| | MIAMI -- Small pieces of confetti continued to trickle onto
the floor well into the first quarter.
That was the closest thing to a problem the Miami Heat had
Sunday night during their first game in American Airlines Arena, a 111-103 overtime win against the Orlando Magic.
Though there were hundreds of empty seats in the $215-million,
19,600-seat facility, it seemed to be a hit with the Heat and their
fans.
"It's a dream come true," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "It's a
first-class facility for the fans, the players and the city to feel
proud of. One day we'd really, really, really like to celebrate the
ultimate win here."
The pregame show already looked like it was in championship
form.
A video staring Riley, Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway got the
show started. It was followed by 6-foot high flames coming up from
burners on the wooden floor.
Moments later, the Heat starters were introduced into spotlights
amid darkness and booming music. The Heat's previous facility, the
Miami Arena, had lights that were heat sensitive and could not be
dimmed without having to wait a long time for them to come on
again.
Fireworks and confetti highlighted the ceremonies, which were
coordinated with the $5 million scoreboard that was designed by
world-renowned artist/composer Christopher Janney.
The scoreboard, with its color-changing, glowing core and
tentacles, provided thunder, laser lights, fog and the fireworks.
It also has four high-tech video-replay screens and eight statistic
boards.
"They did a great job," said 33-year-old Scott Dinin, a Miami
resident who owns an Internet startup company. "But for $200
million you would think they could have automatic toilets."
Fans did get better arena seats, though.
Orange, yellow and red in color, the seats are closer to the
floor and more steeply inclined to give fans an improved view of
the game. The arena seats about 4,000 more than the 11-year old
Miami Arena.
Courtside seats cost $500,000 a year and come with private
entrances and a parking spot in the underground garage.
For the much less affluent, a $5 open-seating section in the
upper balcony is a first in the NBA. There also are $8 upper-level
seats and four balcony spots that are standing room only.
Outside the main concourse, officials say the arena is similar
to an open-air baseball stadium because of its large windows,
private balconies and access to outdoor plazas.
"I knew it was going to be nice, but being here now it is more
than I imagined," Heat forward P.J. Brown said.
The arena will be paid for with the help of $2 million annually
for 30 years in state sales tax. It also will receive $6.4 million
a year from Miami-Dade County for maintenance and operation.
The Heat are the sixth team this season to move in into a new
venue. They joined the Atlanta Hawks (Philips Arena), the Indiana
Pacers (Conseco Fieldhouse), the Denver Nuggets (Pepsi Center), and
the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers (Staples Center).
"I'm a big Heat fan," said Gov. Jeb Bush, who sat courtside.
"It's fantastic. Everything about it is much better than the old
arena." | |
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