State Finals Attendance

• GoJPM!

  

  Playing in The Shoe will be a great experience for a lot of kids who may not get a chance otherwise. They can say they got to play there.
• TeeGreen

  Final attendence numbers:
  D1 - 12,181
  D2 - 6,699
  D3 - 7,361
  D4 - 10,454
  D5 - 6,654
  D6 - 5,346
• Falcons53

  When I coached in Wisconsin, they played their title games at Camp Randall and it was also the HS Coaches convention. The NCAA does this with the Final Four in basketball, the coaches hold their convention at the same sight.
  
  It was great! They used the fieldhouse between games and had a chili social, Leinenkugal (sp?) supplied beer for the coaches (no public sale) The place would have a great turnout between the coaches from around the state and the fans of the teams. Public and private schools were separate and everyone made the play-offs (this I hate). A bunch of the college coaches from around the state went as well. I am not sure what the attendance figures were, but there were no parking issues with one game going OT and the next two coming in. People would buy the "pass" for all the games and stay all day.
• Crimson streak

  

  Mooney44Cards;1004048 wrote:Why do people want to make Ohio like other states? If you like those other states so much, go watch those finals. Ohio is different, lets stay that way.

  
  Pennsylvania plays there state championship games at Hershey park stadium. It's a smaller stadium and it makes for a great atmosphere. There is barely empty seats there but it also helps there is usually local teams playing like bishop mcdevitt.
• september63

  

  Every year brings the same questions. I am all for keeping the games where they are now!!!
• riders1

  

  
• sonofsam

  

  Old Rider;1003167 wrote:6,000 fans in Ohio stadium is going to look silly when the title games are back in Columbus...keep them in Canton/Massillon

  You took the words right out of my mouth... I agree 100%.
  
  I cannot honestly see the Shoe hosting championship games after next year... the stadium will be no more than 10% capacity for an epic match-up. I know a lot of fans on the western side of the state will be happier with the drive, but that will be the same fans that made the drive to Massillon/Canton yearly. I am willing to bet that a lot of fans on the eastern side of the state that attend yearly will find a nice comfy couch and STO. Especially after fans fins out how much a hot dog is going to cost at the game...
• Sykotyk

  

  Crimson streak;1005830 wrote:Pennsylvania plays there state championship games at Hershey park stadium. It's a smaller stadium and it makes for a great atmosphere. There is barely empty seats there but it also helps there is usually local teams playing like bishop mcdevitt.

  
  Hate to burst your bubble, but I was at the games in Hershey last year. Here's the reported attendances I noted from the PA announcer:
  
  Fri. 7pm 3A - 5,722
  Fri. 2pm 1A - 3,200
  Sat. 5pm 4A - 2,900~*
  Sat. 12p 2A - 2,109
  
  *-I didn't hear what was after the "two thousand, nine hundred" part and never found it online.
  
  Hersheypark Stadium holds 15,641. It is an old, run down, concrete eyesore that can hardly be called 'nice'. The stands are miles from the field, and the stands do not line up with the field. The one section to the south on each side sits entirely south of the south endzone. Nobody sits there as you can't even look straight out and see any playable surface. It has five colored lines on it for the various sports played there and the Big 33 logo was still visible. Also, the PIAA circle logo wore off mostly by the end of the third game. Not to mention the giant stage overlooking the north endzone for concerts.
  
  http://binged.it/vZ5Hlw
  
  The only reason for the 3A game was, as you mentioned, Bishop McDevitt playing a veritable home game. 1A was Clairton (big following for a small school south side of Pittsburgh) against a small northeast school. 2A was South Fayette (first trip, decent fan support) against West Catholic who brought no one from Philadelphia. 3A was McDevitt (virtual home game) against Allentown Central Catholic (who brought no one). The 4A (largest classification) had North Allegheny (from Wexford, north of Pittsburgh) bring hardly any fans and LaSalle Prep brought a handful.
  
  Pennsylvania, outside of the towns playing home games on Friday night, or in Western PA, doesn't bring out fans for HS football. They may produce talent and good teams from time to time. But, their fan support is abysmal.
• Crimson streak

  

  I went a couple years ago so it just seemed like it was pretty packed. This year they have 3 local teams playing so it should boost the attendance pretty good. I agree that they need a new stadium. The stands are too far from the field and the ridicules amount of lines of the field. I wish they would build a new one but I doubt it.