Hugh Thimlar’s Legacy Lives On Through Tribute Game🏀

SEPTEMBER 2022

2022 Hugh Thimlar Tribute Game Honors City Of Palms Founder

Without legend, humanitarian and leader in social change Hugh Thimlar, there would be no City Of Palms Classic. So it’s only fitting that the event continues to honor his legacy with the 2022 Hugh Thimlar Tribute Game, which will feature Gateway High School & First Baptist Academy. The game will be the third game of opening day on Friday, December 16th at 6:00 p.m.

For Gateway High School, Coach Quran Pettijohn’s young team made a big splash out of the gate last season, upsetting Canterbury to win its first district title. They return their entire nucleus, including 6’7” senior Eugene Alvin & 6’2” junior Tavian Cook.

First Baptist Academy is coming off an incredibly successful 2021-2022 season as well, finishing 26-3. They will be led into the City Of Palms Classic by 6’2” senior Latrell Davis & 6’4” senior Olsen Henry.

As coach of then-Edison Junior College, Hugh Thimlar created a junior college national powerhouse over 26 seasons. Overall, the World War II veteran won 604 games over 40 seasons as a head coach in Indiana and Florida. He then founded the City of Palms tournament, called the News-Press Christmas Basketball Tournament, in 1973, with seven teams competing at Edison in a regional tournament.

“He put together the first News-Press Christmas Basketball Tournament and basically ran it for 12 years,” said tournament executive director John Naylor, who came up with the idea to honor Thimlar with the tribute game. “He was more than a basketball coach. He contributed greatly to sports awareness and probably to Edison’s presence in the community.”

Thimlar always talked with pride about his former players whether it was at the college or high school levels. His accomplishments were game changers, like: He helped put Indiana and Kentucky high school basketball on the map in a special way as founder of the Indiana-Kentucky High School All-Star series that is still played today.

He was the first to have black players play in Kentucky for the Indiana team. He also was founder of the Hoosier Basketball Clinic. Thimlar was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

His players won all-American and all-state honors, including Bill Hodges, who coached Larry Bird and Indiana State to the 1979 NCAA championship game where the Sycamores lost to Michigan State and Magic Johnson.
Off the court and in the classroom, Thimlar focused on academic success as 66 former Edison players went on to graduate from four-year universities.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Tickets for the 2022 City of Palms Classic Are Now Available

This year there are a few changes in our ticketing process that will enhance our fan experience.

First, ALL seats will be reserved. There will not be any General Admission offered. What this means is that everyone will purchase a specific seat location. As a courtesy to all fans, please sit in your assigned seat.

Second, we have added another level of ticketing (Level III). This “Economy Ticket Package” will offer a lower cost option for both 6-Day and Single Day Tickets with great seating.

Third, Reserved Ticket: LEVEL IV (formerly General Admission), Single Day Tickets are available in Sections 101, 102, 103, 111, and 113 (the bleacher seats). A Single Day LEVEL IV Ticket for days 1, 2, 3, and 4 is $22, including the processing fee. Tickets for days 5 and 6 are $27, including the processing fee. THESE TICKETS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 5:00 PM EACH DAY AND CAN NOT BE PURCHASED ONLINE

LISTED BELOW IS A RECAP OF ALL TICKETING OPTIONS

RESERVED 6-DAY PACKAGES (20% Discount from the Single Day Price)

1. The 6-Day Preferred Ticket Package: A Single Seat 6-Day Ticket Package for $290, including the processing fee with seating in the first two rows directly behind the Team Benches and the Scorer’s Table (West side of the arena), or the opposite side, first and second rows (east side of the arena (LEVEL I)). Sections 106, 107, 108, 116, 117, and 118.

2. The 6-Day Reserved Ticket Package: A Single Seat 6-Day Ticket Package for $168, including the processing fee for the remaining seating on the East; West sides of the arena (LEVEL II). Sections 106, 107, 108, 116, 117, and 118.

3. The 6-Day Economy Ticket Package: A Single Seat 6-Day Ticket Package for $140, including the processing fee (LEVEL III) Sections 104, 105, 109, 110, 114, 115, 119, and 120.

VIP Parking: A 6-Day Parking Pass in the parking lot closest to the arena is available for $65, including the processing fee.

RESERVED SINGLE-DAY TICKETS

1. Reserved Ticket: LEVEL II Single Day Tickets are available in Sections 106, 108, 116, 117, and 118 for days 1, 2, 3, and 4 for $32. Days 5 and 6 tickets are $37, including the processing fee.

2. Reserved Ticket: LEVEL III Single Day Tickets are available in Sections 104, 105, 109, 110, 114, 115, 119, and 120 for days 1, 2, 3, and 4 for $27. Days 5 and 6 tickets are $32, including the processing fee.

3. Reserved Ticket: LEVEL IV (formerly General Admission), Single Day Tickets are available in sections 101, 102, 103, 111, and 113. A Single Day LEVEL IV Ticket for days 1, 2, 3, and 4 is $22, including the processing fee. Tickets for days 5 and 6 are $27, including the processing fee. THESE TICKETS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 5:00 PM EACH DAY

A SPECIAL RATE OF $10 FOR THE 3-POINT SHOOTOUT AND THE SLAM DUNK EVENT ON SUNDAY WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING AT 6:00 PM (AT THE BOX OFFICE ONLY)

A SPECIAL STUDENT RATE for days 1, 2, 3, and 4 is $12, including the processing fee. Tickets for days 5 and 6 are $17, including the processing fee. AVAILABLE AT THE BOX OFFICE ONLY (FOR SAME-DAY PURCHASE)—WITH A VALID STUDENT ID

NEW Tickets May be purchased in the following ways:

1. Online Get Tickets

2. Call the Box Office at 239-481-4849 or 1-800-440-7469

3. Visit the Barbara B. Mann Box Office (available now) or the FSW Suncoast Credit Union Arena Office (Starting November 1).

Box office hours are Monday to Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and one hour prior to the first game each day.

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Founded in 1984, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research, cutting-edge technologies, and advanced treatments, including targeted therapies, genomic-based treatment and immunotherapy. With over 250 physicians, 220 nurse practitioners and physician assistants and nearly 100 locations in our network, we are committed to providing world-class cancer care in community-based settings close to home.
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FCS serves patients throughout Florida, on the Gulf Coast from Naples to Tallahassee, Central Florida and on the East Coast from Palm Beach County to Jacksonville.

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CONTACT US
John Naylor / Executive Director
239-489-1085 / [email protected]

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