36 AMERICANWAY
FEBRUARY 15 2009
will comedown. TheGarden, whichplayed
host toAli-Frazier, theRangersStanleyCup
run in 1994, and theConcert forNewYork
City in2001, lives on.
What won’t change is the experience.
Celebrity row still attracts A-list stars like
Chris Rock, Paul McCartney, and shock
jockHowardStern. Sometimes, thecelebri-
ties becomepart of the action, like the time
fashion designer Calvin Klein walked onto
the court to shake hands with one-time
KnicksplayerLatrell Sprewell.
Before games, the bars and restaurants
around the Garden are alive with activity.
At Cafe 31, you are guaranteed quick ser-
vice and good food even if you arewearing
the jersey of another team. After the game,
you’ll be able to spotKnicks players, coach-
es, and even some of theKnicksCityDanc-
ers there. Around the corner, LocalWest is
anotherwateringholewhere youmight see
a famous faceor two.
Celebrity sightingsat theFordCenterare
rare. Opening night in October attracted
Oklahoma governor Brad Henry and for-
mer Oklahoma football coach Barry Swit-
zer. There is a more homespun feel to the
Thunder’s fanbase. The enthusiasm for the
team is genuine. The Thunder are among
the league leaders in crowd attendance,
andwhileNewYorkers arepraised for their
basketball intelligence,OklahomaCity fans
are smart enough toknow that home-court
advantage is aprecious thing.
There is noKobe, nor
asmanyA-list stars, at the
Clippers games, though.
MeMphis Grizzlies
FedexForum
—A first-rate
venue that is empty onmost
nights, it’s locatedoneblock
from famous Beale Street. The
popcorn chickenwill hold you
over until after thegame, when
you can head to theBlues
CityCafe, where the ribs are
waiting.
MiaMi hea t
american
a irlines arena
—This iswhere
all thebeautiful peoplego,
although they tend to arrive
late. It has the famousMiami
Heat dance team andBongos
CubanCafé, ownedbyGloria
andEmilioEstefan. How’s this
for NBAparadise: You can see
DwyaneWade for a coupleof
hours and then head to South
Beach?
Mil waukee Bucks
Bradley center
— It’s basic
but functional, just like the
city itself, and family friendly.
It even has a liveband for
entertainment. Gowith
thepolish sausage. This is
Milwaukee, after all.
Min n eso ta
t iMBerwol ves
target
center
—On coldnights,
walk from several downtown
hotels to the arena via the city’s
famous skyway system. Inside,
it’s crampedbut also loud. The
league-run restaurant NBACity
is located here. Spend your
postgame time at the Loon
Cafe.
n ew Jersey n ets
izod
center
—Having hosted
two StanleyCup–clinching
wins for the state’s other pro
team, theNHL’sDevils, and
two consecutiveNBA Finals
appearances for theNets
(2002 and2003), this arena
has seen its shareof history.
Courtside suites offer agreat
game-viewingexperience
for watchingNets stars such
as VinceCarter andDevin
Harris. Not tomention that an
encounter withNetsmascot Sly
is one youwon’t soon forget.
n ew o r l ea n s
hornets
neworleans
arena
—Recovered nicely
fromHurricaneKatrina, it put
on agood show at last year’s
NBAAll-Star Game. The
checkered seatswill make you
dizzy, while theoverstuffed
bakedpotatowill keep you
happy. It’s a short walk to
Bourbon Street, but taking a
cab is abetter option.
n ew york knicks
Madison squareGarden
—
Theone andonly! Spike Lee
andWoodyAllenown season
tickets to theKnicks, and
celebrity row still attracts its
shareofmovie stars. Save your
appetite for Cafe31, located
across the street.Withgood
food and reasonableprices,
Cafe31 attracts players aswell
as someKnicksCityDancers.
o k l a hoMa c it y
t hunder
Ford center
—
Here, you’ll find small-town
charmwith a first-classNBA
arena. The city is already
pouringmoremoney into the
facility for improvements. Fans
have collegelikepassion about
the team. Hopefully, that will
still be the case in five years.
Theburger withgrilledonions
shouldhold youover until you
head toBricktownwhen the
final buzzer sounds
o rlando Ma Gic
amway
arena
—Watching agame
here is evenmoreexcitingnow
thatOrlando is oneof the top
teams in theNBA. Politeushers
will allow you toget close to
the court before thegame for
autographs.Or you can just
hangout at thedowntown
Westin hotel to spy a superstar
or two.
philadelphia 76ers
wachovia center
—A sports
lover’s paradise, thehomeof
theSixers and theNHL’s Flyers
is surroundedby sleek new
football andbaseball stadiums.
The crowd canbe tough, even
on its ownplayers, but there’s
good in-game entertainment.
And you can’t leavewithout
diving into a famous Philly
cheesesteak sandwich.
phoenix suns
us
a irways center
— It’s so
good, it is hosting its second
NBAAll-Star Game in 13
years.Well-behaved fans
includegolfer PhilMickelson
andplenty ofMajor League
Baseball players (who attend
during spring training). Get
a tasteof theSouthwest with
Ancho-ChileGrilledChicken
Quesadillas.
por tland t rail
Blazers
the roseGarden
—Thehottest ticket in town,
this arena is easily accessed
fromdowntown if you ride
the light-rail. Fans have high
basketball IQs, and seating is
close to the court. FreshGrilled
WildCopper River Sockeye
salmon is theobvious choice
here.
sacra Mento k in Gs
arco arena
—This is the
NBA’s smallest arena, but it has
a hugehome-court advantage,
as the team’s loud and zany
fans arenotoriously someof
thebest andmost loyal in the
NBA. Inother words, this arena
is theNBA’s answer toDuke
University’s raucousCameron
Indoor Stadium. Not even the
roast-turkey sandwich keeps
the crowdquiet.
san a ntonio spurs
at&t center
— It has very
little charmbut lots of banners
and is a short drive from
downtown. TheCoyotewill
have you laughing, and the
Charcoal GrilledBarbecued
Prawns at theTerrace
Restaurant will leave you
stuffed. Theplace tobe after
thegame is Rosario’s, which
has thebestMexican food in
town.
t oronto r aptors
a ir canada centre
— It’s
essentially a hockey arena, yet
it is a topbasketball venue
aswell. You’ll see thebest-
dressed fans in the league
here. Pace yourself with the
local beer— it’s potent.
NearbyHarbour SportsGrille is
thebest-kept secret in town.
u tah Jazz
energysolutions arena
—
That doesn’t exactly roll off
your tongue, now, does it?
Jazz fans are renowned for
complaining about the refs.
Outside sit statues of Jazz
legends KarlMalone and John
Stockton. Take a chanceon
the artichoke-stuffed chicken
breast.
washin Gton wizards
verizon center
—This
underrated arena is located
in the revitalizedChinatown
district. There’s ametro stop
right at theVerizonCenter. You
may even see thepresident
or, at least, a senator or two.
Fans andplayers spill intoRosa
Mexicano after thegame.
