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Post by shreveportsoccerguru on Feb 23, 2019 23:39:46 GMT -6
I'm speaking as a parent and spectator, and I recognize coaches and players are coming from a different perspective, but to me the soccer field at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette is just a better location for Finals than Tad Gormley is. I felt the same after last year's games. Lafayette is centrally located and an easy drive for anyone in the state. There's also something about getting to watch the state's best compete on that wide grass field. You feel closer to the action at Cajun field, even with a track separating you from the game. Gormley is also a victim of its size. Games there feel special when the seats are packed, but let's face it, most finals don't attract those types of crowds. All that said, one downside to letting ULL host the games is the lack of available hotel rooms if there are any competing events.
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Post by goalie1 on Feb 24, 2019 8:14:19 GMT -6
What you said is true. The best place for everyone concerned. Hint- book your room in November.
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Post by formermanager on Feb 24, 2019 10:21:45 GMT -6
Agree ULL is an outanding venue to host the finals....Perfect size facility, outanding surface, centrally located for all. Also love the live streaming available through NFHS Network. It seemed however that this year the teams and fans were hurried away from the facility following their matches. Winners had little time to celebrate with their fans and friends and those that were not on the winning side were not allowed time with their coaches, team, family, and fans to reflect and appreciate accomplishments. Months go into getting to this point, how about and little time to enjoy?
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Post by coachguam on Feb 24, 2019 20:20:55 GMT -6
I agree, attended finals at both and ULL is by far a better and more appropriate location for the Louisiana state championship.
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Post by kevin on Feb 24, 2019 21:52:26 GMT -6
Agree ULL is an outanding venue to host the finals....Perfect size facility, outanding surface, centrally located for all. Also love the live streaming available through NFHS Network. It seemed however that this year the teams and fans were hurried away from the facility following their matches. Winners had little time to celebrate with their fans and friends and those that were not on the winning side were not allowed time with their coaches, team, family, and fans to reflect and appreciate accomplishments. Months go into getting to this point, how about and little time to enjoy? That doesn't surprise me. It's like that at the state volleyball championship too. Workers hassling people to get out the building...I guess they're not getting paid overtime. I was glad to hear that the LHSAA had contingency plans in place if the weather became an issue. Hats off to everyone who put the event together, since I've read so many good things here on the boards. That said, 9 of 16 teams were from the New Orleans metro area. What was the attendance like for St. Paul's vs. Jesuit and Northshore vs. SSA? How many more people would've attended had the game been in New Orleans? Personally, I think Pan Am would be much better than Tad Gormley. Parking situation isn't quite as good, but it's not as if Tad has enough parking spaces to accommodate everyone. You're gonna be parking on the street and walking either way.
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Post by uhscubs1 on Feb 25, 2019 5:58:41 GMT -6
St Paul/Jesuit had a good crowd. Several hundred as did Newman/NCS.
ULL is the right place to host soccer championships and it is not even close.
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Post by pOkLE on Feb 25, 2019 8:07:04 GMT -6
I'll have to agree with uhscubs1. The emptiness of Tad Gormley (even if we had 5,000) and the distance between stands and field always seemed to make for an impersonal finale. Pan Am may be a suitable replacement, but the natural grass field at UL at a central location with fairly easy parking puts UL at the top of my list. With that said, I realize that the home team hosting the final could be a crazy amazing atmosphere. But I think home field finals forget that it's an opportunity for the rest of the state to gather and celebrate the season. I would hate to have to travel to 8 different venues to see all the state championships. (Yes, I'm spoiled and selfish).
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sweepe
All-District
Posts: 163
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Post by sweepe on Feb 25, 2019 8:37:41 GMT -6
St Paul/Jesuit had a good crowd. Several hundred as did Newman/NCS. ULL is the right place to host soccer championships and it is not even close. From all the reports received, ULL has established itself as the prime venue for the championship games. Despite all the finalists being from the New Orleans Metro on the final day, I don't think they minded ending their championship odyssey in Lafayette. Grass field is a big plus plus the good food and Cajun hospitality. But please refrain from any disrespect of Tad Gormley. It is a unique facility. Under the auspices of the City Park Commission, the stadium and City Park itself have been established as a gem of the city and also Louisiana. The post Katrina improvements have been miraculous. Not many of the WPA era (1930s) still exist. Gormley situated among historic live oaks may not be the best for HS soccer championship games because of the turf and void seats but it has it's own place in Louisiana that ALL Louisianians should appreciate. I admit that I am biased by my being a former City Park jogger. Also attended the 88 Olympic trials field pass and Crescent City Classics and bass tourneys, golf, many soccer games, and Christmas Celebration in the Oaks, and King Tut and other NOMA exhibits etc. Gormley was ok for the Beatles too. Not just a good fit for the HS soccer championship. If you visit the park at thistime, there are 14,000 Tulips blooming along one of the lagoons.
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Post by jcstewart on Feb 25, 2019 10:00:02 GMT -6
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Post by kevin on Feb 25, 2019 10:02:54 GMT -6
St Paul/Jesuit had a good crowd. Several hundred as did Newman/NCS. ULL is the right place to host soccer championships and it is not even close. Several hundred? At Tad Gormley the DI doubleheader would draw a couple thousand. St. Paul's vs Grace King might've had 5,000 in attendance. I'm not sure how the money works out with rental fees, etc., but I wonder if the LHSAA is better off financially with the finals in New Orleans or Lafayette. I get that from a strictly geographic perspective Lafayette makes the most sense. Does that mean every single state championship in every sport should be in Lafayette? IMO I would love to see a Baton Rouge venue step up and host the soccer finals. It would only be about an hour drive for everyone (aside from the Shreveport folks).
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Post by laffysoccermom on Feb 25, 2019 11:30:31 GMT -6
I think another option that might increase attendance is to have the classes together- rather than having Class I and IV boys one day and girls the other- have boys and girls for each class back to back. If you had two from same school, you are more likely the boys spectators will come early and the girls stay. Student sections could make one trip etc.
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Post by pOkLE on Feb 25, 2019 11:30:48 GMT -6
St Paul/Jesuit had a good crowd. Several hundred as did Newman/NCS. ULL is the right place to host soccer championships and it is not even close. Several hundred? At Tad Gormley the DI doubleheader would draw a couple thousand. St. Paul's vs Grace King might've had 5,000 in attendance. I'm not sure how the money works out with rental fees, etc., but I wonder if the LHSAA is better off financially with the finals in New Orleans or Lafayette. I get that from a strictly geographic perspective Lafayette makes the most sense. Does that mean every single state championship in every sport should be in Lafayette? IMO I would love to see a Baton Rouge venue step up and host the soccer finals. It would only be about an hour drive for everyone (aside from the Shreveport folks). And the countless other cities not within an hour of BR. lol
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Post by kevin on Feb 25, 2019 12:17:54 GMT -6
Several hundred? At Tad Gormley the DI doubleheader would draw a couple thousand. St. Paul's vs Grace King might've had 5,000 in attendance. I'm not sure how the money works out with rental fees, etc., but I wonder if the LHSAA is better off financially with the finals in New Orleans or Lafayette. I get that from a strictly geographic perspective Lafayette makes the most sense. Does that mean every single state championship in every sport should be in Lafayette? IMO I would love to see a Baton Rouge venue step up and host the soccer finals. It would only be about an hour drive for everyone (aside from the Shreveport folks). And the countless other cities not within an hour of BR. lol Any schools from those other cities in the final this year? No. Sorry I wasn't more clear. Year and year out, the vast majority of teams in the finals are from NOLA, BR, Lafayette, and Houma/Thibodaux. (Yes, St. Louis has a good program and has been to the finals numerous times, as have Byrd and Loyola. And I know Alexandria made it to the finals a few years ago.)
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Post by fifty50bawl on Feb 25, 2019 23:26:22 GMT -6
ULL is the place... hands down.. mic drop
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Post by uhscubs1 on Feb 26, 2019 5:37:46 GMT -6
St Paul/Jesuit had a good crowd. Several hundred as did Newman/NCS. ULL is the right place to host soccer championships and it is not even close. From all the reports received, ULL has established itself as the prime venue for the championship games. Despite all the finalists being from the New Orleans Metro on the final day, I don't think they minded ending their championship odyssey in Lafayette. Grass field is a big plus plus the good food and Cajun hospitality. But please refrain from any disrespect of Tad Gormley. It is a unique facility. Under the auspices of the City Park Commission, the stadium and City Park itself have been established as a gem of the city and also Louisiana. The post Katrina improvements have been miraculous. Not many of the WPA era (1930s) still exist. Gormley situated among historic live oaks may not be the best for HS soccer championship games because of the turf and void seats but it has it's own place in Louisiana that ALL Louisianians should appreciate. I admit that I am biased by my being a former City Park jogger. Also attended the 88 Olympic trials field pass and Crescent City Classics and bass tourneys, golf, many soccer games, and Christmas Celebration in the Oaks, and King Tut and other NOMA exhibits etc. Gormley was ok for the Beatles too. Not just a good fit for the HS soccer championship. If you visit the park at thistime, there are 14,000 Tulips blooming along one of the lagoons. Not sure what the fascination is with Tad but I thought I was pretty clear saying that ULL is the right place to host SOCCER championships. It is a true soccer field. Tad is a football field that can be used for soccer. If that is disrespectful toward Tad that was not the intent.
Tad will always be special to me since my daughter's team won a State Championship there.
ULL will also be special since both sons won one together this year there.
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Post by uhscubs1 on Feb 26, 2019 5:49:56 GMT -6
St Paul/Jesuit had a good crowd. Several hundred as did Newman/NCS. ULL is the right place to host soccer championships and it is not even close. Several hundred? At Tad Gormley the DI doubleheader would draw a couple thousand. St. Paul's vs Grace King might've had 5,000 in attendance. I'm not sure how the money works out with rental fees, etc., but I wonder if the LHSAA is better off financially with the finals in New Orleans or Lafayette. I get that from a strictly geographic perspective Lafayette makes the most sense. Does that mean every single state championship in every sport should be in Lafayette? IMO I would love to see a Baton Rouge venue step up and host the soccer finals. It would only be about an hour drive for everyone (aside from the Shreveport folks). I do not think Soccer championships should be hosted at football fields that can be used for soccer. If Tulane has a true soccer field then NOLA should be considered. I do not think Tad nor Pan AM should host soccer championships. Just my opinion.
Not sure if LSU has any interest in hosting but their women's soccer field would be similar to ULL I would think. They have a nice stadium with a true soccer field not to mention a full size practice field behind it. LSU has the football practice fields (some with turf), not to mention the indoor football practice facility if needed due to weather.
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Post by beauchenecoach on Feb 27, 2019 15:48:00 GMT -6
Played in a championship game and lost at both venues... not even close. Raging Cajun Spccer Facilty and also the efforts of LYSA and CSC hosting made it 100 times more special in Lafayette. Everything from the organization of the event, the locker rooms, pregame timing and luxuries and even the photo process... everything is just done first class and feels more special at UL. The playing pitch, the atmosphere even with less people, is amazing. Notes from last year, the D2 night was the most attended night and still this year, no session topped it.
Tad is not a good venue for this... although NOLA is a great location for everything else dealing with a championship event. Nola lacks benues for all soccer championships, Including club soccer. If NOLA had a Moore Park or Burbank type Facilty... every youth regional and national a,song with adult events would all want to be in NOLA every year. Someone needs to make a soccer Facilty in NOLA with a Stadium similar to the one CSC put up with maybe a little more attendance capacity.
But until that happens, there is no better Facilty for our high school soccer CHampionships then Ragin Cajun soccer Facilty and no better hosts than LYSA and CSC
Next year, lhsaa will set the schedule for the finals after the games are finalized and participants all known. You can bet there won’t be same school on same days anymore to maximize the gates and also the games that will draw the best gates will be placed in the best spots as this was passed recently and will allow soccer to be like the other championships where the placement of the title games is decided once the matchups are known.
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Post by shreveportsoccerguru on Feb 27, 2019 21:59:58 GMT -6
Someone needs to make a soccer Facilty in NOLA with a Stadium similar to the one CSC put up with maybe a little more attendance capacity. There was a proposal to built something like this at the Fly, but it went nowhere after opposition to it was mobilized. The main sticking point was that the public would lose open access to green space, but a controversy over who supplied the alcohol for concessions didn't help matters.
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Post by ulysses on Feb 27, 2019 23:15:38 GMT -6
Played in a championship game and lost at both venues... not even close. Raging Cajun Spccer Facilty and also the efforts of LYSA and CSC hosting made it 100 times more special in Lafayette. Everything from the organization of the event, the locker rooms, pregame timing and luxuries and even the photo process... everything is just done first class and feels more special at UL. The playing pitch, the atmosphere even with less people, is amazing. Notes from last year, the D2 night was the most attended night and still this year, no session topped it. Tad is not a good venue for this... although NOLA is a great location for everything else dealing with a championship event. Nola lacks benues for all soccer championships, Including club soccer. If NOLA had a Moore Park or Burbank type Facilty... every youth regional and national a,song with adult events would all want to be in NOLA every year. Someone needs to make a soccer Facilty in NOLA with a Stadium similar to the one CSC put up with maybe a little more attendance capacity. But until that happens, there is no better Facilty for our high school soccer CHampionships then Ragin Cajun soccer Facilty and no better hosts than LYSA and CSC Next year, lhsaa will set the schedule for the finals after the games are finalized and participants all known. You can bet there won’t be same school on same days anymore to maximize the gates and also the games that will draw the best gates will be placed in the best spots as this was passed recently and will allow soccer to be like the other championships where the placement of the title games is decided once the matchups are known. Attendance was down across the board this year. D1 Girls and Boys had half of the crowds as last year. The pending bad weather didn’t help, as well as the fact that no Laffy teams were in the D1 finals on both counts. Now, D2, or D3, I cannot account for. Maybe you should take ot up with the Laffy crew on that. All that said, the ULL venue is by far superior to the chicken coop that is Tad Gormley. No need to put the Club on the steering wheel at ULL. Hopefully the powers that be will recognize that a central location and a quality pitch will be the destination for the future for LA HS soccer.
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Post by kevin on Feb 28, 2019 9:32:15 GMT -6
Next year, lhsaa will set the schedule for the finals after the games are finalized and participants all known. You can bet there won’t be same school on same days anymore to maximize the gates and also the games that will draw the best gates will be placed in the best spots as this was passed recently and will allow soccer to be like the other championships where the placement of the title games is decided once the matchups are known. Seriously? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard and if the LHSAA would rather inconvenience everyone to possibly make a few extra bucks that is completely disgraceful. I also doubt it will make as much money as the LHSAA might suspect; many people who might be willing to travel to see two games on one day will either only go one day or not go at all. Of course, give it a couple years and if you get your split the private schools will be playing at their own home fields, just as they will be in basketball, baseball, football, and softball. There's no way Jesuit vs. St. Paul's will ever be played at ULL if the private schools have their own playoffs.
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