[KYHoopsFan71]

I’ll start by saying, for me, not really. 

Sure, The Arena is great for accommodating large crowds and ample space for parking, vendors.

The game experience? Nope. General admission viewing is like watching a Cubs game from the highrise apartments near Wrigley Field. Reserved seating is better, but the floor is still a good distance from the stands. Sound varies by location. And, minor complaint, there is next to zero cell reception inside the building. 

I realize that going back to HS gyms isn’t happening, and modifying the arena for ballgames isn’t happening, just wish they designed it more for sports and not truck pulls. 

Oh well, just an old guy complaining

[shottaker23]

I’ll start by saying, for me, not really. 

Sure, The Arena is great for accommodating large crowds and ample space for parking, vendors.

The game experience? Nope. General admission viewing is like watching a Cubs game from the highrise apartments near Wrigley Field. Reserved seating is better, but the floor is still a good distance from the stands. Sound varies by location. And, minor complaint, there is next to zero cell reception inside the building. 

I realize that going back to HS gyms isn’t happening, and modifying the arena for ballgames isn’t happening, just wish they designed it more for sports and not truck pulls. 

Oh well, just an old guy complaining

I'm actually curious about attendance this year. I've been to every session and honestly the crowds appear way off. Like you I see no way they are going back to having it at the HS level. Personally the seating isn't awful I can deal with it. My biggest complaint is the concession lines have been horrid this year, not enough workers not enough concessions etc.

[insideinfo]

Yes

[Cactus Jack]

It isn't going elsewhere for the foreseeable future, but you say "still" as if everyone was initially a fan.

[MeLuckyCharms]

I’ll start by saying, for me, not really. 

Sure, The Arena is great for accommodating large crowds and ample space for parking, vendors.

The game experience? Nope. General admission viewing is like watching a Cubs game from the highrise apartments near Wrigley Field. Reserved seating is better, but the floor is still a good distance from the stands. Sound varies by location. And, minor complaint, there is next to zero cell reception inside the building. 

I realize that going back to HS gyms isn’t happening, and modifying the arena for ballgames isn’t happening, just wish they designed it more for sports and not truck pulls. 

Oh well, just an old guy complaining

I'm actually curious about attendance this year. I've been to every session and honestly the crowds appear way off. Like you I see no way they are going back to having it at the HS level. Personally the seating isn't awful I can deal with it. My biggest complaint is the concession lines have been horrid this year, not enough workers not enough concessions etc.

Bell didn't want video streaming to help the gate this year, I think that theory can be debunked after the crowds for the first round. As bad as I've seen it.

[KYHoopsFan71]

I’ll start by saying, for me, not really. 

Sure, The Arena is great for accommodating large crowds and ample space for parking, vendors.

The game experience? Nope. General admission viewing is like watching a Cubs game from the highrise apartments near Wrigley Field. Reserved seating is better, but the floor is still a good distance from the stands. Sound varies by location. And, minor complaint, there is next to zero cell reception inside the building. 

I realize that going back to HS gyms isn’t happening, and modifying the arena for ballgames isn’t happening, just wish they designed it more for sports and not truck pulls. 

Oh well, just an old guy complaining

I'm actually curious about attendance this year. I've been to every session and honestly the crowds appear way off. Like you I see no way they are going back to having it at the HS level. Personally the seating isn't awful I can deal with it. My biggest complaint is the concession lines have been horrid this year, not enough workers not enough concessions etc.

the crowd last night for the first girls semi was pretty light. I’ll be heading out soon for the 2:30 South game. 

one thing I’ll add, the upcharges on Ticketmaster are a joke. I’ll take my chances at the window or sit in the general admission corner.

[Old School Hound]

Corbin fans should hate it because their teams play like shit there, and always have. Thank goodness for Andrew Taylor.

[KYHoopsFan71]

Corbin fans should hate it because their teams play like shit there, and always have. Thank goodness for Andrew Taylor.

To be fair, Jefferson Davis has had his struggles at the Arena. 

Hopefully, we break that nine year streak against the Jags on Monday

[Granny Bear]

^^Good luck!!

I hate the Arena for basketball games. Went to a few concerts there, and it's a PERFECT venue for that.
When HC's turn came around to host the regional tournament, we chose to have it at the school. Lord have mercy!!! Pissed off EVERYBODY!!
I loved it!!!

[4 Quarters]

I’ll start by saying, for me, not really. 

Sure, The Arena is great for accommodating large crowds and ample space for parking, vendors.

The game experience? Nope. General admission viewing is like watching a Cubs game from the highrise apartments near Wrigley Field. Reserved seating is better, but the floor is still a good distance from the stands. Sound varies by location. And, minor complaint, there is next to zero cell reception inside the building. 

I realize that going back to HS gyms isn’t happening, and modifying the arena for ballgames isn’t happening, just wish they designed it more for sports and not truck pulls. 

Oh well, just an old guy complaining

Give me the Arena every day of the week.  Have you ever been to Rupp, lot of horrible seats.

[Varsityclub2004]

I’ll start by saying, for me, not really. 

Sure, The Arena is great for accommodating large crowds and ample space for parking, vendors.

The game experience? Nope. General admission viewing is like watching a Cubs game from the highrise apartments near Wrigley Field. Reserved seating is better, but the floor is still a good distance from the stands. Sound varies by location. And, minor complaint, there is next to zero cell reception inside the building. 

I realize that going back to HS gyms isn’t happening, and modifying the arena for ballgames isn’t happening, just wish they designed it more for sports and not truck pulls. 

Oh well, just an old guy complaining

I'm actually curious about attendance this year. I've been to every session and honestly the crowds appear way off. Like you I see no way they are going back to having it at the HS level. Personally the seating isn't awful I can deal with it. My biggest complaint is the concession lines have been horrid this year, not enough workers not enough concessions etc.

I agree about the crowds or lack there of. I was shocked. I went almost every night and didn’t feel like any of the nights compared to the past in terms of attendance. It’s interesting to bc I feel like this years tourney was one of the best in competition

[Corbin]

I like that I don't have to travel deep into the mountains for games as it's closer for me to go back home for a visit by hopping on 75. I don't much care for the setup but unfortunately, that's how it is and is going to be. It's good in the sense that you don't have to clear the gym like you would back in the day between games. I wouldn't worry much about that now because from the pictures I've seen on that little 13th region facebook dictatorship page, nobody attends games anymore.

[shottaker23]

I like that I don't have to travel deep into the mountains for games as it's closer for me to go back home for a visit by hopping on 75. I don't much care for the setup but unfortunately, that's how it is and is going to be. It's good in the sense that you don't have to clear the gym like you would back in the day between games. I wouldn't worry much about that now because from the pictures I've seen on that little 13th region facebook dictatorship page, nobody attends games anymore.

I'm still waiting on attendance numbers but honestly it has to be at least 40 to 50% off of normal. Has to be the lowest attendance since its been held at the Arena. Again for a fat guy its making me spend a lot of time at Applebees before the games because the concession situation has been atrocious. Not enough help at all. Not enough everything---other than vendors crowding the aisleways.

[-STAT-]

We've been dealing with that issue here in the 15th for 20 years now. First few years it was at the expo, it was a great new concept, atmosphere was great and had a big-time tournament feel to it, but it didn't take long at all for that to wear off.

I remember the first time I said get it out of there was around 11-12 years ago, and it has gotten progressively worse every year. Attendance is always down while ticket & concession prices go up, the actual playing court is in terrible shape, dead spots that you can literally hear a mile away. No upgrades have been made to the facility, it's just the same old same old same old. It was very unfortunate circumstances, but the regional tournament was removed from there due to the tragic flooding in the area, and the expo center was being used as a FEMA distribution center, but now that is finally out of there, there's a lot of work being done to keep it out of there, and plus with how it's been at Pike Central High School, the crowds have been great, the play has been great, and moving forward I think enough will get done to keep it out of the expo and back into high schools, especially after how it's been this season. There's nothing like a loud, hot and packed high school environment for a Regional Tournament.

[KYHoopsFan71]

I like that I don't have to travel deep into the mountains for games as it's closer for me to go back home for a visit by hopping on 75. I don't much care for the setup but unfortunately, that's how it is and is going to be. It's good in the sense that you don't have to clear the gym like you would back in the day between games. I wouldn't worry much about that now because from the pictures I've seen on that little 13th region facebook dictatorship page, nobody attends games anymore.

I'm still waiting on attendance numbers but honestly it has to be at least 40 to 50% off of normal. Has to be the lowest attendance since its been held at the Arena. Again for a fat guy its making me spend a lot of time at Applebees before the games because the concession situation has been atrocious. Not enough help at all. Not enough everything---other than vendors crowding the aisleways.

Attendance for the girls championship game was pretty disappointing. I’ll be at the boys game tonight, I expect most of Laurel co will be there.

[Gridiron_Raid]

TICKETMASTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL GAMES SHOULD NOT EXIST. Do GoFan or hand held tickets at the High schools like back in the old days.

You buy a 13 dollar ticket, that’s pretty good for 2 games. Then you have a 8 dollar fee. Let’s say a family of 4 wanting to watch the boys or girls team play, are you willing to spend 80 bucks plus travel and food to watch a hs basketball game 100 feet from the floor? It’s a terrible arrangement and in my personal opinion, not great for older people. If an older family wants to go to the game, they either have to sit in the handicap seats a mile from the rim or sit on the floor and spend 35+ a person. It’s a high school regional basketball tournament, it should not be more expensive to attend than some SEC basketball games. Some gyms are big enough to host, some are not. Just go back to the old way of doing things and give more money back to the schools instead of renting the arena.

If anyone says it’s the middle of the region so it’s easier for people to get there… you get a middle finger from me and everyone that lives in bell and harlan county. I can’t imagine living in cumberland and trying to support the kids, heck you would have to get gas 3 times during the week plus 200 dollars in tickets.

[Old School Hound]

A lot of people are being priced out of events like this. As Gridiron said, the average family can't afford gas, tickets, ticketmaster fees, overprized concessions, hookers for dad , etc...

[shottaker23]

A lot of people are being priced out of events like this.  As Gridiron said, the average family can't afford gas, tickets,  ticketmaster fees, overprized concessions, hookers for dad , etc...

Hookers for dad? Didnt realize we had started a Clay co thread lol

[Gridiron_Raid]

A lot of people are being priced out of events like this.  As Gridiron said, the average family can't afford gas, tickets,  ticketmaster fees, overprized concessions, hookers for dad , etc...

Half the money doesn’t even go to the host school, it goes to the arena. If you noticed none of the concessions are Bell County related, the gate is split across everyone. The advertising and vendors is probably the only thing that Bell County actually takes in. And that excludes the main advertising on the floor.

[Old School Hound]

A lot of people are being priced out of events like this.  As Gridiron said, the average family can't afford gas, tickets,  ticketmaster fees, overprized concessions, hookers for dad , etc...

Hookers for dad? Didnt realize we had started a Clay co thread lol

Give me time...

It's all about the ex's and hoes at Clay these days.