Each time around this year, Kentuckians grin wide since March means lots of basketball. More basketball is never a bad thing, in fact, too much basketball would be a problem most of us would look forward to. Of course there is the NCAA tournament, as well as the NIT for some teams, but nothing gets crazier at Rupp Arena than Sweet 16 week where the best high school teams from around Kentucky match wits and skill on the same planks of wood that UK Basketball plays on. Little did you know, a good amount of workers for those games are actually people from the offices of the Lexington Center.

Since most ushers, concession stand workers, and box office employees have other day jobs, high school games during the day put a bit of a strain on the amount of people available to work. To make up for a lack of man-power, nearly all the employees from the offices at the Lexington Center (which includes Rupp Arena, Lexington Convention Center, Shop at Lexington Center, and the Lexington Opera House) volunteer to help out in various ways around the arena. Paper pushers are turned into ticket sellers, marketing directors may find themselves as ushers, and secretaries may be selling you your hot dog and coke. It is ‘all hands on deck’ at Rupp Arena. The workers actually enjoy the change-of-pace and get to test drive other jobs they may not know about otherwise.

There are still three and a half days left of Sweet 16, so plenty of games for anyone to check out. When you are looking around, take note of the office workers abroad and take it easy on them if they seem a little new to things. It is because they are.

Staff pictured in photographs (in order): Matt Johnson (Graphic / Web Designer) working at the Box Office; Tom Hobermann (Operations Manager – Lexington Opera House) working as an usher; Jill Isham (Administrative Assistant) working at the Box Office.