This week I wanted to share my experience of going to watch the 03/07/24 Golden State Warriors match against the Chicago Bulls at the Chase Center arena. It was my first time ever watching an NBA game, I haven’t even seen one on TV! The experience was very different from what I thought it would be, particularly the entertainment in the breaks between quarters or halftime and the constant music played throughout the game. I think the players must be able to tune it out, as it was a home game for the Golden State Warriors, the crowd was actively encouraged to put off the Bulls when they were taking penalty shots! It made the atmosphere great, the whole crowd was involved and the closeness of the game made it even better.
Getting there:
My friend and I booked tickets about three weeks before the game, we were almost the furthest seats from the front and paid $80 each. Although the seats are still expensive for where they are, the view is still incredible and the massive screens everywhere make it impossible to miss anything. So, I wouldn’t say these seats are bad at all and are a ‘cheaper’ way to watch an NBA game in person. From the SFSU campus, it was easy to get to the Chase Center, we took the M muni line to Powell station and then the T line to the UCSF/Chase Center stop which drops you off right by the entrance to the arena. It took about an hour from the campus to the arena.
Merch (Warrior’s shop):
We arrived early, at about 5 to watch the players warm up before the start of the game at around 7, but also to make sure we could have a good look around the merch shop. Of course, as to be expected, the prices were expensive, but there was a sale rack if you were looking for a cheaper option and I managed to find a t-shirt for $20 with the Warriors logo, in their signature blue color. The prices varied but jumpers were around $80-120 and the jerseys were about $150 if you wanted to treat yourself. If you don’t feel like spending so much money on merch with our seats, we did receive a Warriors mini towel when we arrived, and the souvenir cups weren’t expensive and were refillable.
Food:
We decided to then get food before more people started arriving and the queues became longer. There were a good number of options: pizza, burgers, hot dogs, I went for a hot dog and fries with the souvenir refillable cup, it was $30 but it was really delicious, and I could eat whilst watching the players warm up.
The game:
The game started with some entertainment. There was a band performance by a group of Pittsburgh students, pyrotechnics, fire, flag waving, and an introduction film on the big screen with a countdown. It was strange to be able to see the players watching all of this on the courtside about to play a professional game of basketball, the game was like a performance with music and dancers, it was very different from what I had expected, knowing nothing going into it, but it was very entertaining. The game itself was very fast-paced and because of this, I think I preferred it more to the NFL and the Super Bowl
because it was easier to follow and get into, I wasn’t there in person though! If you’ve never played or watched a basketball game before, don’t worry it's easy to understand the basics of the games and by the end of the first quarter I was able to understand what was going on and the way points were scored. If a hoop is scored in the smaller D it is worth 2 points, if it is scored from behind the bigger D that is 3 points and then a penalty scored is 1 point. I think what made the game even better to watch was how close the scores were the entire length of the game; it actually made it impossible to stop watching and the Chicago Bulls only won for certain in the last 20 seconds of the game. I wouldn’t say I’m a particularly competitive person but watching this turned me into one. I couldn't help myself screaming when the Warriors either scored a hoop or missed one, my voice was sore, and my ears were ringing when the game was finished. We did lose, which wasn’t ideal, but I didn’t mind much. I was just happier to have been there and experienced an NBA game in person, which is something I’ll probably never get to do again. I think the next goal is to watch a Giants Game at Oracle Park and then I will have seen an American football game, a basketball game, and a baseball game.
If you get the chance, I would highly recommend trying to get tickets for an NBA game either if you’re here studying abroad or just visiting. The Chase Center is easy to get to, the food was good and the entertainment was even better. It was definitely worth the price and is one of my favorite things I’ve got to experience since being in San Francisco, and I’ve got a new t-shirt and towel and a cup out of it!
