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Posted on April 17, 2019
Oscar Herrera
NBC Sports offers an incredible experience for the biggest Bulls fans in Chicago, an authentic fan experience. Authentic fans get 100-level tickets, exclusive behind the scenes access, and much more!
Gratefully, I was fortunate enough to be selected as an authentic fan for last years Bulls vs Celtics game. As a die-hard Bulls fan, I felt like the luckiest person in the world to be able to experience an exclusive opportunity like this. I wouldn’t have been able to experience this without the love of the Bulls. And the only reason why I am so indebted to the Bulls is because of my father and his love for Chicago sports. For that reason alone, I felt it was only right to bring him along for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Here are some of the things I experienced at the event:
BTS access of NBC Sports
Throughout many Bulls games, I constantly hear Stacey King joke around about “the guys in the truck.” I always imagined “the guys in the truck” to be stationed outside or in a whole different area of Chicago. I was totally wrong. I was caught off guard when the tour guide lead me to a room with a truck INSIDE THE UNITED CENTER. I was amazed to see such a big truck filled with people working on the broadcasting part of the game. It was truly amazing to see what goes on behind the scenes in the truck. I even met the guy who gives statistics to Stacey King and Neil Funk! As a statistical nerd, I just had to tell him how much I desired his job.
An on-court experience
After visiting the truck, my father and I were lead to the court where we got to watch the Bulls and Celtics practice before the game. When I had first step foot on the court, I felt an adrenaline rush hit me. I was the happiest kid in the world standing on the court that Derrick Rose once made his game-winner on against the Cavaliers.
On the court, a photographer took photos of us on the center of the logo. The photographer seemed annoyed that I kept looking at the players rather than his camera. It was just too distracting to know that Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine were practicing just 3-feet away from me!
Meeting BIG people
My final trip was a BIG one. I was lead back to the entrance where the pregame show is often broadcasted. There, I was greeted by Mark Shanowski, Kendall Gill, Will Purdue, and Horace Grant! The NBC Sports Instagram administrator told me shoot hoops with Horace for their story. After beating Horace and taking a picture of his championship ring, I was finally given the 100-level tickets to seats that were actually located right behind the Boston Celtics bench. Unfortunately, I couldn’t really see the game since the Celtics players were really tall and always standing up. But apparently I wasn’t missing much since the Bulls were losing 86-53 at one point…
Despite the loss, I enjoyed my Authentic fan experience and recommend other die-hard Bulls fans to enter the contest as well. It is truly an experience like no other and I hope they continue sharing this experience with others
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