Photo - Corbin Arena Facebook Page
For the first time in a while, the All A Classic state basketball tournament will not involve a trip to Richmond for teams and fans. Due to renovations at McBrayer Arena, the tournament has moved down Interstate 75 about 65 miles to Corbin for the 2024 tournament.
The All A Classic will get underway Wednesday, January 24, with 8 first-round girls games and then Thursday, January 25, with 8 first-round boys games. The tournaments are being played at the Corbin Arena, just off I-75 in Corbin.
As for the Corbin Arena, it is a city-owned 100,000-square-foot, multi-purpose facility. According to Ticketmaster, the arena has a fixed seating capacity of 4,966 seats.
Technically, the facility is known as the Southeastern Kentucky Agricultural and Exposition Center, a large venue designed for sports and entertainment events. It is a modern facility that opened its doors in 2009. Some of its first events included TNA Wrestling and the Harlem Globetrotters and such acts as Alan Jackson, 3 Doors Down, and Motley Crue.
This is not the first time the All A Classic has left Richmond, the tournament had a short stay at the Frankfort Civic Center before returning to what essentially has been its permanent home in McBrayer Arena at Eastern Kentucky University.
For the Lyon County Lyons, it will be a bit longer drive to get to Corbin Arena than it would be to get to Richmond. According to Google Maps, from Lyon County High School to Corbin Arena is 278 miles. The drive to McBrayer Arena is 247 miles.
