Observations From My Last Game As A Toronto Raptors Season Ticket Holder
By Walter DubowecWell, my run is over.
After being a season ticket holder since the Raptors' second season, last night's game against the Miami Heat was the last game for me sitting in my cherished centre court seats. While I was often well entertained from the best seats in the ACC - its time to move on.
Last night cost me over $400 after you factor in ticket costs, parking, gas, pizza , diet cokes, a program and visit to Centre Sports. To top it all off, the Raptors struggled against a Miami Heat that will finish the regular season as the 7th worst team in NBA history.
Thanks for the memories, but the dollar value of the entertainment can't be justified.
If I needed another reminder as to why Raptors tickets are not a good idea, I just needed to look at the ridiculous cost of my 2008 Playoff tickets (which I did not purchase). Here are the prices for a pair of 2008 playoff seats at the ACC:
Round One - $514
Round Two - $646
Round Three - $760
NBA Finals - $950
It is insane. If the Raptors make it to the NBA Finals, it will cost me over $1,000 per game once I add in parking and concession costs. No way!
Raptors struggle to beat the Heat
Coincidentally, it may have have also been Jack Armstrong's last game as a Raptors game analyst after 10 great seasons . I certainly hope not.
Jack is the best hoops broadcaster in Toronto - period. No one comes close to the Coach. I certainly hope the powers at MLSE find a way to bring Jack back or the backlash by loyal Raptors fans will be significant.
Also, it was likely Hall of Fame Coach Pat Riley's last visit to the ACC and he was acknowledged during a break in the action.
Prior to tip-off, first Chuck Swirsky on the big screen and then Chris Bosh at mid-court thanked the Toronto fans for their great support over the past year. Bosh's thank you was met with luke warm applause.
I think most paying fans found the whole thing disingenous after Chris called out our loyal fans only 5 days earlier. I appreciate thank you's which are sincere. I didn't feel what he heard last night was all that genuine.
As always, I appreciate a Raptor team that plays hard and gives me my money's worth. Of course, the Raptors proceeded to deliver an extremely terrible three quarters of basketball against a Heat team which is filled with D-Leaguers. Remember, the Heat were missing seven key players, yet the Raptors played uninspired and otherwise pathetic basketball against the worst team in the NBA.
Sam Mitchell was so disgusted that he called a time-out only 48 seconds into the second half. During the television broadcast, Jack Arnstrong was openly critical of the Raptors lack of intensity and mental toughness.
Defying all logic, Chris Bosh wonders why Raptor fans sit on their hands! Like Dave Feschuk wrote in the Star - "Shut Up and Win". Truer words have never been written.
Fortunately for the Raptors, their overall team talent was able to put the Heat away in the fourth quarter, but not without a struggle. The basketball gods smiled on Toronto once again when Cleveland pulled out a controversial 91-90 victory after the NBA site had already posted a 90-89 victory for Philadelphia.
The Raptors now face the Orlando Magic in the first round and avoid the Pistons - which would have been an almost certain sweep for Motown.
The final chapter
Its really too bad that true blue (or is is red) Raptor fans can't afford decent seats anymore.
Last night, two guys sat behind me in corporate club seats in row 24. They had zero interest in the basketball game. They were there simply because they received a pair of freebies. The guy sitting next to me (not even a corporate type) spent most of the game checking his Blackberry. Chris Bosh can call out the fans all he wants, but until MLSE makes the lower bowl accessible to 'real' fans - nothing will change.
I would also guess that at least 20% of the lower bowl were no-shows last evening - which in itself indicates that the corporate seat owners don't really care about the Toronto Raptors.
Walter, Althea, Andrew, Danielle and our sign waving little super fan- Thomas, truly enjoyed our time spent at the ACC over the years. Next season, we'll make occasional visits back to the ACC, but we will watch most games in front of our new 50" HDTV, instead.
We'll miss Row 23, Section 119, Seats 19 & 20 on the aisle. Its a little sad, but its definitely time to move on. Too bad, but it won't be the same for these diehard fans.
There's a lesson here for MLSE, but sadly I suspect they don't really care.
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