This week, we’re chatting with Sean Driscoll, who you’ll likely recognize from his role with the Adirondack Thunder! He shares his experience growing up in Hometown USA (so many great memories!), his dreams for a shop downtown, and so much more…
Tell us about yourself!
Hey, I’m Sean Driscoll, I’ve been Director of Ticket Sales and Service for the Adirondack Thunder since 2015 and worked for the Flames as an account executive in 2014 during the final year of AHL Hockey in Glens Falls.
I grew up near Haviland’s Cove and went to Big Cross Street School. I was born on my grandfather’s 50th birthday in 1990, however he was working in Mexico for GE and missed the birth of his first grandchild. My parents, Bennet and Tawn, got me involved in sports at an early age and I grew up playing hockey, soccer, and a little basketball. I learned to skate at the Civic Center (7am weekend practices?) and played Rec. Soccer at Crandall Park. I graduated in 2008 from Glens Falls and went onto play soccer for two years at SUNY ADK before transferring to play D3 in Boston at Newbury College. While at Newbury, I was captain my senior year and during my two years there I had teammates from over 10 different countries, which was quite different from Glens Falls and an experience I will never forget! After graduating in 2013, I worked at Coleman in the outlets (my typical summer job) while looking for a job in sports. The following May I was hired by the Adirondack Flames and I remain the only staff member still left from that group.
Last summer I was furloughed for what ended up being 7 months. I am someone who really cannot sit still, something I guess was passed down to me from my parents. They are either working or volunteering somewhere. In early December I started volunteering at the St Mary’s Food Pantry every Friday and just recently joined the Glens Falls Recreation Commission. I also have been coaching youth soccer in the area for 15 years and still play in an adult league with friends at The Dome. I found a quote a while ago, "Nothing to do, but always busy" and that just about sums up my life.
On Life In and Around Glens Falls
I have lived at The Mill for the past three years but am currently looking to buy a house. I want to stay in Glens Falls because of everything it offers. My mom grew up in Hudson Falls and my dad grew up between Boston and the Cape so we visit New England family and friends a few times a year and have a mini pack to the Boston Red Sox, but there truly isn’t anything like the Adirondack area. The mountains, lakes, businesses, and the people make this area Hometown USA. I have friends who fall in love with the area when they come to visit.
At a young age I knew I wanted to work in sports. My first job was working at the Great Escape for Subway at age 14 like many local kids. Growing up, going to hockey games, concerts and special events at the arena was awesome. It is pretty cool to say I work for a professional sports team in my hometown. The arena gets shows and has teams coming in to see what downtown Glens Falls is all about. I remember myself and a coworker had to pick up comedian Gilbert Gottfried up at the train station in Fort Edward and he wanted to grab lunch (he was staying at The Q). When he asked what is good, it was easy for me to say, “Well what are you in the mood for?”. Glens Falls has so many different options for food and the store fronts are really starting to come to life!
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
My perfect day during the summer is grabbing Battenkill Chocolate or Mocha Milk from Randy at the Farmers Market. Then it is either a hike somewhere around Lake George or kayaking on Glen Lake (if the parking lot is full it is nice to know Pete Dineen and just park at his house.) Next would be trying to pick a restaurant. Like I said downtown has so many options, it is tough to choose a go to place for a bite to eat or drink with friends. If there is a game on, any sport, you can likely find me at The Bullpen and hopefully the Radio Junkies are playing later. Over the years my grandfather and I have regularly hit all the locally owned spots for breakfast or lunch as well.
During the wintertime, game days are the best. They are long days but rewarding. I try to get to the rink around 8:00am to fulfill season ticket holders needs and open the office. Once 5:30pm hits and fans start coming in it makes it all worthwhile. It doesn’t matter if we win or lose (winning is better), we still have the most dedicated fans in all of sports. We are the smallest market in the ECHL but our fan base is second to none.
I need to mention that Opening Night is Saturday, October 23rd. YOU WANT TO BE THERE! The new roof might come off! (…figuratively, not literally, Mayor Hall).
On the Past
I have a couple of memories to share, both sports and non-sports related. As a kid I remember my best rec soccer team was the purple team and our star player was Jimmer Fredette. He would show up after football practice and dominate the soccer field. I am pretty sure he scored while playing goalie. I remember telling my college buddies “I was teammates with him” while watching BYU and NBA games on TV. I also played hockey and always wanted to win the Gazzillo Cup at the Rec. Center. I played on travel teams and couldn’t tell you how many tournaments I won but we always stayed in a hotel with a pool and played some mini hockey in the hallways.
In 2002, my family hosted a student from the Saga City Sister Program. The following year I was able to join 19 classmates in Saga and celebrated my 13th birthday there. A couple years later my dad went and stayed with the same family that I did. We still keep in contact with the Nakamura family through Facebook and sharing gifts.
On the Future
I have joked with friends that I have always dreamed about opening a general store downtown (Driscoll’s General Store). I can picture my dad behind the counter greeting people and reading the paper with a coffee in his hand. He told me he is in no hurry to retire so this would be a perfect job for him, while I oversee the daily operations. I have a sweet tooth (something all my friends know) so we would have ice cream and a candy wall with a ladder like the one Charlie gets the golden ticket in the Willy Wonka movie. It would focus on basic household needs. Downtown is becoming a place to live and not just visit. If you live downtown and need a broom, hammer and kitchen tools, you still have to jump in your car to grab them.
I honestly cannot wait for the Farmers Market building and what South Street can turn into. People always try to compare Glens Falls to Saratoga, but Glens Falls is Glens Falls. Downtown has grown in the last decade and I can’t wait to see what exciting process awaits.
