Remembering McNichols Sports Arena Quotes

Here are some of the Remembering McNichols Sports Arena Quotes:

Jay Clark, former Nuggets director of media services.

I will never forget the first quarter of Game 3 in Denver when we beat Seattle in the opening-round playoff series in 1994. We had John Elway come out and fire up the crowd by saying, “It's time to get Mutombo-ized!” and the place went nuts. Then, the Nuggets jumped out to a big lead right away and it was as loud as I'd ever heard it for a rock show or game. It was one of the few times that sound became a true physical presence. The whole place was shaking and we couldn't communicate over radios because it was so loud. You felt like something was squeezing your head. I was up in the upper press box checking on some out-of-town media, and I remember trading hand signals with Brian Bain who was down on the press table. The Nugs went on to win that game, Game 4 and the stunner Game 5 in Seattle. Such a fun memory.

Deb Dowling, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment vice president of community relations and fan development. Started as director of special events in 1994.

My first encounter with coach George Karl too place during the 1994 Denver vs. Seattle playoff series at McNichols. Back in those days, we didn’t have game ops staff, conversion staff per se. Other departments just picked up game duties, as well as the 9-to-5 job. That meant the “Special Events” department did all the events for the company – corporate, community, meet-the-team parties, parking lot festivals AND renting and hanging bunting in the arena. On the day of one of the playoff games, the three women in our department were hanging bunting during the SuperSonics shootaround when a security guard came and escorted us out of the arena. The Sonics didn’t believe we were just hanging bunting. They thought we were stealing plays.

One of my other favorite stories involves as program called Operation Cease Fire. It was created after Mayor Wellington Webb came to us in an effort to help get guns off the street. People had the opportunity to turn in a gun (no questions asked) in exchange for two tickets to the Nuggets-Chicago Bulls game (sold out during Jordan days) and a pair of adidas basketball shoes. Guns were then turned into police for meltdown. By the end of the promotion, the hallway of McNichols was lined with guns and shoes.

LaPhonso Ellis, Nuggets forward from 1992-98

I loved having the front office, the business offices, the playing floor and our locker room all on the same level. It created EASY accessibility to the staff, and them to us. This contributed a STRONG sense of family and unity. It’s why we were all so tight.

Tim Gelt, Nuggets media relations director

I never got to work there, unfortunately, but I spent a lot of time there as a fan. My favorite McNichols memory was racing my friends up the two steep staircases in front of the building to the top. It seemed never-ending and we always got winded.

Jim Gillen, Nuggets athletic trainer, 1991-present

The cozy wood-paneled locker room, training room and my office. Might have been a few ghosts.
My first game in 1991 against the Golden St. Warriors. Don’t even remember if we won or not. Probably not.
The 93-94 Playoffs Round 2 against the Utah Jazz. To this day, that was the most noise and enthusiasm by our fans. It was very exciting.
The year Chicago won 72 games and we won about 11. We beat them for one of their losses. We were up 30 at half and Jordan took over in the 3rd and they tied us up, I believe. We were able to hang on and win.
The House of Mutombo. Dikembe and I started the same year. He was a terrific player and even better person.
The 93-94 team was probably my favorite team of all the years.
Priest Lauderdale walking from the locker room to the cardio room for his post-game workout, since he didn’t play. We were trying to get him to lose about 50 lbs. He was carrying a plate of nachos to the workout.
Loretta Harmon’s game-night popcorn staff lounge.

Jerry Girkin, KSE executive director of sports finance. Arrived at McNichols in 1993.

I loved the efficient single concourse design.
Watching the Stanley Cup-clinching Game 4 vs. Florida in one of those fancy concourse restaurants. Beer kept flowing through the third OT. Spilling out on that single concourse after we won and mingling with the few thousand people that came to watch the game on the 27-inch Sony’s we had hanging in the arena bowl.
The random screams echoing through the hallways as Lesley’s storage-room mouse family made rounds.
The transformation of every nook and cranny into viable (if not desirable) office space.
Being very far removed from any natural source of light. We needed a phone tree to let everyone know there was a blizzard outside.
The mystery of the “Hockey hallway” – much like the foggy glass door we have now.
The entire staff fitting in the conference room for weekly meetings with Tim Leiweke.
LaPhonso Ellis actually knowing my name and saying “Hi” when he was strolling through the building. Imagine that.
Gotta include Miss Loretta’s game-day popcorn.
Favorite, though, has got to be Game 4 vss Seattle in ’94. The loudest and most electric game I have ever witnessed.

Sparky Gonzales, Nuggets equipment manager

There used to be a superfan before there were superfans. Her name was Patrice. She would get tickets from anyone who would help her – players, coaches, staff people. Somehow, someway, she would get a ticket to every game. They would always give her a ticket at the very top row of McNichols, but you could still hear her screaming. Boy, did she have some lungs. After the game, players such as Bill Hanzlik and Alex English would flip a coin to see who had to give her a ride back home or a ride to the bus station.

Susan Hagar, former director of communications

First thing that comes to mind is Chopper’s office in the locker room. It was literally covered – wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling – with personally autographed photos of an incredible array of celebrities and ordinary people. Celebrities who found a place on “the wall” ranged from Julius Erving to Frank Sinatra to Andre the Giant. Ordinary people included on his wall of fame were his pals from New Jersey and his mom. Heck, I even had a tiny spot. It became its own destination – a “must-see” to be included in behind-the-scenes tours for VIPs.

One other great McNichols memory is from the 1984 NBA All-Star Game. Of course, we had a packed house and a big game, but the best part of the day for me was before the game even started. I will never forget standing in a hallway outside my office with The Temptations (the originals!) as they warmed up to sing the national anthem.

Loretta Harmon, KSE accounting assistant. Started as a ticket sales representative in 1974.

When the Nuggets were on the road, Frank Sinatra used the Nugget locker room as his dressing room. Gregory Peck and his wife were guests of his. After the concert, Frank signed his locker room door. When Chopper got back in town, he had Plexiglas put over it so that it didn’t fade away.

Scott Hastings, Nuggets television analyst. Played for the Nuggets from 1991-93

I remember the tiny training room and the giant hot tub put in the shower. I remember ZZ Top saying goodbye and handing the 72-10 bulls one of those losses. I remember the Mutombo finger wag being born and the silky, Doug Moe's tirades and gulping for air as an opponent.

Steve Hess, Nuggets strength-and-conditioning coach, 1997-present

I remember Jim Gillen, Max Benton and myself sharing a tiny office. I had I doll’s desk lodged between their desks!!! Gillen realized he had made a mistake hiring me when my dirty Tupperware began taking over his office!!!

Lisa Johnson, Nuggets executive director of basketball administration. Started in ticket sales in 1982.

Just the thought of McNichols Arena makes me smile. So many great events, so much history and so many special people combined for memorable experiences of a lifetime. I will always remember fondly that concrete hamburger looking building with the huge stairs going up and say “thank you Big Mac”.

I even loved the building itself. My first day on the job in McNichols we had a tornado warning and we all had to gather in the hallway. A tornado hit very near the arena (an indication of my career?) but we were safe and sound. We had the worst hail storm of the century a few years later, our cars were trashed but everyone was safe.

Just a few quick memories:
Working with Chopper on his dinners back when he sold raffle tickets (without a raffle license, of course, but he invited the chief of police and a judge to the dinner, so he figured we were ok!). Each raffle ticket purchased had a corresponding number on a ping pong ball that was used for the raffle itself. At midnight prior to the dinner the next evening, I was in the locker room working with Chopper numbering the ping pong balls to correspond to the matching tickets. I was in charge of setting each ball on the training table to make sure they were all accounted for. When we were almost done, I accidentally hit the table and hundreds of ping pong balls went flying all over the locker room. In a split second, I thought my life was over and I should flee. However, Chopper looked at me and busted up laughing. We just started tossing the ping pong balls and rolling them everywhere. I know there were still some in there when they tore the place down.
Being dressed in a tuxedo for the 1984 All-Star Game greeting fans. Sitting at center court to watch the game and standing in the hall holding the MVP trophy to give to Larry O’Brien to hand to Isaiah Thomas.
Sharing an office at the end of the hall with Mike D’Antoni and a huge mouse we could never catch. We just accepted him and named him Mickey. Also sharing an office with Mike Evans and Kim Hughes. Oh, the stories they could come up with.
Chopper’s little bitty locker room and all of the photos.
The amazing “show” our staff put on to impress Pepsi for the naming rights to the new building. It was planned and completed in a matter of hours.
Sidney Shlenkers’s carnival in the parking lot called Springfest.
Wearing out hundreds of pairs of shoes while logging miles and miles on that concrete concourse on game nights.
Former President Jimmy Carter walking by my office to a meeting in the dark old dungeon of a room they called a conference room. On his way back, I approached him without being stopped or questioned and gave him an autographed basketball.
Jack Nicholson taking refuge in my office at my desk during the 1985 conference finals against the Lakers.

Kelly Kocher, KSE executive director of creative imaging. Started in 1997 as creative director for Ascent Sports.

I remember Chopper bringing all the ladies roses on Valentine's Day.

I remember my cheese wedge-shaped office under a seating section.

I remember being lazy and calling Mike Schanno on the phone in the next office over to ask him a question. He would let it ring, get up, walk to my door and say, "What?!"

I remember the group sales staff crammed into that inhumane 9-by-9 room with at least 12 cubicle stations.

I remember the all-night party in the box office stuffing three months of individual game tickets into those little binders for the Nuggets shortened season.

Jason Kosmicki, Nuggets radio play-by-play announcer

Back then, I would produce and studio host the game from our flagship radio station. During the games, media relations director Tommy Sheppard would be on headset with our play-by-play guy Jerry Schemmel. Now mind you, Tommy’s voice didn't go over the air, just into Jerry’s headset, so Schemmel would be the only one to hear his comments. Often times, the engineer would have Tommy’s microphone too loud. If you knew what you were listening for (which we all did) you could hear Tommy’s comments filtering through Schemmel’s headset. Needless to say, we must have broken about 2,000 different FCC violations over a four-year span. I still remember a lot of his comments but cannot print them here. Rest assured, I am honestly laughing out loud as I sit here and type. Tommy was/is a funny funny man.

Fat Lever, Nuggets guard from 1984-90

When fans came to McNichols, there was a cozy feeling that they were part of the team. They got to know you and they got to talk to you. They thought they were part of the show because Doug Moe would turn around and say something to them. They took it as being involved in the game.

Lesley Linscott, KSE senior manager, community relations. Started as a community relations intern in 1997.

I still carry my McNichols office key on my key ring. Just a fun little reminder of what used to be! My storage “closet” for some valuable autograph stuff at McNichols was an old walk-in freezer. I was always worried that I’d get locked in there. I wouldn’t have been alone, however; there was a nice mouse family that lived there as well.

My mom came to visit and she once had a lovely chat in the kitchen with LaPhonso Ellis while he heated his lunch in the microwave. Of course, Chopper also hit on her, but that came with the territory.

Other little things I remember include working out in that tiny little cell of a weight room, Jon Moore singing all the way to his office every morning, ducking my head (yes, even at 5-foot-2) to get into one of my office spaces that was under the seats. Most of all, I miss Loretta Harmon’s game-day popcorn!

Jean Martineau, Colorado Avalanche senior vice president of communications and business operations

Beating Detroit in the 1996 Western Conference finals Game 6 was something special. Also, the fact there was no press box made it very interesting, to say the least, with the local, national and international media. We had to kill more than 550 seats in the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals to accommodate the media.

Cheryl Miller, KSE executive director of human resources. Started as director of administration in 1992.

Being called to the conference room on game days to roll posters for the give-away.
Sitting with the staff during games. All of our seats (season tickets) were in a couple of sections.
Chopper bringing in his favorite treats to share (I think they were Little Debbie cupcakes).
Office moves. I remember all the times walls went up and walls came down. I also remember painting Dan Issel’s office one evening with a group of employees.
Walking out at the end of the day with my sunglasses on, only to find out it was dark. No one had a window office back then except for the box office.
Being at McNichols when the Avs won the 1996 Stanley Cup. Watching with the staff in that restaurant on the concourse and then going out to the arena bowl, which was full of fans. Hanging out in that bus in front of McNichols for a couple of hours, waiting to go to the airport to meet the team. I think it was 3:00 a.m. when I finally went home for an hour nap and then back to McNichols to car pool to the airport.
The popcorn Loretta Harmon made on game nights. Everyone from game-night staff to full-timers to the players enjoyed it. I think we still have that machine stored somewhere at the Pepsi Center.

Mark Randall, Nuggets community ambassador. Played for the Nuggets from 1993-95

How freakin’ small the locker room was.
Meeting Chopper for the first time when I was in high school.
The fact that the training room was set apart from the locker room by sliding glass doors….awesome!!
Since Dan Issel and Bernie Bickerstaff never played me when I clearly was deserving of starter-type minutes, have to go back to the 1986 Colorado state championship game: George Washington vs. our Cherry Creek team. Both teams were 25-0 coming into the final. We lose the game by one point because someone set the hoops too low as I threw a dunk off of the back of the rim to win the game – because I was up so high…..
Seeing my first, of what has totaled seven to this point of my life, Def Leppard concert!
But seriously, stepping onto the floor for my first home game as a Nugget was awesomely emotional for me since I had dreamed of being a Nugget since the 5th grade.

Jerry Schemmel, former Nuggets radio/television play-by-play announcer

I remember walking toward the building before the Game 3 playoff win vs. Utah in 1994 and seeing the gigantic banner that said, “We Have A Dream.” I still get chills just thinking about it. I remember a true warrior named Dikembe Mutombo bringing back respectability to the franchise. What a great old building!

Eric Sebastian, former Nuggets media relations director. Started as a media relations intern in 1994. Currently director of basketball operations for the University of Memphis.

• Smashing the Sacramento Kings in April for our 10th win of the season and celebrating like we'd won the championship.
• The allure of the extra locker room next to our office that might afford you the chance to bump into Faith Hill in the hallway or pass out from the smell of used hockey pads, depending on the day.
• The famed Duplo machine and hand-collating game notes in the press room.
• Rocky breaking his back, which led to more media requests for our mascot than our players.
• Doing PR for “Colorado NHL” and fielding calls like: “If you call it the Colorado Avalanche I will never come to a game.” Wonder how that worked out for that guy.
• Quietly fearing what would happen if the hockey team was actually named the Rocky Mountain Extreme.
• Tommy Sheppard firing our clock operator after Dan Issel nearly killed him when Terry Mills was able to catch, fake, dribble, spin and sink the game-winning shot in 1.2 seconds.
• Fighting through the last two years in the dungeon of an office under the stands at McNichols with the allure of a brand new office at the Pepsi Center ... only to be booted from those offices after the second year so they could put in a restaurant.
• Not liking our new Australian strength coach very much because he kept playing the same song over and over and over in the weight room next door.
• And last, but not least, our famed noon pickup games on the main floor.

Tommy Sheppard, Nuggets media relations director 1994-2003. Currently vice president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards.

One of my lasting memories of McNichols was the presentation that Tim Leiweke and his staff put together for the naming rights for the Pepsi Center. It involved the entire staff in one shape or another. The idea was to show all the possibilities that an arena could be beyond just hoops and hockey.

It was unbelievable and a heck of a production, no sealing the deal for the Nuggets to get the Pepsi Center naming rights done. Tim has on to much greater heights as a mogul in the entertainment industry, but you saw his vision so clearly that day.

The arena was carved into little areas – it was dark and each area was lit as an announcer set the tone for what was being seen There was boxing, figure skating (sales executive Allison Levy actually did the skating as she is an accomplished skater), a band performed, clowns and other circus acts were there, a whole lot of stuff.

I believe it started with a helicopter ride with Tim and the Pepsi folks to see the space where the Pepsi Center currently sits. Then, he brought them into a dark McNichols and the show began. Most of the people involved were all on staff and everyone had a piece of it – even if they were extras “fans in the stands” types. It was awesome stuff, way ahead of its time. It was so impressive that he allowed the staff to have stakes in it.

I always remember beating the Sonics on Christmas Day 1994. Rodney Rogers went nuts (22 points). First rematch with them since the Nuggs beat the Sonics in the playoffs the previous season.

Beating the Bulls the year they won 72 games was certainly an all-timer as well.

I still am amazed at the quality of people, the level of expertise that was assembled in every area of the building. We had Leiweke and Shawn Hunter, Gary Hunter. A lot of the current AEG folks worked first for the Nuggets. On the basketball side, Bernie Bickerstaff, Mike Brown, Chris Grant …

I remember how strong the ABA roots ran for the Nuggets as well as the Spurs, Nets and Pacers. It meant a lot to everyone when the ABA was discussed. Once, we actually played a pre-season game with a red, white and blue ball against the Spurs, I believe. The NBA finally started to recognize the ABA for its merits and this was an anniversary season of some sort. The dang balls they sent looked great until they got moist – then the paint came off and was all over the court, hands, uniforms, you name it. That was hilarious and sad at the same time.

Gina Silletto, executive assistant to Nuggets team president Josh Kroenke

I started working in the reception area of McNichols Sports Arena in February of 1996. I was 19 and I sat in a little window adjacent to the security desk. My job was to be the first person people checked in with as they came in or one of the first people they spoke to on the phone. I saw and heard it all.

I met a number of great people in that arena. Names such as LaPhonso Ellis, Peter Forsberg and Chopper Travaglini are among the few. Working there, I saw my first NHL and NBA game and it was just the beginning. From the love of sports to my potential as an individual, McNichols Sports Arena has lasting memories. Not only did I meet the man behind Pepsi Center’s street name “Chopper”, but I also met the core to a great working environment, the staff that came to work every day.

I am honored to be among the few that started at McNichols and who are currently still working at Pepsi Center or around the industry. It’s a privilege and, ultimately, my favorite memory.

Jon Waldron, KSE senior director of retail operations. Started as a retail manager in 1998

• Awesome was the retail store that was the size of a closet! One register, no room, line snaking through the store. I know I have seen offices at the Pepsi Center bigger than the square footage of that store.
• First time I rode with Johnny Duke as he drove our retail van onto the concourse to re-stock the store. Me: “Johnny, are we allowed to drive on the concourse like this?” Johnny: “You worry too much, Waldron.” (Casual flick of cigarette ashes out the window)
• Massive retail tent sale as Mr. Sherman took control of the operations and I think he might have had a heartache looking at inventory levels. Mutombo jerseys $1! Nothing like a $10 Christmas shopping list and everyone was happy!
• As a fan, I saw my first-ever professional game at McNichols, Nuggets vs. Knicks – $18 ticket on the risers. I was in awe of Patrick Ewing. Al Albert seemed pleased when I shouted, “Where’s Marv?” I became a Nugget fan from that day forward as I watched Michael Adams run non-stop the whole game. It was like Angus Young at an ACDC concert!
• I heckled the ever-livin’ heck out of Shawn Kemp in 1994. BAM! I was in is head from the last row of the building. Nuggies pulled it out, and we ran/fell down the 60 percent grade that was the upper level, and went and stood in line and bought tickets for Game 4. Rest is history.
• My favorite Nuggets moment, though, came before I started working here. A friend called me with free tickets to a game. One catch: I had to pretend to be a produce manger from a Pueblo King Soopers. My friend couldn’t keep a straight face, as I couldn’t fly under the radar and just be quiet. It was like a one-man Broadway show. I think by the end of the game, I had made several suggestions for a whole new delivery system and had everyone in an uproar as they agreed on how our invoices never match physical deliveries! Afterwards, two Nuggets came by to sign autographs. Marcus Liberty was one of them. Not sure about Nugget No. 2, but that was a good night.
• I would be remiss if I did not mention Game 6 of the 1996 Western Conference finals between the Avs and Red Wings. Still the loudest I have ever, ever heard a building! What a fun ride home. The whole city was united and in a feel-good mood. Everyone waved everyone else into the traffic flow. It was then that I decided, “I have to work here!!”

Lisa Whittaker, KSE manager of premium sales and service

In his first year with the Nuggets, Mo Martin purchased a beautiful BMW. He loved that car, he worshiped that car. He worshiped it so much that we got a crane driver to hoist it on top of the arena when he and the team were practicing inside. We called all of the news crews in town. The entire staff waited (in hiding) in the side parking lot and watched his reaction when he thought the car was stolen. Then, everyone pointed to the top of the arena.

Another favorite moment took place shortly after we hired supermascot Rocky. Charlotte Grahame and I were in charge of him (if that is possible). Rocky always practiced his skits in front of us to make sure everything was ok, etc. One time he rented a guillotine for his skit. He was going to ask someone out of the crowd to come onto the court and put their head in it.

So, Rocky, Charlotte and I went out to practice the skit. Charlotte volunteered to put her head in the guillotine just as the fan would later that night. Charlotte got on her hands and knees at center court, Rocky dropped the guillotine …………. and then couldn’t figure out how to open the guillotine. He had forgotten to ask that minor detail when he rented it. We had to walk Charlotte back to the engineering department wearing the guillotine to get someone to break the thing and get her head out.

Rob Winston, KSE executive director of ticket operations. Started as a media relations intern in 1994

Ahhh McNichols….

• The burrito truck coming by at 9 every morning with a rush of employees to greet it.
• The Arena Club and all its neon.
• The ghost of George…named after some construction worker named George who fell from the rafters to his death and all of the odd things that took place afterwards. (I thought they were referring to Kent, the security guard).
• Many say the Game 4 win vs. the Sonics is still the loudest they’ve ever heard a building (both Big Mac and Pepsi Center).
• When the Avalanche “A” looked like a “less-than” sign as they were pulling up the chains before one game.
• Paul Fernandez (now Bartch) leading the Avs onto the ice for every game.
• Dodging quarters that were being hurled from the stands from our great fans during a home playoff game vs. the Spurs in 1995.
• Section numbers like 2, 4, 16, 32 – where do you see that now???
• Escorting Pat Sajak and his wife to their seats for an Avs game, when a fight between two yahoos broke out on the concourse. As one guy was shoving the other guy against the wall into the entrance of the ladies bathroom, Sajak’s wife got swept into the bathroom with them. She was pinned along the wall, as well, and I had to go inside the ladies room to retrieve her. I’ll never forget the look on Sajak’s face.
• The Halloween costume contests and the $25 pop machine.