A rookie question - How early shall I get to an NBA game?

depends on where your seats are i would say...if you are in the lower bowl i would probably call and see what time they open doors and be there then. usually scola, hayes, battier, bonzi, brooks (not anymore) landry and the assistant coaches are out there 90 minutes before tip off practicing and warming up. if security in NJ is cool if you are in the lower bowl you can go close and take pictures and possibly get a picture with the player/autograph. really depends on the security there, some guys as long as you aren't an ass will let you come down and take a few snaps other guys will wont budge since its "rules".


if in the upper bowl i would probably just get there 30 mins before tip off that way you can see the entire team warming up before the game etc. getting super early to the game for the pre-pregame warmups probably wouldnt be too good since i doubt the ushers would let you down there if you dont have a seat in that section. but i dont know how it is in NJ, at least in LA the ushers will not let you in unless you have a ticket down there.

 

You might want to find a net's fan forum and ask them there.

 

For the meadowlands, get there 1 hour before tip off and you can wander all the way near the court. Most of the Nets players will usually stop by the tunnel to sign autographs.

 

Well here in Houston, it seems to be 30 minutes to an hour after tipoff. Don't know about NJ though...

 

I'd say it would also depend on what age your kids are and what traffic and parking are like for Nets games. If your kids are elementary school age or younger they may not have the attention span to want to sit there for an hour pre-game and then sit thru the game. You don't want to have to leave early during the game because they get bored or tired from being there too early before the game started. As long as you are in your seats 20 minutes prior to tip off you won't miss anything of significance, but won't get any direct player interaction either.

 

go an hour before game time since this is your first time... there's lots to soak in at the arena and lots of activities for the kids... have fun! and go Rox!!

 

As a Houstonian, we don't get there til three minutes left in the first.

 

I went to the Rockets-Hornets game, got there around 2 hours early, and since you go really early, if you get lower seats, you'll be able to meet players on each side of the team, depending on what side of the court you are on, I met Peja Stojakovic while going to the game because he was injured, etc. etc. But if I were you get there early, bout an hour, or earlier if you want to get autographs/meet players.

 

Check to see when Cont Airlines arena opens up.


Most importantly, be in your seats for tipoff.

 

I went to the GS/Houston game last week, that was my first time too, I went there one and a half hour early, the security was nice enough to let me take pics near the court, I saw Shane, Bonzi, Luther, Aaron, Chuck and Landry practing there. So I believe you could see the same thing.

 

The doors typically open about an hour before the game (6:30 pm). Sometimes there are activities on the court but mostly it is just a few players stretching and doing drills.

If you're a Rockets fan, don't worry. The last few Rockets - Nets games I went to had tons of Rockets fans wearing TMac and Yao jerseys.

BTW, if you are travelling from far away, you'll definitely want to leave early. The Turnpike / Parkway / Rte. 3 can get *very* busy during rush hour.