Written by Ben Cox – Local basketball fans have a lot to look forward to, and they don’t have that far to look.

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With the 2nd Annual Texas Bank Holiday Classic coming up, Brownwood Sports Coordinator Roland Soto has his hands, and most of the surfaces in his office, full. Trophy’s line table tops, boxes of shirts are stacked in a corner, and plans for the event posters and promotional materials for future events are all across his desk.

Soto is right at home amidst the controlled chaos, however, as he smiles and lights up while talking about the Holiday Classic and what it means to have restored this tradition after a 10 year absence. “It was really special, not only to me, but to several others who missed the basketball tournament. We’re talking about a tournament that had a 50 plus year history. To see and hear people in the Brownwood Coliseum who have memories of the tournament, man, it’s just magical to me and it is a sentiment that was repeated to me by several others during last years tournament. To see it come together the way it did was really special.”

He says that this years tournament will build on the success and lessons learned from last year. “It feels great, we’re in a really great spot building on the success of last year. We were able to come together last year really early on and set the vision for what we wanted the tournament to look like, feel like, and what we wanted the fans and spectators to experience.”

Soto is quick to thank the people who have the boots on the ground, making the tournament happen. “We couldn’t do this without our volunteers, they make this whole thing happen. I am just a one man show most of the time, and with these events, it’s all about the volunteers.”

Also planned is the return of another basketball event to Brownwood, The Harlem Globetrotters will play at the Brownwood Coliseum on January 31st at 7 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale, and a hefty discount is about to expire.

Soto says “To have an international group like that in the Brownwood Coliseum, it’s exciting. When I think about our citizens here in the city, I hope they’re proud of what we’re able to bring here and are excited to go out and support it.”

While the tickets will be a bit more expensive than people may be used to paying, Soto assures there is a way around that, if fans act quickly. “There is a Pre-Sale that we have going on right now, and I encourage people to take advantage of it. It’s structured on our market, but it’s still not the cheapest ticket you’re going to get. Hopefully people will take advantage of that, because it’s a pretty big savings.”

The list of places the team plays is impressive, including major arena’s across the country, and the Brownwood Coliseum is on that list as well. “To see the names of the places they’re playing this year, and to see the Brownwood Coliseum in the middle of those names pretty cool.”

Soto says this game will be something that kids will remember for a long time. “I can remember being 6 or 7 and seeing them play, the colors of the uniforms, the trick shots, the empty bucket trick, all of it made such a lasting impression on me. I think kids would really love it, it’s going to be such a fun time.”

Tickets are available for the one night event online, with different pricing depending on where you would like to sit in the Coliseum. The 30% discount ends on Tuesday, the 18th, use pre-sale code AMAZING to apply the discount.

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