Championship Venues

[Garrincha!]

Just wondering, why is it that the DII Championships are never played at the same site of the DI and DIII Championships? They have quality teams in that division also.

[lcpsoccermom]

D2 principals voted to have their championship at a home team site. Because of this they are not part of the championship weekend and don't get included in anything that the LHSAA promotes.

[happyjack]

This will change in 2012/2013 season where all finals will be bid for 1 location

[lcpsoccermom]

i just saw that in an email. Interesting.

[sokerfan]

Will they actually take bids or do like they have the last 2 years and award it to someone? I know for a fact that UL Lafayette has wanted to bid on having the games played there and they were told "they could bid but they wouldn't get it". The year it was held in Lafayette (2006) after Katrina, they have since not been allowed to bid on having it there again. It was given to Shreveport and now to New Orleans. I see nothing wrong with rotating the sites every 2 years or so, but if you say it will be out for bid then let people bid.

[ShreveDad]

Feb 10, 2011 0:32:02 GMT -6 sokerfan said:

Will they actually take bids or do like they have the last 2 years and award it to someone? I know for a fact that UL Lafayette has wanted to bid on having the games played there and they were told "they could bid but they wouldn't get it". The year it was held in Lafayette (2006) after Katrina, they have since not been allowed to bid on having it there again. It was given to Shreveport and now to New Orleans. I see nothing wrong with rotating the sites every 2 years or so, but if you say it will be out for bid then let people bid.

With 6 matches played on 1 field over 30 hours, you better have a turf field or guarantee LHSAA it won't rain to have a chance to get the bid.

[happyjack]

According to the email sent by Lhsaa 4 areas bid on the finals. Didn't say if Lafayette was one of them but Lhsaa will award to whomever gives the highest $ bid, so if laffy wants itthey need to put up some $$$.

[sokerfan]

shrevedad, who says it has to be played on turf. That's what's wrong with things, we want it to always be on turf in case it rains. What if it doesn't rain? What happens to the games during the season that are played in the rain on grass? A winner is decided by both teams playing in the same conditions and the team that can adapt will prevail. In 2006 there were 4 games played at UL Lafayette field and nobody had any complaints.

I still believe it shouldn't be in the same area every year, regardless if the bid is right. LHSAA should set a reasonable price, based on previous bids, and say you have it the next 2 years for XXX amount of dollars. Because those fans in Shreveport want to see these games as much as anyone, but may not travel the 5-6 hours to watch games that they don't have a dog in the fight. But may travel to Lafayette 3-4 hours. Those fans in Lake Charles may travel 3 hours to New Orleans but not the time to get to Shreveport. All I am saying is that we have fans all over the state that want to see the Championship game without having to travel excessive hours to get there.

It just amazes me how LHSAA wants to let EVERYBODY into the playoffs but doesn't want the fans from the whole state to have a chance to watch a Championship game. We all have our limits as to how far we would go to see our favorite team play much less teams we have no ties to. Just knowing how LHSAA wants a piece of everything financially here is their opportunity to NEGOTIATE a price with the 3 areas of the state that have had the Championship games recently.

I know the argument is that it is usually the New Orleans teams that make the finals. For the most part that is a good argument, but soccer is played and enjoyed all over the state. Just think, in 2006 when it was held in Lafayette, there was a 9 year old girl attending a high school game for the first time and it happened to be the Championship game. Just imagine what that experience might have done to inspire her to play soccer if she wasn't already or to continue if she had doubts before. I just think this should be considered instead of the highest bid EVERY time.

[happyjack]

Let's be realistic... If you don't have a dog in the fight, no one will travel 3 hours to watch a high school soccer game, final or not. Heck, many fans don't travel 3 hours for a playoff game their team is in, much less to one that they aren't in

[sokerfan]

There are exceptions, right barbedad. I can remember where he traveled to Terrebonne to watch Lafayette & Terrebonne in a playoff game. I know the Lafayette fans would travel to watch their premiere teammates from STM and vise versa. I would think it would be the same for the Mandy area schools as well. Those from FHS, MHS & Northshore that play club would probably travel to Lafayette for a game. I know barbedad would travel to Lafayette from Lake Charles for a good game. True soccer fans would travel if it weren't every year having to go to New Orleans or 1 set site.

[happyjack]

Feb 10, 2011 12:59:18 GMT -6 sokerfan said:

There are exceptions, right barbedad. I can remember where he traveled to Terrebonne to watch Lafayette & Terrebonne in a playoff game. I know the Lafayette fans would travel to watch their premiere teammates from STM and vise versa. I would think it would be the same for the Mandy area schools as well. Those from FHS, MHS & Northshore that play club would probably travel to Lafayette for a game. I know barbedad would travel to Lafayette from Lake Charles for a good game. True soccer fans would travel if it weren't every year having to go to New Orleans or 1 set site.

Fhs plays carencro and no northshore teams went to that final. MHs played mc in NO and no other northshore teams went. Once your team is out, realistically very few if any of your opponents will go.