Some offiicials will go to their games after dressing at home, work, or in the local telephone booth. Here in Montana, even though snow is usually plowed in around the telephone booths and offer a great deal of privacy, none of the local ones are heated.
I personally like to dress out at the gym. Polishing my shoes and going over a pregame with my partner seem to be a great use of time.
If your a basketball junkie like myself, attend as many local games as possible, and don't already do so, you might want to consider the following tip..
During basketball season, keep a spare set of your uniform (everything that you would need to call a game) in your vehicle.
While it has not happened often in my career, this past week reminded me of why I do it.. Two officials, calling different contests went down for the count. One with a blown out knee and the other after losing color perception and experiencing dizziness with a heart rate at more than twice the normal frequency and half the normal amplitude (even after two hours in the emergency room at the local hospital) until some good drugs were shot into his IV.
It could allow you to earn a few extra $$bucks$$ or spare a fellow official running free-throw line extended to free-throw line extend by himself.

cell phones have pretty much eliminated all the phone booths around here.

a buddy was just telling me that because he had his gear with him, he picked up a game when 1 ref no-showed.

Hmmm, changing with nothing but a cell phone for cover must be an interesting challenge :D

Build a man a fire and you warm him for an evening.
Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life!

OOooooohhhhh Juulie..
You're such a romantic!

Most officials that I work with come and dress at the game site. When I first started I use to dress before going to a game site, but a quickly got out of that habit real quick because of not wanting to ride in my uniform.

I dress at the game site. I just like it better for some reason. Plus, while we are getting dressed, we go over our pre-game. Also, I have something to change back into after I get out of the shower.

i dress at the game site, i usally stay to watch the other games and i dont want to stick out in the crowd.

Coming to games is very unprofessional. It sends the wrong message to the players, coaches and fans. It looks like you just came from another game or you have to go to another game when you leave. Also what happens if your get your uniform dirty before you get to the game (winter and raining weather for example)? Now your uniform is soiled and you have not even tossed the ball up yet. Great impression to leave everyone.

Peace

I think it all depends on what level of ball I'm doing. If I'm working a middle school game, or at a site where i know a dressing room isn't available, I'll go dressed since I hate dressing in a public restroom. I think that looks even less professional than coming dressed.

This is one of those things that's going to vary by region, IMO. Let's not have such blanket assessments. :)

I couldn't agree more. If there's a question of getting my clothes soiled because I dressed at work and drove to the site as opposed to having to change in a school restroom, I'll change at work every time. I hate changing in a restroom. And then as I'm changing back into my street clothes after the game to watch the next game, that's usually when that loudmouth parent, Joe A$$hole, walks into the rest room. No thank you.

I prefer a more private place than the gym, like a coaches' office or locker room. :D

Really? Do you email your calls into your partner and let him make the calls? :D

I must be butter, 'cause I'm on a roll! :)

unprofessional
 

Why is going to games unprofessional. I am not sure of the area that you all call in, but where I call we are lucky to even get an ofice to talk more less a place to shower after the game. With my work schedule and traffic in my area I am usually hustling to get to the site and always want to be ready to get on the court when I get there.

What if I did just come from another game or I do have to go to another game when I leave? ;)

I always try to show up and change at the gym, but it's not possible 100% of the time. I see lots of guys at lower levels show up dressed already.