[zaga_fan]

I think the "money under the table" talk that usually crops up in these discussions is overblown, although I will admit there have been some suspicious things that have gone on over the years. But most of those are perception only.
However, don't think for one minute that if the host school has a team in the tournament that they don't have a little advantage by having access to the referrees during the tournament. They take them their food and drink at halftime, shoot the bull with them before and after the games, and generally get to know them. It's a slight psychological effect if nothing else. Refs are human too. They respond to kindness and buttering up. If it just makes a difference in the 50/50 calls that could be enough to affect the outcome of a game.
Yes, being the host does have some advantages.

Of course it has it's advantages.
But what about this....
Region was at Breathitt this year with 15th Region Refs.
Would you think Breathitt has an advantage with the refs because of the things mentioned above.
Or would you think teams in our region like Letcher or Jenkins would have more of an advantage because of possible ties with 15th region refs that probably live right down the road from them.