AT&T Center, Best Arena Experience in the NBA

[StadiumJourney]

I've shared this list in the past, but we've updated our list for the 2015 season of the best arena experiences in the NBA. We once again have AT&T Center ranked as the best overall experience in the NBA. What do you think? Is it justified? What arenas that you have seen are ranked way off where you would think? I appreciate the feedback...

http://www.stadiumjourney.com/news/05-28-2015/1098/2015-nba-arena-experience-rankings

[Dex]

Our choice for the best arena experience continue to be the AT&T Center, home of the San Antonio Spurs. This venue has it all from intelligent and fervent fans to delicious concessions offerings to reasonable pricing to a great location.

TIL in the middle of the stockyards and nowhere near the city is considered a "great location".

[Russ]

TIL in the middle of the stockyards and nowhere near the city is considered a "great location".

When AT&T first opened, LA Times writer Elliott Teaford (that's his name, no joke) described it as "a dark unremarkable barn on the outskirts of nowhere."

A bit harsh, but if you've been to other NBA areas . . .

http://articles.latimes.com/2002/dec/14/sports/sp-clips14

[ChumpDumper]

Missed opportunity moving the Spurs away from downtown. I really want to go back to Memphis during basketball season, for example. Arena is one block away from Beale Street.

The arena experience itself is pretty good, but these guys have been to more of these places than I have.

[dabom]

1 post. :lol



:bobo

[DMX7]

Strictly as a facility (not considering the "experience" of seeing the Spurs), the AT&T Center is probably middle of the pack. Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, Barclays Center are in a whole different league.

[EVAY]

Strictly as a facility (not considering the "experience" of seeing the Spurs), the AT&T Center is probably middle of the pack. Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, Barclays Center are in a whole different league.

This.

[Blake]

I've shared this list in the past

You got one post.

And the ATT Center is a nice venue in that there aren't any real bad seats, but damn the seats are so close together. It sucks having to stand up and maneuver when someone in the middle of the aisle needs to get out.

The alamodome is great tho

[Horry Hipcheck]

The inside of the AT&T is like 50% exposed concrete and stairways. The result is a dreadfully cold environment and a profound lack of intimacy even with 19,000 other people packed into it. It's too cavernous and the fans don't really get loud of enough most of the time anyway. Throw in its horrid location, the traffic problems that causes, and the fact that the surrounding neighborhoods have remained derelict, and frankly this is beyond a generous accolade.

[Twisted_Dawg]

You got one post.

And the ATT Center is a nice venue in that there aren't any real bad seats, but damn the seats are so close together. It sucks having to stand up and maneuver when someone in the middle of the aisle needs to get out.

The alamodome is great tho

I hate those people that constantly are getting up and down going and getting all kinds of shit to eat and drink. And for the most part, thry are fat fucks.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

It has a weird Parmesan smell. Went to the AAC when I lived near Dallas and it's much nicer. The close seats thing is also a big problem, so damn annoying walking past people and thinking you can fall over with the slightest misstep.

[D-rob fan]

The Alamodome experience was my favorite....so much room to jump up and down and celebrate.

I've been to the AT&T center and American Airlines Center (home of the Mavs) multiple times and the AT&T center experience blows it out of the water. The AA Center is white and stale, not colorful and festive like the AT&T center. The experience itself at AA Center is pretty dull and cheesy. The Mavs fans don't get into it as much as the Spurs fans do.

I agree with the AT&T center seats being too tightly packed. You feel like you might fall over at times if you jump up to celebrate.

[spurs10]

Major renovations underway supposedly.......

[DJR210]

Major renovations underway supposedly.......

Exactly what I was about to say.. don't see how it would need renovations if it was still considered a top venue. Don't get my wrong, I like the At&t Center, but don't see anything special about it.

[Dingle Barry]

You've got to be shitting me with the location bit.

[pgardn]

Seating is for midgets.
I don't like to fold up for that long.

The people are nice, good crowds. Generally a nice family atmosphere.

[DJR210]

Generally a nice family atmosphere.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK13r0Wyul4

Laker fan getting shit pushed in, per the usual

:lol hoodie on a t-shirt.. under a jersey
:lol hoodie pulled over head during ass beating
:lol backfired
:lol West coast trash
:lol Laker cholos

[saspurstx21]

Look for the AT&T Center to get a scoreboard similar to the one at Toyota Center. I also heard they are making the whataburger bigger, and 24 hours lolol

[pgardn]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK13r0Wyul4

Laker fan getting shit pushed in, per the usual

:lol hoodie on a t-shirt.. under a jersey
:lol hoodie pulled over head during ass beating
:lol backfired
:lol West coast trash
:lol Laker cholos

Generally.

[DJR210]

Look for the AT&T Center to get a scoreboard similar to the one at Toyota Center. I also heard they are making the whataburger bigger, and 24 hours lolol

Yeah, but the AT&T isn't 24 hours..so if you believed that you're a gullible idiot.

[pgardn]

Yeah, but the AT&T isn't 24 hours..so if you believed that you're a gullible idiot.

Its possible the lolol indicated intended sarcasm by the poster.

[FkLA]

The scoreboard needs to be upgraded, maybe make the outside look nicer. The location is shit. Other than that there's nothing wrong with the AT&T. San Antonio natives just love to put themselves down for whatever reason.

[pgardn]

The scoreboard needs to be upgraded, maybe make the outside look nicer. The location is shit. Other than that there's nothing wrong with the AT&T. San Antonio natives just love to put themselves down for whatever reason.

You like the seat room?

[FkLA]

You like the seat room?

I don't mind it but I'm only 5-11. I could see how it could be a problem if you're significantly taller.

[DJR210]

Its possible the lolol indicated intended sarcasm by the poster.

"If"

[DJR210]

The scoreboard needs to be upgraded, maybe make the outside look nicer. The location is shit. Other than that there's nothing wrong with the AT&T. San Antonio natives just love to put themselves down for whatever reason.

I think the majority of the upgrades are going towards modernizing the luxury boxes and adding WiFi through the arena.

[hater]

Who cares we lost in round 1

[Budkin]

When you stand up anywhere in the upper level you feel like you are going to fall off the face of the earth tbh.

[dabom]

When you stand up anywhere in the upper level you feel like you are going to fall off the face of the earth tbh.

Thats part of the game experience tbh. :lol

[FkLA]

When you stand up anywhere in the upper level you feel like you are going to fall off the face of the earth tbh.

It's steeper than normal but I've always thought that was exagerated. I spent 90% of the title clinching game in '14 on my feet, with several drinks under my belt and had no problems with the steepness tbh.

[BatManu20]

I've been to Staples multiple times (I live in LA), a game at Madison Square Garden, a game at the United Center, and a game at American Airlines Arena in Miami. All were much better than AT&T Center, tbqf. Just in terms of overall experience of location and venue. The cow-pasture in the middle of BFE that is the AT&T Center pales in comparison to those, tbh.

[baseline bum]

When you stand up anywhere in the upper level you feel like you are going to fall off the face of the earth tbh.

It's nowhere near as steep as the upper deck at Hemisfair Arena was. It was like you were looking straight down at Hemisfair, the players all looked like bugs from the upper deck. The top row of the upper deck of AT&T Center has views so much better than any upper deck seat at Hemisfair Arena.

[StadiumJourney]

Thanks for all the feedback and insight gang. Always good to hear from the folks who have the most established experiences at a venue. Seems like we may have missed the mark on this one. Or maybe you all have it better than you realize? In any case, we'll be sure to make a return visit next season. Thanks again...

[Mikeanaro]

We can see him at the AT&T
https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/n-huwhmoseVf3lO4LXVAOdNZ5ic=/1000x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3738620/052915_BorisDance.0.gif

[Spurs9]

Its in a freaking terrible location with nothing good around it. The neighborhood behind is literally the ghetto with hookers on every corner. Probably any other arena in a decent area that has bars/resturants around would be better. I actually like the inside of the AT&T center and think you can see well from most spots.

[dabom]

Thanks for all the feedback and insight gang. Always good to hear from the folks who have the most established experiences at a venue. Seems like we may have missed the mark on this one. Or maybe you all have it better than you realize? In any case, we'll be sure to make a return visit next season. Thanks again...

The fans are great and the atmosphere is amazing. Family friendly. Some faults but that doesn't take away from the experience. Doesn't hurt that you get to see the spurs play every night in there. Definitely my numero uno choice.

[Skull-1]

TIL in the middle of the stockyards and nowhere near the city is considered a "great location".


Screw them. The most fun is out in the wide open spaces, not the run down Mexican hellhole of downtown SA. I prefer to avoid assaults by roving bands of mariachis thank you.

Besides, ATT Center actually HAS a Whataburger. As opposed to the surrounding area that can't even pronounce it.

F-ck Mexico. :ihit:ihit

[Xevious]

This has been beaten to death, but yeah the AT&T Center is in a horrible location. Locked in by stockyards and the ghetto, with no way in or out but small roads. They should have kept the Spurs downtown, or at least built in a nicer area with more surrounding entertainment. There is no possibility for improvement or growth in it's current location without bulldozing the entire area. Everybody gets the fuck outta there when the games are over. As for the arena itself, it's fine.

[Blake]

It's nowhere near as steep as the upper deck at Hemisfair Arena was. It was like you were looking straight down at Hemisfair, the players all looked like bugs from the upper deck. The top row of the upper deck of AT&T Center has views so much better than any upper deck seat at Hemisfair Arena.

Yah at hemisphere i remember up in the nosebleed i felt like i could almost reach up and grab a bat flying around

[Ditty]

http://newattcenter.com/images/g-tech-1.jpg
http://newattcenter.com/images/t-theatre-3.jpg

[-21-]

http://newattcenter.com/images/g-tech-1.jpg
http://newattcenter.com/images/t-theatre-3.jpg

Where is that from?

[Ditty]

Where is that from?

Know some people ;)

[bd_monster]

That came from the newattcenter.com website. There is a glitch were it looks like only some people can see the picture of the scoreboard. I can see it on my phone but not on my computer.

[T Park]

I don't see the changes to the seating in that picture and the new layout of the seating so id take it with a grain of salt.

If THATS the new jumbotron. Then I'm going to be pissed.

[saspurstx21]

http://www.commercialintegrator.com/images/photos/AAcenter.jpg

Looks like the one thats currently at AAC

[DMX7]

The $100 million renovation is going to make it much more comparable to the better stadiums in the league.

[ElNono]

Are they going to remove the rodeo sign in front of the Fan Fiesta area?

[hooperflash]

Are they going to remove the rodeo sign in front of the Fan Fiesta area?

Are you talking about the bull rider near the Fan Zone? It's been gone for the past two seasons I think.

http://basketball.ballparks.com/NBA/SanAntonioSpurs/newscoreboard.jpg http://image2.stadiumjourney.com/images/stadiums/1269_AT&T_Center_Silver_Stars_4.jpg

[Ditty]

Look like those pictures have been removed from the website.

[dg7md]

AT&T Center is pretty bland, shocked to see it respected so well. It's completely average in every way.

I don't live near SA so I don't see it routinely, but seeing it once or twice it is just really... mediocre.

[ElNono]

Are you talking about the bull rider near the Fan Zone? It's been gone for the past two seasons I think.

http://basketball.ballparks.com/NBA/SanAntonioSpurs/newscoreboard.jpg http://image2.stadiumjourney.com/images/stadiums/1269_AT&T_Center_Silver_Stars_4.jpg

oh, thanks. Haven't been there in a couple years.