[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.

[Pulp Fiction]

Distances from the 15th region schools to the Expo via GoogleMaps.

57th
Johnson Central - 41 miles.
Paintsville - 40 miles.
Sheldon Clark - 53 miles.
Magoffin County - 43 miles.

58th
Prestonsburg - 28 miles.
Floyd Central - 35 miles.
Betsy Layne - 17 miles.
Lawrence County - 66 miles. (Farthest)

59th
Shelby Valley - 11 miles.
Pikeville - 1 mile. (Shortest)
East Ridge - 29 miles.
Jenkins - 31 miles.

60th
Belfry - 26 miles.
Pike Central - 6 miles.
Phelps - 30 miles.
The Piarist School - 36 miles.


Six roundtrips to the Expo from some of these places will also be some major $$$$$$$.

Again, I realize it takes money to do almost everything. When you add the amount ($312.00) I figured up in the above post with gas money it takes to make the trips, families are out a lot of money..

[pjdoug]

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.

Stupid prices. Eat before you go in.

[jetpilot]

Anyone who spends $144 on overpriced junk food at a regional tournament deserves to be poor lol. I'll never understand how people nowadays can't make it through a ballgame without stuffing their face lol...I'm going 3 nights and 4 or 5 games for $21 is a bargain. I will buy a bottle of water from them if it isn't more than $2. I may or may not walk in with a bag of M&Ms in my pocket.

[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.

Stupid prices. Eat before you go in.

Look at the red text.

[zaga_fan]

I'd wager the majority of people won't read every word of your novel, Pulp.

Honestly, I'll never understand why anyone would eat concession food anyway.

[Strikeout King]

If you take your girlfriend or wife have her take a purse or carrying bag and out drinks and snacks in it.

[Pulp Fiction]

If you take your girlfriend or wife have her take a purse or carrying bag and out drinks and snacks in it.

They are checking bags like you are going in to a prison.

[pjdoug]

Anyone who spends $144 on overpriced junk food at a regional tournament deserves to be poor lol. I'll never understand how people nowadays can't make it through a ballgame without stuffing their face lol...I'm going 3 nights and 4 or 5 games for $21 is a bargain. I will buy a bottle of water from them if it isn't more than $2. I may or may not walk in with a bag of M&Ms in my pocket.

I've been known to carry M&M's in. Eat a buffet somewhere before you go to the ball game or get drunk before you go in a bar or stadium selling $10 drinks nicker:

[pjdoug]

Look at the red text.

I was just giving a little hint to all. lol

[pjdoug]

I'd wager the majority of people won't read every word of your novel, Pulp.

Honestly, I'll never understand why anyone would eat concession food anyway.

I have attention deficit, and it is honestly hard for me to read his novel after flipping through his photo album.

[Granny Bear]

Prices are similar if not exactly the same at the Arena. Plus the atmosphere sucks. However, when we chose to have the tournament at HC a few years ago, we got blasted. There was plenty of seating for everyone at every game. Parking is a little dicey, I will admit. Lots of concessions, some of it homemade. A lady, also known as Granny Bear, runs this concession stand with military precision and no nonsense cleanliness! So everything considered, I prefer the high school gymnasiums as long as it can accommodate seating.

It is 82 miles from HCHS to The Arena. Most folks moaned and complained when they had to make the drive. I didn't! I moaned and complained the 6 years I had to make the drive down there.

Oh, and one more thing. If you are a voluptuous woman, you can always hide your concessions if you want to sneak them in. Personally, I can hide away enough for 8 people sans the drinks.

nicker:

[Granny Bear]

I have attention deficit, and it is honestly hard for me to read his novel after flipping through his photo album.

Well, I read every dang word of it!!!

[Westside]

Prices are similar if not exactly the same at the Arena. Plus the atmosphere sucks. However, when we chose to have the tournament at HC a few years ago, we got blasted. There was plenty of seating for everyone at every game. Parking is a little dicey, I will admit. Lots of concessions, some of it homemade. A lady, also known as Granny Bear, runs this concession stand with military precision and no nonsense cleanliness! So everything considered, I prefer the high school gymnasiums as long as it can accommodate seating.

It is 82 miles from HCHS to The Arena. Most folks moaned and complained when they had to make the drive. I didn't! I moaned and complained the 6 years I had to make the drive down there.

Oh, and one more thing. If you are a voluptuous woman, you can always hide your concessions if you want to sneak them in. Personally, I can hid away enough for 8 people sans the drinks.

nicker:

Men can too. When my brother was going to UK in the early 90's my buddy and I went down a few times to visit on weekends. Once we went to UK hockey game. These games always started at midnight and obviously college and high school students who attended these games liked to drink alcoholic beverages. I stuffed three cans of beer down my pants and walked in a strutting.

[Rainingthrees]

I've avoided the concession stand so far and will continue doing so at the Arena. $200 was all I was spending this week up there and hopefully less. If I continue to take the family I may not get to go Saturday or Monday, lol.

[thsrocks]

Seventh Region is $8.00 to get in. My gang generally limits what we buy at concessions and we wait until after the game(s) to eat out at a pizza place or restaurant.

[Pulp Fiction]

I have attention deficit, and it is honestly hard for me to read his novel after flipping through his photo album.

If you only knew how long and what I've been through for the meaning behind those two pics.

[Pulp Fiction]

Well, I read every dang word of it!!!

[Image: http://www.pulitzer.org/cms/sites/defaul...ewsday.jpg]

Send your Pulitzer prize recommendation in for me, Granny Bear.

[PHSForever]

Some of not most of the concession stands are run by schools who make anportion from the sales as fundraisers. Still high, I understand and agree, but that could be driving some of the costs

[RealJokersWild24]

Prices are similar if not exactly the same at the Arena. Plus the atmosphere sucks. However, when we chose to have the tournament at HC a few years ago, we got blasted. There was plenty of seating for everyone at every game. Parking is a little dicey, I will admit. Lots of concessions, some of it homemade. A lady, also known as Granny Bear, runs this concession stand with military precision and no nonsense cleanliness! So everything considered, I prefer the high school gymnasiums as long as it can accommodate seating.

It is 82 miles from HCHS to The Arena. Most folks moaned and complained when they had to make the drive. I didn't! I moaned and complained the 6 years I had to make the drive down there.

Oh, and one more thing. If you are a voluptuous woman, you can always hide your concessions if you want to sneak them in. Personally, I can hid away enough for 8 people sans the drinks.

nicker:

I only had the opportunity to attend a couple of regionals at The Arena before moving away, but I thought the atmosphere was terrible.

Factor in that some teams might have some [ahem] experience there and I am not a fan.

I don't think that it's a problem if a Harlan County or Clay County is in the rotation, even if it means split sessions at the latter.

My most memorable regional tournaments as a fan are probably:

1.) Cawood ('01)
2.) Rockcastle County ('03) and
3.) Knox Central ('99)

Thought Bell County and Clay County did fine hosting as well.

The Arena just feels like a small college game that no one is into at all.

[fatpatfan]

[Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/26vUxJ6aHm.../giphy.gif] Sorry about that! JPC economics 201 baby! Ole Fatpat just about put Esty out of business brutha plus a few more places not including the hospitality room! Ole Fatpat bust a concession stand wide freaking open! More workers+more money+more food=higher prices & happy big guy! Wowza! #concessionsismy2ndhome More mash taters please!!!

[Creeker]

Went to the Monday night games and I dropped my family off at the door and went to park the vehicle in the garage. Got back to the door and my family was already inside waiting on me. The "bouncer" at the door nearly tackled me because I walked past the ladies scanning the tickets in order to get my ticket from the family... you would have thought I ran through the door with a bomb. nicker: I even pointed to my family and said, they have my ticket...

Same guy made my 74 year old father empty his jacket pockets at the door as well, This guy is a real tool...

[clipperw]

I am hoping to pay the Expo Center a visit the next 7 days for the 15th Region and Mid South Tournaments. I am planning on eating before and after each day, save for Friday when the Mid South Games start at 10. On that day, I may splurge on a couple of hot dogs for lunch since I'll be there for the 4 Mid South Games and possibly that night for the girls Region Semi's.

As far as extra items, I do wish they would sell programs again. I was happy to see they had those at the 58th District Tournament last week, I enjoy getting those for keepsakes.

[4everUK]

The concession pricing is rediculous! If I go, I won’t by anything the entire week.

[pjdoug]

Prices are similar if not exactly the same at the Arena. Plus the atmosphere sucks. However, when we chose to have the tournament at HC a few years ago, we got blasted. There was plenty of seating for everyone at every game. Parking is a little dicey, I will admit. Lots of concessions, some of it homemade. A lady, also known as Granny Bear, runs this concession stand with military precision and no nonsense cleanliness! So everything considered, I prefer the high school gymnasiums as long as it can accommodate seating.

It is 82 miles from HCHS to The Arena. Most folks moaned and complained when they had to make the drive. I didn't! I moaned and complained the 6 years I had to make the drive down there.

Oh, and one more thing. If you are a voluptuous woman, you can always hide your concessions if you want to sneak them in. Personally, I can hid away enough for 8 people sans the drinks.

nicker:

Bring me a six-pack to the arena?

[pjdoug]

If you only knew how long and what I've been through for the meaning behind those two pics.

If you only knew what I've been through and still not get such pictures.

[Granny Bear]

I wish one of those cans had sprung a leak pj...You really would be strutting then!!

nicker:

[pjdoug]

I wish one of those cans had sprung a leak pj...You really would be strutting then!!

nicker:

You got mixed up. lol

[Superfly]

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.

Holy Smokes!!!!!:why::why::why:

[pjdoug]

Holy Smokes!!!!!:why::why::why:

^ That must be why I usually don't go. lol