Simple 7-Up SEC FanFare at Amalie Arena

By Joey Johnston

With four games set for today’s SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena, the Simple 7-Up SEC FanFare official fan event picked up steam with thousands of visitors.

Located in Thunder Alley, just outside the arena, the fan event features interactive games, food, drinks, entertainment, exhibits, comfortable seating and the ability to take selfies by a giant likeness of the official 2022 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament logo, along with the SEC logo and slogan (“It Just Means More’’).

“We’ve having a ball … and our team hasn’t even taken the court yet,’’ said Allen Bestwick of Knoxville, Tenn., a Tennessee graduate. “Tampa is a pretty cool place. There’s lots and lots to do.’’

And plenty to do at the SEC FanFare as well.

At the Shoot and Stack/Score 4 game — think of it as a basketball “Connect Four’’ — Darlene Harvey was jubilant when she sunk her final basket, giving her a diagonal match and a victory against her husband, Chris.

“Yeah, I beat him,’’ she said. “I hope that’s the start of a winning weekend.’’ 

Harvey, who played in four state tournaments with her Marshall County High School Marshalls, met her husband at the University of Kentucky. Two of their sons attended UK. They have attended SEC Tournaments in Nashville, Atlanta and St. Louis. They are impressed with what Tampa has to offer.

“I love having all these fun and games outside in nice weather,’’ Harvey said. “We’re not ready to be in the gym all day and night. We want to have some fun.’’

The SEC FanFare is free and open to anyone, ticket-holders, curiosity seekers or downtown Tampa workers.

The hours — Thursday until 8 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. through 8 p.m., Saturday, 10:30 a.m. through 5 p.m., Sunday, 10:30 a.m. through 1 p.m.