Making the preseason better
I wrote about this back in March after a couple of us headed to a Cubs spring training game in Mesa, Ariz. It's a lot more relevant now that we're in the middle of the NBA preseason, when we're subjected to a month of going-through-the-motions exhibition games.
If you look at the Denver Nuggets' schedule, you can get a feel for just how numbing the preseason can be. The Nuggets will play an outdoor game in Indian Wells, Calif., along with games in Syracuse, N.Y., Bismarck, N.D., and Edmonton, Alberta.
There's just no comparison between spring training and the NBA preseason, which is the problem. A couple of you wrote back in March to say summer league was the NBA's answer to spring training, but I still believe the entire October experience can be improved.
Start with location: Spring training has the benefit of being in two places - - Arizona and Florida - - where fans want to vacation. I proposed having the NBA gather all its Western Conference teams in Las Vegas and Eastern Conference teams in Miami for a tournament.
There's no league that does it, but a preseason tournament could generate interest. It'd be sort of like a big-time D-League showcase and might even give coaches a reason to bring back the starters in the fourth quarter of an exhibition game.
I spent a day in St. Petersburg, Fla., on vacation this summer and marveled at all the spring training parks within an hour's drive. There's just something special in spring training about watching big leaguers play in what is a minor-league stadium.
I don't know if the NBA ever would go for it, but how about playing in front of a full house at a place like Salt Lake Community College instead of thousands of empty seats at EnergySolutions Arena? Or head to Utah Valley University and play in the Flash's gym?
The NBA also should borrow a page from spring training and increase access for fans. Teams should be required to hold practice outside their facility at least once during the preseason. Go to a small gym and let fans get as close as they can to the action.
I've seen firsthand just how people can be drawn to watching these guys whenever they hold shootaround at some college or health club. They're so big and so athletic that they can't help but draw a crowd just doing full-court drills.
There also should be no ticket to any NBA preseason game that costs more than $25. I know that's a hit in Larry Miller's pocket, but I think it would send a message to fans. Upper deck tickets should be $5 and general admission seating.
Each team also should invite past greats to hang around. The Cubs had Ferguson Jenkins and Lee Smith signing autographs at the game we went to. People love the old-timers, and it couldn't hurt for today's generation of players to feel a little connection to the past.
As I concluded that original post in March, I'll repeat again right now: There's no way the NBA preseason ever will be able to match the romance of spring training, but it definitely could be more than just a month everyone wants over as quickly as possible.
If anybody else has suggestions, I'd love to hear them. By the way, I'm already looking at a March 12 off-day on the Jazz's schedule as a chance to get to a spring training game. I highly doubt anybody ever has made similar plans for an NBA preseason night out.
--Ross Siler
If you look at the Denver Nuggets' schedule, you can get a feel for just how numbing the preseason can be. The Nuggets will play an outdoor game in Indian Wells, Calif., along with games in Syracuse, N.Y., Bismarck, N.D., and Edmonton, Alberta.
There's just no comparison between spring training and the NBA preseason, which is the problem. A couple of you wrote back in March to say summer league was the NBA's answer to spring training, but I still believe the entire October experience can be improved.
Start with location: Spring training has the benefit of being in two places - - Arizona and Florida - - where fans want to vacation. I proposed having the NBA gather all its Western Conference teams in Las Vegas and Eastern Conference teams in Miami for a tournament.
There's no league that does it, but a preseason tournament could generate interest. It'd be sort of like a big-time D-League showcase and might even give coaches a reason to bring back the starters in the fourth quarter of an exhibition game.
I spent a day in St. Petersburg, Fla., on vacation this summer and marveled at all the spring training parks within an hour's drive. There's just something special in spring training about watching big leaguers play in what is a minor-league stadium.
I don't know if the NBA ever would go for it, but how about playing in front of a full house at a place like Salt Lake Community College instead of thousands of empty seats at EnergySolutions Arena? Or head to Utah Valley University and play in the Flash's gym?
The NBA also should borrow a page from spring training and increase access for fans. Teams should be required to hold practice outside their facility at least once during the preseason. Go to a small gym and let fans get as close as they can to the action.
I've seen firsthand just how people can be drawn to watching these guys whenever they hold shootaround at some college or health club. They're so big and so athletic that they can't help but draw a crowd just doing full-court drills.
There also should be no ticket to any NBA preseason game that costs more than $25. I know that's a hit in Larry Miller's pocket, but I think it would send a message to fans. Upper deck tickets should be $5 and general admission seating.
Each team also should invite past greats to hang around. The Cubs had Ferguson Jenkins and Lee Smith signing autographs at the game we went to. People love the old-timers, and it couldn't hurt for today's generation of players to feel a little connection to the past.
As I concluded that original post in March, I'll repeat again right now: There's no way the NBA preseason ever will be able to match the romance of spring training, but it definitely could be more than just a month everyone wants over as quickly as possible.
If anybody else has suggestions, I'd love to hear them. By the way, I'm already looking at a March 12 off-day on the Jazz's schedule as a chance to get to a spring training game. I highly doubt anybody ever has made similar plans for an NBA preseason night out.
--Ross Siler
3:32 PM
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1 Comments:
Years ago when the Jazz practiced at the Sport Mall, we used to pull some of our kids out of school for a couple of hours and go over and watch practice. Sometimes we'd chat with a player or Frank. That was great fun!
Jazzaholic
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