large rented venues

[MOsportsStaff]

With covid it's easy to move sectional and quarterfinal games back to HS campus and have an excuse.
It's a big savings to MSHSAA on gym rental, but takes away the "special" nature for kids to play in a college or large school environment and makes the playoffs different.

I really hope that when things get back to "normal" we return to the larger (often college) sites, but I fear this will never change and the basketball playoffs will remain on campus as football and baseball do.

 

[nwhoopsfan]

I agree. I hope we return to the previous format of playing at larger, neutral sites. I'm worried that a lot of what is happening is going to make the future of Missouri High School sports a lesser experience than what it has been.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

There are plenty of larger HS gyms that can handle the post-district rounds...and it makes for a better atmosphere. Wasting the $$$ on college/private (Independence Center comes to mind on the non-college private side) is silly. The days of a packed larger HS gym for those rounds was awesome for atmosphere. I'm not sure the kids give a rip about a college floor, and would much rather play in front of a packed house. Just my 2 cents.

 

[MOsportsStaff]

The large class quarterfinal set up at UMSL always seemed very crowded and was a great atmosphere to me. Used to be one of my favorite hoop viewing days of the year!

 

[Eagles_Ball]

The large class quarterfinal set up at UMSL always seemed very crowded and was a great atmosphere to me. Used to be one of my favorite hoop viewing days of the year!

Agreed! I loved that double dip day. Some good times at and between sessions back then.

 

[341A]

When our kids made the final four they could care less about it being at a college. Several of them commented on how empty the gym was.

 

[msubearssuperfan1]

Greenwood-Hartville has been moved to Dowell Field House at Bible Baptist College.

 

[BearsCountry]

I would rather play in the big arenas and college campuses than even the larger high school gyms. Back when I was in school our path to the Final Four was UMR, then Hammons Student Center then Hearnes Center or if we were shifted west, Sedalia at the indoor arena at the State Fair, then to CMSU then to Hearnes Center. Played in front of alot of sell out crowds in high school gyms, but still more memorable more playing at Hearnes Center in front of less people.