TLDR: SA is the nicest fucking city and is beyond awesome! After a quick 3-day trip, this socal Spurs fan seriously wants to buy season tix now 😂
I’ve been a Spurs fan for about 30 years now (damn! 😭) and I finally had the chance to take a trip to SA and attend a game with the whole fam. Family obligations and grinding at work had delayed a trip for far too long but the time had finally arrived this past week. Nestled in between my 2 kids spring break we had the chance to see a game vs the Grizz on 3/22.
We arrived a day before the game… and I have to say I have never experienced such hospitality when traveling to any other city! From our hotel’s staff, restaurant workers, strangers on the street and of course Spurs staff— everybody greeted us with smiles and treated us like family. This is coming from an Asian dude born and raised in Southern California… I wasn’t expecting hostility or anything, but this overt kindness isn’t something I ever get or see at home in Orange County!! I don’t know if this is the norm in SA but y’all are so lucky if it is.
Game day: we got a truly unique opportunity to do the railing experience before the Grizz game because of a super-kind Spurs ticket rep I reached out to. They got us 4 railing passes for before the game and then surprised us with a swag-bag of goodies normally meant for season ticket holders! Again, none of this was expected or needed to be done; she just wanted to ensure my fam and I had a fun and unique experience for our first game and trip to SA… UNREAL! I was FLOORED by the special treatment!! 😭 My kids stood at the rail and got autographs from Tre, Zach, Malakai and Sochan! Keldon signed as much as he could but he was late and had to get back to the locker room so we missed out haha. Everybody wanted a piece of that Wemby action though. When he ran out, he high-fived most of the people which was dope (dude’s hands are unreal!). According to one of the staffers we talked to while down at the rail, Wemby doesn’t sign anymore due to some people who got overly aggressive one time. So it’s understandable but a bummer. IG reel of pics!
The game: Let me tell you, I got chills until the end of the first quarter. It all felt like a dream! The intros, PA announcements, calling out “TWO SHOTS” during free throws, screaming out “DEFENSE” with fellow home fans; it was something I only observed while watching League Pass. I’ve always been that crazy guy at Laker/Clipper games when the Spurs come to play in LA; cheering against the home team and cheering for the Spurs (cuz fk the Lakers). I finally got to cheer for my Spurs WITH a whole crowd, not against!!! This was a big deal to me; I loved it so much! The game didn’t end in a W but my kids ended up on the jumbo tron cuz of their dancing lol. Finished off the evening by spending wayyy too much at the fan shop 🤑
Quick tourist hopping: we had the chance to grab some breakfast tacos at Schilo’s, dine on amazing barbecue at Reese’s, hit up an H-E-B just-because and do some local shopping at the Pearl District. The whole “small city vibes in a big city” was so true. Hopping around various spots was easy.
I’m sure much of my experience is through rose-colored lenses but I could not have asked for a better trip to SA for our first time. My wife and I kept saying we were in a sim due to how perfect everything was 😂. I don’t know when I’ll be back but I want it to be again soon! I have now been contemplating season tickets so I can feel more a part of the team lol… go to games where I can away and maybe broker the tickets at face value? 🤔 Probably just a pipe dream. That was my unique experience and I wanted to share just to let y’all know how lucky y’all are!!! I got to knock this off my bucket list and attending the game also solidified my kids as die-hards for life! GO SPURS GO!!
3 comments
I’ve always felt lucky to have been born in SA. Had the opportunity to travel the whole country and there is truly something special here. It’s just… comfortable. Affordable, laid back, and home to the greatest sports franchise in the world.
Y’all are part of the Spurs family who just happen to live out of state. Keep repping the silver and black in OC!
Yeah there’s almost no place in the country where people are as cold as in OC. That said, as an SA native who’s been away for too long, people there are the polar opposite.
I’m so happy you got to experience your first Spurs game and that everything was so awesome! I’m a native Texan living in Orange County (hi neighbor 👋) and can’t wait to move back home to San Antonio. Go Spurs Go!