Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
Friday, April 29, 2005, Washington Post

Ready for Action

On Saturday, about 20,000 basketball fans will pack MCI Center to watch the Wizards try to beat the Chicago Bulls. The joint will be jumping with playoff excitement.

Big sports events don't just happen. Someone has to make sure that all those people get their tickets, find their seats and have food to eat and clean restrooms to use.

Gary Handleman is one of the people who does that planning. He is the senior vice president of facilities at MCI Center. After playing lacrosse and basketball at Johns Hopkins University, Handleman got a job running errands for the folks at the old Capital Centre. Now, Handleman and his staff run MCI. I talked to him about his job.

How many events take place at MCI Center?

We do about 210 to 220 events a year. We have the Wizards, the Capitals, the Mystics and Georgetown basketball, of course. But we also do the circus, Disney on Ice and about 30 to 40 concerts.

Are you in the building during the games?

Yes, most of the time. I will be there to oversee the staff -- the ticket takers, security people and ushers -- to make sure that everyone is doing their job and things are running smoothly.

Do you get to watch the games?

Sometimes I go to a spot and stand and watch the game. I am a big basketball fan, so watching the games is one of the benefits of my job.

How many people work at MCI Center during a game?

There are about 300 event staff people working at a game and about the same number handling food and the concessions. The teams have another 50 to 60 people at the games, too. So there are close to 700 people who are working at a big game.

How long does it take to switch from a hockey game to a basketball game?

When the Capitals were playing we would sometimes have a hockey game at 1 p.m. and a basketball game at 7 p.m. So we can make the changeover in two or three hours. But usually the work is done overnight.

Where does the ice go during a basketball game?

The ice is always there. We just put insulation over the ice and then place the basketball floor over that. The basketball floor is actually 225 pieces and is put together like a big puzzle. The only time we melt and remove the ice is for the circus or the horse shows.

How long does it take to clean the building after a big game?

We have a cleaning service come in and, depending on the crowd, it can take 30 to 50 people up to eight hours to sweep the building. Then they mop everything. It's a big job.

Do you get to meet the players and the performers?

Because of their practice schedule, I know the Wizards well enough to say "Hi" to them. This team is a very friendly bunch. One time I bumped into [rock-and-roll superstar] Bruce Springsteen. He was real nice, just a regular guy.

What is the best part of your job?

Getting out and dealing with people. I am not sitting behind a desk all the time. When I walk around the arena and see people enjoying the game, it is a real sense of accomplishment.