Final Attendance numbers looking sad

[55buckeyes98]

A lot of people can't go because there are already basketball games being played... and they can't get out of school or off work

[King of Kings]

Private schools do not travel as well as public schools. I think that is the difference in attendance.

[GoChiefs]

I'm not going to base anything on the attendance numbers this year. Attendance is down in EVERYTHING..not just the High School State Championships. The economy is bad..many people aren't going to pony up that amount of money to watch a team that isn't even theirs. Especially when they can just sit at home and watch them on live TV. IMO..it doesn't matter where they were held at this year..the attendance would have been down.

[Charley Hustle]

I'm not going to base anything on the attendance numbers this year. Attendance is down in EVERYTHING..not just the High School State Championships. The economy is bad..many people aren't going to pony up that amount of money to watch a team that isn't even theirs. Especially when they can just sit at home and watch them on live TV. IMO..it doesn't matter where they were held at this year..the attendance would have been down.

good post chiefs.............another thing to remember is the young folks dont travel like the old folks used to......going to the playoffs was like a week-end hunting trip or a golf week-end in Myrtle Beach, it was just something we did every year and there were always several groups from the local area making the trip north but now there are no groups heading north unless the local schools are playing.....and another reason is a lot of the ol timers have passed on to the big stadium in the sky.....

[datchillicav]

#1 reason this year is that so many private schools made it and they don't travel well. Mooney, Desales, Ursuline, Alter, and (I didn't go to D6 but I imagine St. Paul) Didn't travel at all. I go every year and this year was the worst crowds as a whole by far. The only team that travelled well was Glenville. I was extremely dissapointed by the Davidson crowd. They brought nearly twice what they had this time 4 years ago.

#2 reason It's free on TV and almost everyone gets STO whereas on ONN not everyone got it.

#3 reason... Price I do not go to the Basketball championships solely because they cost as much as a college game and I can nosebleeds for an NBA game for just a few more bucks. When I started going to the football games they were $6 per ticket. Now they are 10, last year 9 and the year before 8. They raise the price 1 dollar each year. That doesn't seem like much but for 3 people for 4 or 5 games(I never watch D6, I just can't help think "This is the best D6 team in the State? We suck and our JV could play with them.") It adds up a little. I think once the price reaches 12 bucks that will be it for me. I almost skipped a game or two this year just cuz of the cost.


IMO, if they were not on TV it would help attendance immensely and if the OHSAA didn't keep trying to suck money out of everything more people would go. I did notice this year that the OHSAA has more "official sponsors" than the US olympic team. Every 5 minutes I had to listen to an add for Nike, Chocolate milk, Wendy's, The marines, or action sports photography. I have always preffered High school sports to college and pro sports because it is so pure and passionate but now I can go to an NFL game and actually be targeted by Ad's and announcements LESS. They even extended halftime to 30 minutes this year so that I could see a punt, pass, pose contest brought to me by Wendy's.

To increase attendance and fan enjoyment it is simple...get back to it being HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. The on field product gets better every year and the OHSAA makes the atmosphere too corporate. This is High school football NOT the super bowl.

IMO it should be in Stark County. The 'Shoe is my favorite venue for any sport in the world but would be TERRIBLE for high school games. I've seen a few at the Bengal's stadium and when the lower level is less than 50% full it just doesn't feel like a good atmosphere. I, as a fan or player, would rather have 20,000 people in a stadium that holds 22,000 than have 20,000 in a stadium that holds 100,000. IF it were to ever move, It should be moved to Crew Stadium. That is the only viable option and IMO would be excellent to have the games if they added turf.

[Charles Farquar]

If the games were in Columbus where it was an hour and half drive for everyone,there would be a lot of football coaches who look forward to that weekend ,who would have a difficult time explaining to the wives why they still had to stay overnight during the playoffs.

[dazed&confused]

Do we really need A state champion? It makes sense in basketball but football? How about regional championships and all teams are playing basketball by Thanksgiving!

[fightingtigers45]

IF it were to ever move, It should be moved to Crew Stadium. That is the only viable option and IMO would be excellent to have the games if they added turf.

Crew Stadium wont be adding turf. Pro soccer on turf is laughable.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

I can't see myself going next season either.
1) MY TEAM WON'T MAKE IT
2-I WOULD SAY MOST OF THE SAME TEAMS WILL BE THERE AGAIN
3-I LOOK FOT THE PRICE TO INCREASE AGAIN
4-LOCATION

[trojandave]

I used to go to the state championship football games, but not anymore.......due to the weather rather than the travel or cost.......I just don't want to sit out in the bitter cold......the coldest football game I ever went to was the 1992 St.Ignatius vs. St.Xavier title game.......it was below zero......I left at halftime.......just too cold.......and haven't been back since.

I still go to the state championship basketball games.........I love the roundball sport and make the trip to the Schott an annual affair.

[TIGERS90]

I went to the state championships every year from 1982 through the time that they were moved to the dirtiest coldest corner of the state back in 1990....I have gone to two since the move and have been really disappointed every time...

We have the best sports venue in the world sitting empty every year now when the state championships are being played..right in the center of the state...but the people who are making the decisions feel that a couple of high school fields are better....(who is getting paid to make these decisions)?

I remember, I believe the most attended game in the history of the championships yet, the Cincinnati Meoler vs Massillon game back in 1982 at the shoe...I remember I went to see Ironton play Akron svsm and went out for lunch and came back and I had to sit in the upper deck of the stadium...Maybe some of the years might not have been as full...but it I am sure was more full than when you take most of the state out of the game for travel reasons...why not do the right thing and give the whole state a chance to see the games played...rather than stick it in the most eastern corner away from the majority of the state...

Hopefully the powers to be...will notice that NUMBERS DON'T LIE, where the games are being held isn't bringing in the numbers that the shoe would bring in...

[85inside]

5 reasons why I don't go anymore.

1- way to far to drive
2- same teams seem to win year in and year out. gets boring
3-way to far to drive
4- cost nearly as much as going to a pro game
5- way to far to drive

This is ridiculous. Pro games are lije $75 a game and in high school you are actually still allowed to hit somebody. The reason the crowds were down was because the majority of the teams were Parochial schools. Those schools do not have community followings. Until Columbus can figure out how to play 6 games in 2 days and allow people to attend all 6, they wont get these games. Stark County does a great job with these games. i have been going for 14 straight years and not too many people have a longer drive than me, 4 and a half hours.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

here are some reasons, first it's in massilon, should be at ohio state, central for anyone involved. the costs keep raising, the travel to massilon and back. the fact that if a private school is in your beat. 4 of the 6 games this year again, won by private schools. same teams every year. you may have a cinderella season till the 3rd round, but when the private schools come calling, you will go down.the availabilty to watch on tv. if it were at columbus, i'd go every year, no matter who's involved. why should i spend my money in stark county. i sat in the privacy of my own home , drank our drinks, ate our food , and used my restrooms , and watched every game. in my own rocking chair.

[bobcatfan4728]

5 reasons why I don't go anymore.

1- way to far to drive
2- same teams seem to win year in and year out. gets boring
3-way to far to drive
4- cost nearly as much as going to a pro game
5- way to far to drive

This is ridiculous. Pro games are lije $75 a game and in high school you are actually still allowed to hit somebody. The reason the crowds were down was because the majority of the teams were Parochial schools. Those schools do not have community followings. Until Columbus can figure out how to play 6 games in 2 days and allow people to attend all 6, they wont get these games. Stark County does a great job with these games. i have been going for 14 straight years and not too many people have a longer drive than me, 4 and a half hours.

It is not hard to play three games in one place in a day 1st game at 10am next game 2:30pm next game 7pm. four and half hours between start of games plenty of time to play and give out awards and get next teams ready.

[BigDintigertown775]

I would go every year if they move the games back too Ohio State. It really sucks going too Massilon and Canton. There is way more to do in Columbus. You can also catch up with some old friends up there.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

I agree.