Some props from Toronto's Beat Writer about the Rose Garden

[Driew]

Action: Rose Garden game-ops

Reaction: A fine experience

Someone was asking me over in the comments section what makes the Rose Garden such a great place to watch a game.

Well, it’s big but not huge and the crowd – as knowledgeable as there is in the NBA – doesn’t have to be told to cheer, ever. The game ops crew is among the best in the game, not at all intrusive and some of the bits are great.

They do one where Rudy Fernandez tries to teach the crowd to say “slam dunk” in his native Catalan and they did a question-and-one-word-answer thing with Greg Oden that was a hoot. Of course, they didn’t use those timeouts to sell Marlies tickets or do some lame promotion for, say, a lottery corporation.

Oh, and the scoreboard? Great HD TV and in the corners, actual scoreboard with things like stats and boxscores. What a novel idea.

http://thestar.blogs.com/raptors/

 

[Master Shake]

Look at him poke fun at the ACC. I love the ACC...even though it could use a lot of work.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

isn't that they guy that voted for Bargnani for ROY over Brandon?

 

[Master Shake]

isn't that they guy that voted for Bargnani for ROY over Brandon?

Negative.

That was Chuck "Salami & Cheese" Swirsky.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Very nice compliments.

 

[BasX]

Negative.

That was Chuck "Salami & Cheese" Swirsky.

Who ironically now works for the Bulls.

 

[craigehlo]

I gotta agree. This season I've been to games at the Pepsi Center and the Staples Center (Clippers) and was underwhelmed by the game ops crews in comparison to the RG. The Rose Garden scoreboard is still the coolest I've seen.

That being said, out food sucks compared to those arenas though.

 

[Master Shake]

Who ironically now works for the Bulls.

What's so Ironic about it?

 

[alex42083]

I think the game ops folks have improved the experience a lot this season. I'd still do away with the stupid T-shirt throwing into crowd in the fourth quarter since it's not even Blazer shirts they're passing out.
But overall, they've done a better job getting the crowd involved, especially in the fourth.

But I agree with craigehlo, the food selection just plain sucks. Too expensive and just way too mediocre.

 

[sabas4mvp]

Who ironically now works for the Bulls.

I was in the media room for the Bulls game and read a guys name tag and it was Swirsky... I cringed when I saw it. ha ha

 

[BlazersBlood]

What's so Ironic about it?

If he told you, he'd have to kill you.

I do love the new massive HDTV on the scoreboard. Fricken sweet. I also love how they got the pinwheel under it, and pinwheels rotating on the ceiling in each corner of the arena. Looks awesome. If they get the food fixed, there would be nothing I'd complain about (well of course losses).

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Who ironically now works for the Bulls.

Really . . . I thought he changed his citizenship and all because he loved Canada and the Raptors. In the end the he sells out . . . too funny.

About the scoreboard . . . I sit behind the vistor's bench and visiting players are constantly watching the scoreboard. I always wondered why and figured they would be used to the scoreboard antics . . . but maybe this explains it.

You should of seen Calderon glued to the screen and laughing during the Rudy language lesson . . . maybe he wants to play with his fellow Spainards in this atmosphere.

 

[Ed O]

Never mind.

Ed O.