Quick question for NCAA Tournament veterans: Do you think they will fully clear the arena at HP between Sessions 1 and 2 (as in making everyone exit the stadium completely)? I ask because at Staples Center for Pac-10 Tournament games, "clearing the arenas" between sessions for the Quarterfinals just meant requiring people to leave the seating area. We were still allowed to remain in the concourses, purchase food and drinks, etc.

Does anyone think this is what will be done on Thursday? Or is the NCAA much more stringent about fully emptying the arena between sessions? Logistically, it seems it would be awfully hard to get everyone completely out of the arena between sessions, with the Oregon game ending at roughly 3:40 and Cal tipping off at 4:27!

Depends on the venue. I have seen it done both ways. But I'd wouldnt count in being able to stow away unless you want to wait it out in some bathroom stalls

The last time at San Jose everyone left. But the games were earlier and the crowd sparse.

You can walk over to the Poor House Bistro and have a shrimp poor boy.

interesting question. I have done the "all day thing" (back in younger days) but I remember those afternoon games starting at 12:15ish and 2:30ish...and the night session not starting until 6 or 7?
Its not like the arena is going to be full, but still, a bit of a challenge...

I posted details from the HP Pavilion website on that on another thread. It said that everyone must exit the building before people will be admitted for session 2, you can't leave things at your seats, and that the concessions will close with a few minutes left in the Oregon game. And we can't bring in any food or drinks.
I fear that they will tip off the Cal game while the majority of the crowd is still stuck outside waiting to get in. Every other site has more time scheduled between sessions.

glutton;842101764 said:

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I fear that they will tip off the Cal game while the majority of the crowd is still stuck outside waiting to get in. Every other site has more time scheduled between sessions.

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Maybe this is how the committee justified giving Cal a home game.

GB54;842101740 said:

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The last time at San Jose everyone left. But the games were earlier and the crowd sparse.

You can walk over to the Poor House Bistro and have a shrimp poor boy.

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It's Po' Boy

This blows. There's not enough time to do this.

Exiting after Session 1 and Entering for Session 2: At the conclusion of the second game of the first session on Thursday, March 21st all guests will exit the building. Guests will be allowed to reenter for the start of the second session as soon as the building is cleared of all guests. Please take your belongings with you as you exit the building. Merchandise stands will close once 4 minutes remain on the clock during the second game of the first session.

http://www.hppavilion.com/news.asp?story_id=18

Looperbear;842101795 said:

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This blows. There's not enough time to do this.

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I wish there was some way to complain about this to someone that actually matters, and perhaps bring their attention to what seems to be a scheduling MISTAKE. It's a horrible disservice to the fans, and to the teams as well, who will likely be playing a big chunk of the first half with few people in the stands and the rest of the fans gradually streaming in.
Does anyone know of contact info for the powers that be in the NCAA to protest this??

I would think the proper person to go thru is Sandy and then Sandy could tell Larry and then Larry could complain to the NCAA.

I would think Sandy already knows about the issue though.

The tip off time for the second session on west coast venue is not determined until the first session concludes. Once the first session concludes, I recall that second session would tip off about 45-50 minutes afterward. Granted, it still would be a mess but if first session ran late, Cal game will not tip at 4:27. It is similar to how second game in each session has a listed start time but the actual tip time is 30 or 35 minutes after conclusion of the first game.

Why are people panicing? This isn't Haas. There's more than one way in and wide entries.

GB54;842101850 said:

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Why are people panicking? This isn't Haas. There's more than one way in and wide entries.

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Because I'm a Cal fan and this involves Cal sports. Therefore, I should assume the worst.

In addition to panic, I also am annoyed because I want to stay in the arena and watch Cal and UNLV warm up.

GB54;842101850 said:

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Why are people panicing? This isn't Haas. There's more than one way in and wide entries.

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Are there actually more than one way in? I've only been to HP a handful of times, always entered through the main entrance. Was unaware there were other entry ways. I'm curious where the other entrance ways are and if they are usually less crowded.

Looperbear;842101856 said:

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Because I'm a Cal fan and this involves Cal sports. Therefore, I should assume the worst.

In addition to panic, I also am annoyed because I want to stay in the arena and watch Cal and UNLV warm up.

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Ok a rational response. I've been to a couple of sweet 16's an opening round and numerous hockey games at this venue. It is very well managed particularly with crowds-far better than Memorial or Haas. It may be true that they won't be prepared but I tend to think they will

ducky23;842101858 said:

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Are there actually more than one way in? I've only been to HP a handful of times, always entered through the main entrance. Was unaware there were other entry ways. I'm curious where the other entrance ways are and if they are usually less crowded.

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At parking lot in back. I assume you can walk in but I've only driven

GB54;842101861 said:

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At parking lot in back. I assume you can walk in but I've only driven

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interesting. in your experience, is that usually a more efficient way of getting in?

I'm just imagining a scenario where 18k people are trying to cram into the arena in a matter of 20 mins.

Just being 'prepared' won't make the arena staff be able to magically make everyone from session 1 disappear and get 10 to 17 thousand fans for session 2 instantly into their seats. Yes, they probably handle crowds better than at Cal venues, but that can only help so much. Plus they have stricter policies for the tourney about what we can bring in, so they'll have to be checking all the bags if they're at all serious about the ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD OR BEVERAGES allowed rule.

ducky23;842101867 said:

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interesting. in your experience, is that usually a more efficient way of getting in?

I'm just imagining a scenario where 18k people are trying to cram into the arena in a matter of 20 mins.

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Much easier. What I don't know is whether you can enter as a pedestrian-that is just walk around back. I used to have a parking pass when I had hockey season tickets. There were no lines

glutton;842101870 said:

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Just being 'prepared' won't make the arena staff be able to magically make everyone from session 1 disappear and get 10 to 17 thousand fans for session 2 instantly into their seats. Yes, they probably handle crowds better than at Cal venues, but that can only help so much. Plus they have stricter policies for the tourney about what we can bring in, so they'll have to be checking all the bags if they're at all serious about the ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD OR BEVERAGES allowed rule.

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Don't bring food in. I had a Vietnamese sandwich confiscated once. Getting people out or in is no problem. The only problem I see is will call lines

Tell them you have "dietary restrictions" and you will be allowed to bring in any food you want. They're told to take away food, but they're also told not to insist. I learned this from a guy who used to be a day camp counseler and had to take special food for kids in to places like Disneyland and Magic Mountain. We used it to take Tommy's chili burgers in to Staples center for the Pac 10 tourney.

Yes, that's right, we claimed dietary restrictions that mandated chili burgers. And it worked.

Looperbear;842101856 said:

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..I also am annoyed because I want to stay in the arena and watch Cal and UNLV warm up.

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.. wanted to share a tweet by men's basketball this morning. Suggests motivated folks / locals are allowed to watch the team warming up later this afternoon.

source:

Quote:

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Cal Men's Basketball @CalMensBBall
Morning @Cal fans, the Bears are headed to San Jose this afternoon, come see us down there for open practice at 5:55 p.m.

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mbBear;842101759 said:

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interesting question. I have done the "all day thing" (back in younger days) but I remember those afternoon games starting at 12:15ish and 2:30ish...and the night session not starting until 6 or 7?
Its not like the arena is going to be full, but still, a bit of a challenge...

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It's a little different out east because of the time zones. The early sessions can start at 11am local, and then the later ones can still both be in eastern prime time.

Out west that's harder to do. games still start at 11am local, but the night sessions are often earlier to meet east coast time zones.

SLC has essentially the same schedule with ~45 minutes scheduled between sessions.

One good thing is that the early SJ session looks to be a cold ticket. It will be empty. Sure the Ore/OkSt game will be the best one, but still I bet half of the fans there will be locals who just want to see a game. They will also want to get out of the arena EARLY and hit the roads before rush hour. I don't see the place being more than half full at the conclusion of Oregon/OKST. So it will emtpy quickly.