What is the BIG3 offering their thousands of new fans?

Anyone thinking that The BIG3 would be a one week fad was sorely mistaken.

10,651 fans poured inside the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Sunday to witness 3-on-3 competitive basketball between former NBA players.

But why?

That’s what I wanted to know when I walked into the arena. After watching week one in Brooklyn and hearing stories, I could see the appeal. The league had some gimmicks, some recognizable players, recognizable coaches, and plenty of celebrity support. Premiering immediately after the NBA season meant capturing a basketball audience that wasn’t ready to let go until October.

Read More: The BIG3 is off to a fantastic start

The turnout for Brooklyn was probably bigger than they could have hoped for. But it was never going to fail week one in Brooklyn. A big premiere in a big market meant big interest.

Week two was going to be a bigger test. Charlotte isn’t known as a basketball hotbed. The Hornets fill around 90 percent of the arena on most nights, ranking 22nd in the league in attendance percentage. When you think “basketball in North Carolina” the first three teams that pop into your head are North Carolina, Duke, and North Carolina State.

The crowd was paltry 30 minutes prior to the first game. I was a bit worried that there would be a lot of empty seats once the games started. But, in those 30 minutes, the arena quickly filled. Few seats could be found in the lower and middle bowls. The majority of the upper deck was curtained off, but the lower seats of the deck were filled.

But still, why?

That’s the question I decided to ask multiple fans. Alright, so I actually asked, “what brings you out here today?” Close enough.

The majority of the younger fans gave me the same answer: tickets were free. Indeed, thanks to Rashard Lewis, any kid 13 and under got in free with an adult. Parents had no hesitation in making this decision. One father told me, “I got two tickets for $40. It got my whole family (himself, his wife, and their two kids) in. Tough to beat that.”

I suspect that the majority of the kids hadn’t heard of anyone who played on Sunday. Allen Iverson being the likely exception. But kids wearing Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, and Kemba Walker jersey’s didn’t seem to mind that today’s star weren’t on the court. They were just excited to see basketball that felt like the big time.

The atmosphere went a long way towards making the event feel like a big deal. Holding the games in an NBA arena gives them a bigger sense of importance. That air of importance was only increased by those sitting courtside. Hornets star Kemba Walker and Charlotte native Anthony Morrow were both in attendance. Carolina Panthers legend Steve Smith had a front row seat. Grammy winner Anthony Hamilton treated fans to a halftime performance. LL Cool J took pictures with fans. And, of course, Ice Cube showed up.

This was the “must-see” event of the weekend for more than a handful of fans.

“This was all my friends were talking about,” said one gentleman. “We ain’t got baseball, basketball is over, football ain’t here yet. This was the place to be today.”

Other fans were excited to see guys they grew up watching. Iverson was by far the most popular jersey worn by fans, but plenty of players were represented by fans. I saw Brian Scalabrine, Dion Glover, Jason Williams, Mike Bibby, and Cuttino Mobley jerseys as well.

In addition to those three things, the competitive nature of the games helped fill the seats.

One fan told me that he was skeptical, but seeing the first week on television, and seeing that it wasn’t “a 3-on-3 All-Star game with retired guys” sold him on the league. “Those guys competed. They don’t have it like they used to. But they were competing.”

The turnout and support may have surprised some, but don’t count Allen Iverson among them.

“I expected it, just because of who is putting it on,” said Iverson. “With somebody like Cube, he’s not going to get involved with something and not put his all into it. I knew it would be something intriguing for the fans.”

Mike Bibby was overwhelmed by the fan support in the first two weeks, saying, “It’s crazy. You look at some NBA games and they don’t have as much people as we’re getting.”

While the fans are enjoying the affordable prices, the big time feel, the nostalgia, and the competitive nature of games; the players are all having a good time.

Whether Jerome Williams is engaging the crowd with high-fives and dog barks from the bench or Gary Payton is crashing post-game press conferences to yell about fouls, the players and coaches are enjoying their time being around the game again.

Next: 10 BIG3 matchups we can’t wait to see

“We’re out here having fun,” said Cuttino Mobley. “What we miss when we leave the league is camaraderie.”

Clyde Drexler echo‘d those sentiments, saying, “This is more fun (than the NBA). We’re older. We can enjoy it more. I get to see guys like Glove, Dr. J, and Ice. That’s my fraternity. This is the place to be.”

It’s tough to disagree with Clyde after seeing it firsthand.