Hoops & Heels suite level thrills

Bobcats: Hoops & Heels

Hoops & Heels with Bobcat's reporter
Stephanie Ready. 

Yesterday it was +Charlotte Bobcats  vs. +Denver Nuggets , although the Bobcats came up short, I had a great time. I admit it, after last night, my NBA viewing is now tainted. I'm spoiled I tell ya! I went to my first Bobcats game, and had a phenomenal experience with their Hoops & Heels event. It started with a lesson on Basketball:

Basketball 101

Stephanie Ready with some Bobcats execs

I started playing basketball as a little girl, and played team ball until I was a teenager. Stephanie Ready gave us ladies a run down on how basketball works, from the dimensions of the court to the calls refs make. Some women walked away with NBA rule books. 

And even I learned some things during the Basketball 101 session of Hoops & Heels that I attended at Bobcats/TWC Arena. For instance, did you know that Cheryl Miller was approached by several men's professional teams to play for them after she left college? 

Have you ever heard of Penny Anne Early? This lady was the first woman to play in a professional men's game. And Denise Long is the only woman to be drafted into the NBA (although her selection was later voided). I didn't even know that Nancy Lieberman played for three men's teams.

Here I was thinking Brittney Griner would be the first to do any of those things.

Court side at shoot-a-round

Brendan Haywood and Gerald
Henderson at shoot around before game.

Prior to the game starting, the players have a quick shoot-a-round. I happened to run into an old classmate from UNC down on the court. Brendan Haywood and I matriculated at UNC back in the day...ooh I'm getting old :( LMBO. As a matter of fact, I don't think I had seen Brendan since 2001...or maybe at a homecoming some time ago.

We were sitting so close to the floor, that Brendan looked up saw me and gave the head nod and fist in the air. Now I wish I could say he had a stellar performance in the game, but I'd be lying. I have to cut him some slack, he's been in the league since 2001...so yeah, he's getting old too.

Dell Curry, dad to Steph and Seth Curry...
oh and legendary Charlotte Hornets sharp
shooter.

As pre-game activities wound down, I saw a few other folks I recognized. Big Pat who announces for the Bobcats, was down on the floor flirting with all the ladies in our group. LMBO. I had run into Pat previously at WGIV, where he used to have a show with a lady named Jacinda. Then I saw the legendary Dell Curry.

Dell and Sonya Curry

Dell was a staple with the Charlotte Hornets back in the day, he had the smoothest shot on the planet. Shoot, he probably had a crisper shot than Reggie Miller. But who can blame Reggie for being a little janky? He grew up getting his butt beat by his older sister, Cheryl.  

Dell is a little older and a little more well fed, but I'm sure he can still rain down some threes if you asked him. Guys go wild over his wife, Sonya, who can be seen in the stands at Duke (oooh it pained me not to spell it "Dook") games cheering on their son, Seth Curry. Meanwhile their eldest son, Steph, is knocking down jumpers in the NBA like his dear old dad. Oh, and don't leave daughter Sydel out, she's burning up the volleyball court these days.

Spoiled in the Suite

We headed up to the Suite to watch the game.

I had taken a tour of the TWC Arena a while back when I met their then Director of Communications Michael Thompson for lunch and PR talk. But I never visited one of the suites until last night. Let me just say that the entire experience at TWC Arena is top notch. Everyone is extremely pleasant and hospitable. 

They even have elevator operators who greet you with a smile and polite conversation. As we all crammed into the elevators to sashay off to our suites, I peeped Chirl Girl from Charlotte's V101.9 on my elevator. 

View from the Suite before the game starts.

So the ladies with Hoops and Heels had two suites for the Bobcats-Nuggets game. Let me tell you, the seats alone are worth watching from a suite versus the regular arena seats. Here comes the spoiling.

First, the seats are comfy like the first class section of an airplane. (The only reason I know what that feels like is because I once traveled with a broken ankle. The airline took pity on me and sat me in first class. Hmmm...I wonder if I can find that boot for the next time I take a flight.) So you don't get butt paralysis from sitting on a hard seat! LOL

Then you can have a private chef and bartender in your suite. Who among us would not want that? I mean, as you know, I don't sip the spirits, but my cohorts were pleased with the option. 

Seeing as I am tied to my phone, I was also pleased with the fact that I had an outlet to plug in my charger! It's the little things....LOL. Now what would I have done had I watched the game from down in the arena?

The crowd is arriving.

The view from the suite is pretty fantastic too. The Bobcats do a great deal with fan participation during the game. They have a segment called "Tweet Your Seats" which can win you a seat upgrade. It was pretty cool. I like how interactive the game is with social media. 

They also drop little parachutes with t-shirts from the rafters, there could always be a surprise rolled up in the t-shirt, like tickets to the games or concert tickets. There were several lucky winners last night.

Bobcats Swag

I collected several trinkets from the
Bobcats game.

On top of the great time I had, I walked away with some great stuff! In the swag bag all the Hoops and Heels ladies received were things I can actually use. A cute v-neck t-shirt with "Hoops & Heels" at the bottom with the Bobcats logo, a gift card to Hickory Tavern, a gift certificate to Horizon's Eye Care, a +Lacoste eye wear case, Laura Mercier makeup, and several other items. 

All in all, I had a blast. I don't think I can ever go to another game without sitting in a suite or at least court side... shoooot! LOL

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