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Post by d on Feb 26, 2007 12:15:11 GMT -6
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. A few DeRidder people were there (myself included) and as Coach Ray stated it was a great soccer atmosphere. Lots of people with a lot of school spirit, it was great to see. The EA students were great, the young man in the cheerleader outfit was hysterical. I didn't see any of the problems that were mentioned, I must have left before all that happened. It was great to see and hear all the support for both teams. I wanted to thank the Police Officer that was in charge of the Flag raising during the National Anthem, my 11 yr old son was the one raising the Flag. He was so proud! The Officer didn't know we were from DeRidder, hope no one was gets upset or is offended by this, because it made my little boy's night.
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Post by keane4pres on Feb 26, 2007 13:37:56 GMT -6
the finals should be played in Alexandria @ Johnny Downs field 1, its the best field in the state, and Alex. is the most central part of LA, its within 3 hrs. to every corner of the state!
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Post by racsoccer on Feb 26, 2007 13:49:38 GMT -6
I agree that the Johnny Downs fields are nice...but where will 2000+ sit?? The state finals should be held at a stadium venue. Until they build a stadium in Alex it wont be held there...
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Post by keepitclean on Feb 26, 2007 20:39:49 GMT -6
I did not mind the drive to Shreveport since I am accustomed to driving all over the south with 2 children playing premier. Shreveport made us feel very welcome & did a good job organizing the event. I DID think that the field was good. (Does anyone else think that LHSAA needs to look at the quality & field size throughout district play & the playoffs? Some level of consistency is needed!)
What I did mind was that the first playoff game (Friday ay 4 p.m.), although well supported by the families of the players, was too early for a significant number of fans to attend without missing an entire day of work in addition to spending at least $200 for hotel, food and gas money. The KIDS deserve stands full of soccer fans!!
Finally, the referees for the girls’ games were not as physically able or the same caliber as the refs for the boys’ games. Whoever hosts the finals should be able to insure the top-level referees for ALL 4 GAMES.
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Post by ostrya on Feb 27, 2007 8:50:47 GMT -6
Olympia field in Baton Rouge
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Post by Bish on Feb 27, 2007 9:34:29 GMT -6
Olympia field in Baton Rouge This is the one off I110 right? I've thought about this too. The stadium is easily big enough. I'm not sure how good the field is. It might have a big crown because it's a football field.
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Post by ostrya on Feb 27, 2007 9:39:46 GMT -6
No, this stadium is reached by exiting I10 at Essen and head south. I've seen a semi-pro soccer team play there.
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Post by ostrya on Feb 27, 2007 9:42:38 GMT -6
Olympia in BR seats 6000.
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Post by timaeus on Feb 27, 2007 9:44:50 GMT -6
Olympia Stadium -- Perkins Road at Kenilworth -- capacity -- 6,000
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Post by Mung on Feb 27, 2007 10:09:45 GMT -6
I'd vote for the LSU Soccer complex. It's probably the only "stadium" with a regulation sized field, and seats around 1500-2000, plus you could then force the women's coach to see some La players, at least for the girls' finals. Also, Div. II needs to get back in the scheme with the other two divisions, and play all 6 matches the same weekend at the same site.
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Post by Bish on Feb 27, 2007 13:31:49 GMT -6
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Post by Mung on Feb 27, 2007 15:18:49 GMT -6
Bish, Memorial stadium is off I-110, near the State Capitol Bldg. It's one of the stadiums(Olympia being the other) used by BR High School football teams that don't have stadiums. As I recall the corner of the North end zone is a foot or so off the football field, so it would be too small for soccer, plus the neighborhood stinks. The gentile soccer fans would not come for fear of getting carjacked in the parking lot. Olympia would be better.
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Post by Chalmetteowl on Feb 28, 2007 14:19:46 GMT -6
why not have the finals at home stadiums of participating schools? (like for example vandebilt at east ascension) (congrats vandebilt, at least it took the best team there was to knock us out the playoffs) that way the crowd is into it more then again the LHSAA does what it wants. they just want to have a championship in shreveport if any final should be in shreveport it should be girls' basketball. then they would be represented at least i mean who goes to the finals to watch teams they don't care about from a different half of the state it works for football and barely for boys and girls basketball every other sport should play at home sites all the way through
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Post by reggiebush on Feb 28, 2007 18:57:42 GMT -6
The Finals need to be in a city where soccer is appreciated. And there is no doubt that Lafayette appreciates soccer more than any other city in the state. With a population half the size of Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport, Lafayette continues to produce some of the best soccer in the state.
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Post by stafalcon4show on Feb 28, 2007 19:02:50 GMT -6
The Lafayette area definately has the best soccer teams in the state, just look @ them: Teurlings, STM, Lafayette, Carencro, Acadiana, probably other teams too that i forgot, but that is very impressive to have that many schools in one are that are that good @ soccer
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Post by stafalcon4show on Mar 1, 2007 17:52:02 GMT -6
area*
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Post by soccerdaddy on Mar 4, 2007 18:49:03 GMT -6
All this complaining.....seems as if its more over whose getting what as far as $$$. If two north teams played in the finals in NO, would any supporters from the south show? Maybe a few, if any. But who cares.................PLAY THE GAME.
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Post by brave11 on Mar 5, 2007 6:37:10 GMT -6
does playin in sheveport have anything to do with it being a possible neutral place?
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Post by bigstuff69 on Mar 5, 2007 17:21:44 GMT -6
no brave its all about the dough man dont they teach you anything at your school man
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Post by jimmydean on Mar 5, 2007 17:23:48 GMT -6
hahaaaa you'd swear he goes to H.L. or something eh?
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