Visiting the Q (from a land down under)

[Simmy]

So guys: I'm down to double digits now on the number of days I have left to wait before my first ever experience at the Q. I land in Cleveland at 8:30pm on the 29th after a rigorous 23-odd hour flight including a 6 hour stopover in LA - should give me ample time to prepare for the game the following day.

Couple of questions:

• How early is 'too early' to enter the arena? What's the ideal time? Keep in mind I have no idea when I'll be able to return so I want to get as much out of this experience as possible. I'd like to get there nice and early to experience every aspect of the pre-game essentially.
• I'm sitting row 1 in section 110, pretty much right on the floor from what I've seen. Do the guys interact with the fans if I get there early enough for their pre-game shoot around? I saw a couple of fans in the stands watching the guys shoot on the Cavs snapchat and they seemed close enough to have a chat and/or at the very least, ask for a fan boy snap shot.
• Any tips/recommendations to get the most out of the in-game experience? Extra things to do in the Q, things to note?

Thanks in advance fellas!

 

[theSTEREO.]

Doors open and hour and a half ahead of time. At least they did today.

Check out the team shop. It's nice and they have a ton of stuff. I went to the team shop at Staples last week and it was a joke compared to what The Q has.

Lotta good food options on the first level (Rocco's Tacos is real good), but for an evening game, get there at like 5:00 and go hang out on East 4th Street and have dinner and get some drinks. Couple really good spots there like Greenhouse Tavern and The Butcher & The Brewer. They fill up really fast on game nights so get there nice and early. E. 4th is just one block north of The Q. You just walk across an empty parking lot.

Your seats are awesome. You won't be feet on the floor (that's section 10, not 110) but there are only two rows of floor seats I think and you will be right behind that.

I never go down for shootaround but some guys will interact tho most will ignore you.

 

[wuck]

Lotta good food options on the first level (Rocco's Tacos is real good), but for an evening game, get there at like 5:00 and go hang out on East 4th Street and have dinner and get some drinks. Couple really good spots there like Greenhouse Tavern and The Butcher & The Brewer.

Since you're traveling more than 10K miles, I second theSTEREO.'s suggestion to drink/eat on East 4th Street. Lots of good restaurant options there--some quite snazzy--and all very close. The typical food options at the Q just don't compare, considering this is a very special occasion.

It will be easy for you to help pay the Cavs luxury tax by spending time at the casino among other things very close by.

 

[theSTEREO.]

Since you're traveling more than 10K miles, I second theSTEREO.'s suggestion to drink/eat on East 4th Street. Lots of good restaurant options there--some quite snazzy--and all very close. The typical food options at the Q just don't compare, considering this is a very special occasion.

It will be easy for you to help pay the Cavs luxury tax by spending time at the casino among other things very close by.

Yup, and if you can't get there before the game, go there afterward.

If you do get to E. 4th before the game, afterwards go to West 25th Street in Ohio City. It's like a 3 min Uber ride from the arena and there are about two dozen bars and food options to check out up and down the street. You'll be there on a Friday night so there will be plenty going on.

 

[Simmy]

Thanks @theSTEREO. and @wuck. After I get done doing all my 'Cleveland-based activities' during the day, I think I'll definitely head to E. 4th for a bite and then jet off to the Q right after that. Is it worthwhile me getting there 90 minutes ahead of tip off to see how it all goes down? Or would that be a waste of time? After all, seeing the guys on the court is the main catalyst behind my visit to Cleveland.

And wuck, if I wasn't heading to Vegas a week later, I'd certainly be blowing my money at the Horseshoe Casino at some stage! Either way, I'll certainly go and visit.

 

[wuck]

Is it worthwhile me getting there 90 minutes ahead of tip off to see how it all goes down? Or would that be a waste of time?

On one hand, it will be like any other Cavs game or any other NBA game, but, on the other hand, and with your seats, something cool might happen. It can be fun if you have a favorite player to see how they warmup. Or to watch someone who never gets any playing time casually sink 15 threes in a row. Or to just see how freaking huge a player like Mozgov is in person. I would take advantage of your kickass seats, even if you're just taking a lot of pics and waiting for the game to start. I would just eat early at a place with better food.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

If you got word to an usher about flying in from Down Under, I just wonder if they might slip a word in to Delly during shootaround given that your seats are so close. Esp. If you got there early. Might luck into a photo.

 

[Simmy]

If you got word to an usher about flying in from Down Under, I just wonder if they might slip a word in to Delly during shootaround given that your seats are so close. Esp. If you got there early. Might luck into a photo.

I think I'll definitely try that. I tried to tweet Delly the other day but didn't hear back from him. Although I may try again and let some of the ushers know that I've flown from Australia and see what they can do for me - fingers crossed!

That's why I was thinking about getting there early when it's pretty quiet and they're out there putting up shots - may get an opportunity if I make it known that I've come from a fair way away just to see this team play.

 

[Helium filament]

I really like arriving when the doors open! I usually go to my seats, watch the early warm up, them get some food and check out the team shop while they have whatever pregame entertainment (usually a high school band or cheerleaders). Then get back to my seat with about 20 min before the game when the players come back out. You are allowed to sit wherever during the early warmup and pregame entertainment (parents of the kids in the bands always go right to the front along the court) so if you want to go behind the bench, give that a try! I generally see a few of them doing autographs and stuff during that early warm up, but not during the shoot around right before the game. I'm really glad the momentum is more positive right now for your trip! (don't want to jinx anything by saying anything more lol)

 

[czvo]

Doors open and hour and a half ahead of time. At least they did today.

Check out the team shop. It's nice and they have a ton of stuff. I went to the team shop at Staples last week and it was a joke compared to what The Q has.

Lotta good food options on the first level (Rocco's Tacos is real good), but for an evening game, get there at like 5:00 and go hang out on East 4th Street and have dinner and get some drinks. Couple really good spots there like Greenhouse Tavern and The Butcher & The Brewer. They fill up really fast on game nights so get there nice and early. E. 4th is just one block north of The Q. You just walk across an empty parking lot.

Your seats are awesome. You won't be feet on the floor (that's section 10, not 110) but there are only two rows of floor seats I think and you will be right behind that.

I never go down for shootaround but some guys will interact tho most will ignore you.

I can second that and say the same in relation to OKC's team shop. Their team shop was incredibly small and limited in options. The team shop at the Q really is unbelievable.

 

[theSTEREO.]

I think I'll definitely try that. I tried to tweet Delly the other day but didn't hear back from him. Although I may try again and let some of the ushers know that I've flown from Australia and see what they can do for me - fingers crossed!

That's why I was thinking about getting there early when it's pretty quiet and they're out there putting up shots - may get an opportunity if I make it known that I've come from a fair way away just to see this team play.

I'd also try tweeting @cavs and @cavsdan and let em know you are flying from Australia to Cleveland specifically for a Cavs game. Ask em what you should check out, and maybe they'll surprise you and do something cool for you.

 

[Simmy]

Thanks very much for all your suggestions, guys! @theSTEREO., I've been trying Fred, AC & Delly but hadn't thought to tweet DG yet. I might do that now!

And @Helium filament, I know hey? If I had arrived 1-2 weeks earlier, things could've been completely different.

To be honest, now I'm just hoping and praying that these blizzards don't affect my travel time on Thursday. Starting to get very nervous.

 

[Simmy]

Oh! And what's the policy on video cameras? I'd like to record parts of the game including player introductions etc so as to remember what it was like to be there in person.

 

[Simmy]

@theSTEREO. so the @cavs account just RT'd me and my Twitter is exploding. Lots of good suggestions, but nothing from the big dogs yet. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[theSTEREO.]

Nice!