Snyder Classic brings in over 2,000 to Civic Arena
By Jacob Meikel
This past weekend’s Bill Snyder Classic proved to be a worthy experience for the Civic Arena, as well as both women’s basketball programs that competed.
The newer event, headlined by the nationally-ranked Kansas State Wildcats each of its first two years, pulled 2,115 attendees this past Saturday. Filling just over half of the maximum general assembly seating at the recently renovated venue.
“Without all of the aesthetic renovations, we probably wouldn’t have gone after an event like this,” St. Joseph Sports Commission chairman Brett Esely on the Friday before the Bill Snyder Classic.
The Bill Snyder Classic has served as a foundational piece for the St. Joseph Sports Commission to turn the Civic Arena a premier sports venue, and turn St. Joseph into a premier sporting event destination.
“There’s no question that this is a high-profile event for the venue, and if you can do these well, then I think it continues to set you up resume wise for what’s next,” Esely said.
The Civic Arena, aside from hosting the Bill Snyder Classic for Kansas State and its two opponents in 2023 and 2024, has also served host to the MIAA Women’s Volleyball Championships, the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Elite Eight and will also serve as the home for the Kansas City Goats of The Arena League in their upcoming season in 2025.
Kansas State’s opponent on Saturday was Middle Tennessee. Despite coming up small in the second half against the No. 13 Wildcats, head coach Rick Insell came away impressed with his experience in the short visit to St. Joseph. Insell has over 40 years of coaching experience and 19 of those years at the Division I level.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever been to another event that’s been as run as first class as this event’s run, and I’ve been doing this a long time,” Insell said.
