Fans gear up for exhibition game

WEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Thousands of fans have already lined up to witness the Miami Heat's Big Three host a charity basketball game Saturday night.

The South Florida All-Star Classic game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the U.S. Century Bank Arena at Florida International University's Modesto A. Maidique Campus.

The all-star game will be hosted by Miami Heat stars Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and will feature other NBA star players like Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Although James and Wade are Heat teammates, they will be on opposite teams in Saturday night's game.

Friday night, the basketball stars began arriving in South Florida for a dinner at STK in the Gansevoort Hotel on Miami Beach.

Fans are especially excited about the game because of the NBA lockout. Fan David Flores was grateful for the opportunity to see some of the league's best play on Saturday, since there may not be an NBA season this year. Flores said, "This might be the only game, so I had to come. I've been here since 10 o'clock this morning."

Tickets to the exhibition game sold out in less than two hours. "I think it's great. I think it's not only helpful to whatever charity it is that they're doing it for, but also to the fans so that we can participate in this event," said one fan, Carmen Feria.

Another fan, Raymond Couto, said, "I think it's great, man. Great for the community, great for the charity event. It's awesome, man. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Many fans weathered the rain and waited in line for hours to get into the arena for the game. "It's a one-time thing. You don't get to see as many players, all that talent, in one room. You never do," said fan Bridgette Quevedo. "If you go to a game, you see one or two. You don't get to see the best of the best at once, so it's worth it."

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