Denver Sidekicks to Bring Some Flavor Back to Pepsi Center
By Jack Malloy
The Denver Sidekicks are trying to bring back energy to the Pepsi Center and a true home court advantage for the Nuggets
Denver surprised me when I moved out here, in the fact that residents LOVE their professional sports teams. Being around die-hard, rowdy, and passionate northern Californian fans for most of my life, I expected Colorado to be a watered-down version of what I’d seen at the “black hole” in the Oakland Coliseum or the animosity from Giants fans towards the Dodger faithful.
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to see fans pour in for Rockies games and the streets a buzz each Sunday to see the Broncos play. I’ve even seen more hockey jerseys around town than I’ve ever seen in my life. It is awesome to be in the midst of such a passionate fan base. Move over Boston.
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Somehow the Nuggets are missing that train. In all the games I’ve been to, I can’t believe how calm the arena is. According to espn.com, the Nuggets are current second to last in fan attendance per game and are only filling 75 percent of the arena. When a quarter of the arena is empty, you sense it. So do the players.
The proximity of the fans to the game, the indoor atmosphere, and the dynamic between crowd and players makes home court advantage for NBA teams more powerful than any other sport. It is unusual for a team’s record to be better on the road than it is at home, but when it is, you’ll probably find a quiet arena. Unfortunately, that’s the Pepsi Center right now.
A lot came out about a month ago regarding the league attempting to take away the Denver Nugget’s “natural” home court advantage. The altitude is leaving teams traveling east in disarray and the home team benefits too much from their comfort at 5280 feet.
The rest of the league and its executives may think we have an advantage here in the Mile High city, but make your way over to the Pepsi Center for a Nuggets game and you’ll realize that any advantage the thin air creates is quickly dissipated by the empty seats surrounding the arena.
We’ve lost the fire for live basketball a bit in Denver. Luckily, The Denver Sidekicks are bringing that back to the Pepsi Center.
In an interview with SB Nation’s Denver Stiffs, Aniello Piro talks about his goal to bring life back to the Pepsi Center and a true home court advantage to the Nuggets. His dream is to create a rowdy, but family friendly experience for everybody that comes.
If you’ve ever been a part of or seen the student section at any college game, you know what we are talking about. Uninhibited passion for the team you are rooting for. That is what makes this game so great after all. Less body paint, though.
The Denver Sidekicks are working directly with the Nuggets to reserve a section of seats for the die-hards that want to be a part of the movement. That means tickets are discounted and you’ll get the best bang for your buck compared to any other seats in the house. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by dozens of your fellow crazies for a few hours.
The first outing for the Sidekicks will be January 10th as the Nuggets matchup against the Charlotte Hornets. For more information you can follow the Denver Sidekicks on twitter @denversidekicks or visit the site nuggetstix.com/denside110 to get your tickets.
People understand that winning tends to fix most problems, but fans underestimate how much of an effect they can have on a team’s success to get to that point. Cheering on a team creates a culture, and a lively culture tends to be a winning formula.
I’ve seen firsthand the passion for their home teams that exist in this great city. Let’s get that going for the Nuggets. Be a fan, come to a game.