[Pulp Fiction]

The good ole East Ky. Expo Center..... topic of much debate over the past few years. Some people love having the regional tournaments there, some people do not like it. I was on the Expo-train for awhile. It's a big venue that makes getting to the region feel like a big time event. Not as big as making it to WrestleMania, it's more like debuting on SmackDown Live (yes, this is a professional wrestling reference).

The security & checkpoints are good, you will never hear me complain about security. My problem is what the Expo center is policing. Checking every bag is great idea, most every big event does the same thing. The practice of checking the players/cheerleaders/band members bags and having them throw away "outside food & drinks" is unprofessional. I don't know this for certain, but I find it hard to believe that the major music stars, WWE wrestlers, UPike athletes are made to throw away their own food & drinks. A couple bottles of a players favorite sports drink isn't gonna break the Expo's bank.

The first two nights have seen small crowds. Even though these were the girls games, four of the eight teams are from Pike County (Pikeville, Belfry, Pike Central & Shelby Valley) and the crowds for these games wouldn't have come close to filling up a high school gym.


Why do you think the crowds are down.....? I'm glad you asked.

Tickets are $7.00 and are not being pre-sold. With a venue that has the resources the Expo does, there is no reason they won't do a pre-sale. Admission price isn't bad when you get two games. Like my Jimmie says (in the movie, Pulp Fiction) "but you know what's on my mind right now? It ain't the coffee in my kitchen....." Ticket prices and no pre-sale isn't the problem, it's the price of concession items.


I have only bought these two items the past two nights, so I can't say for certain what the price of the other items are. The menu they offer is a joke as well. Bosco sticks w/1 sauce (more sauce is extra), hot dogs, popcorn, a mall style pretzel & some candy.
$4.00 for a 20 oz. bottle of Gatorade.
$10.00 for one pizza roll & a medium drink.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!
Yes, I know Pro & College venues are fairly pricey for their concession items. These crazy high prices are keeping people away. I know several people that have a daughter that either dances or cheers and a son or daughter (or both) that plays basketball. Both teams make it to the finals, that is six nights of being at the Expo. Most parents that are able are gonna be there for every game. It's the extended family & causal fans that not making the trips. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors, cousins.... those are the people staying away. People cannot afford the amounts I'm listing below. I realize that it takes money to do almost everything. Spending $312.00 over six nights is a tough lick for a lot of people.

$28.00 for four tickets, per night.
$16.00 for each person one drink. Hopefully they ate before they got the Expo.
$4.00 for a bottle of Gatorade. Probably getting one or two per game for their kids.

So lets do a little math. Keep in mind, this is for six nights. 3 girls nights & 3 boys nights.

$168.00 - Admission for four people for six nights.
$96.00 - For one drink, per person, per night.
$48.00 - Two Gatorade's for six nights.
$312.00 - Total

This is not counting regional t-shirts or any type of food items.