Wife and mother Cynthia Flowers couldn’t contain her enthusiasm as she entered the building with her child and husband.

“I’ve been looking forward to this game since last season because I didn’t get out last season,” she said, “so this year I plan on being out a lot more.”

Her husband Marco echoed her sentiments.

“I’m very excited for the new season,” he said. “I’m also glad they got good draft picks (in Monique Currie, Tye’sha Fluker and LaToya Bond).”

Others, like Carla Haygol, clad in her bright orange jersey, had Sting spirit radiating from them as they waited for tipoff.

“I’ve been looking forward to this forever” she said. “I’m excited about everything. I’ve been to all the preseason games -- I don’t miss a game.”

The kids in attendance were thrilled, too. Take for example 11-year-old Ginger Swindel, who was gazing into the arena while her mother signed her up for the Sting Kids Club.

“I am excited about the game because I haven’t been to a game in a while,” she said. “I’ve been around the stadium and it’s really nice. The scoreboard is cool.”

It also wasn’t surprising to run into family members and friends of Sting players both present and past on this night, with former Sting great Andrea Stinson having her number retired at halftime. Arleen McClain explained why she was so excited to see Stinson’s jersey retirement tonight.

“I’m really looking forward to watching the game tonight because they are retiring my daughter’s godmother’s jersey, Andrea Stinson,” Arleen McClain said. “We’ve been looking forward to this forever. We actually missed my daughter’s registration at her college, just so we wouldn’t miss this today -- that’s how important it is. We are all here to support her!”

Another fan, Elizabeth Lost, was not only excited about the opening game and new stadium, but the new coach.

“Oh, the new coach is wonderful,” she said. “We followed Muggsy when he was a Hornet, so we were delighted when he was chosen to be the coach -- the girls seem to like him.”

In all, everyone in attendance seemed as though they couldn’t wait to get underway the event they had been anticipating for days.

“I love the stadium and I love the coach,” added McClain. “Newness is great!”