[greenallover]

For the last several seasons the Ohio Highschool Football Championship Games have been bounced back and forth between Canton's Fawcett Stadium and Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. It's going to happen again this season. That being said why can't the OHSAA association play a few state championship games at Ohio Stadium. They could even rotate between Canton and The Shoe. It would also even out the travel distance for the teams. For example why should a team from the Dayton or Cincinnati area have to drive all the way to the Canton area? It makes no sense from a geographical viewpoint. Also, wouldn't the students love to step out onto the turf at Ohio Stadium? They used to play some Championship games at the Shoe. What happened?

[Gz1up 2 Down]

Columbus Crew Stadium would be a better idea.

[greenwave]

the ohsaa made a new contract that will give ohio state the games in 2014-15
canton/massillon have it until then. they didnt like the other bids.

[greenallover]

Thanks G-Wave that is great news!

[greenallover]

Originally Posted by Gz1up 2 Down

Columbus Crew Stadium would be a better idea.

Look, not to be mean, but what are you smoking? How many highschool football players/students are out there are thinking, "Man I wish that we could play our last game, the championship game, on a soccer field..." I'm sure it's a nice facility but the Buckeyes play in the Shoe and I'm sure that the Shoe is where they want to play and where most of the fans/parents in Ohio would like to see their kids play. I'm sure that they would rather play on a field in Canton where the pros have played as to play on a soccer field.

[creeksider]

Ohio Stadium will look good with 10,000 fans in it.

[Gz1up 2 Down]

Originally Posted by greenallover

Look, not to be mean, but what are you smoking? How many highschool football players/students are out there are thinking, "Man I wish that we could play our last game, the championship game, on a soccer field..." I'm sure it's a nice facility but the Buckeyes play in the Shoe and I'm sure that the Shoe is where they want to play and where most of the fans/parents in Ohio would like to see their kids play. I'm sure that they would rather play on a field in Canton where the pros have played as to play on a soccer field.

Columbus area high schools play in Columbus Crew Stadium all the time. Notably this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZuOL...feature=fvwrel and I believe Pick North-Pick Central played each other in that venue before.

Your talking 10k vs 100k+ capacity in Ohio Stadium, which would mean less than 1/10 of the stadium would be filled. Cols. Crew Stadium is ~22.5k capacity. 10k vs 22k = a little less than 1/2, which I think should be an appropriate proportion of seating.

Plus, now that this year won't have a HOF Game thanks to the NFL's screwing around, I don't think Canton looks too intriguing commercial value wise.

Not to mention that the parking situations aren't as complex and expensive with Columbus Crew Stadium as opposed to Ohio Stadium, as well as less construction than the latter.

[devilone]

Played at the shoe in 89' state championship. It looked completely empty.

[Walking Boss]

As far as atmosphere, there is no comparison. Crew stadium would be a big improvement over the Shoe. But the die has been cast. It is in Stark until it moves to the Shoe. As an aside, I've heard that Jim T was a big reason behind the push to move the games to the Shoe.

[gamauter]

I got a great parking space and the best seat ever at the horseshoe.

[mlisi39]

i guess that dead horse ain't dead yet.....

[Walking Boss]

Originally Posted by mlisi39

i guess that dead horse ain't dead yet.....

mlisi: GREAT POINT! This thread is an April or May type discussion. Slow, off-season banter. We're in 2-a-days now. We need to be talkin' football!

[greenallover]

Originally Posted by Gz1up 2 Down

Columbus area high schools play in Columbus Crew Stadium all the time. Notably this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZuOL...feature=fvwrel and I believe Pick North-Pick Central played each other in that venue before.

Your talking 10k vs 100k+ capacity in Ohio Stadium, which would mean less than 1/10 of the stadium would be filled. Cols. Crew Stadium is ~22.5k capacity. 10k vs 22k = a little less than 1/2, which I think should be an appropriate proportion of seating.

Plus, now that this year won't have a HOF Game thanks to the NFL's screwing around, I don't think Canton looks too intriguing commercial value wise.

Not to mention that the parking situations aren't as complex and expensive with Columbus Crew Stadium as opposed to Ohio Stadium, as well as less construction than the latter.

All that aside you ask the students where they would rather play...On a soccer field or on a football field that is home to one of the best college teams in the country. I don't think you're going to find any kids that would be overly excited about playing at Crew Stadium. Shouldn't it be about the kids and their dreams? Let the soccer teams play at Crew Stadium...

[Gz1up 2 Down]

Originally Posted by greenallover

All that aside you ask the students where they would rather play...On a soccer field or on a football field that is home to one of the best college teams in the country. I don't think you're going to find any kids that would be overly excited about playing at Crew Stadium. Shouldn't it be about the kids and their dreams? Let the soccer teams play at Crew Stadium...

Why is kids' dreams a big deal about this? If you ask a kid if they'd rather play the most important game of their high school career between Canton and say, Pro Player Stadium (if it still exists) in Miami, FL, where do you think they'd be more interested in?

I'm pretty sure the kids that play for FCA, FC, NC etc all the schools that don't have their own fields would like to be able to play their home games on Fridays as opposed to Saturdays where it coincides with college football. Dreams aren't a bad thing, but they should be for the greater good if anything. We're in an age where the big kids that play in college and the pros namely play for the $$$, not for the game, so I think with that comes the deterioration of the prestige and sentimental value of playing a game in Canton.

[NewarkCatholicFan]

The attendance at the finals will be down again this season and again the following two years(I am predicting) the big thing is if Columbus can put up bigger numbers in the seats if so I think the finals are staying in Columbus.

Now if Columbus can not put butts in the seats then the games do not belong there.

[julius_erving_6]

I think a player is just happy to play for a state championship, it does not matter where.

[DaPlane]

Stark County Ohio is where the games belong.

[meercat_manor]

If as a player you are concerned where you are playing the State Championship then you shouldn't even bother suiting up for the game.

I think the games should be held in Franklin County, but not at Ohio Stadium. It is going to feel like a ghost town for those games, instead of having some crowd noise to add to the excitement. They should split the games between Crew Stadium and one of the Dublin Schools (Coffman). Have D1, D2, D3 and D4 at Crew and D5 and D6 at Dublin.

[renner20]

I do not want these games in the Shoe. 15,000 people in a 110,000 seat stadium would kill the atmosphere. If they want to have it in Columbus they should put the games at Crew Stadium.

[ranman888888]

Thats a tough debate for sure. I know my son goes to Norwalk St. Paul and is 9 years old and already dreams of playing in a state final and loves the fact it is in Ohio stadium it actually already inspires him to work harder. But he doesn't understand the seating aspect of the seating but it does give every young kid who worships Ohio State the chance to dream of playing in Ohio Stadium!!!!