (Columbus Boulevard) (Staples is on the right side)
– Stay on Columbus to fourthh light which is Snyder Avenue and make right (Bank of America is on corner)
– Go to second stop sign (Swanson Street) and make left (Boston Market on corner)
– Take Swanson Street south 3 blocks to Ritner Street
– ECW Arena is on the corner of Ritner and Swanson
Directions via I-76 east (Schuykill Expressway)
– Take last exit (before Walt Whitman Bridge) exit to Packer Avenue
– At light make left (Holiday Inn across the street)
– Take Packer Avenue to end and at light (Front Street) make left
– Go to second light (Oregon Avenue) and make right
– Go under I-95 underpass and make first left (Swanson Street)
– Follow Swanson Street 3 blocks to Ritner Street
– Make left at Ritner Street
– ECW Arena is on the corner of Ritner and Swanson
Transportation:
For those staying at hotels in the Philadelphia area, you can call any one of the companies on this link to get a lift to the ECW Arena. Remember, the Arena is at the corner of Swanson and Ritner in South Philadelphia. For the purposes of some cab drivers who may not be familiar with the corner (see map below), you may wish to tell them to look for the Forman Mills store (a block from the ECW Arena), painted yellow on the outside.
For those choosing public transportation, Philadelphia’s SEPTA has bus and subway service that will take you to the ECW Arena. Anyone staying in center city Philadelphia, or points north, can get to the Arena using the Broad Street Subway (exit at Snyder Avenue Station). You will need to come to street level, buy a transfer, and take the 79 bus eastbound to Front Street.
From there, take a RIGHT, and walk down to Swanson Street. Take a LEFT and walk one block, just past the I-95 viaduct; as seen on this link (Adobe Acrobat required).
You can also take the Broad Street Subway to the Oregon Avenue stop. You will need to come to street level, buy a transfer, and take the G bus eastbound to Front Street. From there, take a LEFT, and walk down to Swanson Street. Take a RIGHT and walk one block, just past the I-95 viaduct; as seen on this map (Adobe Acrobat required).
Hotel: For those coming to the area for King of Trios weekend in need of a place to stay, we recommend the Philadelphia Airport Marriott. The hotel is connected directly to the Philadelphia International Airport, and is located just over 10 miles from the ECW Arena/New Alhambra, which makes for a short cab ride to and from King of Trios. You can call 1-800-682-4087 to make reservations and book your room. You may be able to find discounted room rates through online websites, but Marriott locations near airports rarely show much deviation from the established prices. The second floor of the hotel connects directly to Terminal B of the airport, so you do not need transportation to get there.
As stated above, the Philadelphia Airport Marriott is located just over 10 miles from the ECW Arena, accessible via a short cab ride. You will be able to arrange a rental car, or have the Marriott front desk call you a taxi cab.
Parking: The ECW Arena has a fenced-in parking lot behind the facility. You can park there free of charge, but you will not be able to enter through the rear of the building. There is also parking around front where the main entrance and the blowing garbage is typically found.
As Philadelphia is rather liberal about where people can park, don’t hesitate to get creative, but we’re not paying if you get a ticket. Besides, the lot around back can hold almost 200 cars, so you’re better off back there.
Admission: CHIKARA tends to open the doors to the general public about 30 minutes prior to belltime. For events like this, you can expect to see a line forming even before that, even in the worst weather. It will be possible to buy tickets at the door the day of the event(s), at no extra charge.
Food: The Arena has a concession stand open during the shows with basic food and drink items, including pulled pork sandwiches, pretzels, soda, water, beer, and muffins.
Other restaurants within a short walk for pre-show and post-show meals include the Oregon Diner, Tony Luke’s cheesesteak stand (and the Tony Luke’s Beef and Beer sports bar across the street), as well as McDonald’s, KFC, and Dunkin Donuts are located about 3 blocks away from the Arena on Oregon Avenue.
Slightly farther away on 330 West Oregon Avenue is the Empire Buffet with many Chinese, seafood (and some American) items [EDITOR’S NOTE: my personal favorite for pre-ECW Arena dinner]. There are neighborhood bars, including Nickel’s Tavern, a favorite for some wrestling fans, inbetween the Empire Buffet and the Arena.
2 blocks NORTH of the Arena on Snyder Avenue are several restaurants, including John’s Roast Pork (reported as the best pork sandwich in Philadelphia), a Boston Market, and City Pizza.
Until next time…
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