Nearly 3,000 Corpus Christi-area students will walk the stage this week at the American Bank Center.
There are eight different ceremonies being held at the American Bank Center Thursday through Saturday:
- Miller High School – Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m.
- Flour Bluff High School – Friday, May 31 at 9:30 a.m.
- Moody High School – Friday, May 31 at 2 p.m.
- Ray High School – Friday, May 31 at 6 p.m.
- Veterans Memorial High School – Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m.
- Carroll High School – Saturday, June 1 at 2 p.m.
- King High School – Saturday, June 1, at 6 p.m.
- West Oso High School – Saturday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m – Selena Auditorium
With this many students and their loved ones, the facility is expecting at least 30,000 people to pass through the building through the weekend.
If you are attending one of these ceremonies, there are some things you may want to know.
Be prepared to pay $5 to park in the SMG parking lots at the American Bank Center.
Matt Blazy, general manager of the American Bank Center, is encouraging people to get there early.
“There will be a lot of traffic around the facility,” Blazy said. “We will have some traffic control but between the traffic and getting four, five, six thousand people into the facility with security and safety measures that we have, we encourage everybody to get here early and plan accordingly.”
Prohibited bags include, but are not limited to, purses, bags or containers larger than a small clutch bag (a clutch bag is 4.5 x 6.5 inches or 6.5 x 4.5 inches, approximately the size of a hand without a strap). Other prohibited bags are camera bags, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, coolers or luggage of any kind.
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, food, drinks, helium balloons, weapons, tripods, laser pointers, noise-makers, selfie sticks and umbrellas.
You may bring flowers for your loved one but avoid glass vases.
American Bank Center employees have made special accommodations for those with disabilities or ADA needs. These individuals may enter the arena at the main doors 15 minutes prior to everyone else. This will allow time for them to get to their seat in a safe manner.
As far as seating, Blazy says that choices are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“It’s always something where people try to save seats, but we really encourage everybody to be respectful of other folks and try to handle it with the proper approach,” he said.
Congratulations to the class of 2019!
