It is not news to any individual about right here to say UD Arena is a excellent atmosphere for higher college games. The arena’s setup tends to make for a loud atmosphere with a decent crowd in the reduced bowl, even if the upper is empty.

That is a good point, in particular for modern day attendance. Final weekend’s boys state semifinals and finals drew 59,476 fans, an typical of four,956 per session. Russia’s Friday evening semifinal against Richmond Heights had four,256 in attendance and ranked eighth out of the 12 sessions.

Excluding the 2021 tournament with its COVID-era restrictions, that continues a sharp decline. The 2016 state tournament had an attendance of 128,694. Jackson Center lost to Lincolnview 52-39 in a D-IV semifinal on Friday afternoon that year at Worth City Arena in front of ten,173 fans.

Attendance had currently dropped to a small more than 76,000 in 2019, which was the final year Ohio State hosted the tournament. Final year was the 1st year below regular situations UD Arena had hosted the tournament, and attendance was a small more than 66,000.

The reality there was no Southwest Ohio group in any of the 4 state finals on Sunday certainly played into this year’s attendance dropping by more than six,000 individuals.

I can not blame individuals in other components of the state for complaining about it becoming in Dayton, and not traveling right here for it. As somebody who has had to travel to Canton and Akron and state football, baseball and softball a lot of occasions, these drives are not exciting. (Exciting reality: from Shelby County, we’re closer to Ford Field in Detroit by about 25 miles than we are Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton).

But UD rolls out the red carpet for the OHSAA, each in terms of how it hosts and the monetary offers it has produced to preserve the games right here. This year was the second of a 3-year contract, and OHSAA executive director Dough Ute hinted to the Dayton Each day News one more 3-year contract is most likely to comply with.

With the excellent atmosphere and such welcoming hosts, it likely tends to make the choice an effortless 1.

Some continue to argue the tournament need to be centrally situated in the Columbus location. If Worth City Arena is as well costly, 1 prominent suggestion is St. John’s Arena.

Sorry to these of who hold nostalgic feelings toward the old house of Ohio State basketball. The spot is run down and has seating a lot more cramped and uncomfortable than most higher college gymnasiums.

UD Arena, which not too long ago completed the final of its renovations, is immaculate.

I hope it stays right here for decades to come — in particular if football, baseball and softball keep in Northeast Ohio.

Billing has been the sports editor of the Sidney Each day News considering that 2017. He can be reached at [email protected]ailynews.com.