Vicki Ray can rely the variety of Denver Nuggets video games she’s missed since she first sat within the nosebleeds at McNichols Sports activities Area 32 years in the past.
There have been two video games in 2005 when her mom died and the 4 in 2022 after Ray had a stroke. One when she was snowed in at her Lone Tree dwelling and all of the video games closed to followers throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
After which there are the 14 video games she’s missed since Kroenke Sports activities & Leisure officers revoked her floor-level season tickets over claims she violated NBA and area guidelines for contact with gamers and referees.
Ray, 72, stated the altercations didn’t occur and theorized the corporate revoked her tickets for different causes.
“My first response was someone desires my seats, as a result of I’ve had these seats the entire time the world has been open,” Ray stated in an interview with the Denver Publish this week.
In an announcement, Kroenke officers stated the tickets have been revoked “resulting from repeated violations and warnings of the NBA’s Code of Conduct in addition to Ball Area’s Code of Conduct.”
The corporate’s assertion cited “undesirable contact with individuals” that continued “even after repeated warnings.”
“We’re saddened to take this motion however have accomplished so in accordance with league and venue tips,” Kroenke officers stated in an announcement.
Kroenke officers declined to reply additional questions on revoking Ray’s tickets. The Nationwide Basketball Referees Affiliation and Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation didn’t reply to requests for remark.
The primary time Ray heard of any issues was Feb. 2, when two safety guards approached her after the sport and stated she had grabbed a referee, who pushed her away and stated “No.”
On Feb. 4, area officers instructed her a participant reported she hit him within the face. Ray stated she solely ever holds her hand out for gamers as they’re coming and leaving the world, and it’s their alternative to offer her a high-five.
The cellphone name revoking her season tickets got here on Feb. 13, two days after she had put a deposit down for the subsequent season.
It was a shock to Ray, who feels as shut as household to the Nuggets workforce.
Her sitting room is lined with cabinets of Nuggets memorabilia – dozens of signed Nikes, numerous photos of her posing with gamers and celebrities at video games, get-well posters despatched by the workforce after she had her stroke and a teddy bear and birthday card despatched by Marcus Camby.
Ray stated she’s contemplating authorized motion however declined to offer the identify of her legal professional. She’ll be capable to apply for season ticket membership once more subsequent 12 months, however that’s no assure she’ll get in, she stated.
“I simply need my seats,” she stated. “I need to be there.”
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