Arena makes good case it is THE venue for region tournaments

I think The Arena here in Corbin made a good case for itself as THE place to play regional high school basketball tournaments.

To me this seems so obvious that serious debate over the issue isn’t even possible.
But there are some non-believers.

A friend of mine who is a sports reporter for the local daily something-or-other newspaper said most of the comments he’s heard about playing basketball in the facility have been negative.

What he said squared with similar stories I’ve heard from those who work in our office and elsewhere.

Complaints run the gamut, but include most frequently the following:

¥ Parking not close enough to the facility;

¥ Seats not close enough to the court;

¥ Cost of admission and concessions;

¥ Refs cheating every other non-Corbin team in the tournament because, I guess, The Arena happens to be in Corbin;

¥ High school basketball atmosphere lost when games are played in a large facility like The Arena;

¥ Lighting and sound could be better.

Boy there sure are some short memories out there!

I was Sports Editor for this newspaper for just over three years and I can tell you The Arena is a VASTLY SUPERIOR place to play the 13th Region Tournament than any of the other gyms I remember.

Perhaps the new Harlan County High School can lay a legitimate claim to being spacious enough to accommodate tournament fans.

The rest just don’t rate. At least, not when compared to The Arena.

I remember vividly covering tournaments where gyms got so hot because of the large crowds that a steamy haze would hang in the air. One year at Knox Central High School, I remember seeing the walls sweat and drip with moisture it became so hot and humid. I’m surprised players didn’t stroke out on the court.

Fans would sit rammed together so tight they could scarcely take a deep breath for fear of pushing someone off the end of the row. You may get a seat closer to the court, but it was so miserable who could enjoy it?

Many of the gyms were simply too small for the number of people that wanted to attend.

Parking, most of the time, was an atrocious free-for-all that was frustrating, dangerous and silly.

Then there were the split sessions everyone hated, bathrooms a mile and a half away from the gym, inadequate concession facilities, PA systems that sounded like whoever was using them was underwater. I can go on.

And lighting. Please! Many times I’ve been to region tournaments where gyms were dark enough to grow mushrooms in. I don’t know how players saw the rim.

The Arena appeared to have ample room for everyone. There is adequate parking so days of hunting side streets for a spot or parking near third base on someone’s baseball field are over. We didn’t roast when a lot of fans attended the games. The wide seats were comfortable.

I think it was a great experience for players, too. The games had a state tournament feel to them so it might help them be a little less wide-eyed and nervous when they go to play in Rupp Arena. They will have played tournament games in a similar facility already.

Maybe games at The Arena do cost a little more. I’ll concede that. But such vast improvement over the old system is worth an extra dollar or two.

I don’t want to put down any schools gym. Some of them are very nice and serve their purpose well during the regular season.

But for a regional tournament, The Arena beats them all hands down.