Arby's Classic Attendance |
The Arby's Classic has become an anxiously-awaited event each year. Here are some exciting stats about the 2015 Arby's Classic!
- Approximately 30,000 spectators attend the Arby's Classic during the 5 day tournament - Approximately 15% are out-of-area guest spectators - Approximately 25 media members attend per day - Approximately 200 volunteers help run the Arby's Classic and donate over 2,400 hours |
The Arby's Classic Mission |
The Arby's Classic mission is to (1) promote basketball in the region, and (2) to expose the fans to outstanding players and teams in the country. The Arby’s Classic has accomplished those goals and more. It has not only been a boost to basketball in Bristol and the region, it has been a boost to the area financially. Exciting teams and individual players resulting in packed houses have made the Arby’s Classic one of the top high school basketball tournaments in the country. This is a tribute to Coach Dale Burn’s astute selection of talented teams.
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HOW IT ALL BEGAN |
During the 1982 basketball season, the Tennessee High Vikings traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to play in the King of Bluegrass Tournament. After returning to Bristol, Coach Dale Burns discussed with then Athletic Director Bill Bingham the possibility of having a similar tournament to take advantage of Tennessee High’s tremendous facility, Viking Hall.
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Arby's |
Originally called the Mountain Empire Classic, the Arby’s Classic has been sponsored by Arby’s since the beginning. Don Shawl, President of Arbico East, Inc, a franchise of 13 Arby's restaurants in the Tri-Cities, has been instrumental in building the tournament into what it is today. His hard work in funding and planning the Arby’s Classic has given the tournament that special edge in quality.
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Viking Boosters |
Although many local groups have assisted in the growth the tournament, no organization has given more time than the Viking Booster Club. Approximately fifty people volunteer their time with many of them taking vacations from work just to be part of the Arby’s Classic.
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Tennessee High |
Another group of people who have given special time to the development of the tournament is the Tennessee High Coaching Staff. The Tennessee High Staff gives up much of their Christmas vacation to assist with the tournament. Their dedication and hard work produce a class event with precision timing which appears to spectators to run effortlessly.
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Local Media |
Much of the credit for the growth of the Arby’s Classic has to go to our local media. Several visiting coaches have made mention of the tremendous coverage in our area. This is a tribute to all media-newspapers, television and radio. In addition, tournament games can be heard live on local radio stations.
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Through the combination of these people, the Arby’s Classic has become one of the most talked about high school basketball tournaments in the country, truly living up to it’s name as a classic.
