Anyone go yesterday? Any thoughts... I went and I thought it was better than last year, but it is a mess. The Rockets staff was not helpful and at times were quite rude. They had absolutely no information and seem generally annoyed during the whole process. I just figured that if you are going to do something nice for your season ticket holders, at least try to be a lit more organized and make the experience more enjoyable for people.
was there with my gf, we had fun, just need a bigger place,and why does it seem to me that everyone there is NOT a ticket holder?,thats the part i didnt like.... there should of been two plyers per photo session,but it was cool for being crowded. no complints other thatn a bigger place and more of a chance to meet everyone.
I am very glad you made this post, I was very tempted to make it myself. I was VERY upset! This is my 4th playday, and by far the worst one. We got there around 5:45pm and stood in line outside until 7pm just to get autograph sessions or photo shoots. Personally, I could care less about the photo shoots, all I wanted was an autograph session. Well we walk and and both of us get photo shoots. I ask the lady if I can have an autograph session instead and she says no. I then start asking all of the people who were in line around me and she said all of them received photo shoots too and were upset as well. Usually they mix them all up and give them out randomly, but I think what they did was....the first 350 people there got photo shoots, and the last 350 got autograph sessions. So anyway, once she told me no I immediatetly crumpled up the paper and asked her if there was a trash can near. I then went on and saw my ticket guy who knows me personally. I asked him if he could get us an autograph session and I'd give him a photo shoot back, of course he says no. What a great start to a grand night! Everyone that came in got a T-Shirt and cards with 30 credits! WOW! Seeing that those games cost 6-8 credits on average, you can tell how long that lasted. The first thing we did was go upstairs and eat so we could beat the crowd. They give you these plates that are about 6 inches in diameter to get your food on. Oh and like the last few season ticket holder events, you have to pay for your drinks....$2.19 for a coke! While we're sitting there TMac walks by, goes to a bowling lane, and sits there about 5 minutes and then walks off. Doesn't acknowledge fans by waving, smiling, or anything else. Then David Wesley comes up and starts taking pictures with people, you can tell he's a great guy and wants to make your experience more enjoyable. After about 20 minutes he leaves and Juwan and Chuck come up. They start bowling, and taking pictures with people. Juwan is definitely a great person, acknowledging fans by waving, smiling, and even talking to them. Unfortunately Chuck was just "there" because not many people were paying him much attention. So Juwan and Chuck bowl a game and right before they finish my gf comes back from the first photo shoot. Can anyone guess who it was? Yup, TMac. I'm really happy for her and starting to slap myself for getting so upset about not getting at least 1 autograph session. Then she tells me how he was nothing like what she presumed. On the court you can see him always laughing and smiling. Well you could tell he didn't want to be there. He didn't smile in the photo, and when she said thank you before walking off his response was...."mmmph." I'm sure you can hear that sound in your head. She said his respect for him had dwindled. Ok so now it's time for the second photo shoot so we go downstairs and get in line. While we wait for Yao to finish up a video game (probably about 5-10 minutes) time is passing that was supposed to be spent on the photo shoot, this would come back to haunt us. The line finally starts moving, and we get very excited to find out Yao is the one taking pictures! Wow, now I'm REALLY kicking myself for getting upset, pictures with Yao and TMac both in one night, it can't get much better. Then here comes a Rockets employee saying they've run low on film and there will be a slight delay. Nobody complains, everyone just waits, they figure it's worth it for Yao. A few minutes later this person comes back saying they will be taking the pictures with 2 people instead of 1 each time. He tells the lady behind us to "meet someone" so that person can be in the picture with her. They were putting a person on each side of Yao, and taking the picture. At this time some people are upset, but most seemed to let it slide off becase, once again, it was Yao. Then here comes Yao walking by, even if you had the photo shoot for Yao, you were screwed because of all of the wasted time with him playing video games and the film problem. Now you were getting your picture taken with Stromile, still 2 at a time. Now the people are angry. How can you not bring enough film if you know how many passes your giving out? They said the first 700 will receive autograph or photo sessions. Then it dawns on me, how can film be the problem? If your taking a picture with someone else, each of you still get a picture. It was obviously just to save time. There were SO many people complaining that they were forced to take picutres with people they didn't know. How can you cherish, or frame a picture when it contains a person you've never seen or met before? Someone comes by "Wow, you go your picture taken with Yao!" "But who is that?" and you have to tell them you have no idea, I just like taking pictures with complete strangers. Overall this was a terrible experience for us. We have been to 3 previous play days and all were head and shoulders above this one. At the previous ones you could play games with the players, and play other games to win prizes. I really want to call and tell them that we're not interested in renewing our tickets next year, but unfortunately I know I couldn't do that. I'm sure we'll be missing a few more games than usual for the remainder of the year though..... Pugs
Yeah, I thought Dave and Busters worked out a lot better than Jillians. When I asked our ticket guy why they were having it there instead of Dave and Busters like usual, he told me that Jillians was cheaper than Dave and Busters. That's our Rockets for you! Pugs
Yeah, me and the wife got there and we were first in one of the lines. I mean we there at like 4:45. So I too, could care less about a photogragh session. Especially when they are FREAKIN POLAROIDS. At least put them on line so you can a get a size that you want. Anyway, so we walk in first and we get two photograph sessions. I ask the lady can Please have an autograph session instead and she rudely says no. I mean this event for season ticket holders, they should at least try to be nice. So, the wife and I work the room and end up trading for couple of autograph sessions. Now, the autographs, not only do they not know who is going to be autographing at each session, the rules seem to change. So the first session we get hayes and Juwon. Juwon is as nice as can be, really interested in the fans and making small talk. The second session has Bowen and Barry. So I get up to the table and then one of the rocket employees states now that you cant get two autograpghs you just have to choose between the players. I mean come on! they are side by side each other and you telling me that we can just get both of their autographs. I mention this while I am getting Barry's autogragh saying that we come and wait in line just for this chance and now you are saying we can only get one. Then Barry looks at the Rockets empolyees and says fairly loudly, "that is weak" and he passes my hat to Bowen and Bowen signs it. I ask one of the Rocket employees if Yao or McGrady are going to sign, and they say neither one of them is. Overall, the Rocket employees were rude, and looked very annoyed anytime you asked a question. The Rockets need to take a lesson from the Astros Fan Fest. These guys know how to do it. They have specified times, specified number of autographs, it is first come first served. This is fair. Just passing out photograph or autograph sessions randomly is garbage. I am a season ticket holder and was pretty upset with last nite. I also agree, how come no one there seems like a season ticket holder?
I did not even bother going to this last night. I have been the last few years, and they are horrible. You wait in line for a damn long time, and when you get inside it is a like a sardine jar. Way too crowded. Last year at the casino christmas party the rockets rep's did not give us an autograph or photoshoot slip. But they gave everyone one in front and behind us!! I went and complained to the rockets and they gave me one autograph pass. When I went to get my qutograph it was a scrub. I cant even remeber who it was, Padgetts backup I think. You were not allowed to get anything of yours signed, only an autograph on an index card that had the rockets logo on it. Horrible. Has anyone else noticed that the face value of the all star tickets comes out to 375 per seat includng tax for the whole weekend, while the rockets chraged us 500 per seat! Whats up with that?!?
I'm sure most of them were season ticket holders, but after thinking about it...if you know the name of another season ticket holder and how many are in their party, you could get in like that. Just say "I don't have my pass, but my name is on the list." I even saw this on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ROCKETS-4TH-ANN...ryZ16122QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem So who knows, I'm sure some of them weren't season ticket holders, but it doesn't bother me. Pugs
