So I Went To A Sixers Game…

This past year has been one of the most difficult in all of our lives. For sports, it has been no different. After months of watching games played in empty arenas with artificial crowd noise, fans have finally returned to sports. Last night, I was one of those lucky fans as I secured tickets to watch the Sixers absolutely destroy the injury-ridden Atlanta Hawks. 

Upon arriving to the Wells Fargo Center, I was actually surprised by the lack of COVID screening. There were no temperature checks, no questionnaires,  and no contact tracing procedures. Aside from the masks, once you got inside it felt like a normal game day at in Philly. Lines were shorter, hallways were less crowded, but the buzz and excitement was still there in a big way. 

Currently only allowing 5,000 fans, seats were spaced out for social distancing and marked with Sixers flags and towels. Af first, just the sheer emptiness of the arena was a little shocking. But after the opening tip it felt like everything was back to normal. The crowd was just as loud and rowdy as ever. Even with my mask fogging up my glasses, I was letting out a years worth of built up cheers for this team and I think many were doing the same.

No, the game wasn’t the best. It was a blowout from the opening tip. But I didn’t care. I was as happy to be at a game as I have ever been. At the end of the day sports are just that and they can’t erase the pain of the last year. But being inside that arena showed what they can do. That is provide hope and optimism that this nightmare we have all been living through may finally come to an end.