SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The Calder Cup Playoffs start Wednesday night for the Springfield Thunderbirds. Game one of the first-round series against the Charlotte Checkers is on the road, but that’s not stopping fans here at home from showing support.

It’s a big night out here at MGM Springfield, the watch party is set up right inside TAP Sports Bar & Grill, and fans are already here with jerseys on, ready for playoff hockey.

The game is at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The T-Birds are trying to make a run to the finals for the first time since 2022. A Springfield team hasn’t won the cup since the Indians went back-to-back in 1990 and 1991.

While not everyone could make the trip south for game one, TAP Sports Bar & Grill is bringing the game to fans here at home with a watch party and the action on the big marquee screen out on the plaza.

We spoke with Beth Ward, Director of Public Affairs here at MGM, and she told us T-Birds fans already know this is the place to be tonight, “we’re excited to have everybody come down. We’ve done this in past and we know it’s going to be wall to wall in here. You can celebrate we have raffles going on we have specials and it’s such a fun vibe to be all together.”

Ward also said there is plenty of space available for fans who want to head out here, Thunderbirds mascot Boomer is also scheduled to be here until 8 p.m.

The puck drops tonight in Charlotte at 7 p.m.