Split the concessions three ways between the host and the two teams playing each other. Also, some other sites to look at in the west would be either Owensboro or Hopkinsville and Morehead in the east. Each of these places has big stadiums and is accessible by interstate or parkway.

 

Hoptown and Christian County share Stadium of Champions, so if either is in that semi, it's NOT neutral.

 

Same for Rash Stadium in Owensboro or Steele Stadium (KWC) in Owensboro. High schools use that place. And Steele is NOT that big.

 

As far as splitting concessions, not happening. KHSAA already picks ticket prices (and you CAN'T go higher). And folks get mad if you charge for parking. So if you're only getting a third of the concessions, it's NOT worth your while to host (since host has to pay for hospital/police/workers, etc.).

While possibly solving one problem with the eastern and western neutral sites, you haven't even touched the bigger issue of the TWO best teams playing in the state finals. I think in an earlier past you can see the each class has a top loaded bracket. Schools are getting punished over geographical location because of the east/west division. If you are going to even consider neutral locations for semi finals there is no way to overlook seeding those finals at the same time and killing two birds with one stone. Then, and only then, have you made a conscious effort to better football in the state completely.

 

I've been a part of KHSAA seeding meetings, usually in tennis and wrestling. They are NOT easy. They are time consuming.

 

If you ever watch a documentary on the NCAA March Madness seeding or watch the videos of the mock people invited (usually Sports Illustrated, ESPN, CBS Sports, etc.), you'll know those are difficult. And that's ALL those people do. The NCAA selection committee commits multiple long-hour days in a hotel to that thing and they still never get it right (and they have far more computer and comparative data at their disposal).

 

And who says who is the best team? AP? BluegrassPreps? CalPreps? MaxPreps? CJ's Lit ratings? LHL's Cantrall ratings?

 

Scan those six and you'll see some disagreement. Even the computers (CalPreps, MaxPreps, Lit, Cantrall) have multiple differences.

 

And how's it going to work?

We seeding all 32 teams from 1-32 (NCAA style)? If that's the case, scrap districts because they won't mean a darn thing (which means the regular season loses some).

Are we using computer rankings only (Lit does NOT include out-of-state games, but MaxPreps and CalPreps do)?

Are we taking humans into account (like the BCS in football includes human poll)?

 

Seeding six 32-team tourneys would be madness. You could seed the 8 district champs, I guess, but since one district must go with another, you're not accounting for teams like X or Manual (who are arguably better than a district champ like McCracken or Central Hardin).

 

If we're seeding everyone, you'll have some really long roadtrips in each round (and you think there is an attendance problem NOW?).

 

Ohio has a nice system for those people who like to seed ... but it AIN'T perfect. Far from it.

As far as splitting concessions, not happening. KHSAA already picks ticket prices (and you CAN'T go higher). And folks get mad if you charge for parking. So if you're only getting a third of the concessions, it's NOT worth your while to host (since host has to pay for hospital/police/workers, etc.).

My understanding is the KHSAA only gets ticket money from the finals. The first 4 rounds are split between the two schools playing after expenses are paid.

My understanding is the KHSAA only gets ticket money from the finals. The first 4 rounds are split between the two schools playing after expenses are paid.

 

True but the KHSAA sets the price. Go to a neutral site and there would likely be a rental fee that would add to expenses.

My understanding is the KHSAA only gets ticket money from the finals. The first 4 rounds are split between the two schools playing after expenses are paid.

 

You understand correctly.

 

KHSAA gets tickets.

 

Host site gets everything else (programs are not likely, T-shirts are not likely, concessions would be OK IF host doesn't have to split). No one will be too happy if you have to pay for ticket AND pay for parking.

 

Bottom line is there's not much in it for the neutral site itself (host school/stadium) unless they're getting the complete concession stand (because host pays for officials and first responders, plus you have to have PA/spotter, chain gang, someone to do the field, etc.)

No I was saying the KHSAA does NOT get ticket money from the first 4 rounds, (including the semifinals). They only get the $ from the finals.

 

I agree with everything else you say, there just isn't much money in it for a host school at a neutral site unless they charge an inflated rental fee.

I've been a part of KHSAA seeding meetings, usually in tennis and wrestling. They are NOT easy. They are time consuming.

 

If you ever watch a documentary on the NCAA March Madness seeding or watch the videos of the mock people invited (usually Sports Illustrated, ESPN, CBS Sports, etc.), you'll know those are difficult. And that's ALL those people do. The NCAA selection committee commits multiple long-hour days in a hotel to that thing and they still never get it right (and they have far more computer and comparative data at their disposal).

 

And who says who is the best team? AP? BluegrassPreps? CalPreps? MaxPreps? CJ's Lit ratings? LHL's Cantrall ratings?

 

Scan those six and you'll see some disagreement. Even the computers (CalPreps, MaxPreps, Lit, Cantrall) have multiple differences.

 

And how's it going to work?

We seeding all 32 teams from 1-32 (NCAA style)? If that's the case, scrap districts because they won't mean a darn thing (which means the regular season loses some).

Are we using computer rankings only (Lit does NOT include out-of-state games, but MaxPreps and CalPreps do)?

Are we taking humans into account (like the BCS in football includes human poll)?

 

Seeding six 32-team tourneys would be madness. You could seed the 8 district champs, I guess, but since one district must go with another, you're not accounting for teams like X or Manual (who are arguably better than a district champ like McCracken or Central Hardin).

 

If we're seeding everyone, you'll have some really long roadtrips in each round (and you think there is an attendance problem NOW?).

 

Ohio has a nice system for those people who like to seed ... but it AIN'T perfect. Far from it.

 

Since everyone with your opinion seems to want to make this as difficult as it could possibly be, let me simplify it for you. District play is still important. All I am proposing is seeding the semifinals. It would not be as troublesome as you would like everyone to believe. We are talking about 4 teams in each class, 12 games played at neutral sites the weekend after Thanksgiving. It is obvious, to me at least, that financially you loosen the burden on the host by using 2 or three sites ONLY (3 would be my preference). As far as seeding these 4 teams in each class simply average MaxPreps, CalPreps, BGP, and let the AP break the ties. I believe I could do that myself in about 30 minutes MAX, and that includes placing games at perspective sites and times. Trying this for a 4 year session and getting feedback would be crucial in going any further with the seeding process. This still isn't a perfect scenario, but a much improved one. It would definitely be a step in the right direction, or we could just stay in the dark ages and keep up our dinosaur ways till the end of time.

Since everyone with your opinion seems to want to make this as difficult as it could possibly be, let me simplify it for you. District play is still important. All I am proposing is seeding the semifinals. It would not be as troublesome as you would like everyone to believe. We are talking about 4 teams in each class, 12 games played at neutral sites the weekend after Thanksgiving. It is obvious, to me at least, that financially you loosen the burden on the host by using 2 or three sites ONLY (3 would be my preference). As far as seeding these 4 teams in each class simply average MaxPreps, CalPreps, BGP, and let the AP break the ties. I believe I could do that myself in about 30 minutes MAX, and that includes placing games at perspective sites and times. Trying this for a 4 year session and getting feedback would be crucial in going any further with the seeding process. This still isn't a perfect scenario, but a much improved one. It would definitely be a step in the right direction, or we could just stay in the dark ages and keep up our dinosaur ways till the end of time.

 

Actually if we were keeping dinosaur ways we would go back to only the District Champion makes the playoffs.

 

Or we would use the Dickinson Point system to determine who goes and who stays home.

 

Or we would settle tie games based on the statistics.

 

All the above WAS the way the KHSAA playoffs were run til the mid 80's.

Actually if we were keeping dinosaur ways we would go back to only the District Champion makes the playoffs.

 

Or we would use the Dickinson Point system to determine who goes and who stays home.

 

Or we would settle tie games based on the statistics.

 

All the above WAS the way the KHSAA playoffs were run til the mid 80's.

 

You do realize that Kentucky is BEHIND the curve nevertheless, and that improving the current system only makes thing better?

I honestly don't care about whether the games are at neutral sites or not, but I strongly agree with you on the seeding issue. And it's multiple classes too.

 

Just this year for example the top four teams in 1A are in the Eastern bracket, the top four in 2A are in the Western Bracket, six of the top seven in 3A are in the Western bracket, three of the top four in 4A are in the Eastern bracket, three of the top four in 5A are in the Western Bracket. Shockingly 6A is the most balanced, but even then the top two are Western and numbers 5-6 could make a case for being higher.

 

Rankings used are BGP's most current.

 

There is no accurate rating system that would allow for seeding of playoff games. For the most part, throughout the season, the east teams play the east teams while the west play the west. There is very little in common with the regular season schedule and the rankings are way too skewed to W/L record. Quite often, we get a team that is ranked low because they are 6-4 and it turns out that they are much better than uninformed opinions think.

 

I like the system the way it is. It's an honor to host a semi-final game and it allows some more casual fans an opportunity to attend. If my team isn't in the semi-final game, I'll go to one that is hosted in the area. But I wouldn't travel to watch another local team play.

No I was saying the KHSAA does NOT get ticket money from the first 4 rounds, (including the semifinals). They only get the $ from the finals.

 

I agree with everything else you say, there just isn't much money in it for a host school at a neutral site unless they charge an inflated rental fee.

 

I wonder how other states make it work for nearly ever round...they can't be losing money at every host location for every round of the tourney.

You do realize that Kentucky is BEHIND the curve nevertheless, and that improving the current system only makes thing better?

 

Who's curve? VA has no such setup that you describe in place but there playoffs run pretty well and they are divided into 6 classes that run the gambit of a larger state.

 

I don't think NC does neutral site semi-finals or re-seeding either.

I wonder how other states make it work for nearly ever round...they can't be losing money at every host location for every round of the tourney.

My guess is the participating schools get a much smaller piece of the pie than they do here. And that is purely a guess.

I have been for a neutral site for years. I have been told in meetings with Mr. Tackett that the AD's are against it. Some reasons have been mentioned previously, but the most interesting he told me was shopping on Black Friday. He said that several people cited that as a reason for not doing it.

Personally, I like a neutral site with turf field. We have turf, but when we travel, several schools don't and their field has been terrible. I believe that there are enough small colleges that have turf that schools could find a way to pull off the neutral site. It may not be totally equal distance, but could be less travel from Beechwood to Mayfield.

Examples of turf field small colleges are: KWC, Lindsey, Georgetown, Campbellsville, Union and Pikeville.

Big Colleges would be UK, UL, Murray St., WKU, EKU, and Morehead St.

Another issue Mr. Tackett stated was money. The cost of travel was too much. I don't "buy" this excuse. Every year someone travels and has to pay. I know that if we could play in the semi's every year, WE could find the money to play.

I just believe that every kid deserves the best playing surface possible and it is the right thing to do.

There is no accurate rating system that would allow for seeding of playoff games. For the most part, throughout the season, the east teams play the east teams while the west play the west. There is very little in common with the regular season schedule and the rankings are way too skewed to W/L record. Quite often, we get a team that is ranked low because they are 6-4 and it turns out that they are much better than uninformed opinions think.

 

I like the system the way it is. It's an honor to host a semi-final game and it allows some more casual fans an opportunity to attend. If my team isn't in the semi-final game, I'll go to one that is hosted in the area. But I wouldn't travel to watch another local team play.

 

Well, time to trot out my proposal.

 

First off eliminate districts and replace them with four regions. Also, no playing up or down, classes are defined by actual enrollment only. In this hypothetical, 6A would have a West region, Central West region, Central East Region, and NKY/Eastern. Schools would have to play at least four games within their region, and the results of those games will seed the region. Any extra games within their region can also contribute to seeding.

 

The playoffs would be arranged such that adjacent regions played each other until you reached the semifinals. For instance, the NW quarter bracket would have West 1 vs Central West 8 at the top and so on to the bottom where you have West 7 vs Central West 2. In the NE quarter bracket the top would be Central West 1 vs West 8 and the bottom Central West 7 vs West 2. The Central East and NKY regions would have the same setup in the Southern quarter brackets. Then the winner of the NW bracket would play the winner of the SW bracket, and the NE winner playing the SE winner, with the finals occurring between the two best teams regardless of their geographical location. This system keeps travel costs at a reasonable level while distributing teams throughout the playoffs and promoting better competition throughout the tournament, removing blowout semifinals and finals.

 

Also, I'm fine with home games or neutral games. This setup could handle either, and I don't really care which is chosen.