03 Mar 2022 Sun Belt Basketball Championship Exceeding Expectations as March Madness Takes Over Pensacola
by Katie King |Katie@ewbullock.com
2022 Sun Belt Basketball Championship Exceeding Expectations as March Madness Takes Over Pensacola
Pensacola, Fla. (March 3, 2022) – The 2022 Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Basketball Championship has the Pensacola community hyped up and ready get in on some March Madness. Ticket sales have soared over last year’s figures with sales growing daily.2021 was the Championship’s first year in Pensacola. SBC officials were pleased with the reception they received in Pensacola with an estimated attendance of 9,964 over the six-day tournament. COVID restrictions and concerns hindered 2021 attendance, but 2022 is shaping up to be a major community event with robust attendance.As of March 2, ticket sales have increased 248% over the same date sales figures for 2021.Visit Pensacola and Pensacola Sports partnered to promote the event, making a big splash with marketing and public relations initiatives covering everything from traditional advertising to sidewalk stickers and street pole banners, as well as designating host bars in Downtown Pensacola to welcome basketball fans. Sun Belt officials have dressed up the Bay Center in conference colors and giant inflated basketballs are posted outside representing each school.New to this year’s event is the Dribble Drive – a free event for kids age 3-12 taking place Saturday, March 5 at 1 p.m. Participants receive a free t-shirt, free basketball, and two tickets to the Men’s quarterfinal game at 2 p.m. Registered kids will dribble their basketballs from outside the Bay Center, into the arena, around the second-floor concourse and to a special seating section. Registration is limited to 500 participants. So far, approximately 400 have registered.A free Fan Fest precedes the Dribble Drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 5. This family-friendly event includes a DJ, spirit teams and bands, games, food and drinks. Early arrivals to the Fan Fest will have access inside the Bay Center Arena to take pictures with the Championship Trophy from 9 to 10 a.m.Fans can get in on the excitement daily at the Bay Center through Monday, March 7, when both the men’s and women’s championship games will be played.
The full schedule of Sun Belt Basketball Championship events can be found at visitpensacola.com/sunbelt. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or at the Bay Center box office. Ticket prices are as low as $15 for two sessions.
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