Visiting US to watch some NBA games

[dannyarcher]

Hi all,

I'll be visiting the US in December/January and catching three NBA games, being ATL @ NY, NOP @ LAL,  and MIA @ LAC. I've never been to the US, let alone any NBA games before, so just wanted to ask some questions:

1. What's the earliest I can get into the stadium, and if I do get in early, is there any chance of getting something signed or taking a photo with a player while they are warming up?

2. Are there any public events where NBA players sign things for fans and take photos with them?

3. During a game, am I allowed to take photos and videos with my phone? I read different stadiums have different rules about this, but I wonder if it's just one of those things that are "not allowed" but not enforced anyway? (since it would be kinda hard to stop every single person taking a photo)

4. Are the more expensive, closer seats, worth the money?

5. Anything else I should do while at the stadiums? I mean, are there merchandise that can't be bought anywhere else? Also, I checked out the Staples Center website to see what type of things they sell, and seems like they only sell Kobe's #24 jersey. I always imagined it would sell every Laker thing possible, including Kobe's #8 jersey. Am I wrong on that one?

Any other tips for a first timer would be great, thanks in advance.

 

[serotonins]

get the VIP tickets, free food and drinks until halftime, seats r right behind the basket. no u wont b able to get autographs or pics lol

 

[kingkoopa]

1. Not sure if you can get in during shoot around but you can watch warm ups probably won't get a sig though.

2. You'll have to follow the specific player via twitter or facebook to keep up with their public apperences and charity events.

3. Yes you can. With your phone at least. I wouldnt walk in there with a professional camera though 

4. YES but as long as your in the lower half you should have a decent view.

5. Don't know. Almost anything can be got via ebay or somewhere else online.

 

[datznasty]

1. Most arenas open 90 minutes prior to tip off. That is the minimum, MSG and Staples might even open up earlier than that. The ability to get things signed and photos depends entirely on the moods of the players and even the ushers, but if you are early it isn't hard at all. You need to go to ticketmaster.com or just google and pull up seating charts of the Staples Center and Madison Square Garden. Find out what section the visiting and home teams' benches are in, get in early and matriculate down to that section. Also, that's a great place to get tickets. You can find 3d seating charts at http://www.seats3d.com/nba/los_angeles_clippers/

2 Yes. Find a message board specific to the teams (both home and away) and also check a few players facebooks/ig/ etc. They are always out in the community doing public appearances. The Thunder players even do a signing at the Biltmore Hotel every few months, and it sucks because it costs money, where it's just specifically for you to bring things for them to sign

3.Yes, but no flash photography. Some people straight bring big DSLR camera with 6 inch lens and I've seen people film the whole game. I did have an usher have the nerve onetime to come up to me and ask me if I was filming and try to tell me I couldn't. He got the stonest of faces and disregarded as I continued to do so, just like damn near half the arena was.

4. I'd say spare no expense, you're already coming to the US and visiting the 2 most expensive cities. FWIW, the best bang for your buck seats are corner sections. The sideline lower level price group are high, the baseline lower levels are significantly less, the corner is still considered baseline but it's close as sideline and adjacent in many cases.

5. The atmosphere in person is obviously different than on tv. You can notice and check for things not seen on tv, especially with good seats, like how players interact with each other and act during stoppages of play. Every team's 12th through 15th man who get no playing time are always the biggest cheerleaders and have some funny celebrations.

Everything I posted by the way is from how it is in Oklahoma City. My season tickets were 102QQ which is a corner section. I have also been to games in Houston, Dallas, and New Orleans the last couple of seasons and found everything to be the same. I'll post some pics I have taken over the years later

 

[frankmatthews]

Not sure about those specific arenas but most places have a restriction on how much you can bring in. There are size restrictions for bags and purses. It would suck for you to get there and not be able to get in cause ur bags too big and u don't have anywhere to leave it. Check the specific areas requirements on that. It should say something about it when you purchase the ticket too.

 

[chrisqo]

Pretty sure u can take pics and videos..
Snapchat is pretty much life now

 

[johnnyredstorm]

snap porzingawd and you'll be gucci

 

[dannyarcher]

Thanks all for your replies, very useful and very interesting to read. My goal (and I know I'm dreaming) is to get a photo with Kobe, but pretty sure if I yell out to him during warm up he'd ignore me.

Does anyone here use stubhub? The ticket I want is available, but the minimum quantity is 2, whereas I just want 1. Is there any way of splitting this? Guess I could buy and try to re-sell, but what if no one buys...

 

[dmbrhs]

4. I'd say spare no expense, you're already coming to the US and visiting the 2 most expensive cities. FWIW, the best bang for your buck seats are corner sections. The sideline lower level price group are high, the baseline lower levels are significantly less, the corner is still considered baseline but it's close as sideline and adjacent in many cases.

5. The atmosphere in person is obviously different than on tv. You can notice and check for things not seen on tv, especially with good seats, like how players interact with each other and act during stoppages of play. Every team's 12th through 15th man who get no playing time are always the biggest cheerleaders and have some funny celebrations.

These two go hand in hand. Last year, I finally coughed up the dough for seats really close to the floor of a game (7th row). It was incredible. We were on the baseline, but it was still awesome. We weren't distracted by all the nonsense in the arena, like the Jumbotron and silly promotions (like those stupid blimps that drop stuff). I remember not even looking up the at the score most of the game. I was just appreciating what was happening on the court. I'll never sit higher than mid-lower bowl ever again.

 

[datznasty]

I don't know how Kobe is, different players have different personalities about this obviously. KD is amazing with the fans, I have known people who he literally came and took their baby out of their hands and took a pic with him. Your best luck is probably going to be with scrubs though, player #12 and down who might not even be suited up and a constant dnp-cd candidate if so, you'll obviously be competing with less people for their attention.

Every arena plays really old music. Just be prepared for it, like Marc Morrison "Return of the Mack" old

Here is too pictures from my season tickets. It's 4th row of the section, 102QQ, about 13 rows up total, costed me 56$ a seat when I first bought in but they keep raising the price $5 every offseason so it's 71 now. Stubhub is legit too, if there's only pairs then like you said, you either have to wait it out for a single to come or buy it then sell the extra. I have done that before plenty of times.

View media item 1776559View media item 1776560
Here's some random videos from my seat

Spoiler

 

[flyny]

Depending on how Forceful you are, you MIGHT be able to bumrush your way on stage and get some one on one time with a player.

A couple of years ago, I was gone off the Henny at Madison Square Garden and I came close to getting some time with my main man JR smith. I was hollering at son from some closeby seats and he definitely acknowledged my presence. I remember him saying something along the lines of we gonna kick it after the game, but I blacked out by the 3rd quarter. Woke up in the backseat of my boys car, parked in the parking lot. Apparently I drank myself into some trouble and had to leave, and my boy wasn't trying to miss the rest of the game so they just left me for dead in the back of a maxima with a bottle of Gatorade and an empty KFC bucket (that we ate out of before the game cus we not with the concession prices) to vomit in.

 

[dannyarcher]

Awesome pics datz.

I ended up getting a seat right behind the Lakers bench. What are some best ways to utilise this? I imagine if I get there as early as possible, I will be allowed to get right behind the Lakers bench where I may  (if lucky) be able to get some photos with the players?

 

[penalize]

its a shame you didnt sneak a celtics game in there......only 3 hours away from nyc...could also visit the hall of fame in Springfield.

i can only speak for boston, but your best bet is the small window in between shoot around and the start of the game..get there as early as possible and you may get lucky....unfortunately its usually the bench players that will give the pictures and sign the basketballs/tshirts.  Theres also a lounge in most stadiums where  friends, family, randoms, and thots hang out waiting for the players to shower. I know its hard to get into in LA, but luckily pretty easy to get into in boston.

50/50 chance kobe may be in street clothes taking pictures during time outs..

have fun and good luck homie.

 

[dannyarcher]

Hey all,

Saw my first game at MSG yesterday and it was everything I had expected plus more! Was blown away by the whole atmosphere and the vibe of the game and stadium.

I saw that they had memorabilia items for auction where you write down a bid and the bidding closes during halftime.

Does every stadium have something like this? I just wanna know because if Staples Center has it I will need to save some extra money before I get there.

 

[penalize]

Never seen that bidding before in my life...It should have been a promo event type thing...

 

[verdenuggets]

Hey all,

Saw my first game at MSG yesterday and it was everything I had expected plus more! Was blown away by the whole atmosphere and the vibe of the game and stadium.

I saw that they had memorabilia items for auction where you write down a bid and the bidding closes during halftime.

Does every stadium have something like this? I just wanna know because if Staples Center has it I will need to save some extra money before I get there.

it's called a silent auction and it's normal to have these at games.  

 

[jjs]

OP is ballin

 

[datznasty]

Man, the Thunder did one at the game, a group called "Home Base" or something like that, was players' wives, girlfriends, mothers, and baby mama's, did a grab bag thing where they had autographed pairs of players' shoes in a bag for $100 but the thing was it was just a black bag and randomly selected so you didnt know whose you would get. When I got there, they were down to 2 bags left and Kendrick Perkins' wife was so nice, they didnt take cards so she held it for me and told me to go find an atm and come back. I did and it was so many people around the booth because they also had a raffle where you pay $20 for a ticket and drop it in a box with any player's face on it and the winner wins a grab bag of stuff that player likes. So when I finally got back 10 minutes later I expected her to have said F that dude and sold it but she spotted me and called me over and gave me the last pair by that point. It was some Thabo Sefolosha worn, sz16 Nike Air Max HyperAggressors that he didn't even sign, just had his # scribbled on them on the bottom of the outsole. So then I went around to the boxes and bought a few tickets, Keri Hilson spoke to me and Andre Roberson's sister, Amber, is all of that in person, every bit as tall of him too. Bertille was there also, the 3 of them in a row was looking and smelling good as they wanted to look. Someone else I know, who is bolder than me, also got unlucky and got some Thabo's (Adidas DRose PE's too which is odd since Thabo was signed to Nike) which were autographed and went and got a hug from Bertille and picture and had her sign them too.

I still have them too. I mean what am I going to do with some Thabo worn shoes, not even autographed, and sz 16. If I knew anyone with that big of a foot they could just have them. Obviously Thabo isn't even on the team anymore.

 

[MVP]

Hey all,

Saw my first game at MSG yesterday and it was everything I had expected plus more! Was blown away by the whole atmosphere and the vibe of the game and stadium.

I saw that they had memorabilia items for auction where you write down a bid and the bidding closes during halftime.

Does every stadium have something like this? I just wanna know because if Staples Center has it I will need to save some extra money before I get there.

Just check out the Team LA store after the game, they have signed paintings, shoes and other stuff for purchase. Kobe's stuff is even more expensive now that he's retiring. 

 

[dannyarcher]

Man, the Thunder did one at the game, a group called "Home Base" or something like that, was players' wives, girlfriends, mothers, and baby mama's, did a grab bag thing where they had autographed pairs of players' shoes in a bag for $100 but the thing was it was just a black bag and randomly selected so you didnt know whose you would get. When I got there, they were down to 2 bags left and Kendrick Perkins' wife was so nice, they didnt take cards so she held it for me and told me to go find an atm and come back. I did and it was so many people around the booth because they also had a raffle where you pay $20 for a ticket and drop it in a box with any player's face on it and the winner wins a grab bag of stuff that player likes. So when I finally got back 10 minutes later I expected her to have said F that dude and sold it but she spotted me and called me over and gave me the last pair by that point. It was some Thabo Sefolosha worn, sz16 Nike Air Max HyperAggressors that he didn't even sign, just had his # scribbled on them on the bottom of the outsole. So then I went around to the boxes and bought a few tickets, Keri Hilson spoke to me and Andre Roberson's sister, Amber, is all of that in person, every bit as tall of him too. Bertille was there also, the 3 of them in a row was looking and smelling good as they wanted to look. Someone else I know, who is bolder than me, also got unlucky and got some Thabo's (Adidas DRose PE's too which is odd since Thabo was signed to Nike) which were autographed and went and got a hug from Bertille and picture and had her sign them too.

I still have them too. I mean what am I going to do with some Thabo worn shoes, not even autographed, and sz 16. If I knew anyone with that big of a foot they could just have them. Obviously Thabo isn't even on the team anymore.

Thank man, bad luck on the draw ehh.

I put a bid down for a signed Melo All-Star jersey and this kid wanted his dad to put a bid down for it. His dad wanted some signed photo of Melo but the kid kept bugging him for it.

In the end the dad went for the photo lol so I got the jersey.

 

[dannyarcher]

it's called a silent auction and it's normal to have these at games.  

Just check out the Team LA store after the game, they have signed paintings, shoes and other stuff for purchase. Kobe's stuff is even more expensive now that he's retiring. 

Thanks. But do they have any silent auctions like the Knicks? Just seems kinda exciting lol.

 

[dannyarcher]

OP is ballin

It's my only time in the US and this is Kobe's last season, so might as well go all out!

 

[a55a5in11]

Man, the Thunder did one at the game, a group called "Home Base" or something like that, was players' wives, girlfriends, mothers, and baby mama's, did a grab bag thing where they had autographed pairs of players' shoes in a bag for $100 but the thing was it was just a black bag and randomly selected so you didnt know whose you would get. When I got there, they were down to 2 bags left and Kendrick Perkins' wife was so nice, they didnt take cards so she held it for me and told me to go find an atm and come back. I did and it was so many people around the booth because they also had a raffle where you pay $20 for a ticket and drop it in a box with any player's face on it and the winner wins a grab bag of stuff that player likes. So when I finally got back 10 minutes later I expected her to have said F that dude and sold it but she spotted me and called me over and gave me the last pair by that point. It was some Thabo Sefolosha worn, sz16 Nike Air Max HyperAggressors that he didn't even sign, just had his # scribbled on them on the bottom of the outsole. So then I went around to the boxes and bought a few tickets, Keri Hilson spoke to me and Andre Roberson's sister, Amber, is all of that in person, every bit as tall of him too. Bertille was there also, the 3 of them in a row was looking and smelling good as they wanted to look. Someone else I know, who is bolder than me, also got unlucky and got some Thabo's (Adidas DRose PE's too which is odd since Thabo was signed to Nike) which were autographed and went and got a hug from Bertille and picture and had her sign them too.

I still have them too. I mean what am I going to do with some Thabo worn shoes, not even autographed, and sz 16. If I knew anyone with that big of a foot they could just have them. Obviously Thabo isn't even on the team anymore.

Thank man, bad luck on the draw ehh.

I put a bid down for a signed Melo All-Star jersey and this kid wanted his dad to put a bid down for it. His dad wanted some signed photo of Melo but the kid kept bugging him for it.

In the end the dad went for the photo lol so I got the jersey.

How much was that?

 

[dannyarcher]

How much was that?

$300, but bids go up by increments of $25 so if the dad had put down a bid I'm not sure I would've done it for $350.

 

[miamiboy]

I'll be at the MIA vs LAC game in LA. My first NBA game in a city other than Miami.

I know in Miami you're allowed into the arena 2 hours before tipoff. Usually players are still shooting around and if you have a courtside seat(Row 10 and lower), sometimes security lets you walk down to maybe Row 1 and you can chat with the players or shake their hand if they walk by. Obviously you cant go on the court. I said wassup to Marv Albert and Steven A Smith one time before the Heat/Knicks TNT game.

You're allowed to bring your personal camera. As long its not a huge professional camera. Lower bowl seats are usually better than upper bowl, maybe only $50 more per seat.

In some cities opposing fans are allowed to stay after the game to wait for the players to come out and sign autographs. I really only seen it once, dont know how it works though.