OHSAA Football Playoffs 2012-2015

[NYBUX]

Columbus, Stark County await OHSAA decisionWednesday, June 16, 2010 11:18 AM
By DON DELCO


ThisWeek Staff Writer
Call Columbus a contender.

Currently, the OHSAA is considering two options for the 2012-15 state football playoff games: Stark County or Ohio Stadium. Earlier this month, each site welcomed a nine-person committee on a daylong tour. On June 2, Fawcett Stadium and Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Stark County played host to the committee and six days later there was a tour of the facilities at Ohio State.

The decision as to which site to propose to the OHSAA board of directors is now at the feet of the committee. That committee got the red-carpet treatment during its tours. In Columbus, it toured the Woody Hayes Center, Blackwell Hotel and heard speeches by Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman and Franklin County Commissioner John O'Grady.

"When we finally took them to Ohio Stadium, we had about 100 or so people from the hospitality community, Experience Columbus and the university in the stands to cheer for them as they came down the tunnel," Experience Columbus sales manager Jeffrey John said. "It's the same proposal we have for the teams when they enter the stadium."

Two days later, the OHSAA board held its June meeting. The committee did not give a recommendation, instead opting for more time to meet and discuss the two proposals. A vote is expected at the July meeting.

Stark County has played host to the state football championships for two decades. The last city, other than Canton and Massillon, to hold the games was Columbus from 1982-89. Since then, Columbus has tried to return the games to the capital city. Before this year, the latest attempt was three years ago and included a plan that would have the games at Dublin Coffman High School and Crew Stadium.

Ross remembers hearing those proposals.

"Columbus didn't put the effort into the proposals," he said. "They certainly did this time. There's a lot of attention to detail. There isn't a doubt in my mind that Columbus would really like to have the football playoffs here. I didn't feel that same way three years ago."

Columbus' plan is to have two games a day in Ohio Stadium stretching from Friday to Sunday. Currently, Stark County plays three games both Friday and Saturday.

In addition, the size of Fawcett Stadium (22, 375) in Canton and Paul Brown Stadium (18,000) in Massillon are more high school football friendly than the 102,329-seat Ohio Stadium. Columbus addressed the concern over the amount of empty seats with a plan to cover large seating areas. Ohio Stadium is the third largest football stadium in the country, and the total attendance of last year's six state football championship games in Stark County was 38,978.

Newark Catholic coach Bill Franks coached the Green Wave to a Division VI state title in 2007 at Fawcett Stadium. Two decades earlier as a player for Newark Catholic, he won two state titles inside Ohio Stadium.

"From an atmosphere perspective as a player, we felt without question the crowd (inside Ohio Stadium) was very involved," Franks said. "There were 10,000 people there and you heard the crowd. The focus certainly wasn't on the empty seats."

Finally, Ohio Stadium's centralized location is a big draw for some teams, especially those traveling from southwestern Ohio.

"We think we're in good shape, but it's anybody's ballgame right now," John said. "The selection committee has a difficult decision. There are two very good cities that proposed. If we look at everything, we give the kids the experience of playing in Ohio Stadium and it has to be a big factor. If you're a young man, you can finish your career in Ohio Stadium, the holy grail of football in the state."

Yet it is hard to deny the impact these games have on Stark County. According to Rob Steinberg, sports promotion manager for the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, the area receives $4.5 million in direct economic impact by playing host to the state football championships. It is the second biggest moneymaker of the year for the area, behind the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement festivities in August, which brings in $10-11 million.

"When we met with a group of community people from Stark County, they talked about the tournament and where they've been and where they'd like to see it go," Ross said. "They're very proud of hosting those games and they should be. They've done a wonderful job."

"They're phenomenal," Franks said. "We felt (in 2007) from the moment we arrived we were taken care of in a first-class way. Those folks in Canton flat know how to host a tournament."

The committee is taking its time before making a recommendation. Over the next few weeks, the nine-person committee will continuously debate the two sties in an effort to achieve Ross' vision of the OHSAA state football championships.

"We want this to be the benchmark event for youngsters in Ohio," he said. "In the third and fourth grade, we want them saying they can't wait to play in the state finals, wherever it is. We want to make this a memorable event."

[NYBUX]

Ohio Stadium Has to be the dream location !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

it's time they brought these back to the capital city, an OHIO STATE STADIUM, and figures prove the attendance was better. i'd go every year, no matter who was there. i'm not throwin my money away in the richest part of the state, just because it is. heck, i'll watch em on tv first. they need to be in ohio stadium, with like a 10 day tape delay, for those who cannot get there, the attendance would soar. or for those who cannot attend offer it at an affordable pay per view rate. with the money being split accordingly. problem solved.

[TIGERS90]

I can't see how anyone could deny Columbus the State Championships..it makes no sense to anyone..unless you are from Stark County and even then it makes no sense unless you can proffit from them....Columbus is not only centrally located..but it has the Horshoe and that is the Holy Grale of football stadiums to play in...makes no sense at all not to do what is right...

[shoelace]

I too want them in Columbus but not Ohio Stadium! I saw the games when they were there before and it was a terrible football atmosphere. The place is just too large!

[Orange and Brown]

Crew Stadium!

[whompascat]

hope they stay in stark co. If they move to c-bus parking and concesions will triple in price

[Pioneer_PA]

RE: a ten day tape delay
And they currently have the state softball championships in Akron when Ohio State has a nicer facility which is more centrally located.

I haven't seen Ohio State after the renovation, but as of 2008, it wasn't even in the same league as Firestone Stadium in Akron. Firestone is fantastic, while Buckeye Field was a joke.

Again, this was before OSU dumped a lot of money into the softball field.

[fe2000lbsII]

Quite honestly, I've been attending all six state championship games for more than ten years now. I am currenlty living in Columbus and originally from Southeast Ohio and I can tell you that if they would happen to move the games to Columbus I think they are making a huge mistake. All the reasons why I feel this way have been documented repeatedly but Stark County does an outstanding job and the people there actually really love high school football and are passionate about it. For the most part Colulmbus is not passionate about high school football as the only thing that matters during football season to the majority of people is Ohio State. Stark County is where they belong and where they should stay. As far as the travel aspect, I happen to enjoy getting away from home every now and again. Isn't that part of the fun of being in the playoffs.

[boilermaker]

I think the games should be played in Columbus. The capital city is in the middle of the state, pretty much fair travel for the whole state. I dont know why they still call OSU stadium the "Shoe" , since the renovations it looks more like a Top Hat.....LOL a new name .....THE " TOP HAT"

[GoChiefs]

The only complaint is 'travel'. That is the only reason people want them moved. They are already in the best high school football atmosphere you could possibly ask for. Keep 'em in Stark County.

[Paladin]

^^^^^^^^^^^ Thats right. Most of the states population is North. keep the games in Stark Co.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

paladin , your logic never seizes to amaze me. just because it's more heavily populated does not make it right. the games at ohio stadium , had much more attendance, who cares it seats over 100,000. it is the thrill of playing in every buckeye kids dream stadium. i swear sometimes you make no sense at all. i bet you'd feel different if they were at paul brown , and nippert stadium, in cincy. which are every bit as worthy, wonder what you'd have to say then.

[boilermaker]

Good point bait!

[FANOSPORTS]

It's all about the money now. Stark Co. can host the championships for a lot less than it would cost to have them in Ohio stadium plus parking, concessions etc. would be a lot more in Columbus. I happen to live in C-bus and I went to the games when they were held in the Shoe and have been going to Canton/Massillon for the last 20 years for the finals and you can't beat the atmosphere. They beat the heck out of Columbus because they care about high school sports up there. If the state and OHSAA want to keep them where they can make more money (which they do)and have a better profit margin along with more passionate fans then leave them in the Northeast. If they move to Ohio stadium then OSU will make more money. Pick your poison, who do you want to make more money, OSU or the OHSAA. Neither is my pick but it's got to be one of them that come out on the winning end with the little guy getting stuck on both ends.

[Paladin]

Yeah, what Tobias said..................lol

[Orange and Brown]

I would love to see the sites rotate every year or 2, but in the end as long as they are done right it doesn't matter. Stark county does a great job of hosting and they should be commended for the job they do. There is a lot of that goes into putting this together every year and they have pretty much perfected it.

[JChipwood]

The rail has been installed recently due to the Amish invasion.

Central is better for everyone and if the NE quadrant is really the hub for the entire fanbase for the state than those fans will travel anywhere to watch games. I watched them as a kid in the Shoe but wouldn't travel that far to watch a random game unless we were playing. 2 games a day for 3 days would be better anyway, 11:00 or 12:00 is too early for hs football championship games to start.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

i'd still love to see the in buckeye land. regardless of population, check the attendance the numbers were higher in columbus. i know i was part of the biggest high school crowd ever there.