My son's school had tickets for the family night at the Washington Wizards basketball game on March 17, 2018. The Wizards were playing the Indiana Pacers, a close rival. It was an exciting game.
Like last year, we had the inexpensive, high up seats in the stadium. Unlike last year, no good samaritan gave us better tickets, so we staying in the nose-bleed seats.
The stadium had the typical pre-game activity going on--players warming up and a little indoor blimp flying around.
One of the challenges with high up seats is deciding weather to watch the jumbotron or the actual action on the court. Before the game, they had one of many ceremonies honoring people at the game, including two children named honorary co-captains of the Wizards for the night.
With preliminaries done, they were ready to start the game. That included introducing each of the starting players with their own bursts of flame!
The mascot was not introduced but he kept wandering in and out of our attention span. So did the cheerleaders.
The game started with a slow build in the action. The teams were fairly even during the first half.
During one of the commerical breaks, they presented a Dunkin' Donuts race on the jumbotron, which was the same race we had seen before at Camden Yards during a Baltimore Orioles game. Not very exciting.
Another commercial found the Wizards and Geico honoring a woman from Boys and Girls Club, which was nice.
They also played a game called Hot or Cold, where a lucky audience member would be blindfolded and the crowd had to guide her to the mascot at the center of the court. Well, they secretly replaced the mascot with the girl's uncle who just got back from deployment. It was a touching surprise.
During another commercial break, they had another challenge, this time for the players and in honor of Saint Patrick's Day. The jumbotron displayed an "Irish or Not?" slide and then showed the players trying to guess if certain items were Irish or not.
During half time, we went in search of snacks. The pretzels weren't hot yet so we bought some chicken tenders and fries. Since the stadium is sponsored by Capital One, the concession stand gave us a ten percent discount on the food for using our Capital One credit card.
During the final half, the game became more exciting as the Wizards developed a slim lead. At another commercial break, they had the weirdest contest I ever saw--the human bobble head contest. Guys had pedometers strapped to their heads and they had to nod up and down as fast as they could for thirty seconds. Thirty seconds doesn't sound like a long time, but let me assure it was.
Later, some restaurant got in on the action. Chick-fil-A had parachuting snacks. Being in the nose-bleed seats, we looked down on the people getting the prizes.
Local bar and restaurant chain The Green Turtle had a shell game that one fan got to play. She won thanks to the crowd helping her out.
The Pacers had a bit of a comeback late in the game but then the Wizards opened up a wide lead, leaving them triumphant with a score of 109 to the Pacers' 102.
We had a fun time and got new t-shirts. Unlike last year, I was smart enough not to ask what size they recommended. Last year they gave me a medium which was too small for me (though it was the tallest stack of t-shirts by far). I asked for a large and got one that I can wear without it being too tight.
We had a great time and will probably go back again next year.
Like last year, we had the inexpensive, high up seats in the stadium. Unlike last year, no good samaritan gave us better tickets, so we staying in the nose-bleed seats.
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| View from our seats |
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| My son chilling before the game |
The stadium had the typical pre-game activity going on--players warming up and a little indoor blimp flying around.
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| Testing the camera's zoom feature |
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| Blimp or car--you make the call! |
One of the challenges with high up seats is deciding weather to watch the jumbotron or the actual action on the court. Before the game, they had one of many ceremonies honoring people at the game, including two children named honorary co-captains of the Wizards for the night.
 |
| Captains easier to see on the big screen than on the court |
With preliminaries done, they were ready to start the game. That included introducing each of the starting players with their own bursts of flame!
 |
| Lights swirling around the stadium |
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| These players are on fire! |
The mascot was not introduced but he kept wandering in and out of our attention span. So did the cheerleaders.
 |
| Mascot cracking someone up |
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| Actual view of the mascot from our seats--choose the jumbotron |
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| Cheerleaders warming up the crowd |
The game started with a slow build in the action. The teams were fairly even during the first half.
 |
| View is about the same on the jumbotron and in real life |
During one of the commerical breaks, they presented a Dunkin' Donuts race on the jumbotron, which was the same race we had seen before at Camden Yards during a Baltimore Orioles game. Not very exciting.
 |
| Donut run without a delivery=no fun |
Another commercial found the Wizards and Geico honoring a woman from Boys and Girls Club, which was nice.
 |
| Surrounded by mascots |
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| Jumbotron view |
They also played a game called Hot or Cold, where a lucky audience member would be blindfolded and the crowd had to guide her to the mascot at the center of the court. Well, they secretly replaced the mascot with the girl's uncle who just got back from deployment. It was a touching surprise.
 |
| Hot or Cold contest kickoff |
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| Surprise! |
During another commercial break, they had another challenge, this time for the players and in honor of Saint Patrick's Day. The jumbotron displayed an "Irish or Not?" slide and then showed the players trying to guess if certain items were Irish or not.
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| You ready for this? |
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| Wrong guess, Kelly! |
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| Tomas didn't even know who Ed Sheeran was (neither did I, so I don't blame him) |
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| Bradley rightly identifies curling as not Irish |
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| The Irish may not forgive him for this mistake |
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| Something is out of sync here |
During half time, we went in search of snacks. The pretzels weren't hot yet so we bought some chicken tenders and fries. Since the stadium is sponsored by Capital One, the concession stand gave us a ten percent discount on the food for using our Capital One credit card.
During the final half, the game became more exciting as the Wizards developed a slim lead. At another commercial break, they had the weirdest contest I ever saw--the human bobble head contest. Guys had pedometers strapped to their heads and they had to nod up and down as fast as they could for thirty seconds. Thirty seconds doesn't sound like a long time, but let me assure it was.
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| Advantage jumbotron |
Later, some restaurant got in on the action. Chick-fil-A had parachuting snacks. Being in the nose-bleed seats, we looked down on the people getting the prizes.
 |
| Parachuting chickens! |
Local bar and restaurant chain The Green Turtle had a shell game that one fan got to play. She won thanks to the crowd helping her out.
 |
| Shell game with virtual turtle shells! |
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| Cheerleaders in their second half outfits |
The Pacers had a bit of a comeback late in the game but then the Wizards opened up a wide lead, leaving them triumphant with a score of 109 to the Pacers' 102.
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| More game action |
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| The big finale |
We had a fun time and got new t-shirts. Unlike last year, I was smart enough not to ask what size they recommended. Last year they gave me a medium which was too small for me (though it was the tallest stack of t-shirts by far). I asked for a large and got one that I can wear without it being too tight.
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| T-shirt giveaway |
We had a great time and will probably go back again next year.
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