In the past few years I have had the pleasure of sitting in the front row in OKC, Dallas and Newark, NJ. I must admit sitting in the front row gives you a much different experience and perspective of the game of professional basketball.
Here are a few thoughts:
- Most of these guys are really big!
- Most of these guys are cut and have muscles on muscles!
- A ton of guys trash talk.
- Extremely physical game
- Lots of “bad words” are shared on the court
- The view isn’t really that good.
- You are almost guaranteed to be on ESPN Sports Center and the jumbotron 95% of the time (especially when you sit under the basket)
I must admit from a basketball experience, I don’t like the seats. You can really only see part of the game. Because you are so close, you can’t see a play develop. In addition, I would never bring my kids again – the trash talking and swearing is too much to take and sends the wrong message to my kids. A few weeks ago a fight broke out on the court between the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics. This fight spilled into the stands under the basket where little kids looked traumatized. At two of the Boston Celtics games I attended, I sat in the front row. Even though I love the Celtics, I don’t believe I would ever sit in the front row again. I would rather be ten rows back where I can enjoy the action, not hear the swearing, and don’t have to worry about these giants throwing a punch at each other.
- What do you think?
- Have you ever sat in the front row?
- What is the closest you have ever been to the court?
- Do you like the view/experience?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Dan Rangel says:
Funny that I saw this blog today. I am going to The Bulls game tonight with my friend who sings The National Anthem. We will be on the main floor and I get to walk around on the hardwood and take as many photographs of the shoot around and talk to the local sports celebrities as I want to.
My friend Kim asks me to go with her every year to one out of the 3 games she sings at. So being that I have been there before I know exactly what you are talking about. I have to agree with you, it’s actually better to be seated a good 25 to 50 rows back. You are still low enough to see plays develop but you are far enough not to accidentally get a shoe in the face from someone diving for a ball or something. I must say the energy down there is pretty cool though but I completely agree with you.
Brandon says:
I don’t go to a lot of professional sporting events and I’ve only been to one NBA game… but the one I attended was a courtside LA Lakers game in 2002. It was exciting to see Shaq, Kobe, Fisher, and the “I Can’t Believe This Guys Not Considered a Legend” Robert Horry up close, but…
I just couldn’t see the game.
In front of me were NBA greats and sitting to my right was actor, Jerry van Dyke… but none of it made up for the view. When buying the tickets I thought to myself, “The closer, the better!” Not the case.
I may not have the opportunity to sit on the court again so I’m glad I did it. Next time, I will get a seat in the middle and probably have a better time.
Fee says:
I’ve never had the opportunity to be in on the front row of a basketball game, but I can appreciate all of your points and I’m sure that I would feel the same exact way about the behavior and the demeanor of the 1st row.
I can appreciate that there is a certain adrenaline satisfaction out of sitting that close to these monstrous giants who earn mega millions of dollars, on a yearly basis.
Having sat in the cheap seats with my minor daughter at football and baseball games and having us doused with beer and profanity between the audience fans around us, I frankly refuse to take her to events that I can’t get good seats in.
Michael Halberstam says:
This is an interesting one. I’ve had Laker’s season seats for 25 years which are in the lower bowl behind the Laker’s bench. I have been fortunate to sit courtside one or twice here in LA. My in-laws have courtside seats in Houston and I have attended many games there.
While the perspective is very different I enjoy them both equally. My lone issue with the courtside seats is the safety of my daughter who is 11. Large, testosterone driven men flying by or near her always makes me nervous. She doesn’t seem to mind though.
Jon Last says:
Totally agree with you that once the novelty wears off, front row at basketball games is highly over-rated. Three quick, front row related stories:
- During college years, I often sat first row right behind the Celtics bench and was so frustrated that Robert (The Chief) Parrish was so tall, I often couldn’t see the game over his head…and I’m 6’3.
- Fast track to Florida days. A buddy was the team orthopedist for the West Palm CBA team (The Beach Dogs) so we sat courtside all the time. The late Manute Bol– at 7’7 one of the tallest to ever play the game professionally was a bench player…and unbelievable to look at face-to-face. Ridiculously tall and also with an amazing sense of humor .
- Miami Arena–I believe you, Mr. Dubrow, sweet talked our way to front row behind the basket at a Heat game. I’m still marveling at the size of Shaq’s feet.
All great memories, but I’d rather be a few rows up. Same applies to football. Baseball and hockey are the exceptions. Particularly loved my front row NY Rangers’ seats, where you’d watch guys get face planted into the glass just inches away.
Scott Koenig says:
I’ve never been front row, but the closest was row 10 at Mavs game. I was behind the visiting team’s bench. Row 10 was just about right because I could still see the game, pick up on some of the nuances of the coaching staff and player interaction, but not get distracted by it. Some of the celebrities walked down the aisle and went to their seats “center court” so it was fun seeing them, but again not very distracting.
Front row at baseball games though are much better. One of my dreams growing up was to go to Fenway and sit front row behind the plate when Clemens was pitching. Never happened – never will.