[Chron/Solomon]Toyota Center: Worst atmosphere in the NBA?

The atmosphere sucks at the TC because the lower bowl will always be filled with the iPhone-checking douchebags in their polo shirts who will spend 50% of their time at the bar, 40% of the other time checking their iPhones, 5% of the time trying to spot "hotties", 3% of the time giving the stink-eye to the poor proles in jerseys trying to cheer, and 2% of the time actually paying attention to the game.

 

Rick Idleman

 

Doesn't help that the rocks play noticeably worse at the toybox for whatever reason.

 

I am a season ticket holder and was at the game as well. It was the most boring game of the saeson and while the game was not a blow out there was zero energy and a blind man could see we were not going to win it going down the stretch. I stayed until the end don't don't blame people for leaving.

 

I was embarrassed looking at the lower arena on ESPN... it looked like there was no one there.

I think there was more yelling at the players and cheering in my living room than at the game.

 

Is this not a reasonable amount of time for this activity? Actually seems a bit low to me.

 

This pretty much sums it up.. How can you get the real fans down in the lower bowl (The ones screaming there heads off and standing all the time). By lowering the prices so they don't have to skip a mortgage payment to enjoy a game for two.

 

well, sure but the priorities of most in the lower bowl are clearly not in order.

 

Do you count the two ends as being in the lower bowl? Or just the sides?

 

It is awful. The empty seats bother me the most.

The proles, while nasty eyesores, do at least try to correct the noise/cheering problem.

And remember, just because I wear a polo and check my iPhone for stats, doesn't mean I am above cheering or watching the game while being very obnoxious. I live and die by this team. Last night I died a little.

 

Empty or not there is no excuse for how flat the team came out last night.

 

First thing we have ever agreed on I think.

 

lol Yeah you're right but probably because everytime we disagree it is on a topic about appearance and we dress differently.

 

I fulfilled my duties at the game and screamed my head off. Now, if everyone else was held accountable for their actions/reactions to the game, all would be well.

 

I was in a suite last night -- not my normal upper bowl season ticket. I was yelling down at the court like an a-hole (as I usually do in my regular spot). People in the other neighboring suites looked at me with disdain... like, "How did HE get in here?"

It was was really embarrassing though to look out and see all those empty seats behind the ESPN crew.

 

The team screwed up badly with the Toyota Center design. The stuffed the lower bowl sidelines with corporate non-fans, and made the issue worse by giving those non-fan sections gigantic living rooms for them to go up to and pass the game in a more inviting non-game environment. Even when their attendance is decent, you've got 10 to 25% of them out of their seats in the club.

The suite rings pushed the real fans so far away from the action that it's very difficult to get into the game.

Lastly, the Rockets have to provide an entertaining product. This has dogged them the entire time at Toyota Center. We had Van Gundy's unwatchable offense. We continue to have MIA franchise guys that either are in street clothes or are trying to remember which leg to gimp on. It's pretty hard to get pumped and excited when Rafer is desperately trying to get our score out of the 70s.

We haven't been relevant in the NBA since the 90s. That sucks, but it's the truth. This town isn't diehard, especially with basketball. It's typical with warm cities. The team has got to show Houston something.

When the 22-game streak happened last year, it was a display of how badly the fans want to get excited in the TC. The playoff games the last two years likewise had serious energy. But when the team goes and lays a turd on the court like they did last night? Who's getting rowdy over that?

Evan

 

we always have a thread about this every year.

don't people know that the lower level seats are for corporations and people who can afford expensive season tickets?

its about the money, not the fans as usual.

the upper level is usually where all the rocket faithful are.

 

I think some of the blame should be put on the team, as well. They haven't exactly been playing great basketball, and the team is not as exciting to watch as you would, say, the Portland Trailblazers.

If we had the same team as Portland, would you still think the TC atmosphere would remain as it is now?

 

Well said as usual, Evan. Especially the part about not being relevant since the 90's.

Like it or not, it's true. We haven't won a playoff series in a decade. Injured "superstars" and 1st round exits are pretty much our whole identity right now. That won't change until we do something about it.

Until then, we are stuck with just having to live off of our glory years which seem further and further away with each injury-plagued season.

EDIT: And by "glory years" I'm NOT referring to the Francis/Mobley/Cato years.....