
Father and Son’s Epic Journey to Their First Maple Leafs Game in Florida!
2025-05-09
Author: Benjamin
In a heartwarming story from Ontario, Paul Valenti made a spontaneous decision that many parents would call a "no brainer"—he booked a trip to Florida with his soon-to-be four-year-old son, Hugo, for the Toronto Maple Leafs' thrilling away game against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
This Friday, the pair will witness Game 3 live at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. For young Hugo, it’s a dream come true—it's his very first time watching the Maple Leafs in action, and he's a big fan of team captain Auston Matthews.
"Hugo has been asking me every day for a month, ‘When are we going to a hockey game?’" Valenti shared in an interview. "I couldn’t justify going in Toronto, but this felt right," he added, highlighting the excitement of making it happen.
As soon as the Leafs clinched their series win against the Ottawa Senators, Valenti jumped at the chance to get tickets, thrilled to bring his son along for this unforgettable adventure.
With a total cost of around $1,400 for two flight tickets and game seats, Valenti looked at it as a steal. Staying with family near West Palm Beach means they won't incur hotel costs, and the drive to the arena is only 40 minutes—a breeze compared to the hour-and-a-half slog in downtown Toronto.
"For a little more money, we get four or five days in the sun instead of a single night stuck in traffic in Toronto," Valenti explained, emphasizing why this trip made perfect sense.
They've secured prime seats in the upper bowl, close to center ice in the second row, costing $150 each. In stark contrast, resale tickets for similar seating in Toronto are skyrocketing, with tickets for Game 5 already priced at $752 per seat! This little getaway is quite the bargain.
Though Valenti initially considered sticking around for Sunday’s game, they decided to fly back in time for Mother’s Day, making it a perfect trip for both father and son.
In what promises to be a fun-filled evening, the duo will proudly don their Maple Leafs jerseys to cheer for their team alongside Valenti’s cousin, who also made the trek from Toronto. "We’ll be chanting, ‘Go Leafs go!’" Valenti exclaimed, filled with excitement.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. EST for what is sure to be an unforgettable night of hockey, father-son bonding, and the thrill of experiencing a live game for the first time!