With the announcement coming less than two days before the January Board of Control meeting, it would indicate that another change in the dates of the boys’ and girls’ Sweet 16s is not likely to happen. The Kentucky High School Athletic Association released the planned dates for this year’s tournaments Tuesday evening.
The boys’ tournament has been set to take place March 31 through April 3, followed by the Mingua Beef Jerky Girls’ Sweet 16® on April 7-10. Each tournament will be played over four days at Rupp Arena, with the semifinals and championship played on the final day, as a one-year accommodation due to the events being scheduled around Easter Sunday. The four-day format was used previously for several years prior to the 2013 Boys’ Sweet 16® when a statewide legislatively-initiated panel recommended separating the prior semifinal/championship Saturday schedule into two days.
In a news release, officials went on to state that, as of this time, attendance for both tournaments will be restricted to 15% of capacity within the areas of the arena in-use. Full details are expected to be announced in February regarding the ticketing process, but all-session tickets will be limited for 2021 in order to properly maintain social distancing and allow for the fans of competing teams to have an opportunity to attend.
All previous ticket holders will be able to retain their ticket records and priority and have the ability to renew into the same seats from 2020 in future years.
Commissioner Julian Tackett stated “We know that there are many who would like to see things resume full-speed ahead immediately, but that is neither responsible nor practical right now. This is the same situation our University partners and friends have found themselves in this season, so it isn’t all that unexpected,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Ever since the 2020 events were shut down and ultimately canceled, we have all hoped for the 2021 tournaments to be a renewal and rebirth. Unfortunately, that timeline isn’t feasible right now.”
