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With the induction of five well-known local athletes and coaches less than a week away, organizers of the annual Stanly County Sports Hall of Fame induction event urge those planning to attend to purchase tickets in advance.

“Because of the last minute rush we’ve experienced in the past, the ticket price will be significantly higher on the day of the event,” said Toby Thorpe, chairman of the Sports Hall of Fame Committee.

Tickets purchased in advance are $35, said Thorpe, who added that this year, the price increases to $50 on the day of the event.

“We always expect some last-minute purchases, but not nearly as many as we had (in 2022),” said Thorpe. “It’s a good problem to have, but it strains our resources if we have too many. The ‘day-of’ price increase is specifically to encourage early purchases.”

Thorpe added that the event venue this year (Merner Gymnasium at Pfeiffer) should accommodate the expected numbers more easily than last year’s site (the Stokes Student Center).

“We will have more space and easier access than last year,” he said.

Advance tickets are available at seven locations in the county: Albemarle City Hall, E.E. Waddell Community Center, Jesse F. Niven Community Center, Starnes-Bramlett Jewelers and Uwharrie Dash, all in Albemarle; Locust City Hall and Oakboro City Hall.

Keynote speaker for the evening will be

Wes Durham, former co-host of the Packer and Durham sports talk show on the ACC Network and SiriusXM Radio, who also serves as play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Falcons. Previously, Durham manned the play-by-play booth for Georgia Tech football and basketball.

He currently serves as a play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports and ACC Network coverage of college football and basketball, and is the son of long-time UNC play-by-play announcer and Stanly County Sports Hall of Fame member Woody Durham.

This year’s inductees are:

● Al Andrew, who coached basketball, baseball and golf teams at Albemarle High School, including a state championship golf squad.

● Tristan A. (“T.A.”) McLendon, national record-setting running back at Albemarle High School and all-ACC performer at NC State University.

● Shanna Smith, star softball player at Albemarle High, all-ACC infielder at NC State, and current assistant coach at Eastern New Mexico State University.

● Greg Speight, who coached basketball and softball at North Stanly and South Stanly High schools, taking both softball programs to state championship appearances.

● Quan Sturdivant, all-state football player at West Stanly, all-ACC linebacker, four-year starter at UNC-Chapel Hill, and 2011 draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals.