Expo center

Tubby Hater · 03-10-2007, 01:58 AM

I love the Expo center, it is really what Eastern Ky has been needing for many years. Could you imagine a high school gym trying to hold the crowd that was there tonight. The atmosphere was great. The only thing that might be a problem is the shooting background.

EASports12 · 03-10-2007, 02:19 AM

All_Sport#1 Wrote:Have you ever dribbled a ball on the floor out there? well I have and they are def. dead spots or weak spots and whatever but my best friends played on the court last year and this year and they all said they are dead spots everywhere. And yeah I like the expo to, it def. has good lighting in it.lol

Yes I have played and practiced on the floor several times, and the first time I was out there, I tested it, and THE BALL BOUNCES THE SAME EVERYWHERE. There is definately a difference in the sound of the bounce from place to place though.

The atmosphere should no longer be in question after tonight. It was pretty crazy.

**thetribe** · 03-10-2007, 02:27 AM

EKY Sportster Wrote:THE EXPO CENTER ROCKS!! It is one of the only places in the region that you can actually go and sit comfortably and enjoy the game!! And best of all it is neutral so that NO TEAM can claim another team has a home court advantage.

Some gyms are more comfortable than others. But anyone that would want to go back to the old days of waiting in lines, looking for good seats or in some cases a seat period, having people wedged on both sides of you, burning up and so on is CRAZY! We finally have a facility in the 15th that is as good as the 16th playing at the MSU. Everyone just needs to enjoy it.

My thoughts exactly. It's not nearly as hot as any other gym in the region and people aren't so crammed in but the fans are right there able to cheer their hearts out. The seats are new, doesn't have the broken ones like some other high school gyms, and the players get the same amount of practice on the court. I went to tons of high school basketball games especially big tournaments and loved every minute, sweating or not but this just seems like a much better atmosphere for the fans. The players also get the experience of playing in a gym just like Rupp and since the Expo is there, why not use it?

Nascar99 · 03-10-2007, 02:45 AM

I think the Expo is a great place for the Regionals. It gives the kids a chance to get ready for Rupp. There is no gym, in the 15th region, that can hold that many people and have the parking that the Expo does. It's an experience that some kids would have never had if not for the Expo. This is a great place that was built for Eastern Ky let the kids enjoy it. As the years go by I think more people will attend the games. One gripe i do have after working the concession. The prices are way to "HIGH" for these games. I agree at Rupp you can expect to pay $5.00 for a plain burger. But really, some families, mine included, cannot afford to go and buy tickets, food, t-shirts and dippin dots at prices like this. If the Expo want the kids to enjoy, and come back for more, then think..."Kids First". At least McDonald's has a kid menu. Good Luck to our 15th Regional Champ...take lots of money to Lex.:letsparty Confused

alute:

LoneStar · 03-10-2007, 02:04 PM

The Expo is fantastic for the kids and fans. I do think they need to get away from printed tickets and charging different prices for seats, not to mention the scanners at the door. These kinds of actions put more attention on the Expo center and not the schools. Charge one price, forget the printed tickets, and let the fan have a choice of his or her seat.

Johnny Fairplay · 03-10-2007, 05:21 PM

I think the Expo is a great place to hold the tourny, over 4,300 people (record for 15th) for the semi's and I thought the atmosphere was great. A guy sat next to me and was only a fan with no team in it as I was and we were really into both games. I'm sure the floor isn't perfect but what gym floor is? Plenty of seating and parking for people who are just fans can go watch East KY basketball. I saw people from South Laurel, Scott Co., Fairview and other places there to watch.

As for the management of the Expo Center, they could do a much better job. I too worked concession and could not believe those prices, even though a portion goes back to the host school (or schools) working it. Working the concessions I found that the Expo people assigned to get everything started, final money count and inventory did not have much of a clue on how to do anything. The ticket sales could be better and the PA guy should actually have some basketball knowledge. I would like to see them offer it to the guys who do PA during the season and rotate between them and I am sure most of those guys would love to do it. And as for the banners, I thought the idea was awesome but if you are going to do something do it right, all it took was for someone to read each one before putting them up. This could be some of the reasons the Expo operates in the red. But the facility is the best place to hold this tourny.

**FOX SPORTS** · 03-10-2007, 05:44 PM

Johnny Fairplay Wrote:PA guy should actually have some basketball knowledge. I would like to see them offer it to the guys who do PA during the season and rotate between them and I am sure most of those guys would love to do it. And as for the banners, I thought the idea was awesome but if you are going to do something do it right, all it took was for someone to read each one before putting them up. This could be some of the reasons the Expo operates in the red. But the facility is the best place to hold this tourny.

One of the PA guys has done PA for over 20 years and is NOT tied to any of the teams...IMO, It is a good thing to have an unaffiliated Guy behind the microphone...PA guys from the schools would have a certain bias.

BTW, The banners were not handled by the EXPO Center, but by administrators from the 15th Region.

I think we all should have the correct info before bashing the EXPO staff about everything that is not quite right....everything done during the tourney is not necesarily handled by them.

Creeker · 03-10-2007, 11:56 PM

Hey... considering the Expo Center was over 3/4 of a million $$$$ short... you may not have to worry about having the regionals there next year!!!!! Smile

15thRegionX · 03-11-2007, 12:31 AM

I like the expo, except that fact you can't rush the floor if your team wins.

**PHS95** · 03-11-2007, 12:49 AM

Randy Jones is the best PA announcer in the BIZ! He has been the voice of basketball and football in Pikeville for most of my life and, half the time, I would pay the money just to hear him! The expo center atmosphere was awesome for this tournament! Great Job to ALL!

**PHS95** · 03-11-2007, 12:53 AM

The 'printed' tickets is one of the major reasons that this works.... guaranteed seating.... it is a WONDERFUL thing.... many people work and have little time to waste trying to find a seat when they got off of work ten minutes before game time! I remember being young and going to the region tourney.... IMPOSSIBLE to find a seat if you weren't there an hour before gametime.... KEEP THE TICKET procedure!!

Shady Grady · 03-11-2007, 01:57 AM

Just one problem that I see. If they are going to have the region there, they should adjust their prices on food. Those prices are way too high. $6.50 for a soda and popcorn? A family of 4 would have to put that in their monthly budget!!!

SV Wildcat · 03-11-2007, 02:14 AM

I agree that the Expo is the best place to have this kind of event, BUT they need to changes some things. I stood inline about 30 min Fri. waiting to get tickets missed half of the game for a line that didn't move. Some of the workers aren't to friendly, consessions way to high. They need to remeber that this is a high school event not a big name concert or event. Fans want to congratulate their teams get pictures and when you have a child out there you really want some good pictures ones that are up close.

LoneStar · 03-11-2007, 02:55 AM

Again, I think everyone should be treated equal when it comes to seats for these games. One price without ticketed seats. If that means showing up an hour early then so be it. But again this is Pikeville, where a large group of individuals feel they deserve alittle more. This is only high school basketball. Turning the regional tournament into a professional sporting event is the wrong message. Also, let the young people celebrate with their team on the court. Those are memories that last a lifetime.

Shady Grady · 03-11-2007, 10:04 AM

PHS95 Wrote:Randy Jones is the best PA announcer in the BIZ! He has been the voice of basketball and football in Pikeville for most of my life and, half the time, I would pay the money just to hear him! The expo center atmosphere was awesome for this tournament! Great Job to ALL!

He might have a good voice for the job, but he still makes a lot of mistakes. I couldn't count the times he announced the wrong player for a basket or a foul, or by the time he announced who made the basket, another player had scored.

LoneStar · 03-11-2007, 12:33 PM

kentuckyfan1962 Wrote:He might have a good voice for the job, but he still makes a lot of mistakes. I couldn't count the times he announced the wrong player for a basket or a foul, or by the time he announced who made the basket, another player had scored.

I'll have to agree. Noted many mistakes. Also, when announcing the All Tourny team he began by announcing the players name , then the school. Midway though the list he corrected himself and called the school first.

SportsKrazee · 03-11-2007, 03:12 PM

I think the EXPO is great, i mean its extremely loud during the games, maybe not so much as in a smaller gym but I still love the atmosphere, and the arena is very fan friendly , with no bad seats in the house, unless you get beside a fan section and have to stand up to look around them.......
The fans should set towards the ends as pikevilles and pike centrals did during the championships last night, but besides that the Expo, IMO is the best place for regionals.

**PHS95** · 03-11-2007, 04:34 PM

LoneStar Wrote:I'll have to agree. Noted many mistakes. Also, when announcing the All Tourny team he began by announcing the players name , then the school. Midway though the list he corrected himself and called the school first.

Man we are being picky. People make mistakes.... fact of life! Randy does better with PA announcing than anyone in the region.... hands down.... Also, are we talking girls or boys because I did not find the girls announcer appealing at all!

**PHS95** · 03-11-2007, 04:37 PM

LoneStar Wrote:Again, I think everyone should be treated equal when it comes to seats for these games. One price without ticketed seats. If that means showing up an hour early then so be it. But again this is Pikeville, where a large group of individuals feel they deserve alittle more. This is only high school basketball. Turning the regional tournament into a professional sporting event is the wrong message. Also, let the young people celebrate with their team on the court. Those are memories that last a lifetime.

Everyone is treated equally.... Pikeville fans pay the same price as Phelps, Pike Central, Shelby Valley, etc! 6 or 7 dollars a ticket is nothing when you see a minimum of two games! The night I was there, I paid six, had an excellent seat, and saw three great games! What's the problem?? Do not turn this expo center pricing into a "Pikeville people feel they are entitled" load of malarkey!

one_and_only · 03-11-2007, 07:17 PM

well IMO i think that the expo has the tourny atomsphere.. it just isnt much fun at the end of games.. i mean for the team that won the regoinal champ. and is goin to state.. the fans and students want to run to the floor to congrat. the players.. and at the expo center.. the fans has to stay seated and cant even make signs that has their teams name on it.. why im not sure, but at least at high schools.. you can celabrate at the end of the hard fought game..

bball fan · 03-11-2007, 10:01 PM

They need to extend the 15th Regional Tournament contract to be played at the EXPO Center through the year 2099!!!!!! That place is awesome!!!!!

Tubby Hater · 03-11-2007, 11:00 PM

The Expo is great. Who cares that you cant rush the floor after you team wins. If you want on the floor then go out for the team next year. This is such a ridiculous reason not to like a place

BeaverCreek Connection · 03-11-2007, 11:19 PM

Concessions are rediculous (price and poor quality). PA announcer is (excuse me) pitiful. Nothing can replace the atmosphere of the high school gym. I agree the facility is nice but I like the high school atmosphere, the crowd close to the floor, the smell of popcorn when you walk in, the temp to hot, ah priceless.

gotcha2 · 03-12-2007, 12:12 AM

Just a side note here on the concession prices. Check out the COMBO prices.

$3.00 would get you a small popcorn and small soda. Separately it was $5.50.

$3.50 would get you a hotdog and small sodal. Separately it was $6.00

$5.00 would get you a small soda, small popcorn and a hot dog.

There was also a $20.00 combo- but I can't remember what was included.
As someone said earlier- the concession workers were parents/family members from various schools in the 15th Region.

**More Cowbell** · 03-12-2007, 03:05 AM

I was at the Expo last night, and I love having the tournament games there. There is so much more room and not nearly as hot, compared to the high school gyms. Whenever you get a big game between schools with large followings, the smaller gyms will almost always be packed to the rafters and become very cramped. This was the case last Friday for the 59th at PHS, and has been the case with pretty much every post-season game I have been to through the years at most of the local schools.

LoneStar · 03-12-2007, 11:41 AM

PHS95 Wrote:Everyone is treated equally.... Pikeville fans pay the same price as Phelps, Pike Central, Shelby Valley, etc! 6 or 7 dollars a ticket is nothing when you see a minimum of two games! The night I was there, I paid six, had an excellent seat, and saw three great games! What's the problem?? Do not turn this expo center pricing into a "Pikeville people feel they are entitled" load of malarkey!

Its not equal when you have two ticket prices. Name another region that charges two seperate prices. I'm not talking about unfairness between the schools. The unfairness is seen when the $7 ticketed seats, the better seats, are not available to everyone. I can list some examples. Not totally upset about the issue, but I think the players family , like moms and dads should have the opportunity at these tickets instead of boosters and people that don't support a team all year.

**FOX SPORTS** · 03-12-2007, 07:37 PM

LoneStar Wrote:Its not equal when you have two ticket prices. Name another region that charges two seperate prices. I'm not talking about unfairness between the schools. The unfairness is seen when the $7 ticketed seats, the better seats, are not available to everyone. I can list some examples. Not totally upset about the issue, but I think the players family , like moms and dads should have the opportunity at these tickets instead of boosters and people that don't support a team all year.

Every school in the region charges more for reserved seats when hosting the region or district for that matter.
BTW..You go to Rupp, you'll pay more for lower arena than upper as well.

Also, the individual schools are the ones that decide how the tickets are allotted so the beef should be with the particular school if any mom or dad didn't get good seats.
BTW, I agree with you...Moms and Dads should get their choice of seats.

gotcha2 · 03-12-2007, 08:22 PM

FOX SPORTS Wrote:Every school in the region charges more for reserved seats when hosting the region or district for that matter.
BTW..You go to Rupp, you'll pay more for lower arena than upper as well.

Also, the individual schools are the ones that decide how the tickets are allotted so the beef should be with the particular school if any mom or dad didn't get good seats.
BTW, I agree with you...Moms and Dads should get their choice of seats.

I have to aree with you on the Moms and Dads.

THUNDERCHILD · 03-12-2007, 10:06 PM

:thumpsup: I'm with you guys on this.

**More Cowbell** · 03-12-2007, 11:46 PM

I said earlier that I really like having the tournament at the Expo, but then again I also live within a 20 minute drive of the facility. I was just curious, how do some of the people from the 57th area feel about having the tourney in Pikeville every year? That's got to be quite a drive for some of you, especially if your team sticks around for the entire tourney.