More and more these days it seems like sporting
events are slipping through the grasp of the true Blue collar fan.
The idea that it would cost a family of 4 almost $500 to go to a
Jazz game in the lower bowl makes a lot of people wonder where the
golden days of sports have gone. Sports has changed. Lower bowl, box
seats and the 50-yard line are now generally thought of as out of
reach for the everyday fan, and don’t even think about the luxury
suites. The everyday blue-collar fan has been sold out -for the most
part.
There are still a few diamonds in the rough, an oasis for the fan in
the cruel desert of multi-billion dollar sports industry, a place
where a fan can feel exactly like a fan. The Rocky Mountain Revue is
a place like that.
The Revue began Friday 5 P.M. Tickets are sold for the day not
individual games. Price of admission was $5 a person, Families of 5
or more can get in for $25, and the best part is you can sit
anywhere you want. There were hundreds of fans lined to get in when
the doors officially opened an hour before game time. Most came just
to see the Jazz summer league team that includes notable players
Deshawn Stevenson, Andre Kirilenko, and Jarron Collins and others.
Some came to watch all 3 games.
As soon as the doors did open, fans ran to get the best seats they
could find. Some happy to see the players this close, others happy
to find the referees within the reach of their voice for a change.
Good thing too, several fans found that every team they cheered for
were getting shortchanged by the officials.
The players often roam through the crowd before and after games and
sometimes will sit down right next you. Hundreds of kids run around
with basketballs and other memorabilia looking to get the autograph
of a future star. Some players are more excited to give the
autographs than the kids are to get them. Taller fans can be
expected to have kids ask them at least a few times “Are you a
player”?
For most of the players this is a chance to showcase their game in
front of several NBA and European teams. They are all out there
playing for their basketball lives. Some rosters read like a college
dream team. Some rosters contain a lot of guys you have never heard
of but will surprise you just the same. One roster, The Denver
Nuggets, has 4 guys that last year were fans themselves but have
made the roster because of a “open tryout” held earlier this month.
The Revue runs daily from July 19th through the 27th at Salt Lake
Community College. See the rookies before they make their first
play. Bring your kids or come with friends. Make the memories now
and in a few years can watch the All-star game and point out which
players you have seen up close.
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