[hchs fan]

http://harlandaily.com/sports/14561/dist...r-regional

[ky playmaker]

the arena can not wait forever to be told if they are holding something like this. They have to fill their schedule out to make money. The one in charge of making the call on where it will be held knows this. longer they wait the less likely it will be at The Arena. I am guessing The Arena has already decided they can not wait any longer.

[HCS]

I drive by there every Wednesday and it sure doesn't look like they have something new going on every weekend.
Just checked the schedule - they have 6 events between now and April 29 and nothing in March. I don't think people are breaking down the door trying to bring in events, at least from what I've read in the Corbin papers.

[ky playmaker]

Tacketts decision should be an easy one then. Unless some favors or money are handed out to get it to HC its clearly a no brainer to hold it at The Arena. Would you rather have 6300 or 1900 if you made the finals.

[HCS]

If they were handing out money, I'm guessing they would just give more to the teams involved to get the tournament
It will probably be in Corbin, but it wouldn't kill you guys to travel south twice in 17 years.

[JerryGarcia]

I'm not smartest tool in the shed but unless ur getting something financially under the table It's a no brainer, THE ARENA.

[TheProfessor33]

The Arena is the worst place to watch basketball. Terrible environment!! IMO, any high school gym in the region would be better.

[Olred]

It doesn't bother me at all to travel to Harlan 2 times in 17 years. I just wouldn't want Harlan Co. to host it if I was Harlan Ind. I know its no travel for them but like on the girls side that could be the difference between the two schools in which one wins region. On the boys side I know it will not be an issue. They need to make a decision though and go with it. It almost seems like Harlan is just dragging it out to see if they can get anything more out of HC.

[HCS]

I may disagree with the commissioner on occasion, but I'm not going to accuse himself of something unethical/illegal. He's the best we've had, in my opinion.
If he were to pick Harlan County, I'm guessing it would be because he'd like to bring a little balance to the travel situation - one trip to Harlan for every 8.5 trips to Corbin.

[ky playmaker]

6300 TO 1900 and they are debating where to have it. come on now. Something smells bad here

[TheProfessor33]

As long as the schools receive the alloted money, it shouldn't matter what Harlan Ind decides to do. It's their option.

[ky playmaker]

The article says that Tackett has final say where it is played not harlan city.

[callmecrazy33]

I may disagree with the commissioner on occasion, but I'm not going to accuse himself of something unethical/illegal. He's the best we've had, in my opinion.
If he were to pick Harlan County, I'm guessing it would be because he'd like to bring a little balance to the travel situation - one trip to Harlan for every 8.5 trips to Corbin.

Really? You think Tackett could care less how much people in Harlan have to drive? The KHSAA is no different than the NCAA, and it's all about money. The KHSAA didn't care a bit to hurt the product of high school basketball this year by deciding to take sponsor money, and go with Spaulding basketballs that every kid, coach, and anyone that's every touched one, despises.

Bottom line is, if it's about trying to generate the most revenue for all the schools in the 13th region, it's at the Arena or someone has their hand in the cookie jar. When it's at the Arena, every team thats not even participating is getting almost as much as the championship game teams when played at Harlan. I'm not a fan of driving to Harlan, and I hate watching games at the Arena. But if there's almost a $5K difference in what the teams in the championship game bring in between having it at Harlan or at the Arena, and it's not at the Arena, something fishy is definitely going on.

[64SUR]

Myself I hope it's at the Arena.......Leaving it up to KSHAA makes me think Harlan and the KHSAA is in the same room.....:yikes: this makes me thinking it will be in Harlan County.

[RunItUpTheGut]

Its absurd to have it anywhere other than the arena. Were talking about tax payer dollars that fund schools. Personally, id like the schools to make more money when they get the chance and its a ridiculous amount of money lost when it was held at HCHS.

Morton shared figures that showed the two teams in last year’s finals (South Laurel and Clay County) received $6, 394.08 each. Clay County and Harlan County, the two teams that played in the 2013 finals at HCHS, each received 1,443.50

Almost 5,000 more each for having it at the arena. Time to stop the shenanigans and quit the crying.

[ky playmaker]

I think I will post this thread to Tackett's twitter page bet I don't get a response from him though. No way it should be held at hc. I understand why some want it though but at the expense of everybody else and like gut said the tax payers. Hc has a great place to play it but so do several others in the region if we want to have it at the schools.

[walterwhite]

As far as being convenient for me, the Arena is great, but as a high school basketball lover, the atmosphere is much better in the high school gyms! I can handle the drive to Harlan! The good folks there have had to drive to Corbin for many games. Give me the packed high school gyms every time. I'll walk and sweat and sit elbow to elbow to experience the best sports atmosphere around. This isn't taking the financial aspect into consideration, just my personal preference.

[ky playmaker]

Agree Walter but this is the problem with whats going on here. HC is blackmailing harlan city by saying if you dont let us hold it we will or might etc revoke our reciprocal agreement. There is more going on than just having at a school. I hear there are several schools that want khsaa to let HC hold it this year. Thats why you dont here the schools really complaining. When it comes those schools turn to host they are gonna demand to be able to host it at their school and if not they are prepared to sue to be allowed. They want the money that it brings in for the community. Some of the towns need it. This could get pretty ugly

[walterwhite]

Agree Walter but this is the problem with whats going on here. HC is blackmailing harlan city by saying if you dont let us hold it we will or might etc revoke our reciprocal agreement. There is more going on than just having at a school. I hear there are several schools that want khsaa to let HC hold it this year. Thats why you dont here the schools really complaining. When it comes those schools turn to host they are gonna demand to be able to host it at their school and if not they are prepared to sue to be allowed. They want the money that it brings in for the community. Some of the towns need it. This could get pretty ugly

I understand this aspect completely. Your restaurants, gas stations etc profit from the increased traffic for the week of the regional tournament. A small boost to the local economies so I can see fighting to host!

[kyfellow]

They just recently signed a new agreement.

[hchs fan]

When is a decision going be official

[Granny Bear]

Hmm, let me see if I understand this correctly.

1) Harlan and Harlan Co are in cahoots
2) These schools are paying off the KHSAA to not have the tournament at the Arena so that all schools make $5K less
3) Harlan and Harlan Co are paying off Tackett so he can facilitate a conspiracy to decrease revenue

That sounds a lot like the media reports from the Presidential election.

Hopefully, if the games are held at HC, you guys won't respond like the protestors. I would really hate to see Corbin and London on fire, and petitions to the KHSAA!!



Personally, I LOVE to have the tournament games held locally. But that is what I grew up with, and I love the atmosphere. At the Arena, you may as well stay home and watch another game on TV, you are so far removed from the action.

BUT, if KHSAA deems that it will be held at the Arena, I will drive the 1 1/2 hrs, enjoy the game as much as I can and drive back home..simple.

[hchs fan]

Well put granny bear amen to that sister

[HCS]

Agree Walter but this is the problem with whats going on here. HC is blackmailing harlan city by saying if you dont let us hold it we will or might etc revoke our reciprocal agreement.

I haven't heard anyone with the county schools pushing to have the tournament at HCHS, certainly not making any threats. It's Harlan's decision, not HCHS.
It sounded like it came down to how much money Harlan will make when compared the cost of all the fans and parents having to drive to Corbin up to six times, plus the money taken away from local businesses by not having it here.

[hchs fan]

When you thank they make the decision hcs

[HCS]

Sounds like Corbin. I'd rather it be a short trip for Harlan Countians once every 8 years or so, but I was getting worried that the folks in Corbin/London were going to have a meltdown if they had to drive here for a week.

[ProudPanther]

got not prob with you (HCS) being pro Harlan... But come on. It just makes sense to play the Region at a place that will help the winner get ready for a bigger arena in the sweet sixteen, a place where nobody in the tournament has a home court advantage, a place where you can park and not have to call a taxi, a place that is centrally located in the Region (and i'm sorry that Harlan is on fringe of the region), a place that sells more tickets, and a place that the region schools voted by a large margin to hold the region at. Harlan might not like the fact that they were the super minority but they are.

The old model of holding at home sites is no longer necessary. Over half the Regions in the state have a standing off campus site at a bigger arena.

[HCS]

I'm pretty good with a map and realize that Harlan County is on the southern end of the region. I've never said have it here every year, just twice in 17 years. I drive to Corbin every year and will continue to do so. I've got to drive there this evening, as a matter of fact, just like every Wednesday.

I don't think it's unreasonable that people on this end of the region have it at place that is plenty big enough/nice enough to host it once a decade or so. I don't like having the split sessions or being squeezed in at a small gym, but that isn't the case at HCHS.

Again, I'm not complaining about the Arena. I'd just rather have it here on occasion.

[hchs fan]

What you been hearing and told about regional hcs

[HCS]

The KHSAA just said Corbin - more details later.