Could it be that Lexington is the home of the KHSAA office and for administration they would be closer to home? Years ago potential host sites submitted a bid to host the games. I would assume that is still the case.

I liked Western Kentucky myself.

UK is a terrible place for the finals in my opinion, no atmosphere and too many empty seats to change that.  On Cats game day the students have to move their cars.  That would have been the least they could have done and I do not mean every lot but some of the lots near the stadium.  Parking was terrible as was the atmosphere. 

As someone who got to play at WKU for a few HS games, it felt like the perfect size for a state championship game.  Even then, it still wasn’t close to full.  But at least the lower sections were mostly full so it felt like there was an atmosphere.  Parking wasn’t an issue for any of the games I went to as a spectator, just a bit of a walk.

Thank you to Todd Shadowen and Coach Mark Perry  for the great venue and experience for our KFCA Hospitality Room at the KHSAA State ? Finals. Our coaches have had a great time. 

Thank you to  Kelly Wilkins for the door prizes! 

#FirstClass

 

7 hours ago, VF111 said:

I think some of you all are mistaking the allure of Rupp with the Grocery Store. Having been around a good number of kids who have weighed D1 offers that include UK, there is very little mystique of "playing for the Cats" in football. To most kids around KY, I would say they're just another football program (except on UofL week which I would say ironically is founded in roundball dislike for one another). 

The atmosphere at Kroger field is the worst I have been around and I trace back to the Fairgrounds. I would argue that the Pizza Box, now with its expansions has the same problem. There is just no point playing these games in stadiums that hold 60k+. 

I would say if you took a poll of every football player and even coaches in the state of Ky and have them rank which stadiums they would rather play in. UK and UL both would be above WKU. Yes it may not have the same historic allure of Rupp, but UK and UL are still stadiums they see games at on tv and players would want to say yes I played on that field. The only ones that seem to have a problem with it, is adults cause they don’t like seeing a stadium with so many empty seats. 
 

Not to mention unless something has changed and WKU has added a 4th locker room. They aren’t even as well equipped to handle the games. 

I wonder how the attendance would be different if they didn't put 2 hours breaks in between the games so "maybe" you keep the fans that are there just to watch High School football to stay to watch more games....Instead of cleaning house and making everyone re-enter the gates every single game....

2 hours ago, Breds82 said:

I agree that in our state the kids don’t get more hyped about playing at Commonwealth Stadium over another one. They’re excited to be playing for it all, not where. I know there are various reasons to why the game are where they are (money number one), but they need to be held at smaller stadiums. 6,000 in a 60,000+ stadium is like being at a middle school game. 

I think you would be completely wrong on that. If there was a poll and players got to vote, I don’t think it would be even close. UK and UL stadium would rank way above the amount of votes WKU would get. Does it have the same special factor to it as Rupp? No. Is UK and UL stadiums still places they would rather play if they had a choice between them and WKU. Yes.  I think over 90% of the players would choose UK or UL over WKU. As I mentioned above the only ones that seem to have an issue with it is adults who don’t like seeing a lot of empty seats in a big stadium. 
 

4 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

I wonder how the attendance would be different if they didn't put 2 hours breaks in between the games so "maybe" you keep the fans that are there just to watch High School football to stay to watch more games....Instead of cleaning house and making everyone re-enter the gates every single game....

I definitley think this could help attendance. 

2 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

I wonder how the attendance would be different if they didn't put 2 hours breaks in between the games so "maybe" you keep the fans that are there just to watch High School football to stay to watch more games....Instead of cleaning house and making everyone re-enter the gates every single game....

This I agree with. I think it is stupid that they empty the stadium. Especially now that it’s at UK and has all that space. If you want to make people have to clear out of a certain section to give that teams fans seats behind their bench fine. However, no reason to enjoy the stadium. Much better chance attendance would be higher, because more people may stay and watch. Rather than have to pay another $17 bucks to come watch the next game. 

6 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

I definitley think this could help attendance. 

When we had four classes and played at the Fairgrounds that's how it rolled.

Tennessee played their championship games at UT-Chattanooga. The stadium holds 20,000 people. We all seem to have different opinions on what the kids like. However, the kids I've heard from in previous years like hearing their fans cheer for them and you don't experience that in a stadium that seats 60,000 people opposed to one that seats 20,000. A stadium that looks and feels empty does not provide the same experience. I also think it makes it look bad for Kentucky football in general. When you watch the highlights on the news or social media and see a near empty stadium, it appears we do not care about football in this state. Despite all the faults in dealing with WKU, the lower levels were mostly full and sounded that way. And if it's about location, why isn't EKU considered? 

As other have discussed, clearing out the stadium after each game has always been a pet peeve of mine. The KHSAA could offer same day game packages/all game packages. The actual "game day experience" for fans or players does not exist. You show up, watch your team, then head home. 

I have no experience in PR or marketing so what do I know. But I am a high school football fan that has attended state championship games for over 20 years and the fun of going and watching the best teams in the state compete on the first weekend in December gets less appealing every year. I will still go, but I can see why people choose to just watch from the comfort of their home. 

I vote for War Memorial Stadium in Mayfield. Fans would get that tailgate experience each game and that ROAR from the stands is unmatched. 

40 minutes ago, cardinal89 said:

I vote for War Memorial Stadium in Mayfield. Fans would get that tailgate experience each game and that ROAR from the stands is unmatched. 

If we’re going for atmosphere, Rash in Owensboro would make for an insane playing experience.  It’s just not practical for that many fans though.

EKU has 85% of it's seating on one side.  Wouldn't work.  I really enjoyed the games at Western.  Just the right size.  I actually don't mind Commonwealth or PapaJohns.  I liked them both.  The fairgrounds on the other hand......was a trash heap and I thought it was an embarrassment the last 10 years it was there.