Should Playoff games be at neutral sites?

[UKBLUE1964]

I am wondering if Playoff games should be at neutral sites from the Second round to the Semi-Finals.

I read on here about how far teams have to travel and how the officials didnt call the game their way. I believe there is plenty of nice field turf high schools that can host playoff games. One thing for sure, there will be no complaining of how far one team has to go to play or how the officials must be from the home teams town.

 

What does everyone think?

[DragonFire]

I saw just as many blown calls for the home side last night as I did for the other side. Usually, people will just see it their way on the referees.

 

And no, I don't think there should be neutral sites for all those games. Most definitely you should never have one before the region finals, and even then I don't think you should. Each of those teams earned the right to host the game. I could possibly buy doing it for the state semis, but not before.

[Sweeperboy]

Great idea. Maybe Highlands could be the site this week for the Ryle / SK matchup with SK being home team because they are Blue and White. LOL.

[The Scribe]

I am wondering if Playoff games should be at neutral sites from the Second round to the Semi-Finals.

I read on here about how far teams have to travel and how the officials didnt call the game their way. I believe there is plenty of nice field turf high schools that can host playoff games. One thing for sure, there will be no complaining of how far one team has to go to play or how the officials must be from the home teams town.

 

What does everyone think?

Officials for most, if not all, playoff games are from other athletic conferences and other parts of the state. Nothing but sour grapes on this point.

 

Who is going to pay for the rental of the neutral site? Which team is responsible for manning, supplying, and running the concession stands? Who gets the money?

 

Who pays for the clean-up?

 

Will there be any money left for teams to split after the game is played?

[History]

I saw just as many blown calls for the home side last night as I did for the other side. Usually, people will just see it their way on the referees.

 

And no, I don't think there should be neutral sites for all those games. Most definitely you should never have one before the region finals, and even then I don't think you should. Each of those teams earned the right to host the game. I could possibly buy doing it for the state semis, but not before.

 

Agree totally......Be the higher seed and you won't have to travel so far. The officials are from outside the areas of the teams playing so that shouldn't come in to play.

[TRENCHMASTER]

I think your earn the right to play at home in the playoffs on the seed that you have. High seeds stay at home makes the regular season relevant.

[RAMCAT77]

I believe they do this in Ohio and have for years, don't see why it couldn't work in Kentucky.

[sports fan]

In a word: No

 

You should earn the right to play at home right up until the finals. In fact, i think if two teams meet that are seeded the same, then they should alternate years for home team advantage. It's not that way in the semi-finals in KY.

[fatsnbul]

Unless you are expecting 25,000 plus and have to now play at Papa Johns.

[gchs_uk9]

I wouldn't be against playing state semifinals at neutral sites, maybe combining two or three games in one day at places like WKU or EKU, or maybe a larger high school stadium that has field turf. But I wouldn't be in favor of neutral site games any earlier than that.

[UKBLUE1964]

Officials for most, if not all, playoff games are from other athletic conferences and other parts of the state. Nothing but sour grapes on this point.

 

Who is going to pay for the rental of the neutral site? Which team is responsible for manning, supplying, and running the concession stands? Who gets the money?

 

Who pays for the clean-up?

 

Will there be any money left for teams to split after the game is played?

 

Rental cost should be paid for by the KHSAA. Each site would have to meet a certain criteria to host a game, set by the KHSAA and awarded to host a game only by the KHSAA. Each of sites would have a Site Manager in charge of the event. Various duties would be as followed:

 Provide participating schools with any necessary information not included in these regulations.

 Appoint a media coordinator who will make necessary arrangements for the news media.

 Provide visitors with similar press box accommodations and field phone equipment as available for

use by the home team. The manager shall notify the competing teams if field phones are not available so that each school may make arrangements for their own communication equipment.

 Arrange for a competent timer, scoreboard operator, public address announcer and line-to-gain crew. The timer is required to meet with the officials no later than 30 minutes prior to game time.

 Make arrangements for concessions.

 Arrange to have a doctor and/or trainer present. Arrange to have an ambulance available or on call for emergencies.

 Arrange for an adequate number of law enforcement officers and/or private security.

 Provide uniformed police or security to escort officials to and from their dressing quarters and to their cars after the game.

 Secure ticket sellers and ticket takers.

 Assign dressing rooms to teams and game officials.

 Designate seating sections for each school

 Make arrangements for halftime activities by school bands.

 Assist teams in making housing arrangements, even though each school will be responsible for its housing.

 Employ ball boys or girls – high school age or older.

 Advertise parking arrangements.

 Employ program sellers.

 Employ a statistician.

 Mark fields in accordance with the National Federation Field Diagram including team areas and the 4-inch wide broken line around the entire field a minimum of six feet from the boundaries.

 File financial reports with the KHSAA as soon as possible following the game.

 

All of the ticket sales would go to the KHSAA and then distributed to each school for their expense.

[Maroon Fan]

I believe they do this in Ohio and have for years, don't see why it couldn't work in Kentucky.

 

I'm sick to death of hearing "Ohio does it this way... Ohio does it that way..." It's OHIO, NOT KENTUCKY!!!!!!!!!!! Who cares what they do in Ohio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[UKBLUE1964]

I wouldn't be against playing state semifinals at neutral sites, maybe combining two or three games in one day at places like WKU or EKU, or maybe a larger high school stadium that has field turf. But I wouldn't be in favor of neutral site games any earlier than that.

 

I believe also that Morehead St. , Pikeville College, Georgetown College to name a few that could host a site also. Yes there is a number of High School sites that could host games too, Belfry comes to mind for one.

[gchs_uk9]

I believe also that Morehead St. , Pikeville College, Georgetown College to name a few that could host a site also. Yes there is a number of High School sites that could host games too, Belfry comes to mind for one.

 

Thanks for mentioning those; I wasn't sure what college stadiums had turf. Certainly Belfry would be a nice stadium, but it probably wouldn't be a very good neutral site since it is so far east. But the thought makes sense.

[The Scribe]

Rental cost should be paid for by the KHSAA. Each site would have to meet a certain criteria to host a game, set by the KHSAA and awarded to host a game only by the KHSAA. Each of sites would have a Site Manager in charge of the event. Various duties would be as followed:

 Provide participating schools with any necessary information not included in these regulations.

 Appoint a media coordinator who will make necessary arrangements for the news media.

 Provide visitors with similar press box accommodations and field phone equipment as available for

use by the home team. The manager shall notify the competing teams if field phones are not available so that each school may make arrangements for their own communication equipment.

 Arrange for a competent timer, scoreboard operator, public address announcer and line-to-gain crew. The timer is required to meet with the officials no later than 30 minutes prior to game time.

 Make arrangements for concessions.

 Arrange to have a doctor and/or trainer present. Arrange to have an ambulance available or on call for emergencies.

 Arrange for an adequate number of law enforcement officers and/or private security.

 Provide uniformed police or security to escort officials to and from their dressing quarters and to their cars after the game.

 Secure ticket sellers and ticket takers.

 Assign dressing rooms to teams and game officials.

 Designate seating sections for each school

 Make arrangements for halftime activities by school bands.

 Assist teams in making housing arrangements, even though each school will be responsible for its housing.

 Employ ball boys or girls – high school age or older.

 Advertise parking arrangements.

 Employ program sellers.

 Employ a statistician.

 Mark fields in accordance with the National Federation Field Diagram including team areas and the 4-inch wide broken line around the entire field a minimum of six feet from the boundaries.

 File financial reports with the KHSAA as soon as possible following the game.

 

All of the ticket sales would go to the KHSAA and then distributed to each school for their expense.

Once you finish this checklist, the game will be midway through the third quarter