Walk-through Metal Detectors to Be Used at Entrances To State Basketball Tournament in Hot Springs March 9 – 11
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — For the first time, walk-through metal detectors will be used at Bank OZK Arena entrances for the state basketball tournament finals, March 9 – 11.
“There won't be any need to empty your pockets and other measures,” said Jennifer Wolcott, director of operations for Visit Hot Springs. “Fans will be able to walk through the detectors pretty much unimpeded, provided they don't have any of the prohibited items in their possession.”
Wolcott said prohibited items include: Weapons of any kind; knives of any kind; firearms of any kind; backpacks; bags larger than 14 x 14 x 6 inches; more than one bag; fireworks or pyrotechnics of any kind; outside food or beverages; beach balls; Frisbees; confetti; streamers; laser pointers; balloons; noisemaking devices; audio or video recording devices (EXCEPT cell phones and authorized media equipment); signs, flags, banners and “any other items deemed by staff and/or event organizers to be a potential safety or security threat.”
Clear bags (one per person) will be allowed as long as they are smaller than 14 x 14 inches.
“We want all fans to have a great time experiencing the competition during this great tournament,” Wolcott said, “and we will be working hard to ensure that fans are safe and secure while rooting for their home teams. We believe the security measures that will be in effect will make sure that happens.”
Wolcott said three entrances to Bank OZK Arena will be open for the tournament:
Convention Boulevard at Laurel Street; Church Street and Laurel Street; the Convention Center Concourse. She said the bridge between the Embassy Suites hotel and the Arena will not be open.
Rules that will be in effect regarding tickets are:
- Tickets are per session, not per game.
- One ticket will get someone in for both the girls and boys game for that classification.
- After each session everyone will be required to exit the arena.
- All tickets are sold through the AAA website — there will not be a box office open during the tournament.
- All tickets are electronic, no paper tickets. https://gofan.co/app/school/AAA
The tournament schedule:
Thursday 3/9
Doors open at 10 a.m. for Session 1
Unified Game 1: 10:30 a.m. Pottsville Unified vs. Conway
Unified Game 2: 12 p.m. 4A Girls - Farmington vs. Nashville
Game 3: 1:45 p.m. 4A Boys - Blytheville vs. Little Rock Christian
Doors Open at 5 p.m. for Session 2
Game 5: 6 p.m. 5A Girls - Vilonia vs. Greenwood
Game 6: 7:45 p.m. 5A Boys - Pine Bluff vs. Lake Hamilton
Friday 3/10
Doors open at 10 a.m. for Session 3
Unified Game 1: 10:30 a.m. Ozark Unified vs. Hot Springs
Unified Game 2: 12 p.m. 6A Girls - Conway vs. North Little Rock
Game 3: 1:45 p.m. 6A Boys - Jonesboro vs. Springdale
Doors Open at 5 p.m. for Session 4
Game 5: 6 p.m. 1A Girls - Mammoth Spring vs. Norfolk
Game 6: 7:45 p.m. 1A Boys- Marked Tree vs. County Line
Saturday 3/11
Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for Session 5
Game 1: 11:30 p.m. 2A Girls - Conway Christian vs. Mt. Vernon-Enola
Game 2: 1:15 p.m. 2A Boys - Bigelow vs. Marshall
Doors Open at 5 p.m. for Session 6
Game 3: 6 p.m. 3A Girls - Lamar vs. Salem
Game 4: 7:45 p.m. 3A Boys- Manila vs. Bergman