Opening night. Not just “an” opening night, “THE” opening night for the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats in their new downtown sports arena.

It was a happening, to say the least.

The arena is an eyeful. Beautiful in every respect. State of the art in every respect. And the perfect venue in which to view a game.

A capacity crowd of 19,026 came to look at the arena, look at each other and, oh yes, watch the Bobcats play the Boston Celtics.

As a sports fan, I was excited to see the arena, taste the food, buy something from the fan shop and watch the game. As a business person, I was excited to network, see the people who were there, be with key members of my staff and network some more. Too many people fail to see the business value, the family value and the personal value in attending a game.

You know, there’s only ONE opening night. All kinds of fanfare, all kinds of music, all kinds of entertainment and Nathan’s hot dogs. I ask you, what could be better? Oh, yes, the game.

As my employees and I took our seats, I began to notice that there were major people walking around talking to one another.

A few of the celebrities in attendance included comedian Will Ferrell, University of North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams, NBA Commissioner David Stern, rapper Nelly, Bobcats owner Bob Johnson and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. There were also a ton of other major Charlotte business players.

From a fan perspective, it was Madison Square Garden, Wrigley Field and Disneyland all rolled into one. From a networking perspective, it was fantasyland.

Now it’s time for the game to start. Players on the floor ready for the tip-off at center court. Suddenly, Brevin Knight, the Bobcats’ point guard, heads toward the announcer’s table, grabs a microphone, turns to the crowd and says: “I want to thank everyone for being here and supporting us tonight in our new arena. I want to promise you that we will do our best and give our all for you, our fans.”

The place erupted with applause. I believe it was the single nicest thing I have ever seen happen at a sporting event between player and fan. Made me wish I had bought more tickets, so that more people could have seen that 30-second communication.

At the end of the third quarter, I made my way to the mayor, who was sitting next to Commissioner Stern. “Can I get a two-minute interview?” I asked. The mayor whispered a few words to Stern. Stern smiled and extended his hand. I asked, “How do you like the arena?” “It’s the new standard in the league,” he beamed. “The sightlines (viewing angles) are incredible. I can’t say enough about how impressive it is.” Mayor McCrory was smiling ear-to-ear with pride for the city. So was I. So were 19,024 others.

It wasn’t just a sporting event. It was a happening.

How did it sell me? It excited me, and it evoked a pride in me that was easily transferable. It helped me provide a fun atmosphere for my employees. Not just a well-deserved reward for them, but also a place for them to get to know each other. It made me want more. More tickets and more games.

After the game we went to the Sunset Club. A festive atmosphere to say the least. Every person I talked to who went to the game could not stop raving about the arena. Several who only had tickets for the opening game told me they were buying season tickets as fast as they could.

Today I’m making my season ticket plan — how I intend to use my tickets to build my business. I will use them for customers, employees, vendors, friends and, of course, family. This morning, I received an e-mail from one of my employees wanting to put four tickets on reserve for a game when one of our big customers is in town.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. We won the game in an overtime thriller. Even though the Bobcats struggled, behind 10 points most of the way, no one left the arena. The victory celebration at the end was as sweet as any I can remember.

No matter where you live, there are sporting events that are important to your community, the economy of your city and the success of the businesses that thrive there. Do you have a plan that supports your teams and at the same time builds relationships and makes more sales for your company? If not, get one right away.

Want to see my ticket plan to maximize the value of our season tickets? Go to www.gitomer.com, register if you’re a first-time visitor, and enter TICKETS in the GitBit box.

Jeffrey Gitomer can be reached by phone at (704) 333-1112 or by e-mail at salesman@gitomer.com.