State Tournaments in Financial Trouble

BlueLineSpecial · Post by **BlueLineSpecial** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:40 pm

Interesting article in the Star Trib:

http://m.startribune.com/sports/preps/297098961.html

Couple thoughts:

Nice to see The Tourney breaking records this year, and continuing to be the high water mark for MN high school tournaments. Hockey continues to set the bar.

Shame on these venues for unsustainably increased 'user-fees' so they can line their pockets. ALL of these arenas are paid for at least in large part by the taxpayers, and usually resulting in massively increased value of the teams that happen to use the facility. And usually taxpayer funded by threat of leaving for 'greener pasture$'. The cost should simply be expenses. If that.

green4 · Post by **green4** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 1:08 am

As a fan, it does kind of kill the mood when you turn on the TV and see a half empty arena or when you are in the stands and you see empty seats and the energy is lacking.
On the other hand, as a player, I got to play at the Metrodome my senior year for the Rugby State Championship game. It was the first time they went to a venue like that for Rugby and it was an awesome experience. We only had about 1500 people in the stands, but nonetheless it was fantastic. It was especially cool because it was the final year of the Metrodome before they tore it down.

I think what they have to decide is if this should be about money and the spectators or should it be about the kids and having that cool experience?

wolfman · Post by **wolfman** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 8:35 am

1500 for HS (club) rugby game?? I find that very hard to believe. I guess it could be true though.

green4 · Post by **green4** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 9:15 am

wolfman wrote:1500 for HS (club) rugby game?? I find that very hard to believe. I guess it could be true though.

That really is not a ton if you think about it. You get about 800-1000 for the 3rd place game at the X and I'm guessing only family really comes to that.
I had my whole extended family come to the game since that was the only event at a venue like that I was ever in.
Edina had a pretty nice following from our peers too, the coaches did a few promotional events and the kids enjoyed it and stick around. Through in the few rugby faithfuls, our JV team, alumni who won state the year before and the other teams in the league who came to watch, 1500 is probably pretty accurate. I asked my dad and he guessed 2000.
They also had the JV state championship right before so I'm guessing some people stuck around.

Most rugby in the state is a club team, Edina however recognizes it as a Varsoty sport now.

preferhockey · Post by **preferhockey** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:00 am

Government/non-profit agency at its best. Give every Jack and Jill a trophy as well as play at venues that cost exceeds revenue.

Ex. Jill's parents complained that girls hockey was not at Xcel, what happen it was moved. It should go back to Ridder, much better atmosphere. Now at Xcel in an empty arena that crowd noise is irrelevant.

BodyShots · Post by **BodyShots** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:59 am

This is ridiculous. I'd love to live in a mansion and drive a mercedes, but I can't afford it. These tournament games should be played in an arena that is appropriate size and cost. If you draw 18,000, then play at the "X", but if you only draw 2,500, then play at Ridder. Football, Basketball, and Soccer need to follow suit as well.

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:00 am

Wonder why the hockey tickets are becoming more expensive? Guess who gets to pay for the shortages?

alcloseshaver · Post by **alcloseshaver** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:06 am

Smart move by the legislature to have the state FB tournament get free rent in the new Zyggi stadium. Make sure to play plenty of electronic pulltabs to pay your share. Excel charging 485k for boys and 185k for girls. MSHSL will be in better shape once they get into the Zyggi Dome.

goldy313 · Post by **goldy313** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:15 pm

Part of the problem was the Dome shutting down moved football outside and to random venues, the snow and cold hurt a lot this year as well. Football should probably be played at a home site up until the semifinals anyhow, football just doesn't translate well into a neutral site game. The Dome was virtually free, one of my kids was lucky enough to play a baseball game there one year when we couldn't play outside and it cost the school like $100 for a double header.

I believe the state had the X rent free for a time as a condition of their approving the building of it but that time frame ended a few years ago. The Xcel is run by the Wild who have been gouging the MSHSL for years, the MSHSL should move most of their sports out of there.....I would bet the same thing will happen with the Vikings stadium.

A side note, football lasts too long, finish the season up in early November and have the games at TCF. They also should have put a track in at TCF, the state track meet has outgrown Hamilne by a long shot.