Floor Unveiling Event

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(Thanks to Steven @ UNCGfans.com for taking and posting those pictures)

The first UNCG home game is November 20th against Clemson. I can't wait. Especially after last Thursday's VIP (first time I've been called that) event at the Greensboro Coliseum. Several hundred people turned out to eat catered food, see the new playing surface, look at the new lockers rooms and listen to speeches from Terry Holland, Linda Brady, and Mike Dement. Let me just say that I was quite impressed with the turnout and impressed with the show put on.

I owe everyone an apology for not checking the batteries in my camera before sprinting out of the house. I was very disappointed when I hit the power button Thursday evening, to have it turn on and then right back off again. So I guess I will just have to describe the things I got to see throughout the night.

First off, the food was very good. I did spill my wife's red wine on my yellow polo shirt, which is kind of par for the course for me. Thank god that the basketball team showed up about a minute later handing out blue & gold scarfs.

The staff members walking around selling tickets were very nice and spent time talking to everyone. Apparently, UNCG has already sold double it's normal season tickets, and it's only the end of August! I assume there will be a media blitz in the next few months to really turn up the heat. I also found out the seat selection proccess should start in the next few weeks for those who had already purchased season tickets (that's me).

The speeches were nice, but I was not the target of those speeches. Most of the points were intended to be heard by businesses and community leaders who need to get behind this move to the coliseum in the way of sponsorship and ticket sales. Terry Holland was very entertaining, though. His story about looking like Tom Smith of Food Lion commercial fame brought back some memories. Plus, he made a good point about the "big" guys from the ACC needing schools like UNCG and ECU just as much as we need them.

The light and music production surrounding the actual floor unveiling was cool. I hope this is the type of introductions that take place before every game. Plus, it was great to see the UNCG name and logo on the ribbon going around the coliseum and above the scoreboard.

As for the court and locker rooms, I will just have to let the pictures and stories linked to above here speak for themselves. It was a great touch to let everybody wander through the locker rooms and offices to see what it will be like for the players and coaches on game day.

All-in-all, it was a wonderful event and it left me a little sad that the games won't start for another 2 1/2 months. But it also left me with something to be excited about until then too.