Nick Hurm posted an interesting little head-scratcher of an article on the Enquirer's website today. "What's your favorite area prep venue?"

 

He's referring a little more to greater Cincinnati, so let's hear what the BGP-ers have to say about the prep venues in the Bluegrass State. Of course, we all love a home-field advantage, but let's try to be subjective with our responses.

I'd love to get to a Trinity or St. X football game sometime.

 

Football - Johnson Central, Raceland

 

Basketball - Mason County Fieldhouse at tournament time.

I'd say for football, I'd go with Ludlow. I love sitting in their stadium watching a game with the breeze coming off of the Ohio River. Baseball, I'd probably say New Cath. No reason in particular, other than just enjoying being perched up there on the hill next to the school. I always like going to games there. Basketball, well, I know I said to be subjective, and I really think I am...but I'd have to go with Cov Cath's gym - honestly. It's not the most "up-to-date" of facilities by any means, but there's just something about the crowd excitement when the Colonel Crazies get things going for a game.

I've always been partial to Ft Thomas. I love the compact setting and being right on top of the action.

 

Its the same reason I love b-ball games at Holy Cross.

I'd love to get to a Trinity or St. X football game sometime.

 

Football - Johnson Central, Raceland

 

Basketball - Mason County Fieldhouse at tournament time.

 

Johnson Central is a great place for a game...if not just for their hospitality.

I've always been partial to Ft Thomas. I love the compact setting and being right on top of the action.

 

Its the same reason I love b-ball games at Holy Cross.

 

Agree. While I wouldn't trade the 10th region tournament atmosphere at The Fieldhouse for anything, it can be a snoozer when it's 80% empty. For a regular-season game, give me one of those crackerbox gyms anytime. Augusta, for example.

Johnson Central is a great place for a game...if not just for their hospitality.

 

Concessions figured heavily into my football choices.:thumb:

Holy Cross for hoops is the best. Johnson Central and CovCath and Dayton for football. Baseball-I like St. Henry.

For some reason I like the setting in Ft. Thomas for a HHS football, just something about that landlocked stadium. For hoops I don't really have a preferred gymnasium, as long as I have a row to sit on, a row for my feet and a row behind me for my back I'm a happy camper. I hate being crammed in.

Belfry's new football complex is pretty sweet. when I was an assistant coach a couple years ago I got to get a good look at it inside and out, and can't imagine what the home locker rooms must look like because the visitors was rather accommodating. Normally you expect the worst when you go to away games, I have seen some poor visiting locker room conditions in my day.

 

Of course for football you also have to mention Trinity and St. X. As some have also alluded to Johnson Central makes for a good environment, not overly fancy or flashy but makes for a good environment.

 

Basketball, The Fieldhouse at Mason County would have to be high on the list.

 

And this is going to surprise some, but as far as basketball region as a whole with nice venues go it would be tough to beat the 15th region. Shelby Valley, Belfry, East Ridge, Pike Central, South Floyd (very surprising right?) etc. all have very nice facilities. Paintsville is a little cramped and out dated, but you can always expect an atmosphere in there. The stage on the opposite side just doesn't do it for me though. On down the list though you will be hard pressed to find a horrible facility. The best part too is that the Region is now held at the East Kentucky Expo Center, and that makes for a great place to enjoy some basketball. I have played ball and watched games all over the state, and to me it just seems like the quantity of quality facilities around the 15th has to be close to the top if not tops as far as region as a while goes for basketball. Too bad the teams as a whole aren't on the same level as some of the facilities.

Rhea Stadium - Russellville

Log Mountian - Bell County

 

Hopkinsville's Tiger Gym

St. X and Trinity have beautiful facilities, I give a slight edge to X but the visitor's section only has five rows but it almost runs from goal to goal. By far the nicest restrooms of any HS I've been to.

St. X and Trinity have beautiful facilities, I give a slight edge to X but the visitor's section only has five rows but it almost runs from goal to goal. By far the nicest restrooms of any HS I've been to.

 

Nice, yes. However, zero atmosphere at X.

Belfry's new football complex is pretty sweet. when I was an assistant coach a couple years ago I got to get a good look at it inside and out, and can't imagine what the home locker rooms must look like because the visitors was rather accommodating. Normally you expect the worst when you go to away games, I have seen some poor visiting locker room conditions in my day.

 

Of course for football you also have to mention Trinity and St. X. As some have also alluded to Johnson Central makes for a good environment, not overly fancy or flashy but makes for a good environment.

 

Basketball, The Fieldhouse at Mason County would have to be high on the list.

 

And this is going to surprise some, but as far as basketball region as a whole with nice venues go it would be tough to beat the 15th region. Shelby Valley, Belfry, East Ridge, Pike Central, South Floyd (very surprising right?) etc. all have very nice facilities. Paintsville is a little cramped and out dated, but you can always expect an atmosphere in there. The stage on the opposite side just doesn't do it for me though. On down the list though you will be hard pressed to find a horrible facility. The best part too is that the Region is now held at the East Kentucky Expo Center, and that makes for a great place to enjoy some basketball. I have played ball and watched games all over the state, and to me it just seems like the quantity of quality facilities around the 15th has to be close to the top if not tops as far as region as a while goes for basketball. Too bad the teams as a whole aren't on the same level as some of the facilities.

 

I have been to all the ones you mentioned from the 15th but East Ridge. They all are nice. I have not been to the East Ky Expo Center. Great to have a netural court to have the regional games.

 

When I was young, our basketball team was in the 15th region. My menories of the gyms we played in were, Hellier Hellcats, Van Lear Bank Mules, and Martin Purple Flash. We also played Phelps and had to go over what we call "Grape Vine Mt" That was an experiene on a school bus. The regional tourney was held at Prestonsburg.

St. X and Trinity have beautiful facilities, I give a slight edge to X but the visitor's section only has five rows but it almost runs from goal to goal. By far the nicest restrooms of any HS I've been to.

 

St. X is the creepest with the grave yard behind the vistior's section.