[AgentOrange]

it seems like every year I go and watch regional championships, state semis, and then it gets down to the state championship and I’m just slightly disappointed… not the quality of the game… but the quality of the atmosphere. 

I think having the state championships in such large venues, like UK & UL takes away from a special part of what makes high school football so fun… The crowds and environment. I don’t think the crowds are ever big enough in those stadiums for it to have the same feeling/energy as some regional/semi final games leading up to the finals. 


I know that there’s a special allure to playing at those fields because they are the most prestigious schools in the state when it comes to athletics, but I believe the experience could be even better if there was a smaller venue in a town that was capable of hosting while still providing adequate amenities for spectators.  


I’m sure having it in a smaller venue would also come with its challenges/problems but I would also think it would be much more cost effective for the KHSAA & other as too. 


My proposed site would be Roy Kidd Stadium. 

Had AI generate a list of why “The Kidd” would be “better” than Kroger Field. 

Does anyone else feel this way… or have any other places that would be a good fit for the state championships? 



 • EKU’s Roy Kidd Stadium has a more intimate and cozy atmosphere than Kroger stadium, which is larger and more impersonal. Roy Kidd Stadium seats 20,000 fans, while Kroger stadium seats 61,000 fans1 (https://ekusports.com/sports/2019/3/30/n...football)2 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kroger_Field). This means that the high school players and their supporters would feel more connected and engaged at EKU, rather than being lost in a sea of empty seats at Kroger stadium.
• EKU’s Roy Kidd Stadium has a more modern and updated facility than Kroger stadium, which is older and less equipped. Roy Kidd Stadium underwent a major renovation in 2017, which added new seating, a new team locker room, new LED lights, and a new turf1 (https://ekusports.com/sports/2019/3/30/n...h=football). Kroger stadium also had a renovation in 2015, but it mainly focused on adding luxury suites and club seats, rather than improving the overall quality of the stadium (https://ekusports.com/sports/2019/3/30/n...football)2 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kroger_Field). EKU’s Roy Kidd Stadium offers a better playing and viewing experience for the high school players and their fans, as well as a safer and more comfortable environment.
• EKU’s Roy Kidd Stadium has a more convenient and accessible location than Kroger stadium, which is farther and more crowded. Roy Kidd Stadium is located on the campus of EKU in Richmond, Kentucky, which is about 25 miles south of Lexington, where Kroger stadium is located3 (https://www.eku.edu/)4 (https://ukathletics.com/facilities/kroger-field/)
. This means that the high school teams and their supporters would have less travel time and hassle to get to EKU, rather than dealing with traffic and parking issues at Kroger stadium.
EKU’s Roy Kidd Stadium also has a pedway that leads from the hill beyond the north end zone to the concourse level, making it easier for fans to enter and exit the stadium1 (https://ekusports.com/sports/2019/3/30/n...h=football)
.

[pjdoug]

I think EKU and Richmond would be perfect.

[Cafe Mocha]

The Kidd would be great place to host.

[Spud6]

Just something about playing on Kentucky's home football field that makes all the other stuff just obsolete in my opinion. I'm not disagreeing with you though about there's definite downsides to playing at such a large stadium.

[know1]

I always enjoyed the ones that were at at WKU.

[BEChargers]

Western was great, but the WKU conference championship game mess kinda of messed that up. But I like the size. Problem with EKU is that the visitors side has never been big enough. Still isn't.

[RAMDAD50]

I like the idea of playing at EKU but how’s the parking? You gotta to something into consideration. There is a roll over when it comes to people being at the stadium at the same time. I know the games are spaced hours apart but as I was leaving yesterday Mayfield fans were already there. I know EKU can handle the smaller crowds but want about the bigger crowds when the 3A or up games are played. Is there enough parking for the overlap ?

[Vols0528]

there is plenty of parking at the Kidd. For example, this weekend is graduation and most of the students moved out early and midweek so no one is on campus

[Jarons]

I would love the finals to be at EKU. Speaking from experience when I was a student at EKU when EKU hosted the All A classic, the Friday games would be a parking nightmare with classes going on. The All A Classic was a parking nightmare. All the lots near the stadium are commuter lots which are already full without the additional fans. Saturday games should have more than enough parking for all of the games. I feel like the atmosphere would be much better at Roy Kidd Stadium. The home side is literally right on the field, I would guess it would be the same for the visiting side.

[Jarons]

there is plenty of parking at the Kidd.  For example, this weekend is graduation and most of the students moved out early and midweek so no one is on campus

Not for the Friday games.

[KnoxvillesFinest]

If you ask the coaches and kids, who are the only ones that really matter, I imagine 99% would say Kroger.
Yea it sucks because it’s designed for Noise coming from 65K and not 6500, but it’s a moot point anyways. The KHSAA have their choice and have never listened to anyone anyways.

[Danville Blue Devil]

UK doesn’t feel to me appreciably different from Cardinal Stadium or Papa Johns. I like it.

[Granny Bear]

I think the kids like playing on Kroger field.

My favorite tournament games were played at WKU. It was the perfect size, and had ample parking. But it was a very long drive for eastern Kentucky folks!! Roy Kidd would be more centrally located, but I don't have the first idea about parking.

UK is also centrally located and ample parking.

[MayfieldCardinal]

This feels more like a homer post to me than anything else. I'm from Mayfield and Richmond is just adding to the pain of getting there. That said, I hate Kroger and it is too big plus UK should be ashamed of their lack of effort they make to accommodate folks. In particular the parking. UK could have treated this like they do home football games for the Wildcats where they ask students to move out during game hours. Most freshmen and commuters park there with many of those that live on campus leaving their cars there for extended periods. A headache for the students but they know the drill and where to move their cars for the Cats gamedays. Not asking them to move creates a bad situation for these games for the fans. Parking yesterday for the 2A game was atrocious. We (Mayfield) go a lot and have so at every venue and I can't recall parking as bad elsewhere. Anyway, I would prefer a smaller venue if it has suitable parking and enough hotel rooms but to be fair it needs to be rotated. Have it for some years at Western some EKU. I'm not sure there are any other venues that would meet the criteria elsewhere but if so add then to a rotation.

[Belichick]

Only chance most kids will have to ever play on one of the state’s major university fields. It is the university most of the state cheers for. Most parents and kids like the experience of playing at the big grocery store. Seems plenty loud when big plays happen. I think this is something the KHSAA has correct. UK definitely should be more accommodating or run more shuttles for parking.

[Orange Blaze]

This is just my take as a coach that has taken teams to UK for a state championship event (track and field). Nothing beats the experience of walking into a big time Division 1 college venue and seeing how excited the kids on your team are about being on the big stage and experiencing the environment. I haven’t coached a team that went to Kroger but I imagine the feeling is very similar. Maybe it’s not the most fan friendly place but I can guarantee you the kids love it and will talk about competing at the Big Blue for the rest of their lives.

[Gridiron_Raid]

Playing at Kroger or Papa john’s means something to these kids more than anything. Playing at Eastern would be cool, but the mystic energy would be gone. Having 2 big screens, ginormous stands, and massive press boxes make them feel as if they are playing an SEC game. And really that’s what matters.

Plus better parking, Lex can host more people as a town, more commodities like locker rooms, food, bathrooms, handicap accessible, whatever.

[Willie Nelson]

One of the stadium workers said they thought UK would make all the students move from the lot but said they didn’t. I don’t know how much of an impact that made probably a lot. I definitely agree Kroger is much too big & the games need to be moved. Let the games be played on regular hs fields with the best record hosting. Talk about an experience. Nothing could top that.

[AgentOrange]

Not all kids who grow up in Kentucky are die hard CATS fans or Cards fans. I know that’s hard for some to believe lol

I genuinely believe most kids remember the game itself and the fact it was the state championship… more so than it was at X field. I could be wrong though.


It just seems like the last game of the season should be the most “exciting environment”… example… the regional championship for Boyle v Corbin this season was way more exciting atmosphere than the Boyle/Corbin state game last season.
I just don’t get that same feeling from Kroger or Papa John’s when it was there.



Completely understand the reasons for having it at these venues. Just seeing what others thought… could be fun to see more of a rotation.

Also from a university perspective you’d think they would love the opportunity to host.
Great opportunity to have prospective students and parents together on campus checking out facilities.

[RAMDAD50]

Lexington is more centrally located. I’m not driving 6 hours to watch championship games. The average person that wants to watch the championships won’t drive that far either. I’m strictly talking about the fans that watch most all games without their team being in it

[Ogre]

FYI… The football finals have been held at EKU before!  I know they were there in 1977, but it was too hard on the grass field and it moved to the old tuft at Cardinal Stadium!
The kids love to play at Kroger, but as a fan, UK may be the most inhospitable host  I have ever seen! 
No suggestion here, just pointing out some information.

[Mayfieldsportsfan]

I had one son play at the pizza box and two sons play at Kroger. All three preferred WKU. That's just what they told me.

[pjdoug]

I think the kids like playing on Kroger field.

My favorite tournament games were played at WKU.  It was the perfect size, and had ample parking.  But it was a very long drive for eastern Kentucky folks!!  Roy Kidd would be more centrally located, but I don't have the first idea about parking.

UK is also centrally located and ample parking.

I think the games should  be played at Whitley County High School to make it easier for me to  recruit some of the best players.

[Vols0528]

I would love the finals to be at EKU.  Speaking from experience when I was a student at EKU when EKU  hosted the All A classic,  the Friday games would be a parking nightmare with classes going on.  The All A Classic  was a parking nightmare.  All the lots near the stadium are commuter lots which are already full without the additional fans. Saturday games should have more than enough parking for all of the games. I feel like the atmosphere would be much better at Roy Kidd Stadium. The home side is literally right on the field, I would guess it would be the same for the visiting side.

even on Friday, there was plenty of parking.  All lots were nearly 3/4 empty as well as gravel lot and parking along the bypass.

[plantmanky]

EKU and WKU are not available to host, they have to keep their fields open for possible playoff/conference championship games. (I know this from trying to rent both fields Thanksgiving weekend.)

They other issue is there is not any other mid sized collegiate stadiums. So you have to host them at bigger stadiums.


All also add attendance has been down again for years now. Where are the fans?

[dodger]

Any place that puts the effort into having regulation goal posts and hash marks!

[OutlawJoseyWales]

Nope. Nope. Nope. Leave it alone. Speaking for my own son who won a championship on WKU’s field and also won one at Kroger Field. Simply no comparison in atmosphere and the allure of playing on UK’s field.

[Sportsfan4848]

Any place that puts the effort into having regulation goal posts and hash marks!

haha here we go again! Leave the goal posts where they are! Both teams have to use the same goal posts just not one team.

[Fanatic42]

Not all kids who grow up in Kentucky are die hard CATS fans or Cards fans. I know that’s hard for some to believe lol

I genuinely believe most kids remember the game itself and the fact it was the state championship… more so than it was at X field. I could be wrong though.


It just seems like the last game of the season should be the most “exciting environment”… example… the regional championship for Boyle v Corbin this season was way more exciting atmosphere than the Boyle/Corbin state game last season.
I just don’t get that same feeling from Kroger or Papa John’s when it was there.



Completely understand the reasons for having it at these venues. Just seeing what others thought… could be fun to see more of a rotation.

Also from a university perspective you’d think they would love the opportunity to host.
Great opportunity to have prospective students and parents together on campus checking out facilities.

You're Wrong. They remember the Fields/Gyms as much as anything. They remember the City it was in and the Whole trip/experience. And to be able to say that they played on an SEC Field or an SEC Basketball Court or what have you, will always be something that they talk about for the rest of their lives.

[Real Badman]

Kids don't want to play at EKU or WKU they want to play on a P5 field.

Kentucky or Louisville.

Somebody fact check me, but Louisville would be the central location.

Phelps to Cardinal Stadium 3HR 59M
Fulton Co to Cardinal Stadium 3HR 51M