New York Times Blasts Heat Fans for Mojitos and Empty Seats

Categories: It's SoFla, Sports
Thumbnail image for lebron wade bosh.jpg
Too many empty seats greet Heat stars.
What's the problem, Miami Heat fans? Are you too busy sipping mojitos and grazing on patatas bravas to get your butts in the seats on time? Is it the economy? Do you secretly hate LeBron James as much as the rest of the country does?

These are the allegations lobbed at Heat fans by the New York Times today. According to the nation's most venerable newspaper:
 
Ticket holders straggle in long after the opening tip and flee en masse midway through the fourth quarter to beat the traffic. Clusters of red-and-orange seats remain blindingly vacant, making American Airlines Arena appear half-empty on television. 

You're missing LeBron James' famous pregame powder toss, people. What's wrong with you?

Ah, New Yorkers. They fly in for a quick playoff visit and think they know the place. Last summer, when James announced he was "taking [his] talents to South Beach" to join an all-star team with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, locals predicted the fan base would be tenuous.

James left Cleveland, a town that pours its heart and soul into sports teams, partly because its economy, politics, and weather are so abysmal. In South Florida, the gorgeous weather is extremely distracting.

You'll find a smattering of die-hard Marlins, Dolphins, or Heat fans, but mostly you'll find people who are too busy tanning or doing Jell-O shots before a night on Lincoln Road to notice a basketball game. And have you ever met a citizen of Miami who shows up on time for anything?

So seats at the arena are empty until halftime. What else is new? James and Bosh abandoned the frigid north for a town where the sun always shines and the parties never stop. They got exactly what they wanted.

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Privacy Policy
Sign up for free stuff, news info & more!

Tools

General

Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places

    Voice Places

    Discover restaurants, nightlife, travel, shopping...

  • VOICE Daily Deals

    VOICE Daily Deals

    Get 50 to 90% off every day on restaurants, movies, massages...

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    More than 10,000 of the BEST things to eat, drink, and experience

  • My Voice Nation

    My Voice Nation

    Join the Village Voice community and get exclusive deals and info

  • Happy Hour

    Happy Hour

    Your local Happy Hour guide at your fingertips

or

Log in or Sign up

Social Connect:

Use your favorite account to access My Voice Nation.


Use your My Voice Nation account to log in:





Forgot password?
or

Sign Up or Log in

Social Connect:

Sign up for My Voice Nation with your preferred network.


Sign up for a My Voice Nation account:



Privacy policy