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A Visit to Krzyzewskiville
2/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2010
Durham, NC - It's ACC country, and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane invades Coach K Court tonight. Tulsa squares off against the 5th-ranked Duke Blue Devils for a 7 pm (ET) game, broadcast on ESPN2 telecast with two of the networks top announcers calling the action, Mike Patrick and Len Elmore.
The Duke campus is tucked away in rolling hills and trees, trees and more trees. How they built a campus in the midst of all these trees is incredible. On the ride into the west side of campus you can't miss the banner high above the street that reads "Celebrating Coach K's 30th Year".
Then it's to the arena for practice . . . Cameron Indoor Stadium, seating 9,314 fans.
Here's a brief description: Bleacher seats that pull out on one side houses the Cameron Crazies (students). (WARNING: for media members sitting in front of Cameron Crazies, don't be surprised if you're covered with blue paint that sweats off their bodies during the game). Bleacher seats on the team bench side that are cushioned for boosters. Then the seats above are wooden chairback seats colored Duke Blue. "Coach K Court" is inscribed on the basketball floor with the simple "D" logo at mid-court. There is very little room on the sidelines between press row/scorers table and the sideline.
It was a good spirited practice Wednesday night with a number of TU boosters in attendance.
But what really fascinated me was "Krzyzewskiville", a sophisticated tent city for students getting in line for basketball tickets. Coach K's fourth floor office overlooks K-ville and his many student admirers that camp out for game tickets.
Following Wednesday night's practice I took a walk to "Krzyzewskiville".
"Krzyzewskiville" started in the early 1980's when two students pitched a tent outside Cameron Indoor Stadium waiting for tickets, and it steamrolled after that to become a student organized and controlled entity. Over 7,000 students attend Duke. Students get 1,200 tickets for most games, but working with the athletic office may get less for certain games, depending on what they anticipate using for student attendees. So, the demand for student tickets makes K-ville a unique and important part of student life.
Since January 30th, tents have been set-up in K-ville. A tent is allowed up to 12 students that can get game tickets, and at least one student has to be located in the tent at all times during the time period of when game tickets are available. They're anticipating the North Carolina game for next Saturday now.
In K-ville, I met one young man at 9 pm who was the first in line for Tulsa tickets. He had his air mattress underneath a large tarp and was ready to take the overnight session for his fellow students.
K-ville is equipped with hard-wire internet, wireless and electrical outlets, so students are able to maintain their academic studies. Student line monitors are normally senior students that have had to be K-ville regulars in the past and they monitor the area.
It is quite a sophisticated and organized operation. It is also unique to college basketball. Yes. It's ACC country.
