All this is nice Jeff, but lets get to the serious question....the only question that matters. How many beer stands are there?
Hey Jeff... do you know the answer to this? I really hope the arena does have them... I think its pretty much standard in all the new arenas (Staples, both AA centers, SBC Center). If the Rockets don't get this, then that's really being cheap. Spend some more money on the luxury suites and parking grage then...
No, that thing is soooo stupid. What's the point of it??? Just so there can be an annoying advertisement. I really don't care for them, and i hope the Rockets do without them. It's a big waste of money. There only needs to be a few panel screens, not an entire coverage area. Plus, you can't tape your sign there. But really, I hope the money for that goes into something more useful. There's just no point to them except for a thin area for a few words to be posted. Might as well put up another huge screen.
I'm confused about the panel screens you guys are talking about. Are you talking about the video screens for the game? For example, the compaq center only had two: one on each end of the stadium. The Bulls arena has the four panel video screens that are above the court and those are much better. My question is, does the Rockets arena have the Bulls type or Compaq center type. I'd assume the new type cause thats what the new arenas are like. OR, are you talking about the screen panels that go around the perimeter of the seating which post game statistics and scores and advertisements? I'm indifferent about these but not sure what you guys are asking. Jeff, can you please tell us if they got the 4 way video panels that are above the court? And Also, another question I've been wanting to ask. Does Clutchcity.net have the Rockets' ear? Do they report news to you knowing that you guys have lots of fans under you? Do try to keep you guys in touch with any issues or anything? Hope you understand what I'm asking. Maybe the question is: Is clutchcity.net recognized as a force with the Rockets organization?
Guys, I don't think you are getting the point about the stage of construction the arena is in. Ever been inside a house when the sheetrock isn't painted, the floor is still concrete and the windows still have plastic sheets on them? That's what this building looks like. Only about half the seats are actually in, none of the floors and only a very few of the lights throughout the building. There are temporary doors and nothing is painted. I don't even know if the toilets have been installed yet. So, I would have no possible way of answering questions about scoreboards, beer stands, concessions or panel displays. None of that stuff is close to being put in yet. Here are a couple of construction photos from the arena website. This is about the way it looks now... As you can imagine, it is pretty hard to tell from that where the hell you are in the building let alone what the scoreboard will look like or if there will be display screens in the concourses.
The people in the front office read the site and they appreciate its value as a place where fans gather to discuss the team. Hell, their director of marketing posts on here occassionally. As far as I know, no one from the players/coaching side of the team actually reads it or visits here. That's pretty much it.
Okay, I can answer the scoreboard/video sections. Regarding the "panels that go all the way around the arena": It's called the 360 ring, and we'll have it. It's essentially an LCD video display that encircles the arena between the upper and lower bowl. It will be used for sponsor ads sometimes, sure ... it will also be used for out-of-town scores and just to help create the right atmosphere in the arena. We've just started programming the video features for it. It's an odd shaped format to program for, but if done right, it can be very impressive. Regarding the main video panels: We'll have both a center hung scoreboard and end hung video boards. (Compaq only has end hungs, and the technology for the end hungs there is rather dated.) The 4 main video boards on the center hung will have the highest resolution of any facility in the world -- Dallas had the best we are aware of currently, but we'll have about twice the resolution they do. From the stands, it should look like you're watching a very good TV. I'd love to play a first-run movie on it during the open house just to show it off. As far as how the organization feels about clutchcity.net -- we have an amazing amount of respect for it. It's the best fan-run site in the league by a good margin. Clutch and his crew do a great job. Tim McDougall Vice President of Marketing Houston Rockets and Comets
Wow, there will be end scoreboards?!?! That's actually pretty amazing considering no other arena has those anymore (do they?). Hey, maybe you can play some highlights during arena tours or something, heh. It all sounds amazing really. Good luck with all the new things this year with the Rockets, and I'll try to get to that Comets game!
hey Jeff, did you see that step ladder that was used in that commercial where that kid had to walk up on to give Yao Ming a high five? My BBS homey Tech and me wanted to see if one of you guys could find it and maybe ask Les if he could sell it on Ebay and then we could buy it for a Jeff Van Gundy as kinda a welcoming present. We were thinking Van Gundy could use it to climb up on when giving Yao a few face to face talks in the future and maybe a high five or two. So what do you say, keep your eyes peeled for that ladder and let us know if they are willing to sell it.
Hahaha, that sounds like it would be a great commercial. A parody of the little girl one. JVG shakes off a stepstool and whatever else, gets the ladder. Walks off to center court to high-five Yao, and the text comes up: "Congratulations to the 2003-2004 NBA champion Rockets!"
I don't mean to bring up a sore point, Jeff, but don't you even rate a free pair of seats in the arena? You know, when they take a camera into the stands, point it at a couple (Bill Worley: "There's Mr. and Mrs. Balke, waving at the camera." Calvin: "Looks like they got some nachos there; now THAT's what I'm talkin 'bout, Bill, we need some nachos....you fly, I buy.") And a supply of "I SAVED THE ROCKETS: CLUTCHCITY RULES" T-shirts?
This is great news. I am so tired of those dirty, smelly people, coming down and pretending to be one of us. And the parking garage will be wonderful, there is nothing worse than having to park next to a Buick or Chevrolet.
