Tom Abram is a Tucsonan and longtime Arizona Wildcats fan who attended the UA in the 1970s.
Asked Thursday about the new site of the Pac-12 Tournament, Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, he hesitated.
Abram praised the atmosphere — “It’s like a home game for us; I love it,” he said — but he prefers the old MGM Grand Garden Arena, where the event was held before moving across the street.
“I liked the other one because it’s a little more intimate and there’s not a bad seat in the house — and I sat in most of them,” Abram said. “You could see everything.”
There are other reasons, too: MGM Grand allowed for re-entry, and permitted fans to bring in outside alcoholic beverages provided they were in a plastic cup.
T-Mobile Arena does not allow either. Thursday, fans were forced to choose between $18 margaritas, $12 domestic beers and $13 premium beers.
Daniel Tellez, a lifelong UA fan and recent graduate, said the move makes sense for the Pac-12, even if it temporarily cheapens the fan experience.
“Honestly, it’s just learning for next year,” Tellez said. “I think this is 100 percent a positive move for the Pac-12, even though it might be bad for the fans.”
