Flyers unveil Gritty Command Center, Disassembly Room at home opener

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Flyers fans who want to look like Gritty, or smash stuff like Gritty, can now do both at Flyers home games.

The Gritty Command Center and Disassembly Room were unveiled Wednesday during the Flyers' home opener against the New Jersey Devils at Wells Fargo Center.
The Gritty Command Center, which allows fans the chance to be Gritty-fied by professional stylists, was one of the two new areas added as part of the building's $265 million multi-year renovation. Philadelphia also introduced the Disassembly Room, the first rage room located inside a major professional sports arena.

The rage room allows fans the chance to schedule a session to smash every-day items ranging from televisions to dishes, mugs and light bulbs, some of which will be adorned with opposing team logos, using anything from a hockey stick to a sledgehammer and more.
"The concept is definitely one-of-a-kind and non-traditional," said Valerie Camillo, president of business operations for the Flyers and Wells Fargo Center. "We ran the concept by some of our fans who told us they thought this would be a fresh way to have some harmless fun."
Pete Caccioppoli, a Flyers fan from New York, was first into the room. He said his first target was a fishbowl with a Devils logo on it. He also busted a few plates and mugs and a wine bottle, and broke a hockey stick in the process. He also swung a bat and a crowbar.

"The bat is easy to wield," he said. "Played baseball for a long time so it was easy to throw a couple plates and smash those. Sledgehammer was fun too."
Fans will be able
to book reservations
with each five-minute smash session costing $35 for one person or $60 for two. There's also a vestibule for friends to stand in and record as fans enjoy their breaking point.
Fans in the Gritty Command Center can choose from a menu of choices, including the Full Orange, where for $50 fans can get Gritty-style orange hair, beard, shirt, bandana and fanny pack; the Gritty's Choice for $20, where fans will be done up in the Gritty-themed form of the stylists' choice; or for $10 fans can opt for Orange Fly-Hair, where stylists will use temporary spray dye to color their hair orange.
There's also basic Flyers face paint, glittery Gritty hairdo and the chance to get blasted by something called Grit Powder.

Tim Caroselli of Philadelphia was first in line to pay for his 9-year-old son, Anthony, to get his hair sprayed orange and Gritty face paint.
"It's phenomenal," Tim said. "Hopefully it's something he'll always remember. It's his first Flyers game, getting all done up. ... I think this is awesome."
Reservations for makeovers are encouraged and can be made at
PhiladelphiaFlyers.com/Gritty
. The area also is billed as Gritty's special private spot at Wells Fargo Center and has some unique Gritty items, including a bank of televisions, a shrine to Flyers captain Claude Giroux and bottles of his Gritty's fragrance, Gritty by Gritty.
"For the coming season we've rolled out new, first-of-their-kind experiences for millennials, gamers, foodies, and hardcore fans at the Wells Fargo Center," said Camillo. "The Gritty C.O.M.M.A.N.D. Center is our latest concept, with a clear focus on enhancing the game-day experience for families and kids."