The Darkened Seats of Staples Center

by saxmanager on Jan 24, 2012 12:14 PM PST

The abusive Laker fans, who act like they own the place at Clipper HOME Games. The lights in the stands lowered so security can't see what's going on. The idiots who try to burn down the city during a championship celebration. The inflated prices buying tickets(has that evened out yet with the Lob Angeles Clippers?) Does anyone here at Clips Nation like to put themselves through attending a Lakers-Clippers game on the Lakers home floor?

Tweet Comment 33 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

i would go, but prob can’t afford it.

and i don’t want those jerks to set my NSX on fire

by Worlock on Jan 24, 2012 12:31 PM PST reply actions

I have yet to go...

But when I do you can count on me being the most obnoxious fan there.

Reminds me of the last game when we were the home team and won. My gf and I were in the 300 section. We were like 8 clipper fans in the whole section and the other fans hated us. We boo’d Kobe so loud these kids almost started crying. Like, how could anyone boo the greatest player on earth?! Eat it kids! I’m sure they will be clipper haters forever.

by EJay on Jan 24, 2012 1:38 PM PST via mobile reply actions

sounds like somethin i'd wanna see

by jon y on Jan 24, 2012 5:42 PM PST up reply actions

About the lights...

Lakers PAID more for those lights

They don’t have anything going on during timeouts, just the Lakers girls.

The mantra is the show is the Lakers. Hence, a theatre like atmosphere with the lights.

IMO it’s better that way.

Mark this one DTS cheap and Buss not.

Blake Griffin is coming, hide your MBengas

by bacek on Jan 24, 2012 1:53 PM PST reply actions

And I like the atmosphere...

by lovinglosangeles on Jan 24, 2012 2:21 PM PST up reply actions

The theater like

by lovinglosangeles on Jan 24, 2012 2:22 PM PST up reply actions

I do like how they look too

but at the same time, I don’t think the crowd gets as loud or as animated when it’s dark. I have been impressed with how loud Clips fans have been at home so far this season, and think it’s something that makes places like Oracle, Energy Solutions, Rose Garden, and Ford (or whatever) Center, so hard to play in. I say keep it loud.

by osamu on Jan 24, 2012 2:49 PM PST up reply actions

As if it matters...

The new name of OKC’s arena is Chesepeake Energy Arena, named an utility company run by one of the Thunder’s minority owners.

by Shawn H on Jan 24, 2012 2:52 PM PST up reply actions

I always forget

haha, I went to Ford Center a few years ago (not during the NBA season, in fact right after they were beat by the Lakers in the 2010 playoffs) so that’s what name sticks in my head.

by osamu on Jan 24, 2012 3:07 PM PST up reply actions

Crowd less animated

Even when the yell, it’s not the same when you can’t see all kinds of crazy possibly shirtless people wiggling around in the stands.

"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden

by Erik O on Jan 24, 2012 3:32 PM PST up reply actions

most crazy shirtless guys at sporting events

usually look better in the dark

Blake Griffin is coming, hide your MBengas

by bacek on Jan 24, 2012 4:36 PM PST up reply actions

Here we have something better

“Clipper Stripper?

"Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance" -Jean-Paul Sarte

by Jayq on Jan 24, 2012 6:23 PM PST up reply actions

It's not about looking good, it's about intimidating the enemy!

"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden

by Erik O on Jan 25, 2012 1:42 PM PST up reply actions

Clippers can hold 60 more players or something like that... if that makes a difference

by shay on Jan 25, 2012 3:45 AM PST up reply actions

wait a second

So DTS is cheap by not turning down the lights, which if he owned the arena, would save him money. lol.

by mustang6944 on Jan 24, 2012 7:27 PM PST up reply actions

they are different lights...

Blake Griffin is coming, hide your MBengas

by bacek on Jan 24, 2012 7:52 PM PST up reply actions

its the same arena

by mustang6944 on Jan 24, 2012 10:58 PM PST up reply actions

don't believe me

http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1671

believe this

check your facts

Blake Griffin is coming, hide your MBengas

by bacek on Jan 25, 2012 12:44 PM PST up reply actions

Righto

From what I know, the Lakers turn off the main lights, then turn on another special set of lights that don’t just come from the top. The Lakers only turn on the regular lights before/after the game. The Clippers just use the regular lights the entire time.

"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." - John Wooden

by Erik O on Jan 25, 2012 1:47 PM PST up reply actions

Yes it is like a movie set.

"Great Balls Of Fire, Reggie's Back!"

by PV Mike on Jan 25, 2012 1:55 PM PST up reply actions

Nope...

Never paying money for Lakers tickets. Those who buy Lakers tickets and feeding Kobe’s pockets. Not for me.

by Hengtime81 on Jan 24, 2012 2:17 PM PST reply actions

I never have...

I’ve only attended one Laker-Clipper game in my lifetime, and that was back around 1995 at the Forum, when the Clips were struggling (as always) and the Lakers had the Lake Show team (Ceballos-Van Exel-E. Jones), and those were complentary tickets from a family friend. In fact, I’ve only attended one Laker game since they moved to Staples, and that was a blowout loss to the Spurs in 2000…again, complentary tickets. I don’t think I could ever pay to see the Purple and Piss play in-person at Staples, regardless on whom they’re playing.

With the “soccer-houligan” mentality many Laker fans have nowadays, I just couldn’t put myself in a position where I may have to hurt one of them physically…and I have a short fuse to begin with.

As far as the lightning, that’s probably one of the few things I like about the Laker game-night/day experience (the same at Madison Square Garden). Even the old Mecca arena in Milwaukee had the same set-up, plus some of the other past arenas in the NBA, like the Forum and the Cap Centre in D.C. (it was actually maybe too dark, mostly a “creepy” feel to it).

by Shawn H on Jan 24, 2012 2:25 PM PST reply actions

With the lights out, be careful high fiving the person next to you.

You could get your nose broken. Like someone else mentioned, Jerry Buss paid for the lighting to create a more “Showtime Theatric Atmosphere” Very few teams have or use such lighting.

"Great Balls Of Fire, Reggie's Back!"

by PV Mike on Jan 24, 2012 3:40 PM PST reply actions

Lighted, Animated Crowd > Dimmed Lights, Boring Crowd

Have you guys been to a Laker game before? I regret going to one a few years back, and it was BORING! Plus, I never want to feed Kobe’s pockets ever again.

by Hengtime81 on Jan 24, 2012 4:07 PM PST reply actions

I like the lighting at staples as it is

Maybe it could be slightly dimmer but I like to watch the crowd during games.

when you hear the Clippers, it’s not going to be a joke anymore. I can guarantee you that -BG32

by cliptakular on Jan 24, 2012 6:14 PM PST reply actions

I'll be there

They get very quiet when they are losing. I actually used to hate the games on the Clippers home floor because there were so many Faker fans. Now that the Clips are better, I don’t mind them.

by thewhiteshadow on Jan 24, 2012 6:16 PM PST reply actions

I attended a Laker game a few years back

To be exact, when the beat the Nuggets to win the Western Conference and advanced to The Finals. I am not too sure what year, regardless, it was an "okay’ experience. The dark lights really pissed me off, especially since I like to be aware of my surroundings. Every time I left to the purchase a snack I kept bumping into people as I walked out of my aisle. Lame

"Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance" -Jean-Paul Sarte

by Jayq on Jan 24, 2012 6:27 PM PST reply actions

Laker Clipper game in '03

The first time the Clippers wore their blue jerseys. Maggette had a windmill dunk. Q Rich played well. Odom played not so well and we lost. Laker fans suck. All they wanna do is for you to go home like Im lesser of a human being because I like the Clippers. Only Laker game Ive ever been to. My grade to the fans: D+. Classy is not in some Laker fans vocabs.

Jeremy Stearn- Keith Closs for Prez!

by JStearnLAC91 on Jan 25, 2012 4:52 AM PST up reply actions

Never seen a Lakers-Clippers game on either floor..

Went to one Clipper game last year(against the Suns) sat right behind Clipper Darrell. Clips won, Griffin and Jordan dunked some lobs and I had a fabulous time of course. The best game I ever saw was the second playoff game against Denver in ‘06. I had the time of my life, but the best part of that game was Livy going to the hoop and dunking over the Nugget bigs. I actually won tickets to a Laker game earlier that year which the Lakers won in overtime against Baron Davis, Dunleavey Jr and the Warriors. I prefer Clippers games. I’m actually a really old guy….I suspect most of you are young…when I was probably the same age as most of you, I lived near the Forum(before the Clips even moved to LA) and I used to walk to the Forum and buy a ticket to see Kareem and a bunch of scrubs try to eek out a .500 season. Saw Kareem vs. Bill Walton with Portland one time and it was a clinic…sorry guys, I’m starting to sound my age!

by saxmanager on Jan 25, 2012 3:37 PM PST reply actions

I think it's cool you gotta see Kareem vs. Walton live. Be proud you have these kinds of stories!

"Buckle your seat belts, folks. This one's going down to the wire." -The inimitable Ralph Lawler.

by Gordon for President on Jan 25, 2012 3:53 PM PST up reply actions

So am I. My mom took me and my sister to see the Beatles live when I was a kid

"Great Balls Of Fire, Reggie's Back!"

by PV Mike on Jan 26, 2012 5:40 PM PST up reply actions

Me too!

My Dad bought the tickets and my big brother took us(RFK Stadium, near where I grew up.) A guy jumped over the dugout and ran out to the stage and jumped on it and touched George and John. The cops grabbed and whacked him with nightsticks as they carried him away.

by saxmanager on Jan 28, 2012 11:13 PM PST up reply actions