Attendence at Finals

[loveofthegame]

agree with Timaeus, im positive there was at east 2000 for the Teurlings-St. Louis final at ULL girls stadium. That was an awesome venue for that match and they packed the house.

[keeper007]

I agree that if the game were held in lafayette or br, there would be lots more in attendance. i personally would have gone to a game at either site, as i attended in lafayette last year and n.o. years before. It seems that not only people with ties to the schools go to the games, but also high school players from local areas surrounding the site as well as many club players and coaches that are within at least an hour from the site of the finals. I feel that the lhsaa could do a better job with location.

[xmopitchman]

How about playing the games @ STM. I heard they put in the same type field you have @ independence. With the UL field, we could have all 6 games here.

[stafalcon4show]

I say Strawberry Stadium in Hammond, turf field, and holds 10,000

[keeper007]

I also like the idea of a neutral, pre determined site. adds to the motivation and the whole process once you've made it.

[happyjack]

first, i don't think the field at indy is the best field in the state to play soccer, since most teams don't normally play on astroplay fields. Gormley is a great field for soccer, as is the stadium at LSU. However, LSU won't let anyone play on their precious field, you can thank the premier teams for that after last years debacle. as far as money goes, LHSAA gets either 10 or 15% from the gross revenue, prior to any other funds being disbursed. the teams then split the remaining funds equally. There used to be a concession for mileage to the visiting team, but i believe that was removed a couple of years back (didn't see anything in the LHSAA bylaws about it). I know that S'port wants to host every year, but the numbers will continue to be low if they are held up north, unless it is an all north final (not gonna happen). Even if it ended up BM v Jesuit or Laf. v Cro, still wouldn't have had much up there. Figure 30 kids on each roster, family goes, some die hard fans, but probably only about 600 traveling with the teams, max. The final needs to move back down south.

SLU is too skinny, but Tulane's womens field would be good, flat field and 120 x 80

[soccerjunky]

tulane's field would be great. How many fans could you seat at the field?

[soccerdaddy]

Complain, complain, complain.....just play the game.

[stafalcon4show]

the SUPERDOOOOOME!!!

[brave11]

Nicholls State has some new additions to their field... thats a perfect place

[sokrmom]

I have been a part of soccer for a long time, and I have never posted on this site before. Hearing all this discussion, however, has prompted me to sign-up and make a few comments.

First, on growing the sport of soccer, New Orleans should be ashamed for not following their soccer team up north to the 2006-2007 HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER FINALS! Yes, that is a big deal, and it doesn't/shouldn't matter WHERE the game is played.

If you compare football to soccer, the football fans from up north are MORE THAN HAPPY to spend a weekend in The Big Easy all pumped for an excellent night of football. Who cares they had to travel 5-6 hours away? It makes for a great family weekend, and all the better if you are able to drive home winners.

To decide that you are NOT going to support your team because you don't like the place, that was picked to host the event, does NOTHING to promote the sport, as should be the intent. Again, what difference does the drive matter? Up north teams rarely complain about all the traveling that has to be done to enjoy such a great sport.

I think we all miss the point. Instead of blaming the LHSAA (not sure the correct initials) we should be disappointed that Jesuit and St. Paul supporters could not spend a weekend in Shreveport supporting their teams for this VERY BIG final event in the lives of a few high school soccer players. The dates for the finals were set long ago, therefore plans could have been made far enough in advance to accomodate, especially knowing how successful Jesuit had been all season, and how probable their chances were to make the finals.

These private catholic schools down south have far more dollars flowing, for the most part, than any of the PUBLIC shools from up north, but I guarantee the fans from up north would do all they could to attend such an important game. The alum of the schools could have done a better job in promoting attendance - where are they?

So, CONGRATS to Shreveport on the effort, and hopefully next year true supporters of the SPORT OF SOCCER will do all they can to show up in full force IN SHREVEPORT to see an excellent game, at an excellent venue. THAT'S the way to GROW the sport of soccer - and for the record, I believe the weather DID play a factor in attendance from the locals. We had tornados hit the city, for heaven's sake - does that count for anything??

[brave11]

i was talkin about the soccer fields they have... they made improvements and it was a joke


but talkin about sokrmom's comment... the difference between the football state championships and the soccer state championships.. is that with the football championships there are 5 games played in 2 days at a fantastic enviroment... but in soccer 2 games are play in shreveport and 1 game is played depending on who makes the finals... if soccer would finally get there things together and play all the state championships (including the girls) at one well suited stadium i can guarantee attendence would double maybe even triple... because i would much rather travel to some place (including shreveport) to was 6 games rather than just 2 (im not sure when or where the girls play) and those games are on 2 different days... make it a soccer ENVIROMENT not just a game where only the fans of 2 teams will be in attendance

[stafalcon22]

the girls and boys dI and dIII play in the same place on the same day

[alfred]

sokrmom said:

I have been a part of soccer for a long time, and I have never posted on this site before. Hearing all this discussion, however, has prompted me to sign-up and make a few comments.

First, on growing the sport of soccer, New Orleans should be ashamed for not following their soccer team up north to the 2006-2007 HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER FINALS! Yes, that is a big deal, and it doesn't/shouldn't matter WHERE the game is played.

If you compare football to soccer, the football fans from up north are MORE THAN HAPPY to spend a weekend in The Big Easy all pumped for an excellent night of football. Who cares they had to travel 5-6 hours away? It makes for a great family weekend, and all the better if you are able to drive home winners.

To decide that you are NOT going to support your team because you don't like the place, that was picked to host the event, does NOTHING to promote the sport, as should be the intent. Again, what difference does the drive matter? Up north teams rarely complain about all the traveling that has to be done to enjoy such a great sport.

I think we all miss the point. Instead of blaming the LHSAA (not sure the correct initials) we should be disappointed that Jesuit and St. Paul supporters could not spend a weekend in Shreveport supporting their teams for this VERY BIG final event in the lives of a few high school soccer players. The dates for the finals were set long ago, therefore plans could have been made far enough in advance to accomodate, especially knowing how successful Jesuit had been all season, and how probable their chances were to make the finals.

These private catholic schools down south have far more dollars flowing, for the most part, than any of the PUBLIC shools from up north, but I guarantee the fans from up north would do all they could to attend such an important game. The alum of the schools could have done a better job in promoting attendance - where are they?

So, CONGRATS to Shreveport on the effort, and hopefully next year true supporters of the SPORT OF SOCCER will do all they can to show up in full force IN SHREVEPORT to see an excellent game, at an excellent venue. THAT'S the way to GROW the sport of soccer - and for the record, I believe the weather DID play a factor in attendance from the locals. We had tornados hit the city, for heaven's sake - does that count for anything??

OK, I'm sorry, but N.O. as a city has a lot more to offer than Shreve. Perhaps that is why more people from up north like to come down here. Why would Jesuit fans go up there for two hours when they know they are going to win, and then come back down to the "Big Easy" to party. Once Tad Gormley's up and running again, the finals will most probably come back down here. That was the best field pre-Katrina and will be again soon.

[coachray40]

Some comments--

First, respect back to Timeaus for the props on my event planning ability ;D

sokrmom--you cant compare football to soccer. LSU, the Saints, and the SEC have national followings. No alumnus in Ohio wants to go to Shreveport to see the LHSAA soccer finals-its like comparing apples and oranges.

I have to agree with those that think this is a step backwards. If we really want to PROMOTE THE SPORT, then the state finals should made into a major event. Some folks here keep talking about how more of the schools "people" should have followed them. I think those "people" did. Getting fans in the seats will only happen when you can appeal to the entirety of the host community, the entirety of soccer community, and also to those who want to see a major sporting event. That simply isnt going to happen up north. I am sure that Independence is a great facility, that Shreveport did a first class job of hosting, and that LHSAA was impressed. That being said, I wouldn't care if Jesuit and St Pauls were both undefeated, both unscored on, and ranked #1 and #2 in the universe, I wouldn't drive to Shreveport to see the game, and I am as much a soccer person as it comes. Too far and too much hassle. I would go to Laffy, or New Orleans, or the Northshore, or BTR because like one poster said, I can be home at the end of the night.

I was really shocked at those numbers. The EA Vandy match was packed to the gills, traffic was being re routed, there was a line to get in and it was an EVENT. Up in the press box we had a bunch of senior citizens who had no understanding of soccer, but were there to support thier familes and friends children. It appealed to the community, as I saw kids that were on my U6 team there, folks from BTR, NO, the Northshore, etc there. I saw Dutchtown, St Amant, Lee, Tara, McKinley and many other schools represented there. With some more promo, it might have been bigger than the 2000+ that were there. The thing that disappointed me with the D1 finals is that we had a least one crowd this season at The Pit that was bigger than that for a regular season game. The finals should be able to dwarf that, and holding them in Shreveport simply wont do it.

PLEASE- NO ONE IN SHREVEPORT TAKE OFFENSE. YOU SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR YOUR EFFORTS, AND I KNOW YOU DID YOUR VERY BEST. I just seem to offend anyone with anything on here, and I dont want you to think I'm hateful or anything else to S-port. I just have an opinion.

[ShreveDad]

4 great matches played in Shreveport this weekend.

Friday
DIII Girls Newman 1 Sacred Heart 0
DIII Boys St. Louis Catholic 1 Teurlings Catholic 0 (2 OT)

Saturday
DI Girls Dominican 1 Lafayette 0 (Penalty Kicks)
DI Boys Jesuit 2 St. Pauls 0

[brave11]

im not saying that there is anything wrong with Tad Gormley... i jsut said that i would be willing to travel to shreveport to watch 6 games... and i live only 1 hour away from N.O. so i would surely go to Tad Gormley also

[stafalcon22]

shrevedad said:

4 great matches played in Shreveport this weekend.

Friday
DIII Girls Newman 1 Sacred Heart 0
DIII Boys St. Louis Catholic 1 Teurlings Catholic 0 (2 OT)

Saturday
DI Girls Dominican 1 Lafayette 0 (Penalty Kicks)
DI Boys Jesuit 2 St. Pauls 0

the only two games shreve didnt host were the least exciting (vandy 3-0 and ssa 5-0)

[brave11]

thanks stafalcon... i didnt know the girls played there also... but i still think it would be better and more exciting if the DII finals was in the same place...

and while we r talkin about it... why doesnt DII play at a preset stadium like the other divisions do?

[stafalcon22]

B - 205
The LHSAA shall select a site and conduct the finals and develop guidelines in administering the boys’ &
girls’ playoffs.

18.8.1.1 The Division I and Division III boys’ and girls’ finals shall be conducted in tournament play.
The commissioner’s office shall be responsible for developing the plans for the tournament
and designate a school to be responsible for tournament management.



18.8.9 For Division II boys and girls, if the date of the state championship match conflicts with a basketball
playoff game in which one of the participating schools is involved, the date of the match may be changed to
the next available playing date by mutual agreement.

thats all i could find in the by-laws about the finals