Instead of just 5 or 6 set sites have a list of options of all stadiums that could fit the bill. Then depending on whoever comes out of the regional finals have the AD's and the KHSAA have a conference call on Saturday to pick a site out of the eligible options that are the best geographical fit for their game. Places like Belfry, Pikeville College, McCracken County, Murray State and anywhere in between could be on the list. If it's at another high school have the gate split 37.5/37.5/25. That way the host school gets 25% of the gate and a little something for hosting the game.

I went to the Colerain Elder game Friday night at Mason. Atmosphere was great. Crowd was great. Weather was awful, but the Turf field played well.

 

For all the conspiracy guys, how does having a football game at a neutral site make the KHSAA more money?

No need. All this would be is a way for the KHSAA to make money while taking away what makes HS football, HS football.

 

Smaller crowds, far travel for both teams potentially. Sure people with an interest in football could come as these sites would logically be in easily accessible areas with bigger populations. But that takes away from the communities that host, who may not be able to travel that distance.

 

Not in favor. If our school ever makes it to the Semis, I'd love for whoever to have to roll in to the Hill. Would be cramped but a lot of fun!

 

So I'm choosing to not drive 3 1/2 hours to Russelville friday to watch BW play. I know many folks in same boat. Is that fair to the players to allow a ridiculous distance to keep away fans to support him? Current system is great for the community that hosts, terrible for the guests. I'm sure there is somewhere between NKy and RVille that could host this and make it fair for both

So I'm choosing to not drive 3 1/2 hours to Russelville friday to watch BW play. I know many folks in same boat. Is that fair to the players to allow a ridiculous distance to keep away fans to support him? Current system is great for the community that hosts, terrible for the guests. I'm sure there is somewhere between NKy and RVille that could host this and make it fair for both[/QUOTE]

 

E'town and Nelson County would both fit the bill (and all interstate/BG parkway driving).

 

However, that's good for ONE game.

 

If we're trying to find 12 separate neutral sites, that's a pain.

 

If you're trying to find a neutral site to host multiple games, then you run the risk of teams having homefield advantage still (E'town is a solid fit for 4-of-6 West semis this year, and the only reason it's not for the other two is because E'town and Central Hardin are in them).

 

It depends on what the "end goal" is.

 

I'm NOT in favor of 12 separate sites. Maybe six max (1-A/2-A and 3-A/4-A and 5-A/6-A), but you'd want to keep "travel buddies" -- E'town/Central Hardin, LexCath/Lafayette, BG/SW, Trinity/DeSales/Fern Creek -- together to maximize possible attendance from fans from those large cities.

So I'm choosing to not drive 3 1/2 hours to Russelville friday to watch BW play. I know many folks in same boat. Is that fair to the players to allow a ridiculous distance to keep away fans to support him? Current system is great for the community that hosts, terrible for the guests. I'm sure there is somewhere between NKy and RVille that could host this and make it fair for both

It's part of it. Though our team would be hosting if we were still playing, I'm sure our kids would relish the opportunity to drive three hours to play Friday.

Turf and seating would be priority. Not played at high schools but small colleges or state universities that have them. One set in eastern third of state - Morehead; One in Central Ky - Georgetown; and one set in western Ky - Murray.

 

Two classes at each site:

e.g.

 

Morehead - Class A Friday; Class 4A Saturday

Georgetown - Class 2A Friday; Class 5A Saturday

Murray - Class 3A Friday; Class 6A Saturday.

 

Plenty of travel time if played over Thanksgiving.

Turf and seating would be priority. Not played at high schools but small colleges or state universities that have them. One set in eastern third of state - Morehead; One in Central Ky - Georgetown; and one set in western Ky - Murray.

 

Two classes at each site:

e.g.

 

Morehead - Class A Friday; Class 4A Saturday

Georgetown - Class 2A Friday; Class 5A Saturday

Murray - Class 3A Friday; Class 6A Saturday.

 

Plenty of travel time if played over Thanksgiving.

 

You want Central Hardin and Male -- separated by a mere 40 miles straight down I-65 -- to drive to Murray? And LexCath to drive PAST E'town (to play at Murray), you know, the team it's playing?

 

And the travel buddies concept goes out the window when you force the buddies to play on separate days.

 

You'll have plenty of travel time, sure.

 

You'll also have plenty of people staying home because of said travel, too.

You want Central Hardin and Male -- separated by a mere 40 miles straight down I-65 -- to drive to Murray? And LexCath to drive PAST E'town (to play at Murray), you know, the team it's playing?

 

And the travel buddies concept goes out the window when you force the buddies to play on separate days.

 

You'll have plenty of travel time, sure.

 

You'll also have plenty of people staying home because of said travel, too.

 

Its called having an opinion. Try being respectful of that. We try to respect yours, however wrong they are.

Its called having an opinion. Try being respectful of that. We try to respect yours, however wrong they are.

 

I like the concept of splitting them into West-Central-East. And breaking them up (to give one big class with one small class).

 

However, based on who advanced, those pairings would be terrible in some locations (worse if 3-A East and 6-A East have to go all the way to Murray).

 

I know Lexington ain't all that to some people (it's 80 miles for me not including a crowded Versailles road or the evil New Circle), but football folks could learn a lot from ... marching band.

 

Marching band does all of its semis around BG, which keeps the schools close to the finals location (later that same night). Also gives people a chance to watch schools of multiple different classes.

 

If we're about being neutral and trying for as big of crowds as possible, maybe Lexington is the solution.

 

- All six fields (five Fayette schools and LexCath) have turf fields and decent seating.

- The proximity of the six fields to each other gives fans to go from site to site very quickly.

- If you do four games at Murray (and G'town and Morehead) ... you're taking 66 percent away (since driving from Murray to Georgetown is not feasible; Murray-Morehead not feasible; maybe Georgetown-Morehead). By keeping it all in Lexington, you AT LEAST give people an option.

- Lexington is already seen as a site for big KHSAA events (boys' hoops, both tennis, both soccer, cross country and now bowling)

- Lexington is seen as one of, if not THE, most accessible big city for the majority of the state.

- Lexington offers enough fields to keep teams from playing on their home field. LexCath and Lafayette could swap fields, for example.

 

FWIW, I'm not in favor of moving all 12 semis to Lexington. I'm assuming there will be folks who agree with me.

 

However, it makes more sense -- financially, geographically, whatever -- than having certain matchups drive clear past their opponent for two more hours just to play each other.

 

You almost have to look at it like the NCAA Tournament's "pod" idea, meaning each site gets a 1-2-3-4 seed fairly close to home (or a big name).

 

However, when you arbitrarily stick certain classes together, without looking at the matchups, you're going to get horrible travel for no reason.

 

In the suggested 3-site case, 6-A would be better in Georgetown (great for Lafayette, doable for Male, Central Hardin and SK). 3-A would be good for the west (awesome for LexCath, good for E'town), but horrible for the east.

 

But again, you gotta look at who advanced:

FAR WEST (1): Mayfield.

SOUTHWEST (3): Russellville, Bowling Green, South Warren.

LOUISVILLE METRO (6): DeSales, E'town, Shelby, Fern Creek, Trinity, Central Hardin.

LEXINGTON METRO (3): Lexington Catholic, Lafayette, *Danville*

NORTHERN KY (4): Beechwood, Newport Central Catholic, Highlands, SK

EASTERN KY (7): Pikeville, Paintsville, Corbin, Belfry, Johnson Central, Wayne, Pulaski

 

You've only got one school remotely close to Murray, yet you've got 8 playing there.

You want Central Hardin and Male -- separated by a mere 40 miles straight down I-65 -- to drive to Murray? And LexCath to drive PAST E'town (to play at Murray), you know, the team it's playing?

 

And the travel buddies concept goes out the window when you force the buddies to play on separate days.

 

You'll have plenty of travel time, sure.

 

You'll also have plenty of people staying home because of said travel, too.

 

e.g. means an example. That is all. Just throwing it out there.

I think some of you have gotten away want the original poster meant. Right now we have 12 different sights. There is nothing wrong with 12 different sights.

 

I like the idea of a game site centrally located between the participants. I like the idea of a pre existing list for the school's designated representative to pick on Saturday after the regional championships.

 

I would make the change to have A, 3A and 5A on Friday with the others on Saturday so more people could see more games and a venue could be used more than once.

 

The host school gets utilities etc. paid plus concession and parking fees. Participating schools get part of pre sale plus some money for buses.

 

I can see the Beechwood vs Russellville game in E'town/Central Hardin The Highlands vs Pulaski County game in Georgetown. The Bowling Green vs Fern Creek game in E'town/Central Hardin etc.

My biggest problem is catering to outside fans. It's great if you come, but ultimately high school sports are about teams and the communities that support them.

 

I see no problem with what we have. Any team complaining about travel for a semi-final game should come and see how the other half lives in the state. Neutral sites are rarely ever truly neutral any way. Like many have said, they could potentially add distance.

 

JMO obviously. Good arguments for and against.

I do not believe Ohio announces the sites before the playoffs start. The OHSAA may have an idea or the venues that are available on certain days but they wait to see who advances and then tries to pick a site that is approximately equal for each fan base but that is not always possible.

 

Ohio has the sites picked out in advance, they just dont assign what games are where until the week of.

College fields will probably be out, to much dealings with risk management folks to make it worth wild for anyone.

I've talked to high school administrators about this and they're not for it (serving as a host).

 

Hard to charge for parking (when people are used to parking there for free).

Hard to get workers on a holiday weekend.

 

Even with concessions, not enough of a financial incentive.

 

Colleges are likely thinking the same way, although they have a potential recruiting hook.