Warriors arena experience compared to Celtics

[celticsclay]

Hey All,

Though still a die hard celtics fan, last night was one of the few games I got to see the celtics in person because I live on the west coast. A few thoughts from the warriors fan experience, then turning it over to you guys for experiences for the garden in recent months as a comparison. I have not been to a game in person in boston since the pierce walker era so I am curious how it has changed with the teams success.

From last night's game in Oakland three points:

1) Stadium feel/ intensity: Even though the warriors have been fairly lousy and chaotic the last few years I believe they probably have some of the most loud and vocal fans ever. The place got really loud when the warriors were making their runs and in the second quarter and taking the lead in the second half. It felt like I was at a game that had serious playoff implications or against a natural rival. I know the celtics are a hated team in other areas, but I was still impressed by their fans. I do hope they turn things around cause their fans deserve it. They also do a very fan interactive environment firing shirts into the crowd endlessly, delivering free pizzas, taking videos of the fan and doing live editing for comedy. (I know most stadiums do this some, just seems liek more then most here) How is the fan experience at the celtics these days?

2)Crowd makeup: The crowd here seems a lot more mixed then it does at other game professional sports games I have been to. There wasn't the corporate suits feel anywhere in the arena. Even the lower area was completely filled with families and/or extremely rowdy invovled fans. Everyone was into it. Other arenas I have felt I was with some people that were just there as something to do. What is the crowd makeup at the celtics these days. Does the lower area have a feel of "real fans?"

3) Tickets: I thought it might be easy to get warriors tickets with the team falling apart and Nelson constantly bickering with his players. Additionally, the loss of players like Baron Davis, Al Harrington, Steven Jackson and Jason Richardson over the last few years would seem to temper enthusiasm. However, the cheapest tickets anywhere was 25 bucks for the bowels of the arena. 40-50 bucks for anything in the upper area that had a decent view. The lower level were going for about 150 at the minimum. It was pretty close to a sell out if it was not. How does this compare to celtics street prices? (I know I could gage try and figure celtics tickets by looking at the team site but the listed prices are almost never available)

[celticsclay]

does anyone on celtics blog actually go to the games  ?

[Tai]

does anyone on celtics blog actually go to the games  ?

The only Celtics game I been to was in MSG, and my college provided the tickets. If you've been to college you know how that is. : p

Yeah...I don't have a money to buy a game at the Garden as it is.

[vinnie]

does anyone on celtics blog actually go to the games  ?

I have had a half-season ticket package for about 10 years so attend half the home games and playoff games each year.

[drkalloch]

I have been a season ticket holder for six years. I think the Celtics have good fans (better than many cities), but I don't think anyone compares to Warriors/Knicks fans. I frequently go to MSG and I went to a few random games in Oakland a few years ago and the fans are very much focused on the game and react well to the ebbs and flows of the game. Wyc's crew has expanded the surrounding "entertainment", starting with the Dancers (which Red feared), and adding all sorts of corporate games. That said, the Celtics luckily don't play music (other than drum beats for De-Fense) DURING play like other teams (Miami and Detroit come to mind). I enjoy the Garden experience, but we fans should strive to be more like Knicks/Warriors fans in terms of in-game passion.

What is particularly interesting is that when the Celts were terrible, the crowds were just as in to the games (indeed, the fact that games were sold out between 2003-2007 is a testament to the devotion of Celtics fans). I think there is a good analogy to the Fenway experience before 2002. The team wasn't championship-caliber, but the crowds were extremely devoted and focused on the action on the field.

[celticsclay]

I have been a season ticket holder for six years. I think the Celtics have good fans (better than many cities), but I don't think anyone compares to Warriors/Knicks fans. I frequently go to MSG and I went to a few random games in Oakland a few years ago and the fans are very much focused on the game and react well to the ebbs and flows of the game. Wyc's crew has expanded the surrounding "entertainment", starting with the Dancers (which Red feared), and adding all sorts of corporate games. That said, the Celtics luckily don't play music (other than drum beats for De-Fense) DURING play like other teams (Miami and Detroit come to mind). I enjoy the Garden experience, but we fans should strive to be more like Knicks/Warriors fans in terms of in-game passion.

What is particularly interesting is that when the Celts were terrible, the crowds were just as in to the games (indeed, the fact that games were sold out between 2003-2007 is a testament to the devotion of Celtics fans). I think there is a good analogy to the Fenway experience before 2002. The team wasn't championship-caliber, but the crowds were extremely devoted and focused on the action on the field.

It is interesting you bring this up. I have long held a theory that when a team with a really good fan base has prolonged success it can change the experience of the game at the arena a lot. Basically, I think the team becomes a for lack of better term "cool thing to do." So you end up with a lot of people that don't really care about the team buying tickets that never would have gone in the down years. This ends up driving up prices and pushing the really passionate fan to opt for watching at home or a bar rather then struggling to get a nose bleed ticket. I think this had been brought up with the red sox and the "pink hat" fans, but I have not really heard it brought up for the celtics before.

I think forever whatever reason even when the warriors had their brief period of success their fan base remained the same. I guess the same could be said for the knicks. I guess this is a really fancy way of saying boston had more fair weather fans then other cities.

[WeMadeIt17]

I am going to the Heat Celtics Game woo hoo! cant wait! 13 rows from the Celtics bench

[Brickowski]

I used to buy a ticket package every year, but not any more.  The officiating has driven me away, and at some point may drive me away from the NBA completely.  Many of the games are choreographed, like professional wrestling.  I have better things to do with my time and money.

[PierceMVP08]

I have long complained about the fan experience at the Garden ever since KG came to town.  All the fairweather fans came out of the shadows and pushed out the real fans.  Celticsclay hit the nail on the head; the Garden has been filled with people who don't know much about the game and are there only because it is the place to be seen. The experience was much better when the team was flying under the radar. 

My story that captures it is back in game 5 of the conference finals against cle in 2008, they showed Antoine on the jumbotron and the guy next to me asked me who he was.  Really?!?!? Antoine walker?  The most divisive celtics player of the decade who played here as recently as 2 or three years ago?

The only time I have seen a good crowd at the Garden since 07 has been during the finals, other than that the fans seem to simply sit on their hands.  Even game 7 against the bulls last year was pretty pathetic.  I myself don't attend games anymore due to this.  I have a better time at home or at a bar and save money.  The playoff runs in 02 and 03 had a much better feel and i guess im looking for the same but am turned off because its not.

The same would happen in GS if they were to be successful, i think.  I know after the year they knocked out Dallas, their crowds were much more subdued.

[Donoghus]

does anyone on celtics blog actually go to the games  ?

I went to the Bulls/Celtics at United Center a few weeks back and was pretty disappointed with the atmosphere.  It was a Saturday night in Chicago and the Celtics first appearance in the Windy City since that epic playoff series.  I fully expected a fired up crowd. 

It might've been due to the extremely disappointing Bulls' season but the crowd was awfuly quiet for a Sat. night crowd and they seemed disinterested.  I can understand that for the 2nd half of the game when it was a blowout but the 1st half was neck and neck and the crowd was lackluster.  I expected a lot more energy.

That being said, United Center is a great arena.  Lots of concourse space and a lot more restrooms/concession stands than the New Garden.  Pretty cool looking up and seeing Jordan & Pippen's retired numbers, the championship banners, as well as all the 'Hawks banners.