OCEANSIDE — Excitement was in the air as thousands poured up the stairs and into Frontwave Arena on Tuesday.
A packed house watched as the NBA returned to San Diego, well, Oceanside, as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Brooklyn Nets, 115-106. The arena was full, even as the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in a thrilling 6-5 victory in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Petco Park.
While Frontwave Arena didn’t explode like Petco, the look, feel and atmosphere is all the Frontwave ownership group could hope for and more. But one can’t really compare the atmospheres to playoff baseball and a preseason NBA game.
Still, those who came out en masse delivered were excited and ready to watch some of the best players in the world compete in Oceanside. The buzz walking up to the arena was palpable, and now Oceanside has a place of its own and one that will bring greats experiences to the city.
And once the traffic flow and parking situation are ironed out, the experience will only be better. But to be fair, any stadium or arena parking is always like entering the Thunderdome.
Regardless, the game was a long time coming for Frontwave Arena Chief Executive Officer Josh Elias and the other executives. It showed the arena belongs, is a great place to catch a game or event. Next up on the calendar is the AVP (pro volleyball) League Week on Oct. 19-20, an Oct. 26 concert featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony followed by the inaugural game for the San Diego Clippers, the L.A. Clippers’ G-League affiliate, on Nov. 8 and the San Diego Sockers on Dec. 14.
The city of Oceanside should be excited just as much as Elias and company. The arena has cemented the city’s place as a destination and not just for the beach, although there’s not much beach left.
Rather, Frontwave puts Oceanside as the center of entertainment for North County as the city is racing by everyone else with long-term vision, planning and execution. City leaders took a big risk and it’s paying off.
