I grabbed my ticket roughly half an hour before tip-off, like any other fan, and walked up the stairs amid a sea of blue and white. Ticket in hand, smile on my face and ready to cheer on the Jays, I continued past the main staircase and ended up on the suite level of Qwest Center Omaha.

I then handed my ticket to a very nice lady who greeted me and asked me how my day had been so far and directed me to my room: suite 32 to be exact. I walked down the carpeted hallway and entered the room.

There were nachos and drinks lined up along the bar. Fans casually drank their beer or pop while conversing about how our team would fare in their game against in-conference foe Evansville on Tuesday night.

I was taken aback by this simple feat. I, like many people, had this preconceived notion and stereotype of suites in general and of those who inhabit the treasured seats. I went in expecting champagne and suits amidst the talk of business and politics, but boy was I surprised.

I overheard businessmen going back and forth about how the Los Angeles Lakers were doing this year. I turned around to see a family of four walk in the room. A middle-aged man and woman with their son and daughter, neither of whom could not have been more than four years old, sat down at a high table to relax just moments before tip-off.

Shortly after the game started, a mix of businessmen and families were situated in the room comfortably talking with one another. I truly was wrong about the atmosphere of a suite.

No, there was not an air of upper class in this suite. These were men and women who came together in a room to do what we all do at the Qwest – cheer on the Jays.

I realized these people were just like us who sit in the seats of the arena. There was no glass that separated us from the crowd. We were one with the fans.

Yes, there were definitely benefits that came with the suite – great hospitality, food at your dispense and drinks galore – but when one goes in for the first time, they realize that past the carpeted room and leather chairs on the balcony, these are true fans of the game of basketball, of our Creighton Bluejays. They are not just higher-end businessmen and women, but they are who we are.

We all gathered in one place to cheer on our squad as they fought their way to a possible MVC championship. No matter where we sit in the arena, whether we sit in the student section, the highest row in the upper bowl or even a suite, we are all gathered for one purpose.

One purpose brought all 16,697 of us fans to the Qwest on Tuesday night. That purpose alone changed my view on those who dwell in the suites. No more will I judge people because of where they are seated.

We all came to enjoy the game of basketball and to cheer on our Bluejays to a wild victory. Suite holders and students, we all left through the same doors with that great victorious feeling.