I'll be interested to see how things go for NKU and NKy. One thing to consider is how much of the entertainment dollar stays in state. In BG, people are staying in and around BG and doing things nearby. I'm sure there are a few that make a quick trip to Nashville because they're close. How much of the entertainment dollar will go to Cincy while the tourney is hosted at NKU? I don't know the figures, but the state will lose some money to Ohio. It would be nice to keep the money spent while not at the tourney in the state.

 

Well with Belterra Park racino literally 3 minutes from NKU and the Horseshoe casino literally 7 minutes from NKU I'd say Ohio will be getting a lot of the entertainment money........because KY will not allow them.

By far the BEST venue for the girls. Although not much to do in Frankfort, but the Convention Center is a great place to watch games, not one bad seat in the house and very up-close and personal.

 

Agreed. I've been very pleased with the All "A" in Frankfort. Perfect size venue for that tournament, along with the Girls Sweet 16.

What is the seating capacity for Frankfort? Is that comparable to NKU, WKU and other regional arenas?

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It started with the 9th Region Tournament.

Then the Bank of Kentucky Center had huge success playing host to more high school basketball games this past season. A huge crowd attended the boys hoops doubleheader between Covington Catholic and Dixie Heights then Newport Central Catholic and Covington Holmes this past February.

On Tuesday, the Board of Control announced the arena on the Northern Kentucky University campus will play host to the Girls Sweet 16 State Basketball Tournament in 2016 and 2017. It has been held at Western Kentucky University’s E.A. Diddle Arena the previous 14 years. That means the 9th Region winners will not have to travel far those years or make hotel accommodations.

“I think NKU has really done a great job with the new arena,” said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. “It’s going to be able to showcase NKU. I love Western. I have ties to Western. But I think every once in a while, it’s nice for a change. NKU has great facilities that will tailor great to the girls state tournament.”

The Bank of Kentucky Center opened in 2008 and seats 9,400. It is slightly bigger than Diddle Arena, which seats 7,326 and opened in 1963.

Richey is the state’s all-time career points leader with 4,948. The former 1996 Gatorade Player of the Year led Highlands to three straight region titles between 1994 and 1996 including a runner-up finish in 1994 as a sophomore.

Highlands played at Diddle Arena her sophomore and senior years and at the Civic Center in Frankfort her junior year. The Ladybirds last won the region title in 2001.

The tournament has never been played in Louisville. It was held at the University of Kentucky’s Alumni Gym between 1927 and 1932. The tournament has also been played at Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena in the past.

Richey and Newport Central Catholic Head Coach George Stoll agreed things are tough in Kentucky for state championship sites because there is not a centralized location where tournaments can be held unlike other states. Columbus plays host to many Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships.

“Louisville could be decent. But to play in the KFC Yum (where the Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team plays) is a huge arena. NKU and Western are perfect-sized arenas for the girls state tournament,” Richey said. “We don’t want to play in a large arena where it’s empty. We had some nice-sized crowds at the regionals at NKU. The KHSAA can only do so much. I appreciate the Board of Control giving the opportunity to go someplace else besides Western.”

Richey said the local fans need to come out to support the tournament for it to come back to Northern Kentucky. A concern for the tournament coming to NKU is the travel distance for fans in the eastern, western and even southern parts of the state. It is about five hours and 30 minutes from Northern Kentucky to Paducah.

“People from Cincinnati may be more interested in coming,” Stoll said. “Since it’s something new around here, I think people will want to see it. There are a lot of people around here who do care about girls high school basketball.”

NewCath enters next season as defending region champs. The Thoroughbreds won the region titles in 2003, 2005 and 2011 in addition to last year before losing in the first rounds of the tournament. They ventured to Diddle Arena every time for the state tournament.

In other news, the KHSAA extended the state softball tournament at Owensboro’s Fisher Park through 2018 and gave the state football championships to Western Kentucky for another four years, also to 2018. The state football championships have been in Bowling Green since 2009.

 

FORT THOMAS MATTERS: Girls Sweet 16 coming to NKU

What is the seating capacity for Frankfort? Is that comparable to NKU, WKU and other regional arenas?

 

5,000

5,000

 

Many thanks my friend.

What is the seating capacity for Frankfort? Is that comparable to NKU, WKU and other regional arenas?

 

Here's a picture of the Frankfort Civic Center set up for volleyball. Gives you a decent idea of how good the seating is.

 

Frankfort Convention Center - Home

Here's a picture of the Frankfort Civic Center set up for volleyball. Gives you a decent idea of how good the seating is.

 

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Many thanks for the picture! Nice and cozy setting. I think this would make a great setting for the Girls Sweet 16. I think their would still be room left based upon the numbers from an earlier thread.

Agreed. I've been very pleased with the All "A" in Frankfort. Perfect size venue for that tournament, along with the Girls Sweet 16.

 

Wait...you mean there's 2 tourneys in Kentucky, in 2 different venues, to declare the state champion? What is this "All A" you speak of?

A few negatives about the Frankfort Civic Center:

 

1. It is a little dated.

2. There aren't many concession stands.

3. Parking is limited.

 

4. Not sure what locker rooms are like, but they've hosted the Mid-South NAIA Tournament in the past so I would imagine they have at least 4 locker rooms.

Good idea, as it is fairly centrally located.

 

Frankfort probably doesn't seat enought anymore.

Here's a picture of the Frankfort Civic Center set up for volleyball. Gives you a decent idea of how good the seating is.

 

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Wow! that is a nice venue. I think 5000 is enough for girls State Tourney!