WHO BELIEVES STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS SHOULD BE IN COLUMBUS.

[Winchell]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The atmosphere in Ohio Stadium with 20 or 30 thousand people is absolutely horrid! When the games were there in the past, it felt as though no one was in the stadium. As a player, give me a more intimate environment anyday. In basketball this is not the case. The Schott holds 15,000. If the games were moved to Columbus, the amount of total attendance would not increase by that large of an amount imho.

[55buckeyes98]

IMO Massilon nor Fawcett are that much more intimate than Ohio Stadium. I went to the North/South game and from the crowd it was just as intimate as any game at either site championship game I've been to and there was nothing really at stake, the game was not close, and not that large of a crowd. You could fill the lower bowl from near the Goalline to opposite Goalline on both sides and it would still be a great atmosphere. If you want an intimate atmosphere play the game at Centerburg or East Knox... there is virtually no sideline and the fans are right on you, especially on the visitors sideline.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

no way, no how you'll convince me they are better off in stark county. regardless who is winning the titles.

[GoChiefs]

Besides the fact that it's not 'centrally located'...what other gripes is there against Stark County? How are they doing so terrible that it needs to be moved?

[F-4 Phantom]

People would be whining if they were playing in their back yard. That's what some folks do, COMPLAIN!

[Paladin]

Thats just it -- there are no complaints about Stark Co. The only complaint discussed is LOCATION and once again, most of the people who go are FROM NEO. Most teams who go are from NEO. And for your info -- TRESSEL is in favor of playing the games in NEO. OSU doesn't want the games and would/have charged more for their site than OHSAA wants to pay.

1. Most people who go are FROM NEO
2. Most teams who play in the Championships are FROM NEO
3. Both fields have artifical turf, demanded by OHSAA
4. Both stadiums look good with only 10k or less in them,but can hold more
5. Parking is good
6. Costs are controlled( Major problems elsewhere)
7. Adequate hotels/motels/restaurants
8. Good roads/Interstates feed to the locations
9. Games are well managed & staffed by Stark Co.(Another problem)
10. Extra benefits ( Hall of Fame, airport,shopping,etc)

Games aren't going anywhere.

[Malcontent]

Blackout TV in NEO and watch the crowds swell.

[trojandave]

If Portsmouth ever makes it to the Finals, I don't care where it is........Lord willing, I will go, drive for 4 hours or so, spend money for gas, motel, tickets, and food, and BE HAPPY that we will be playing for a state championship. We've NEVER been to the Finals........

Even if it's cold, I will still be HAPPY to see my Trojans playing for that state title!!!

Hopefully someday soon that day will come!!!

[4 HORSEMEN]

It is a no brainer that all kids in the state, including the cleveland kids, would much rather play at Ohio Stadium rather than a high school stadium any day...That is a huge thrill to be able to say that you once played your state championship game at Ohio Stadium...not a high school field in cold...dirty...Cleveland...

Ohio Stadium over Fawcett Stadium? The home of the NFL Hall of Fame..the field where many great NFL athletes have graced the same field? I'm not so sure most would say Ohio Stadium. Could be wrong..but IMO..I'd rather play on the same field that the big boys played.

Maybe if ACTUAL pro games were played at Fawcett during Hall of Fame weekend......
But that is just a pre-season game which in the NFL is a "glorified scrimmage" between players who either aren't going to make the roster or will play only on special teams.

In the state of Ohio...... Ohio State basically rules! High school teams play at Fawcett and Massilon every weekend..... Big Deal!

Playing at Ohio Stadium would be seen as a privelage by virtually every high school athlete in the state.

I would like to see the premiere event in High School football be held at the premiere location in the state............. to me, that is Ohio Stadium, hands down.

[eddie]

We Want OHIO STATE

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

gochiefs , the answer to the question is, i like ohio stadium better, i would like to visit buckeye themed places, because i have ben to the hall of fame. i have no friends really in neo. but tons in columbus to visit. the parking would be awesome, people could stay for games all day. as long as they don't set where the two teams playing are setting. that could be done. maybe work something out for a buckeye band skull session type thing. coach bruce, and coach cooper regularly were seen on the sidelines when these were in columbus, warmer that time of year. more restrooms, the feeling of being in ohio stadium, much more thrilling than massilon, or fawcett. and yes , i've been to both. columbus area shopping, that time of year. cut the drive in half , if a team is from the extreme north, or south. still centrally located for anyone. most state championships are held in either, the states biggest university, or even pro stadiums. the chance to visit things like the schott, st john's arena, value city arena, the shoe, the woody hayes athletic center. the zoo. do i really need to continue. thats just my humble thinking.

[FANOSPORTS]

With Columbus now having Huntington Park (In the Arena District) downtown, they could play football games there like they used to at old Cooper Stadium. I know it's truly a baseball field but it has turf and the other venue could be Crew stadium (if some kind of field turf was added). They are only separated by about 5-10 minutes and one road. It's not a historic venue but it's brand spanking new and would be an idea if they truly want to move the games back to Columbus and not to the Shoe. Just my thoughts for future possibilities with all the amenities close by and truly in the middle of the state.

[JChipwood]

Maybe they should hold them in Cinci for a few years and then the people of NEO would understand that central location is the only logical solution. There are plenty of high school stadiums across the state with the ability to hold 10,000 fans and plenty of areas with hotel accomodations enough for the percentage that actual stay all night.

[Mouth's Better Half]

I do, it was exciting to watch them at "The Shoe" that isn't "The Shoe" anymore.

[4 HORSEMEN]

Honestly, when you read the posts on this site, there really isn't ANY logical or logistical reason that the games should not be played in Columbus.

It comes down to money and politics....... Just like in College football, you ask ANY average fan and they will tell you that they want a playoff system........ Yet we still have the BCS!!!!

Why? Because some very powerful people (bowls) make a lot of money from the current system...
Same basic premise here. The folks in NE Ohio are basically the ONLY ones who don't want games moved to Columbus, and I am sure they will do EVERYTHING they can to ensure the games stay right where they are.........

It sucks, and I for one would like to see it change!!!

[smurray]

Paladin,
Maybe playing the games in northern Ohio is an unfair advantage to the "local" schools (travel, weather, etc.).

There is NO reason not to play the games at a centralized location (Columbus).

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

well, i think this topic has turned to a more rational thinking. it is true, only neo people don't want it in ohio states stadium. i never intended this to be an arguing thread, just wanted a true sence of how the seop nation felt about it. and i think we have , it should be in columbus, the only reason it was ever moved , was when the buckeyes went to natural grass, that is not the case anymore. i assure you the games would be better attended. and warmer, and more to do , making a weekend of it. and i loved the suggestion of moving them to cincy. then and only then . would it become an issue. to neo people. i liked what trojandave said. heck , he'd be happy to watch his team anywhere play for the state. and me too. but it just makes good sence to relocate them to the ohio state university campus. such a festive and wonderful venue. if you can't find alternate entertainment in columbus , you just are not looking. the end.

[Paladin]

Its been said numerous times -- OHIO ST is too expensive and has a poor look with only 10k in a 100K+ stadium. OSU in fact DOESN'T want the game. I used to go when the games were at OSU ( even sat thru the Ironton -Akron St. V's game,lol). Even then, I noticed a heavy presence in NEO folks. That is the fan base for the games. OHSAA has studied the deomgraphics of the game and concluded LONG ago that most folks come from NEO. Most teams come from NEO ( even if in another region they are geographically in the NE) and its not close for the other regions. Canton & Mass. facilities are what they want ( for crowds of 15-20k), artifical turf, well organized, motels/hotels/restaurants. The people who tried to get these games all had one thing in mind -- MAKE MONEY. That costs the OHSAA and is a MAJOR reason the games will stay in the NE. To move the games means loss of revenue to OHSAA, drop in attendance and inconvience to the most populous area that supplies most of the attendance & teams.

But, knock yourself out. Some people don't like the truth and will argue for poor reasons. Go get 'em !!

[whompascat]

STARK CO. IS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

Keep the games where they are.




How long are you guys going to beat this dead horse?

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

well there are 3 slightly biased opinions in a row.