Charlotte's basketball scene
Just back from watching the Charlotte Bobcats defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight -- my first visit to the year-old Bobcats Arena uptown. What a palace for basketball. It was a lot of fun.
Cavs star LeBron James seemed surprisingly disinterested until the last few minutes, and then his efforts were too little too late.
Maybe he was distracted by Liv Tyler, sitting beside the Cleveland bench.
Tar Heel heroes Raymond Felton and Sean May played well in Charlotte's first win of the season after two losses.
The crowd was announced as the biggest ever in the arena, more than 19,000.
The game and associated activities made for a colorful variety show, from the rock band in an outdoor plaza beforehand to fireworks afterward. Inside, there's something going on all the time, on the court and throughout the house. Plenty of places to eat, bars, attractions for kids, entertainers, you name it.
It would be great if Greensboro had professional basketball. Sure, the NBA is out of the question, but the hoops equivalent of the Grasshoppers would be cool. Yeah, we've got the college tournaments in March, but it's a long, cold winter until then.
Can somebody resurrect the old ABA and the Carolina Cougars?
Comments (9)
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One of my favorite things about Hornets games was that they had excellent barbecue widely available throughout the arena, with your choice of Western or Eastern style available at all locations. I trust this also is true in the new arena?
Posted on November 5, 2006 3:23 AM
Also, how was parking/traffic?
Posted on November 5, 2006 3:24 AM
We didn't check out the barbecue. Parking was close by and convenient, but $10. No traffic problem getting in and out.
Posted on November 5, 2006 9:08 AM
Can somebody resurrect the old ABA and the Carolina Cougars?*Doug Clark
Doug! Great idea, in fact I jump on the phone and contacted the former players of the Cougars and most of them agree to come back. However, there are some small problems. The average age of the players is 60 and still own backpay from those bonuses promise if they merge with the NBA. Besides what are we going to do with 4 white players from the team, who say white men can't jump at 60 over Dr J?
Posted on November 5, 2006 9:21 AM
I consider myself a regular at Bobcats games. I'm not a season ticketholder, but go to quite a few. I love that I can typically get a $15 seat and spend less than that on parking, which was plentiful and inexpensive last season Lex. The arena is quite nice -- although it's almost identical to Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Same architects, same basic design.
But the best part about going to Bobcats games is that team is fun to watch. They're not going to win the championship anytime soon, but I have yet to go to a game where I felt like they were taking the night off. I've been to hundreds of NBA games in other cities -- mostly Indy and Washington -- and one of the things that has always bothered me about pro basketball compared to college or high school was that, outside the playoffs, you never know if one of the two teams is just going to loaf through the game. I've yet to go to a Bobcat game where they didn't play hard, and that's enough to win me over as a fan.
Anyway, a long-winded way to say that if you enjoy basketball, you'll probably have a good time at the Bobcats games. That's been the case for me, anyway.
Posted on November 5, 2006 5:18 PM
Jonathan - agree with your comments whole-heartedly. It seemed like Lebron was taking the night off Saturday.
Lex - we parked literally across the street from the stadium for $10. You can park cheaper, even free (over by the Panthers stadium), if you're willing to walk 7 or 8 blocks.
Posted on November 5, 2006 10:42 PM
Jonathan -- what's your favorite NBA venue? Most memorable game?
Posted on November 6, 2006 8:49 AM
Doug,
I'm a diehard Pacers fan. So what is easily my most memorable game is the Pacers Game 5 win in the 2000 Finals. They blew the Lakers out. It was my first time in the brand-new Conseco Fieldhouse and everyone in the stands assumed it was the last time we'd see Rik Smits in a Pacers uniform at home, which it was. No sporting event I've ever been to was that loud or that raucus. I thought they were going to have a to build a new arena afterward because the noise was going to bring that one down.
My second most memorable game would've been a visit by the Washington Bullets to Market Square Arena during the '86-'87 season -- It was my first NBA game. My dad was more excited to see Moses Malone and Manute Bol than any of the Pacers, but I was hooked. We hung out after the game to get autographs and I -- being about nine years old -- only came up to Bol's knee. I couldn't tell you who won.
My favorite arena is Conseco Fieldhouse -- It's much like walking into Camden Yards. You feel like you've stepped into a bygone era. -- The Bobcats arena is almost an identical layout and has the same sightlines, but it has much more modern decor. Conseco is done up to look like the old Midwestern fieldhouses that were built in the 30s and 40s.
Market Square Garden runs a close second for me behind Conseco. I also think the United Center in Chicago is a good place to watch a game. I hate the MCI Center, or whatever it's called these days, in D.C., but I always thought the in-game emcee they have making smart remarks is a hoot. It wouldn't work in many other places but it seems to fit the D.C. culture. It's my least favorite place to watch a game. Went to some NCAA tournament games there a few years ago and it was just as bad for college as NBA.
I also went to a few games in the old Charlotte arena when the Hornets were there, but that was during the Everyone-Hates-George-Shinn-era near the end, so I don't hold a less-than-exciting atmosphere against the city.
Posted on November 6, 2006 10:17 AM
Doug, John and Kenny -- good news on all counts. Thanks.
Posted on November 8, 2006 1:09 PM