Tuesday, October 1, 2013

What WNBA fans need to know about the Gwinnett Center (or rather, what I know about it)

I've been to see games at the Gwinnett Center a few times.  I saw the infamous Elmo Game in 2009, and I also saw a few Georgia Tech games at Gwinnett when their arena was being renovated.  Here are some things that you might want to know:

1)  It's smaller that Philips Arena, obviously.  The listed capacity for basketball is about 12,000, so you'll be able to get all of the Dream's fans (and then some) inside.  Attendance for the Elmo Game in 2009 was listed at 4,780 although it seemed a lot smaller than that.

2)  The impression I got is that seating is a little bit farther back than Philips, so expect to crane your neck a little.

3)  Parking is ample.

4)  There is no overhead jumbotron.  The electronic scoreboards are at either end of the arena.

5)  If you're press, I expect they'll do what they did for the Elmo Game - they'll put a row of tables at one of the baselines.  Which means that you will get to experience the game up close and personal when an errant basketball sails in your general direction.

6)  The innards of the arena are a little bit confusing.  Phillips's innards are more straightforward; leave the court, and then turn left (or right) respectively for the locker room area.  You'll need a little bit more direction at Gwinnett.

7)  Georgia Tech did have press parking, but I don't know what they're going to do about Gwinnett.

8)  Concessions?  I don't know.

9)  There is a hotel nearby, but dogged if I know what the name of it is.

10)  I don't know how hard it is to get to Gwinnett by car.  I got there early during the Elmo Game.  I suspect that the Dream fans that depend on MARTA to get to the games are going to be screwed.

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