'Joyful' Sky players feeling like pros in new digs
The mood was downright giddy.
Chicago Sky president Margaret Stender also used the word "joyful."
She said there were nothing but wide, toothy smiles Wednesday when Sky players trekked out to Rosemont from their apartments in downtown Chicago so they could run through their very first practice at Allstate Arena in preparation for Thursday's preseason game against the Minnesota Lynx.
The team, which moved to Allstate from the UIC Pavilion over the off-season, was beyond impressed with its new digs, especially its new locker room.
"They were like, "Wowwwwwww!" Stender gleamed. "Everything just felt like, 'This is the way it should be.' Our players felt valued. They felt like pros."
After spending four years on a midmajor college campus, Sky players now feel like they've finally hit the big time. With major-league amenities such as huge locker rooms, a Jumbotron scoreboard, cushy seating, crisp acoustics, sky boxes, secure parking, pro-sized basket supports and so much more, Allstate Arena might just spoil the Sky.
"I love this arena," beamed Sky veteran Jia Perkins, who has been with the franchise since Day One in 2006. "Our locker room is actually big enough for everyone. There's more space, bigger showers, things like that.
"And the arena is very nice. We're going to have fun. It's just going to be exciting to play in a professional arena."
The Sky, which has a multiyear deal with Allstate and is counting down the minutes to its regular-season home opener on May 22 against the defending Eastern Conference champion Indiana Fever, is hoping that the experience of being a fan will be more exciting, too.
"I think in this area, there is an amenities connection and affiliation with the Allstate Arena," said Stender, who indicated that opening night is nearly a sellout (7,000) already.
"This is just such a beautiful place. It's clean. It's convenient; the parking is easy. The seats are comfortable; the food is nice.
"If people are going to invest in professional sports, they want to be in a pro arena. They want those kinds of amenities, and we have those now. And I think just us being here gives us as a franchise more credibility, more professionalism."
Some changes that Sky fans will notice are:
• The creation of a Sky Kids Club: "It's on the concourse, and we've never had one before because we never had any space," Stender said. "It's darling and it's going to be so much fun.
"It's got a giant inflatable hoop; there's a bunch of games out there. Kids can make signs. There's a beanbag toss. It's going to be a great place for kids to hang out.
• New, improved Skyline Club: Now known as the "Courtside Club," the café-type seating located under one of the baskets will now be open for food and beverages to all fans with courtside seats.
At Allstate, the vantage point is neat because the players walk right through the middle of the club on their way to and from the locker room.
• Say what? The audio system is so good at Allstate that fans actually will be able to understand the player speeches before games, as well as all of the other announcements during the game and timeouts.
• Bird's-eye view: There are more courtside seats at Allstate Arena for great up-close looks at WNBA action.
The one thing the players will miss about the UIC Pavilion?
Its location in relation to them.
They live and practice in the city and, in years past, could walk to the Pavilion. Now they'll have to negotiate Chicago traffic to get to games.
"They're all worried about that already," Stender said. "But Shameka (Christon) and Cathrine (Kraayeveld, the Sky's new acquisitions from the New York Liberty) are like, 'Hey, guys, this is no harder to get to than Madison Square Garden. It's no big deal.'
"That's helped a lot (to take the edge off). We'll be fine. We'll make it work just fine."
pbabcock@dailyherald.com