Here are a couple that were texted to me, they were announced over radio. Wednesday night was 12,124. Thursday night was 10,853. Friday afternoon was 11,178. 11,432 for the finals. Once again these were sent to me during the games via text msgs.

 

I live very close to Evansville Indiana. I watch Evansville news and sports. When they show highlights from season basketball games the gyms are nearly full. When it is sectional time their gyms are packed. I know our regional tournament was a sellout the night Henderson played Hopkinsville. The finals also drew a good crowd.

 

Would changing the format to a super regional ( regions 1-4) (regions 5-8) and so on, would that help?

 

The Region 2 semifinal between Hopkinsville and Henderson was the highest attended region 2 game in 15 years. It was a packed house at Union and the environment was amazing.

 

As far as super regionals, that is an interesting idea. Top two from each region seeded like the regular regional tournament. Yes it would be an extra game, but also more revenue. The venues would be closer and I would think better attended. Being in Western Ky, it is very hard to get people to drive 4+ hours to Lexington. If those games took place at MSU I think you would see more attend.

 

If you could secure the super regionals venues like MSU, EKU, NKU, UofL, or Morehead, then have the Final Four at Rupp on Friday and Saturday or Saturday/Sunday. Of course it wouldn't be called the Sweet 16 any more.

As far as super regionals, that is an interesting idea. Top two from each region seeded like the regular regional tournament. Yes it would be an extra game, but also more revenue. The venues would be closer and I would think better attended. Being in Western Ky, it is very hard to get people to drive 4+ hours to Lexington. If those games took place at MSU I think you would see more attend.

 

If you could secure the super regionals venues like MSU, EKU, NKU, UofL, or Morehead, then have the Final Four at Rupp on Friday and Saturday or Saturday/Sunday. Of course it wouldn't be called the Sweet 16 any more.

 

The Sectional format was used once, in 1943, when there were war-time restrictions on travel. Sectionals were held on Tuesday and Wednesday and pitted four regional champions against each other. The Final Four was held that weekend in Lexington.

 

Section 1 was in Paducah and hosted the champions of Regions 1-4 (Benton, Crofton, Daviess County, Hartford)

Section 2 was in Louisville and hosted the champions of Regions 5-8 (Bowling Green, Howevalley, St. Xavier, Valley)

Section 3 was in Maysville and, oddly, hosted the champions of Regions 9-10 and 15-16 (Dayton, Millersburg Military, Elkhorn City, Mount Sterling)

Section 4 was in Richmond and hosted the champions of Regions 11-14 (Henry Clay, Wayne County, Harlan, Hindman)

 

2. Basketball tournament scores, records and lists for districts, regions and state

The Sectional format was used once, in 1943, when there were war-time restrictions on travel. Sectionals were held on Tuesday and Wednesday and pitted four regional champions against each other. The Final Four was held that weekend in Lexington.

 

Section 1 was in Paducah and hosted the champions of Regions 1-4 (Benton, Crofton, Daviess County, Hartford)

Section 2 was in Louisville and hosted the champions of Regions 5-8 (Bowling Green, Howevalley, St. Xavier, Valley)

Section 3 was in Maysville and, oddly, hosted the champions of Regions 9-10 and 15-16 (Dayton, Millersburg Military, Elkhorn City, Mount Sterling)

Section 4 was in Richmond and hosted the champions of Regions 11-14 (Henry Clay, Wayne County, Harlan, Hindman)

 

2. Basketball tournament scores, records and lists for districts, regions and state

 

Wonder what it would be like for Elkhorn City folks that year if there weren't travel restrictions in place. Would've been rough given the quality of the roads in 1943 for those folks to have to make a trek longer than the one from EC to "nearby" Maysville.

Wonder what it would be like for Elkhorn City folks that year if there weren't travel restrictions in place. Would've been rough given the quality of the roads in 1943 for those folks to have to make a trek longer than the one from EC to "nearby" Maysville.

 

Might they have went by train?

You did leave Rupp to go to and from your car correct?

 

Yeah, it was cold when I got there in the morning and cold when I left at night.

Might they have went by train?

 

Seems possible and even probable.

If this were held at any other Kentucky gym other than Rupp or Yum center or Freedom Hall it would have been a sell out..I'm very pleased when a high school basketball game draws 11000 people in ky

The answer(s) are pretty simple. First of all, KY high school basketball doesn't have the aura and the "mystique" it had in the 40's to the 80's. It just doesn't and it probably never will come close to that "golden age" again. Way too much competition for money in todays world, and lets face it, the interest just isn't what it used to be back in the day. You can see that in the 2/3 to 3/4 empty gyms during the season.

 

Then there is the money. I went to the Friday evening session, with all intentions of coming back Saturday and possibly Sunday for the championship game. After paying $10.00 to park, $13.00 for an UPPER arena seat (which I think is crazy) and then almost $12.00 for a hot dog, bag of peanuts and a small drink...I decided I wasn't spending that kind of money to come back and watch.

 

If the KHSAA wants to help attendance, they need to start with working on getting the prices down to get more people there and get more repeat fans to attend multiple sessions. The "die hards" will come regardless, but they are getting further and farther between and they aren't enough to support it. They need to get the casual fan back and involved. The guy who might come watch, but will also spend half the time on the phone talking or on the internet. But if he doesn't have a good signal and can't have access...he ain't coming back, even if he was willing to pony up the dough to watch. That itself might be enough to ward him away.

 

They need to get the kids involved. Coordinate with local schools. Get some buses there loaded with kids that were able to buy a ticket because it cost $3.00. Have a student "meal deal" special where if they show their student ID, they get a drink, burger and chips for $4.50. Sell pre-priced adult tickets through the same schools, limit them to say 20 tickets or so, for $7.00 for a session. Do something to get people there if attendance is truly an issue.

And just getting them there will get them to spend money on other things. Especially if they feel like they didn't get a shakedown at the gate and parking booth.

And just getting them there will get them to spend money on other things. Especially if they feel like they didn't get a shakedown at the gate and parking booth.

 

Exactly.

I really don't know how much control the KHSAA has over pricing. Ticket prices are based on the rental of the facility, and even dropping it a few bucks won't affect the overall cost all that much, even for a family of 4. Dropping it $5 only saves $20. Parking, food, hotels are completely out of the KHSAA's control, and I don't think they see a dime of any of that money, as private companies control all those costs.

I really don't know how much control the KHSAA has over pricing. Ticket prices are based on the rental of the facility, and even dropping it a few bucks won't affect the overall cost all that much, even for a family of 4. Dropping it $5 only saves $20. Parking, food, hotels are completely out of the KHSAA's control, and I don't think they see a dime of any of that money, as private companies control all those costs.

 

Food (outside the arena) and hotels you are correct. Parking and food inside the arena I would think KHSAA, while not in control of that, could make some deals to get those prices lowered if Rupp were a willing partner to do so.

 

And I don't think the people coming in from 2-4 hours away and getting hotels are the ones they need filling the arena. The need to get the local casual fan who may have no rooting interest but enjoys high school basketball...like me. They need to be getting those casual fans from the surrounding 10-12 counties, within an hour or so of Rupp. But they won't show up if it costs and arm and a leg to do it. I would have gladly come for 3 sessions, but after one session (Friday night) I just couldn't justify the cost.

G

Food (outside the arena) and hotels you are correct. Parking and food inside the arena I would think KHSAA, while not in control of that, could make some deals to get those prices lowered if Rupp were a willing partner to do so.

 

And I don't think the people coming in from 2-4 hours away and getting hotels are the ones they need filling the arena. The need to get the local casual fan who may have no rooting interest but enjoys high school basketball...like me. They need to be getting those casual fans from the surrounding 10-12 counties, within an hour or so of Rupp. But they won't show up if it costs and arm and a leg to do it. I would have gladly come for 3 sessions, but after one session (Friday night) I just couldn't justify the cost.

 

Food service is an outside vendor and parking may be as well, and aside from awarding the contract, Rupp/UK doesn't have as much control over pricing as you think. And again these are all little costs that together add up quickly. And I don't know that knocking a couple bucks off of everything will add up to enough to attract the casual, local fan if they have no rooting interest. Let's say a family of four costs $100 ($52 tickets, $10 parking, $40 food) per day. If you cut everything by 20%, it's still going to cost $80 per day. Do you think that savings would be enough to attract a few thousand more folks?? My point is, I don't think you can cut prices enough to have any even moderate affect on attendance. If cost is the main issue, and you wont pay $100, I doubt that you'll go for $80 (or maybe even $70). I just don't think there's enough wiggle room on costs like tickets (you're paying for the rental and labor fees to open the doors), food, and parking to lower it enough to make people want to come.

I'm a confirmed tight wad.

 

I went to the state tourney 10 years straight with the last being in 2009. I enjoyed every minute of it, and every year I consider going back. The Sweet 16 is an experience unlike any other, and the city of Lexington is clean, attractive, friendly and peaceful.

 

Then I do the quick math and decide that staying home to watch it online (while reflecting on my memories of being there) will save me $$$. It does appear that ticket and hotel prices have risen since I used to go.

 

When I did attend, I did everything within my power to keep my costs at a minimum.

 

1. I pre-ordered my tickets where every year I had first row in upper section at half court. They were half the price it would've been if I had lower section seats, and I thoroughly enjoyed my bird's eye view. I'm not sure what pre-ordered tickets costs now, but then the entire tourney would cost me $64.

 

2. Until the place became unbearably disgusting, I used to stay at the Knight's Inn, which for awhile wasn't so bad, but progressively went down the tubes. Then it was like $40 a night where I'd stay 3 nights, checking out on Saturday morning and driving home after the Saturday night championship game.

 

$120 + tax.

 

I eventually changed hotels to La Quinta at about $55 a night.

 

$165 + tax with free wi-fi and a free breakfast.

 

3. I made sure before attending each session that I was adequately fed to avoid the temptation of buying ridiculously priced hot dogs or other inflated priced food items.

 

Once in a while I would treat myself to an ice cream cone.

 

4. I successfully snuck in a bottle of water 100% of the time that I had purchased in bulk and kept stored in my hotel room's mini fridge, and refilled it at the drinking fountains, and always had on hand a Cliff Bar to get me through incase I got a little bit hungry.

 

5. I never once paid to park and in doing so in 10 years I figured that I saved $800 counting every session that I attended. Otherwise it would cost $20 bucks a day counting 2 sessions at $10 bucks a pop.

 

I would survey the surrounding neighborhoods and get to know them well enough to treat them like it was my hometown. I always found a spot, and rarely had to walk more than 10 minutes to get to Rupp. When I made it to the back door of the Victoria Square shops I was indoors all the way to Rupp via skywalks and tunnels.

 

When leaving it was an easier out than following everyone out of the lot. I didn't mind the exercise and the walking tour of some of Lexington's phenomenal old architecture on mostly bearable cool early spring like days.

 

6. On the back of every ticket stub was a McDonald's buy one get one free large sandwich. After the afternoon and evening sessions that would serve as my lunch and my dinner.

 

If I didn't catch a nap back at the hotel between sessions, I would find free things to do to occupy my time like going to the nifty downtown library, or on UK's campus and use their computers, chill out in Gratz park near the edge of Transylvania U, or just take a walk through downtown admiring what it had to offer.

 

I didn't do much driving other than getting me to Lexington, then 5-7 minute drives back and forth from the hotel to Rupp, then eventually back home again.

 

1. Tickets = $64

2. Hotel = $165

3. Food = $40

 

Total $269 + gas

 

If I were to attend now there'd be one more night in a hotel at around $75 + $20 + $20 + 20 + somewhat more expensive event tickets. (Not sure if they still have McDonald coupons on them???)

 

Total $269 + roughly $150 = $419 + gas

 

I've had my fun at the Sweet 16 with many great memories. Now that I can watch it online and save over $400 bucks, that's likely how I will continue to do it.

I could tell that that attendance was lower than usual, the live webcasts really made an impact on the attendance, also having Western KY teams taking over the tournament definitely had an impact as well.