State tournament was great experience, but prices were higher than expected

Published 4:26 pm Thursday, April 8, 2021

I would like to say congratulations to the George Rogers Clark boys’ basketball team for winning the district and regional basketball tournaments. Most people know the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams won their district and region last year also.

However, their dream of playing in Rupp Arena did not happen because of the coronavirus pandemic.

I was able to go to the Oldham County and GRC game. The game was great and I did love watching the boys give it their all on the basketball court and advance to the elite eight in the state tournament.

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What I did not enjoy was the feeling like I had been robbed by the time I got home. I had a friend go with me and told her I would pay for her ticket if she would go. I was happy to do so. I want to make sure that is noted here. A ticket cost $18 each. OK, I understood I was going to a state tournament. I had to pay $10 to park the car since both me and my friend are in our 70s, and the weather was bitter cold and there was a blowing wind. Because of this, I did not even mind paying the $10 to park. I did feel it was a little steep, however.

I thought it was a total shame to have to pay $5 for a hot dog, $5 for a coke and $5 for a small box of popcorn. We neither one had eaten dinner since we were told to get there early if you wanted to park in the parking lot so we both were hungry. She bought her food and I bought mind. We had to get their by 5:30 to be able to get a spot in the parking lot by the arena. Besides, the game did not begin until 7:30 or 8 p.m.

When I got in the car going home it just hit me that I had just spent $61 to go to a high school basketball game. I actually think it is a total shame that anything involving students should cost this much. How on earth can a family take their children anywhere for entertainment with these high prices. I could not help but think if my husband and I had gone together and we both got something to eat we would have spent $76 just going to a basketball game. This does not even include the cost of gasoline.

Unbelievable! I felt like nothing should cost more than $3 to eat at the game. After all, how much does it cost for a small box of popcorn for one to make?

Once anyone gets in the midst of people eating and having a soft drink, eating ice cream or popcorn it is usually going to make them hungry. I know I am not the only one who feels this way. Nothing makes me sadder than to see a child not being able to get food when they go places. I remember those days and though we never went hungry at my home there were times I would have loved to had money to buy something to eat at places. Just the smell is enticing. I would just pretend like I did not want anything.

My husband has often bought meals for some students when he drives the school bus on a trip. I always love it when he tells me about it. Though a student does not ask they are so thankful for the food.

I was with some others this past week who had attended the same ball game who felt the same way I did that the prices were exorbitant. The popcorn was not even good and was stale. I actually got sick on my way home and was not sure if it was the hot dog or the popcorn. I also have some inner ear problems and was not sure if it was a combination of all three or what. I just knew

I felt very sick and nauseated.

Maybe it is my age but I have to say it is shameful to me for prices to be so expensive. I remember when I was little and my Mom saying this sentence,

“If things keep getting higher, children, I don’t know what people are going to do.” I feel the same way in today’s world but I feel it has really gotten out of hand to the point of being ridiculous!

Kids work hard in school, they have peer pressure possibly more now than ever before. Parents have their own pressures also. It would be so nice if they could get a break on prices where they can all go do something special together.

I still think it is a shame for a bottle of water or anything else you bought to cost $5 like it cost the other night at the game!