The Following press release was distributed by Brossart Athletic Director Mel Webster this morning:

 

It’s official. The Tenth Region Boy’s Basketball Tournament is coming to Northern Kentucky University’s Bank Of Kentucky Center March 7, 9, and 10, 2009.

The format will be a unique one and the 10th Region Athletic Directors made some sweeping changes for District as well as Region play beginning with this season.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of this year’s Regional is that the 9th and 10th Region Championship games will be played as a doubleheader on Tuesday night March 10. It is believed to be the first time in Kentucky two different region’s have hosted their Championship games in the same arena on the same night.

“I think it’s as exciting as it gets,” exclaimed Bishop Brossart Athletic Director Mel Webster. “Even if it’s not a part of history did anyone ever think they could see both games on the same night? It’s wild.” Many feel the combination could sell out the 9400 seat arena. “That’s possible,” says Webster. “The 10th Region has consistently had championship crowds of 5,000 and the 9th Region problem has always been their largest facility only holds about 3500. Many don’t go because they don’t feel they will get in. Add the doubleheader excitement and that place is going to rock.”

Since the 9th Region is hosting both the girl’s and boy’s region at NKU, the challenge was fitting the 10th Region boys in. While most regions will start on Monday and play throughout the week, the 10th Region boys wont open until Saturday and will play all four games in the opening round at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. They will then play the semifinals on Monday march 9 at 6:00 and 8:00 pm and then this time the 10th Region will play the first game at 6:00 pm on championship night. The 9th Region game will start at 8:30 to give the 10th time to present awards, cut down nets etc. The next time the two regions double up the 9th Region will go first.

Admission on all sessions will be $8.00 per person but the cost includes parking on campus at no additional charge. On Saturday you can see all four games without clearing the gym after games and if want to leave and return you can buy a Reentry pass for $12.00. If you stay in the building you can watch all 4 for just $8.00. Pre-sale tickets will be available thru the participating schools. You will be buying a ticket for a specific seat. Bands and Cheerleaders will be admitted free the night their team plays.

The tournament is hosted by the 37th District who chose the site. Campbell Co. will handle the financial end and be the designated host school. The great part of the deal is that everything is guaranteed. SMG Management who manages the arena has guaranteed the shares and expenses which will total $49,000. If the tournament rises above that figure SMG and the regions share the rest 50/50. Only the lower arena will be open unless needed. 37th District schools also have the option of working concessions.

The 38th District hosts in 2010 and will have a month following this year’s tournament to accept the same deal or chose another site. It is believed at this point Mason Co. and Montgomery Co. will host when their District rotations come up in 2011 and 2012.

There will be end zone seating for students and bands. Those areas will be designated for games.

 

Hospitality Rooms and Passes

Two big changes will effect both Region and District play. No Coaches passes, Spouse passes, KAPOS passes, Administrator passes will be accepted at all. Schools will have Pass Lists for designated guests (coaches, players, administrators etc). Most Regions have eliminated accepting coaches passes in the post season. A ninth region survey a couple of years ago revealed that when coaches passes are excepted almost 25% of the attendance is free.

Another change will be the elimination of hospitality rooms for District and Region Tournaments. The last two years both Mason County and Montgomery Co. spent over $3,000.00 just on hospitality. In this day of rising transportation costs and food prices the Athletic Directors thought it was an extravagant expense.

Plans are underway to have a joint dinner for the drawing on Sunday before the tournament. A corporate sponsor would sponsor the event.

Times are really changing!

This is it.

 

For better or worse the venerable 10th Region Tournament won't be played in the Mason County Fieldhouse for the second consecutive year.

 

Much as last year, I suspect the folks who live in Northern Kentucky will hail it, those in Maysville area will hate it, and those in the Central Kentucky part of our region will only involve themselves in it if their teams are playing in it.

 

I suspect that this will spark another multi-page discussion about the good and evil of hosting the event at a central location (Maysville) or the rights of the individual districts to pick and choose where they choose to host it.

 

How the tournament will be received from an attendance point of view will only be speculation until they open the doors and the public responds.

 

This is obviously a God-send for the 9th Region who can only guess what their attendance might have been over the years had an adequate facility/parking been available, but I don't see how it will increase attendance of that experienced during the 10th Region tournament's hayday, when held in the Mason County Fieldhouse. The variable factor will be how much interest there will be from general basketball junkies in Northern Kentucky who will get to see the primere teams from both regions perform in a professional setting, especially if players such as GRC's Vinney Zollo, and in past years Darius Miller or Chris Lofton were to be performing.

 

For years I attended the Cincinnati post-season tournament when it was held in the Shoemaker Center and believe me bigger wasn't better. The tournaments had a very hollow feeling to them and there was no electricity to them whatsoever. I doubt that will be the case at the BOK Center at NKU, where the tournament will draw big crowds due to the sheer novelty of playing the event there, if nothing else.

 

Personally, I have always been on the record for hosting the tournament at the Mason County Fieldhouse on an annual basis (home court advantage for the Royals or not) and I personally remain firmly entrenched in that sentiment.

 

As Melvin says in his statement - The Times They Are Certainly A'Changin.

Thanks for the update.:thumb: I am so excited. To get to see all of the games on Saturday is going to be a great opportunity for fans in the 10th. Not clearing th gym after ecah game is another great advantage.

 

Yes it is hard to except change sometimes, but a rotation of the site has long been over due. Now that the 10th has access to other facilities....we knew would change things.

As an outside observer, I like it. I have no problem with the Fieldhouse hosting when it's their district's turn in the rotation, but I think it is absolutely an advantage to Mason County have it there year in and year out, and they don't really need any more advantages. A neutral site is best.

The Following press release was distributed by Brossart Athletic Director Mel Webster this morning:

 

It is believed to be the first time in Kentucky two different region’s have hosted their Championship games in the same arena on the same night.

 

Everything sounded fine except this statement. The 6th and 7th regions played their championship games on the same day at the same site for both boys and girls. This means four championship games on the same day at the same facility.

 

 

I for one can't wait for the games to come here. Has anyone heard anything about the 10th Region girls tournament? For some reason I thought that they would be playing at THE BANK of Kentucky Center as well. There is an outside chance that I might be working this event in some capacity so I'll have my fingers crossed.

:thumb::I don't mind seeing it at NKU.

 

And I live in Maysville. :lol:

 

 

There is going to be enough seating and therefore it's ok by me.

I think it's a good idea, but I would like festival seating.

Contrary to popular belief by some on this site... the folks in Maysville welcome this change. It will be AWESOME to see a 9th/10th doubleheader! I promise that the BOK will be almost if not totally full that night.

True.................

 

This is a great opportunity for all of the schools to play in a state tournament atmosphere.

 

It is dream come true for basketball fans and junkies to see so many quality basketball games in a row and for such a low price considering the amount of games.

 

What a great opportunity for 9th and 10th region fans to combine the "best of the best" for that championship night.

 

Now lets come back to the real world. It is about time we come back to the small towns of Kentucky and get out of the "big lights" of Northern Kentucky.

 

$32- That is the admission price of a family of four to get into the basketball games to watch their nephew, cousin, or neighbor from church play in the regional tournament.

 

$6- That is the price for each member of that family to have something to drink.

 

$4- That is the price of each member to have a bag of popcorn or candybar.

 

$50- The amount of gas many will need just to drive back and forth to the game.

 

$94- The total for a family of four to watch their team play one night.

 

Having enough gas to go to work, heat to keep warm during the winter, and food not to go hungry..............PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I do not see how in these tough times the Athletic Directors in the 10th region can be that irresponsible and ask this of the working families. These are the people who support their community and whose children have to go watch their high school heroes. Why are they the ones that are punished just so the tournament schools can make a buck and their schools can play in that state tournament atmosphere. State tournament atmosphere should be reserved for the state tournament. Especially at this cost.

 

note (prices are subject to change based on the name of the current hurricane)

Now if the 9th and 10 could draw each other in the opening round of the state tournament, then it will make it that much more exciting!!!

Now if the 9th and 10 could draw each other in the opening round of the state tournament, then it will make it that much more exciting!!!

 

I rather see them in the finals, than the opening round of the state tourney.:thumb:

Maybe I missed it in the press release but how does this......

 

the 10th Region boys wont open until Saturday and will play all four games in the opening round at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

 

Affect the girls' regional tournament layout?

Glad to see that they will be at the BoK.

True.................

 

This is a great opportunity for all of the schools to play in a state tournament atmosphere.

 

It is dream come true for basketball fans and junkies to see so many quality basketball games in a row and for such a low price considering the amount of games.

 

What a great opportunity for 9th and 10th region fans to combine the "best of the best" for that championship night.

 

Now lets come back to the real world. It is about time we come back to the small towns of Kentucky and get out of the "big lights" of Northern Kentucky.

 

$32- That is the admission price of a family of four to get into the basketball games to watch their nephew, cousin, or neighbor from church play in the regional tournament.

 

$6- That is the price for each member of that family to have something to drink.

 

$4- That is the price of each member to have a bag of popcorn or candybar.

 

$50- The amount of gas many will need just to drive back and forth to the game.

 

$94- The total for a family of four to watch their team play one night.

 

Having enough gas to go to work, heat to keep warm during the winter, and food not to go hungry..............PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I do not see how in these tough times the Athletic Directors in the 10th region can be that irresponsible and ask this of the working families. These are the people who support their community and whose children have to go watch their high school heroes. Why are they the ones that are punished just so the tournament schools can make a buck and their schools can play in that state tournament atmosphere. State tournament atmosphere should be reserved for the state tournament. Especially at this cost.

 

note (prices are subject to change based on the name of the current hurricane)

 

Nice breakdown of the ridiculous format and the prices alone will be a negative twist on the so called tournament atmosphere. Do we know what the cost is to rent this arena? Interesting question considering the jacked up prices.

Cuts down on the travel costs for those of us who live on the north side of the 10th region!