Fan-less in Boise

Extra Mile Arena at Boise State.

Since 1978 I have had the privilege of being the Public Address announcer (PA) for the Boise State Broncos Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams.  I started announcing in the old Bronco gym and then made to the move to the Pavilion, then Taco Bell Arena and now Extra Mile arena.  I have seen over 1500 games(rough estimate)  in my 42 years of being the PA voice for the Broncos.

I have been in the arena with there wasn’t a seat left in the house, when it go so loud that the basket was actually moving (NIT game against Utah).  In the Coach Bobby Dye years, BSU hoops was the place to be!  Over 10,000 jamming into the arena night after night to help the Broncos win conference championships.  Been there as the BSU Women basketball team have won 5 Mountain West Championships. Announced 9 NCAA First and Second Rounds of the Big Dance tourney. 

All of these events are great memories, but last week, I did something that I never thought would happen….announce a game to an empty arena.  Because of our friend, Covid-19 there will be no fans allowed into Extra Mile arena this year. No cheerleaders, no Bronco Blue Pep Band.  It was one of the most strange empty feeling I’ve ever had in my career.  Much like the players, who feed off the crowd, so do PA guys.  It’s just not the same saying ‘Wallllllllllllllllllking……Bronco Ball’ to an empty arena.  Or announcing that an opposing player just fouled out to the joy of the crowd.  Or getting excited with the crowd after a great play. No, now the sounds of sneakers squeaking, the players on the bench trying to be the crowd to get the players on the floor fired up fill the spacious Extra Mile arena. 

Some of the new ‘normal’ this year for games include, players wearing masks during warm-ups, players and coaches on the bench must wear a mask during the game, even I have to wear a mask while announcing and piped in crowd noise.  When a ball got kicked off the court and into the stands, a new ball was put into the game, while they sanitized the other one.  After time outs, they wipe down all the chairs players were sitting in during the time out.  In last week’s game, we had a men’s and women’s game with about an hour in-between, during that time they sprayed the whole bench area and floor, wiped down all the official/press tables and they switched the headphones I was using.  It was very strange and funny too, seeing the coaches yelling at the refs, like they do, and before the ref can go talk to the coach to hear their ‘suggestions’ the ref has to put on a mask.  Pretty much takes the steam out of the coaches rant.  “Hang on, let me put this mask on and I hear what you have to say.” 

I am fortunate to be able to watch the action in person, and I am thankful for each and every game I get to watch, but still it’s an empty eerie feeling announcing to an empty arena. I think we can all agree that Covid-19 SUCKS!