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Kohl Center to show Indiana game

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Also by Ken Harris:

Kohl Center to show Indiana game (February 7, 2008)
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Baldwin pushes health care plan (February 5, 2008)
University settles with former Walnut Street employee (February 5, 2008)
Candidates spend big in '08 (February 4, 2008)

by Ken Harris

Thursday, February 7, 2008

University of Wisconsin has received permission from the Big Ten Network to broadcast next Wednesday’s basketball game between the Badgers and the Indiana Hoosiers on the big screen at the Kohl Center.

Associate Director of Athletic Communications Vince Sweeney said there were still some details of the event to pin down, but he hopes everything will be set by the end of the day today. He made clear, however, the event would be free to students.

Sweeney said the goal is to create the feel of a live game in the arena. He said UW hopes to have full concessions available as well as other entertainment. This means there could be Bucky Badger, cheerleaders and the UW Band.

“We want to have everything but the teams, I guess,” Sweeney said.

According to Sweeney, the university is unsure how the seating will be controlled or what time the gates will open for the 6 p.m. tip-off. He added the event is difficult to prepare for because no one is sure how many people will show up.

“We don’t know what to expect,” Sweeney said. “This is something that is really hard to predict.”

UW senior Brady Minter said he thinks there will be a big crowd, including himself, if the university goes through with the broadcast.

“I’ve been watching all the games at State Street Brats, so I’ll be saving money,” Minter said. “Too bad they can’t do that for the football games, too.”

Minter said he thinks the event will also be successful because of the matchup itself.

“I’d imagine a lot of students would want to see it because it’s a big game, too,” Minter said.

The Badgers are currently ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press poll and the Hoosiers are ranked 14th. The teams are No. 2 and 3 respectively in the conference, so Wednesday’s matchup is very important in the battle for conference supremacy.

Sweeney said the university doesn’t plan on turning a profit on the event, as the price of staffing the event will definitely outweigh revenue brought in by concession sales.

“We’ll probably lose money on the event, but that’s not what this is about,” Sweeney said. “This is about the fans who are caught in the middle. We want people to be able to see the game.”

Sweeney said there are no plans for any similar broadcasting events at the Kohl Center. He added UW is only looking so far as Wednesday night’s game.

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Anonymous (February 7, 2008 @ 10:21am):

This should be turned into a Big Ten Network protest (you know, by like somebody else, I'm cold).

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