Market the games for a change. The KHSAA goes above and beyond marketing the sweet 16. The dates, times, etc. are pushed well in adance of the event and tickets are presold to students, parents, and the community at large. Why don't the football championships receive the same push? BG or the KHSAA needs to step up and try to bring football fans to the games not just the parents and students from the competing schools. IMO this is what makes the Sweet 16 so successful, this spring look around Rupp you will see many HS basketball fans not just factions from the competing schools.

 

I know quite a few that take a vacation the week of the Sweet 16, and go every year. I don't know anyone that does this for the football games.

I know quite a few that take a vacation the week of the Sweet 16, and go every year. I don't know anyone that does this for the football games.

 

Very true. I think a lot of that has to do with the long tradition of high school basketball in Ky. Football has no where near the long tradition of popularity that basketball does. Hopefully with the growing popularity of football in the state, there will be people planning their vacations to include the football championships. But even then, I think we have to be realistic. The set up for the Sweet 16 is, well, sweet. The games are indoor, with hotels attached to the arena. You can park your car when you get there and never have to bother with it until you leave. You can catch a game or two, leave to go to your hotel room or a restaurant and then return. Those type of arrangements are not available with any football facility in the state that I am aware of. You don't have to worry about inclement weather once you are there for the Sweet 16 either which is another really nice advantage over the football championships.

 

Don't get me wrong. There are things that could be done to better market the football championships and make the games more fan friendly. Hopefully with the change in venue and with the growing popularity of football, the KHSAA will realize that for many reasons, including the opportunity to make more money (hey, I'm an un-abashed capitalist), new things must be tried. Which is why I started this thread: to have people throw out ideas and hope the KHSAA will take notice.

Bowling Green, KY Warren County

Population in July 2007: 54,244.

 

Louisville, KY Jefferson County

Population in July 2007: 261,853.

 

Granted, these are populations by city limits. Louisville has roughly five times the number of folks.

 

Warren County had an estimated population of 101,000 in 2006.

Jefferson County had 701,500 in 2006.

 

Do you really think total attendance will be better (all classes)?

 

Jefferson County has more than 25 high schools. Warren County has BGHS, Greenwood, Warren East, Warren Central.....I apologize if I missed any.

 

You really believe interest will be better at WKU?

 

Maybe the coaches clinic that corresponds with the finals should be split up.

How well the clinic is attended will be a big measuring stick.

 

Parking for Girls basketball can be tough. Hopefully the City of Bowling Green will increase it's police numbers for the weekend. You really do not want to get turned around at WKU. It gets rough very quickly. I recently had a relative pass who lived very close to campus. Her neighborhood was getting worse every year.

 

EDITED FOR CONTENT

Area around WKU is certainly no worse than around PJS.

Area around WKU is certainly no worse than around PJS.

 

I'd have to disagree. I love the fact the games are at WKU now... But the parking is not driver friendly. Chances are a majority will end up in the parking garage which is a pain in the rear!

Bowling Green, KY Warren County

Population in July 2007: 54,244.

 

Louisville, KY Jefferson County

Population in July 2007: 261,853.

 

Granted, these are populations by city limits. Louisville has roughly five times the number of folks.

 

Warren County had an estimated population of 101,000 in 2006.

Jefferson County had 701,500 in 2006.

 

Do you really think total attendance will be better (all classes)?

 

Jefferson County has more than 25 high schools. Warren County has BGHS, Greenwood, Warren East, Warren Central.....I apologize if I missed any.

 

You really believe interest will be better at WKU?

 

Maybe the coaches clinic that corresponds with the finals should be split up.

How well the clinic is attended will be a big measuring stick.

 

Parking for Girls basketball can be tough. Hopefully the City of Bowling Green will increase it's police numbers for the weekend. You really do not want to get turned around at WKU. It gets rough very quickly. I recently had a relative pass who lived very close to campus. Her neighborhood was getting worse every year.

EDITED FOR CONTENT

 

 

No way it's any worse in BG then it is in Louisville. As far as safety goes... I feel safer at WKU then I would anywhere in Louisville.

I'd have to disagree. I love the fact the games are at WKU now... But the parking is not driver friendly. Chances are a majority will end up in the parking garage which is a pain in the rear!

 

You must not know much about Fair Ave and 12th St, etc. in Bowling Green.

 

Which neighborhood close to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium had you concerned? Churchill Downs area? Airport area? Preston Street and the Fairgrounds area? U of L campus?

 

You do not want to get turned around near WKU.

You must not know much about Fair Ave and 12th St, etc. in Bowling Green.

 

Which neighborhood close to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium had you concerned? Churchill Downs area? Airport area? Preston Street and the Fairgrounds area? U of L campus?

 

You do not want to get turned around near WKU.

 

 

I'm assuming that you meant to quote my other post.

 

I'm very familiar with Bowling Green. And to say that Bowling Green poses more as a threat then Louisville does is absurd. Being the larger city, Louisville is the more likely for drugs, assault, etc...

November 2008 UL Crime Report:

http://louisville.edu/police/crimelog/112008.html

 

November 2008 WKU Crime Report:

https://asaweb.wku.edu/php/prod/POLICE/WKU_POLICE_SEARCH.php

 

WKU has a few more then I would imagine... But still not anymore dangerous than UofL's campus.

You must not know much about Fair Ave and 12th St, etc. in Bowling Green.

 

Which neighborhood close to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium had you concerned? Churchill Downs area? Airport area? Preston Street and the Fairgrounds area? U of L campus?

 

You do not want to get turned around near WKU.

 

Do you know how not to get turned around in any city? I do it is called a GPS I drove through the hood in L.A. When I was in Cali and was not worried at all. Well maybe a little worried but I had faith in my GPS and it took me everywhere I wanted without any problems and I would say LA is much bigger than BG and the Ville combined.

 

There will be plenty of good in the finals being played in BG.

 

1 The Bluebirds will have a longer bus ride than Owensboro for the finals! LOL

2. The BG people are very hospitable when it comes to putting on an event. If you have ever been to a soccer tourney there you know what I mean.

3. Smaller seating capacity makes the stadium seem louder when full.

 

I know with the games being played right on campus you will get more people come out to watch that doesn't have any interest in who wins because it will be walking distance for most students.

1 The Bluebirds will have a longer bus ride than Owensboro for the finals! LOL

 

I know with the games being played right on campus you will get more people come out to watch that doesn't have any interest in who wins because it will be walking distance for most students.

 

1 Assuming O'boro gets there!

 

Won't the students be on break by championship weekend?

1 Assuming O'boro gets there!

 

Won't the students be on break by championship weekend?[/quote]

 

Probably not. It will be moved back to the first weekend in December next year. The last two years my son finished school for Xmas break on the second weekend in December, and he was usually home a week before his friends in state universities.

You must not know much about Fair Ave and 12th St, etc. in Bowling Green.

 

Which neighborhood close to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium had you concerned? Churchill Downs area? Airport area? Preston Street and the Fairgrounds area? U of L campus?

 

You do not want to get turned around near WKU.

 

We've been to the pizza box a couple of times;). Driven in and out many different ways, and never felt threatened. I really hate seeing the venue change.

I think switching it to WKU will lose money for the KHSAA especially in 6A. If Trinity makes it back next season, I will predict you will not have the same amount of fans driving down to Bowling Green versus Papa Johns. Too many people have a pre-conceived opinions based on reccent history that the game will be a blow out unless it is T versus X. They are not going to drive to Bowling Green to watch another blowout game much less come down the night before and spend money in a hotel. If we do make it, my family will drive down the day of the game and return home after the game. Having the games in Louisville provides a centralized location for most teams competiting in the finals while giving fans many entertainment options. It's a shame UofL couldn't work this out with the KHSAA.