Need To Know: KSR & Kentucky at the SEC Tournament in Tampa

The SEC Tournament begins tonight at Amalie Arena in Tampa, the start of five days of Dr. Pepper and Golden Flake fun. The KSR radio and website crew will be in “The Big Guava” for all the action. If you’re making the trip and want to join us and the Big Blue Nation around town, here’s a schedule of events, along with some important things to know. (If you’re looking for restaurant recommendations or things to do, I’ll direct you to Ryan Lemond’s Guide To Tampa)

KSR Friday Show: American Social, 10 a.m. to Noon

Friday morning’s show will be live from American Social (601 S Harbour Island Blvd), a seven-minute walk from Amalie Arena. Thursday morning’s show is not open to the public, and the location of the pre- and postgame shows is to be determined.

UK Alumni Pep Rally: The Sail Plaza, Friday, 10 a.m. to Noon

Of course, we encourage you to attend KSR’s morning show on Friday, but at the same time, the UK Alumni Association and Tampa Bay UK Alumni Club are holding their pregame party and pep rally. The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon at The Sail Plaza at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 South Franklin Street.

The cost is $15 per person if preregistered and $20 at the door. Admission will include a custom-designed UK-themed clear tote bag full of giveaway items, coupons, and more while supplies last. Children 12 and younger receive free admission. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Parking will be available at the Tampa Convention Center garage for a flat rate of $12 per day. For more information and other nearby parking options, click here. The Tampa Bay UK Alumni Club is offering custom T-shirts and sweatshirts to commemorate the event and will have a limited number available for sale at the pep rally. To purchase tickets, click here.

SEC Clear Bag Policy

Fans attending the 2022 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament will be asked to enter the event with clear bags and should be prepared to arrive early and to see a law enforcement presence in and around Amalie Arena. The SEC strongly encourages fans not to bring any type of bags to the tournaments, but bags must be clear or otherwise a small clutch bag to be allowed into the tournament. Gates open 75 minutes prior to tipoff on the first game day of each day game in the men’s tournament.

Bags must satisfy the guidelines below in order to be taken into the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament:

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bags, no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”, with or without a handle or strap
• An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at a gate designated for this purpose
• Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: purses larger than a small clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, seat cushions, luggage of any kind, computer bags and camera bags or any bag larger than the permissible size (12” x 6” x 12”).

Items that are typically carried in diaper or baby bags must be carried in a clear bag that meets the standards of the bag policy. Fans may still bring items such as binoculars and cameras (with lens less than 4 inches in length), provided they are not in cases, as well as smartphones into each arena.

SEC Fanfare

Simple 7-UP SEC FanFare, the official fan event for the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament in Tampa Bay, will be located at Amalie Arena’s Thunder Alley. This is the arena’s main entrance plaza. The event is a full interactive experience featuring food, drinks, interactives, live entertainment, and much more! The event is free to the public.

SEC FanFare is open Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. through 8 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Sunday 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Mobile Tickets only

All tickets will be digital for the tournament. There will be no paper tickets. Screenshots or recordings of tickets are not valid for entry. Fans are encouraged to save their ticket to their mobile wallet prior to arriving for easier access into the venue. Fans should familiarize themselves with the mobile ticketing process and transferring digital tickets at SECsports.com/mobile.

SEC Ticket Exchange

To purchase verified tickets on the SEC Ticket Exchange, the only authorized fan-to-fan ticket marketplace for the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, fans should visit www.secticketoffice.com. Ticket barcodes are verified by Ticketmaster, the ticket partner of Amalie Arena. Note, listed prices are set by the seller and may exceed original face value.

SEC Tournament Schedule

The first sessions on Thursday and Friday will begin at Noon ET which is one hour earlier than past tournaments. The start times for the first semifinal on Saturday and the SEC Tournament Championship game on Sunday will be 1:00 p.m. ET.

Wednesday, March 9

• 4:45 p.m.                                     Public Gates Open
• 6:00 p.m.                                     Game 1: #12 Missouri v #13 Ole Miss
• 8:00 p.m.                                     Game 2: #11 Vanderbilt vs. #14 Georgia

Thursday, March 10

• 10:45 a.m.                                   Public Gates Open
• Noon                                            Game 3: #9 Florida v #8 Texas A&M
• 2:00 p.m.                                    Game 4: Winner Game 1 v #5 LSU
• 30 min following Game 4      Public Gates Open
• 6:00 p.m.                                     Game 5: #10 Mississippi State v #7 South Carolina
• 8:00 p.m.                                     Game 6: #11 Seed v #6 Alabama

Friday, March 11

• 10:45 a.m.                                   Public Gates Open
• Noon                                            Game 7: Winner Game 2 v #1 Auburn
• 2:00 p.m.                                     Game 8: Winner Game 3 v #4 Arkansas
• 30 min following Game 8      Public Gates Open
• 6:00 p.m.                                     Game 9: Winner Game 4 v #2 Tennessee
• 8:00 p.m.                                     Game 10: Winner Game 5 v #3 Kentucky

Saturday, March 12

• 11:45 a.m.                                   Public Gates Open
• 1:00 p.m.                                     Game 11: Winner Game 6 v Winner Game 7
• 3:00 p.m.                                     Game 12: Winner Game 8 v Winner Game 9

Sunday, March 13

• 11:45 a.m.                                   Public Gates Open
• 1:00 p.m.                                     Game 13: Winner Game 10 v Winner Game 11

SEC Tournament Bracket