Could someone supply the email address of the person at the BOKC (I assume it's Matt Merchant) so we (or atleast I) can send an email to let him know that this is a disservice to the KIDS who are playing in the tournament?

 

We flooded them in 2009, and it even made its way to Channels 5-9-12 back then.

 

They reluctenly backed down.

 

Put Matt Merchant's E/Mail address on here and flood his office with complaints.

 

The fact that they can't accomodate the media is on them. It's a simple fix. Get rid of the courtside chair seating on the far side of the arena and put in media access areas. If they don't know how to do it, send someone over to the CIntas Center to take notes.

The North End of the arena is a GOD AWFUL place to have to do updates. :banghead::irked::isurrender:

 

Or to call a game on radio. Wow.

This just adds to previous threads about the issues at BOKC. It would appear that BOKC has finalized it's monetary drain on the fans attending and now is moving on to "all others". While it is a nice place to watch games, everything else (parking, ticket management, concession pricing) is terrible.

 

I don't know if anyone on here knows who negotiates these items, is this a 9th Region Board of Control issue ? (because we know some of those names and email addresses ! ) :thumb:

Could someone supply the email address of the person at the BOKC (I assume it's Matt Merchant) so we (or atleast I) can send an email to let him know that this is a disservice to the KIDS who are playing in the tournament?

 

Here is the link to their contact info:

 

Staff Directory - The Bank of Kentucky Center

 

[email protected]

The bashing BOKC is taking on Facebook over this one is worse than here.

 

I assume the arena will change names soon since the Bank of KY is being bought out and that would be the perfect time to try to salvage their image among all the locals.

And this is going to be the venue of the girls state tourney beginning next year? All I can say is good luck with that and what an eyesore that will be for the rest of the state.

Kids love the BOKC experience. Let's keep it in perspective.

I'll just say that this stuff is noticed...I can name you the best and worst arenas in terms of accommodating the media at the snap of a finger. Some places "get it"...and some do not.

Kids love the BOKC experience. Let's keep it in perspective.

 

I understand that and fully support playing at BOKC because of the experience the kids get.

 

My email that I'll send tonight though will mention how those same kids would enjoy the experience even more if they are able to have pictures that capture their play.

Kids love the BOKC experience. Let's keep it in perspective.

 

Excellent point paNDA.

 

And in the BOKC's defense, new media is an evolving entity and it is tough to be fair to everyone. Add to that, most people taking the photos are not media at all which really puts places like the BOKC in a bind.

 

Some people like paNDA do it for the love of the game/photos, some do it for profit, some do it as a hobby, some do it because they have a fixation on high school boys and girls, and some do it just to avoid paying to get in among other things. The tough part is drawing a distinction among all those different photographers and deciding what is fair to all of them.

I am not affiliated with any school, just a proud Kentucky high school basketball fan. Can I ask has any fan had a poor experience there for high school basketball? Just the average joe. I have seen 10+ high school games there and loved them all. Disappointed the year Newport pulled the upset. Bored the year Boone and Holmes couldn't throw one in the ocean (and please don't try and tell me that was exciting or good defense), but I have loved the venue. New. Clean. Comfortable. Most times I have spent $25 on the evening, included two games, parking, a dog, and drink for nearly 4-hours of entertainment. I am sure there other positives too, but I can only speak for me. DO NOT move it back to some hot overcrowded high school gym, where only 70% of the fans get to see it. Ninth region fans, ninth region coordinators, and the BOKC just need to keep working on it and improving it to make it better.

Come on down to Maysville. I will buy your popcorn.

When is the final, start popping!

Excellent point paNDA.

 

And in the BOKC's defense, new media is an evolving entity and it is tough to be fair to everyone. Add to that, most people taking the photos are not media at all which really puts places like the BOKC in a bind.

 

How bad is it though that they can't provide media space for a high school event????

 

There should be courtside media space provided on the side of the arena opposite the scorers table. Instead there are courtside "high-roller" seats. The North Endzone option does not even provide a suitable area to eat your lunch, let alone broadcast a ballgame - it is a BOKC cop out.

 

Like it or not, high school basketball events held there are their biggest draws. You might think that they might want to be accomodating and benevolent to the folks wishing to cover those events conducted there. Charging credentialed photographers to get in and then told to stay off the floor isn't very far-sighted.

 

Didn't they learn anything from 2009????

Mustang, I was dealing specifically with the photo issue, I don't have an opinion on the other issues at this time.