UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, April 2, 1993
118
By Ezra Wolfe
Kansan staff writer
If getting into the Final Four was good news, having it in New Orleans is like winning the lottery. The city has everything for the basketball-obsessed Kansas fan except an
empty hotel room, and the persistent might even be able to find that. Planning a trip at such late notice would be difficult enough, and this week with the city practically being sold out of rooms and tickets, it could be a nightmare. So, here's a little help, packed with tidbits of information culled from inside sources in New Orleans and outside sources in Lawrence.
Getting there
By train: Amtrak travels to New Orleans for $253 round trip. There is a daily train to New Orleans via Chicago at 6:10 a.m., but booking should be made immediately as space is extremely limited.
By plane: According to Marcia Atchison, manager at Maupintour Travel Service, inexpensive seats are impossible to get. Prices will start around $800 for a round trip ticket, but probably will be more expensive than that. Tickets are available if travelers are willing to spend the money, Atchison said.
Speaking of tickets, they are available, but it would help to be an oil baron or steel mansafe.
But with cheap tickets, fans may be sitting closer to the moon than the court. For the Final Four, the Superdome holds 63,000 fans.
Prices for good tickets are higher than a trip to the moon.
for the entire county, with money, big money, there are good tickets. Ticket agencies, lead by police state, but not Louisiana, will resell tickets.
legal in some states, but not Louisiana who reserve it.
Tom Ryan, owner of Ticket Finders in Baltimore, said prices started at $125.
Good Time Tickets in Hollywood, Calif. can get tickets "way way" up on top for $200, but good ones go for $2500. That'll get you into a spot on the line. . .
New Orleans has a city, as well as state law prohibiting ticket scalping. But while police will be looking for scalpers, it won't be their top priority, said Sgt. Marlon Defillo, New Orleans police.
soldiers, matrons officers will be out looking for people," he said. If caught, offenders rarely are arrested, but have their tickets confiscated and are issued a summons, Defilio said. The maximum city penalty is five months in jail and a fine of $100. The maximum state penalty in $500 and 90 days in prison.
Getting a ticket from the University is near impossible, and those not already on the waiting list really don't have a chance.
But fans without a ticket can still plan on having plenty of fun, said Ron Maesti, director of athletics at the University of New Orleans and co-chair of the Final Four host committee. After all, he said, it is New Orleans.
People enjoy a night out on the famous Bourbon St.
Lodging
Here's where the going gets tough. Really tough. Travel agents in New Orleans and the New Orleans Tourist and Convention Commission all said there were no rooms left in the city.
However, there is still hope for the unreserved.
Seven four-year colleges and universities are located in New Orleans, so members of a fraternity or sorority should check to see if their fraternity has a chapter in the city. Tulane is the largest school, so check there first. Tulane's spring break starts April 5, but not everyone leaves, said Brian Pangborn, a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
"Usually for Mardi Gras, we have about 40 brothers from all over the country sleeping on our floor," Pangborn said. "Brothers are pretty much always welcome, but they should call first to make sure someone is here."
A University rule stemming from an antiquated city ordinance prohibits sorority members from living in their chapter houses. The ordinance stated that more than five women living together were to be considered a brothel. However, some houses may allow guests. Again, call in advance.
One angle for finding a hotel room is to call as many Lawrence travel agents as possible and let them know what is needed. Often, if a hotel has a last-minute cancellation, they will call travel agents in cities where people will be looking for rooms, said Archison.
108 rooms. Santa Clara, CA. Beverly Gauley, director of public relations for the New Orleans Tourist and Commission, said to try looking outside New Orleans for rooms. She suggested trying Houma. Baton Rouge and Slidell, La. The chambers of commerce in these cities should have information on lodging.
Another tactic is to call the New Orleans Tourist and Convention Commission. That organization calls all its member hotels daily looking for rooms. It gives the room information to the first caller who inquires. The number is (504) 566-5068. Call early, because if they have any information it goes faster than a Final Four ticket.
Although only 63,000 fans will be able to find seats in the Superdome for the final four, the marmuth building can hold more than 87,000 people.
Food and fun
There is perhaps no quarter as entertaining as the French Quarter. It is a compelling corpsecapita of bars, restaurants and music clubs.
A walk down the street can provide more free entertainment than you can pay for in most cities.
Patrons spill out into the streets with "go cups" — plastic cups provided by bars for drinking in the streets. Yes, it is legal and what's more, many bars are open 24 hours.
Hawkers sell spicy red boiled crawfish out of cardboard boxes, while jazz musicians do another type of cooking.
make do another type of cooking.
Under a huge open tent, waiters rush back and forth from a shiny copper espresso machine to the sharply dressed patrons laughing and lingering over cups of steaming black coffee.
One trip to New Orleans is all it takes to fall in love.
One trip to New Orleans is all it takes to have move.
But if the French Quarter didn't exist, the NCAA, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and many corporations have planned events for the Final Four weekend.
Four weeks ago "Each year it just gets bigger and better." Maestri said. "There are so many things planned, bands, games, a hoops fest, different coaches speaking. Even fans without a ticket can come down and feel a part of the thing."
Below is a list compiled from those in the know: students at the University of New Orleans and restaurant reviewers from the New Orleans Times-Picayane. Most of the restaurants and bars listed below are within walking distance of the Superdome, and most are cheap.
One word of caution: If there is a person on the street inviting you into the establishment, approach with caution. Perry Jane Petit, editor of the University of New Orleans *Driftwood*, warned that most of those bars are tourist traps with a cover charge and overpriced drinks.
Carrolton
Tipitinas, 501 Napoleon
Cooter Brown's Tavern, 5095 Carrollton
Tipitinas, 501 Napoleon
F and M Patio Bar, 4841
Tribune刊物
Central Grocery, 923 Decatu
**Deja Vu.** 400 Dauphine
**Crescent City Brew House,** 527
Decatur
Port of Call, 838 Esplanade
Ryan's 500 Pub, 441 Bourbon
Cat's Meow, 701 Bourbon
New Orleans
- Lafitte's, 941 Bourbon
- The Palace Cafe, 605 Canal
Eating and drinking establishments
Mulate's, 201 Julia
the premier live music club for 20 years.
THE RADIATORS.
Best jazz box show.
"one of the best selections of beer in the city. At least 250 beers."
"Serve the famous muffetta sandwich, a New Orleans specialty (Ham, pastrami, cheese and olive salad) The original and the best."
"Open 24 hours, order the hamburger." "The city's only brewhouse. Try the Black Forest beer, it's fantastic."
"The best hamburger in the city, first rate junk box, young crowd, take a cab at night."
"Guiness on tap; great Irish music, always a great time."
"Karaoke bar, always packed, generally a college club," at least 100 years-old." "Don't miss the white chocolate bread pudding. Oh my God!" "The music and fascinating crowd in this big dance hall and are the main
Game time
Finally, for all the hoopla, the hype and the heady repatriate, there is the game. The reason for the hours cramped behind the wheel. The rationale for spending as much as, if not more than, a week's salary for one ticket.
"The atmosphere at the game was so intense," Jonas Pollack, 1992 KU graduate, said of Dy. 1991. Final Four in Indianapolis.
ate, said of the 1997 PBA. "This year will probably be one of the greatest Final Fours," Pollock said. "The basketball inferences is great and three out of the four teams have the most wins of any basketball teams in the country. The tradition of these teams is incredible."
University of New Orleans athletic director and co-chair of the Final Four host committee, Ron Maestri, agreed.
committee, iron maiden, agree
"They're all basketball powers," he said. "It could get crazy."
At previous Final Four games the enthusiasm could be likened to a drug-induced euphoria. Students ignored seating plans and cheered until their voices broke.
est block.
Pollock said he stood for the whole game and had lost his voice by the time it was over.
1
AFTER
he felt, feeling being around thousands of people cheering for the same team at the national championship," he said. "It's a natural high."