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Third, you obviously didn't read my previous post stating that our radio station WOULD HAVE made a substantial profit off the 13th Regional Tournament IF we would have known in advance the broadcast fees were going to be charged. Instead, what we agreed upon was thrown to the woodshed after all of those VIP/Reserved/Sponsor Seats were not sold. Therefore, for $500.00, I think we deserve a little something more than the thrill and experience of getting to sit courtside at The Arena in the presence of these well-known distinguished celebrities also known as the 14th Region Officials.

 

You have a good point about this. It was not right to give the radio stations such short notice on the broadcast fees. Maybe someone should rethink this and issue some refunds due to not having much/any time to be able to offset this expense.

The tickets for the region are cheaper than tickets for the Sweet 16, so that should not be a problem.

 

I stand corrected. I looked at the price on an old Sweet 16 ticket... this year's tickets are $16 per session.

 

However, I had to pay $28 for a pair of tickets from Ticketmaster last night. To the best of my knowledge, my home school was selling tickets for students only. Since I am not a resident of the Corbin area, I did not have the luxury of driving to the arena to pick them up in advance but wanted to have a decent seat and to know that I had a ticket in hand before driving down from Lexington. I ended up paying $14 per ticket once convenience charges, etc. were added in.

 

So I guess the point is, they ended up being $2 less than what I would have paid for a lower level ticket in Rupp that I could have had a family member pick up at my home school. :isurrender:

Over 4,000 tickets sold tonight. Both games were good games and the atmosphere of the Corbin v. Bell Co. game was amazing. I was down on the floor and it got very loud during the overtimes. The rest of this tournament should be great. Saturday and Monday night could potentially sell out.

I know there was a big crowd there last night because the schools involved all have good fans bases, but on the WYMT sports highlights, the TV angles made it appear that the arena was nearly empty. There were vast areas where all the seats were empty. I suppose that's because it is such a large facility that even with 4,000 fans it will still be half full (or half empty:D). I agree with another poster who said the size of the arena takes away from the "tournament atmosphere". The noise and frenzy would have to be dampered a little bit with the size of the place.

 

It looks like a beautiful arena, though. I hope to catch a game or event there in the future.

 

 

BTW, as far as Harlan County in this discussion, maybe their problems will be solved in a few years. There is talk that they will be switched to the 14th region. Being a 14th region guy myself, I would more than welcome the Black Bears and Green Dragons to our part of the world. In our region we have a six school rotation for the regional tournament host site.

I could visualize a big rivalry between Harlan County and their neighbor just across the mountain, Letcher County Central. And just up the road is Leslie County, another possible rival.

Harlan County played Letcher Central twice this year, and they also play in baseball and are in the same district in football. It is a good rivalry. Harlan County and Harlan both play Leslie County.

I know there was a big crowd there last night because the schools involved all have good fans bases, but on the WYMT sports highlights, the TV angles made it appear that the arena was nearly empty. There were vast areas where all the seats were empty. I suppose that's because it is such a large facility that even with 4,000 fans it will still be half full (or half empty:D). I agree with another poster who said the size of the arena takes away from the "tournament atmosphere". The noise and frenzy would have to be dampered a little bit with the size of the place.

 

It looks like a beautiful arena, though. I hope to catch a game or event there in the future.

 

 

BTW, as far as Harlan County in this discussion, maybe their problems will be solved in a few years. There is talk that they will be switched to the 14th region. Being a 14th region guy myself, I would more than welcome the Black Bears and Green Dragons to our part of the world. In our region we have a six school rotation for the regional tournament host site.

I could visualize a big rivalry between Harlan County and their neighbor just across the mountain, Letcher County Central. And just up the road is Leslie County, another possible rival.

 

End zone seats were empty for the most part. Sideline seats were full. It was plenty loud......

Now having attended my first pair of 13th region games at The Arena, I will give my opinion.

 

Nice facility, reserved seats on the side seem a little far from the floor, but still plenty close enough to have a great view of the action. The floor seats have risers, but I am not convinced that those are great seats given the press tables in front of them. The end zone seats (student sections) stayed pretty empty and don't really have a great view unless the action is on your end. I only bought a water and it was $1.50 which is not outrageous at all. I usually pay $1 at most HS venues and $.50 is nothing to impact my opinion. I paid $9 for a reserved seat on the side and while that was higher than normal, my daughter bought her student ticket at school for $5 which was not bad IMHO.

 

Much bigger crowd than I expected for the end of the South Laurel/Knox Central game which was very exciting. The North Laurel / Harlan County game saw more Black Bear fans than North Laurel fans, but it was also a good game. The atmosphere is not the same as a HS gym, but I was not crowded and felt pretty comfortable watching the game.

 

All in all, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the game. The kids really seemed excited to get to play in this facility. The distance behind the goals seemed to impact all the teams' shooting early on, but they all seemed to adjust pretty well and shot better as their games went on.

Now having attended my first pair of 13th region games at The Arena, I will give my opinion.

 

Nice facility, reserved seats on the side seem a little far from the floor, but still plenty close enough to have a great view of the action. The floor seats have risers, but I am not convinced that those are great seats given the press tables in front of them. The end zone seats (student sections) stayed pretty empty and don't really have a great view unless the action is on your end. I only bought a water and it was $1.50 which is not outrageous at all. I usually pay $1 at most HS venues and $.50 is nothing to impact my opinion. I paid $9 for a reserved seat on the side and while that was higher than normal, my daughter bought her student ticket at school for $5 which was not bad IMHO.

 

Much bigger crowd than I expected for the end of the South Laurel/Knox Central game which was very exciting. The North Laurel / Harlan County game saw more Black Bear fans than North Laurel fans, but it was also a good game. The atmosphere is not the same as a HS gym, but I was not crowded and felt pretty comfortable watching the game.

 

All in all, I enjoyed the atmosphere and the game. The kids really seemed excited to get to play in this facility. The distance behind the goals seemed to impact all the teams' shooting early on, but they all seemed to adjust pretty well and shot better as their games went on.

On the bolded, that should help the team that represents the 13th when they get to Rupp Arena, though. Most high school gyms have a wall background behind their goals. It's a totally different look to the shooter when they play in big arena's.

On the bolded, that should help the team that represents the 13th when they get to Rupp Arena, though. Most high school gyms have a wall background behind their goals. It's a totally different look to the shooter when they play in big arena's.

 

:thumb:

After attending the HC/NL game myself, here are my observations.......

 

1) The concession prices seemed fair. I bought a large (32oz) drink @ $2.50 and a small popcorn @ $2.00.

 

2) My biggest complaint is that i purchased reserved seating for my family from ticketmaster at $9 each (6 tickets total). When i arrived our seats were occupied. When i went to an usher hy told me that "everybody was pretty much sitting where they want to". If i wanted general admission, that's exactly what i would have purchased. I expected my seats to be there for me when i arrived at halftime of the SL/Knox game..........

 

3) It didn't really feel like tournament atmosphere to me. I guess i'm just to old school and think that the crowded gyms, standing in line, flat soda and way too salty popcorn :popcorn: is just part of the tournament atmosphere and experience........

After attending the HC/NL game myself, here are my observations.......

 

3) It didn't really feel like tournament atmosphere to me. I guess i'm just to old school and think that the crowded gyms, standing in line, flat soda and way too salty popcorn :popcorn: is just part of the tournament atmosphere and experience........

 

Drove two hours last night to see the same games. Won't donate my money to a Basketball event held there again! Probably a good place for Mud Wrestling / Monster Trucks / MotoCross. The lighting and PA system was lacking IMO too! :popcorn:

After attending the HC/NL game myself, here are my observations.......

 

1) The concession prices seemed fair. I bought a large (32oz) drink @ $2.50 and a small popcorn @ $2.00.

 

2) My biggest complaint is that i purchased reserved seating for my family from ticketmaster at $9 each (6 tickets total). When i arrived our seats were occupied. When i went to an usher hy told me that "everybody was pretty much sitting where they want to". If i wanted general admission, that's exactly what i would have purchased. I expected my seats to be there for me when i arrived at halftime of the SL/Knox game..........

 

3) It didn't really feel like tournament atmosphere to me. I guess i'm just to old school and think that the crowded gyms, standing in line, flat soda and way too salty popcorn :popcorn: is just part of the tournament atmosphere and experience........

 

 

I believe I was in your section in the very back row. I recall some HC fans a few rows in front of me were upset because someone was in their seats. I don't blame you. My daughter, a student at NL, teased me because she said "Nobody was sitting in their seats, why did you sit in yours with the Harlan Co fans?" I told her that was the seat I paid for and the Harlan County people were really nice.

 

I do agree that the atmosphere wasn't the same as a HS gym, but I did enjoy it.

I will say this, after the first night (girls) I was disappointed in the atmosphere, but after the Corbin/Bell epic, I must say the atmosphere was great for the kids the fans and everyone.

 

I was against the arena at the start then went to a game and it was okay and I still say the could tweak some things and make it better but like everything else it is a learning experience, but now I must say I like it there and the Arena is where it should stay. Besides all that I really don't like driving to Harlan just to watch games as a casual fan.

The Region will not be leaving the arena anytime soon. Take that one to the bank. NL has already made more money with a fraction of the problems they would have had by hosting it at their own gym.

After attending the HC/NL game myself, here are my observations.......

 

1) The concession prices seemed fair. I bought a large (32oz) drink @ $2.50 and a small popcorn @ $2.00.

 

2) My biggest complaint is that i purchased reserved seating for my family from ticketmaster at $9 each (6 tickets total). When i arrived our seats were occupied. When i went to an usher hy told me that "everybody was pretty much sitting where they want to". If i wanted general admission, that's exactly what i would have purchased. I expected my seats to be there for me when i arrived at halftime of the SL/Knox game..........

 

3) It didn't really feel like tournament atmosphere to me. I guess i'm just to old school and think that the crowded gyms, standing in line, flat soda and way too salty popcorn :popcorn: is just part of the tournament atmosphere and experience........

 

 

 

I am in complete agreement with #2. Buying a reserved ticket means you are entitled to the seat described at the time of your purchase. Otherwise, what's the point in buying reserved. This should be fixed. I'm guessing it wasn't easy to find six seats at the same level as the ones you paid for either. I've never been to a venue where I've heard "everyone is sitting where they want to", though I wish this were the case for plenty of UK games I've watched in Rupp :irked:.

I am in complete agreement with #2. Buying a reserved ticket means you are entitled to the seat described at the time of your purchase. Otherwise, what's the point in buying reserved. This should be fixed. I'm guessing it wasn't easy to find six seats at the same level as the ones you paid for either. I've never been to a venue where I've heard "everyone is sitting where they want to", though I wish this were the case for plenty of UK games I've watched in Rupp :irked:.

 

FYI: In the first year at the BOKC the Ninth did the same thing and had the same problem of fans sitting in others reserved seats! This year all the tickets are being sold as "General Admission" ($6.00 in advance $8.00 at the door) and I have not heard one single complaint about seating this year.

 

Now after commenting above, I am waiting to see what happens this evening, when I think there will be the largest HS crowd in the History of the Ninth Region Tournament attending these two games!

Edited March 6, 201016 yr by Theoldguy