NASHVILLE — High school sports are not immune to a struggling economy, and that was reflected when the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association released financial reports for its 2008 fall championships Thursday.

 

The football playoffs netted $536,011 — about $150,000 less than in 2007.

 

Attendance for the football playoffs dropped 17 percent to 187,246.

 

STORY LINK

 

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see the same thing for Kentucky.

NASHVILLE — High school sports are not immune to a struggling economy, and that was reflected when the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association released financial reports for its 2008 fall championships Thursday.

 

The football playoffs netted $536,011 — about $150,000 less than in 2007.

 

Attendance for the football playoffs dropped 17 percent to 187,246.

 

STORY LINK

 

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see the same thing for Kentucky.

 

Too many classes and separation of public & private schools, can't be helping attendance either?

Its going to be very interesting with the economy and the move to BG next year.

Too many classes and separation of public & private schools, can't be helping attendance either?

 

I don't think that is much of the problem as it is the struggling economy. People are just watching how they are spending their money.

The thread title is very misleading. The story says that the athletic assn. netted $150,000 less in receipts. That does not mean they lost $150,000. There is a big difference between the two.

That is a sign of the economy. Just look around if Toyota is losing money you know it is bad. It has nothing to do with lack of intrest or change in classification and everything to do with people trying to save money anywere and anyway they can.

The thread title is very misleading. The story says that the athletic assn. netted $150,000 less in receipts. That does not mean they lost $150,000. There is a big difference between the two.

 

I took care of it, thanks.

NASHVILLE — High school sports are not immune to a struggling economy, and that was reflected when the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association released financial reports for its 2008 fall championships Thursday.

 

The football playoffs netted $536,011 — about $150,000 less than in 2007.

 

Attendance for the football playoffs dropped 17 percent to 187,246.

 

STORY LINK

 

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see the same thing for Kentucky.

 

 

Economy, classification dilution, repeat appearances, competing webcats - all played a factor this year.

 

The TSSAA launched the Tennessee High School Sports Network last year with audio and video webcasts; that probably ate into some attendance.

 

Repeat appearances by Maryville (five in a row, 8 of 9, 9 of 11) and Alcoa (five in a row) probably muted attendance somewhat as well.

 

What is sad is the best classification in the state - Division II-AA (MBA, Brentwood Academy, et al.) - had its title game held on a Tuesday night, with no TV coverage. No Board of Control members (all public representation; no private BOC members) even showed up at the games.

 

And what's even more baffling is Tennessee is going to six public classes (up from five) in addition to the two existing private classes in 2009...even more dilution of what already was a diluted set-up.