Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion High School KSHSAA get it together...1 venue

Agree, with what you're saying.
But the only venue that could hold this kind of event is, Intrust arena, Wichita, or, Sprint Center, in KC MO.
So to keep it in Kansas, Intrust arena, is the most, central location, with the most hotels, available for what you are looking at. Topeka is highly limited.

Someone needs to get with Intrust, on their charge for using their venue, for our state athletes.
My 2 Cents.

Not even enough parking at or around Intrust; it was a mess the one year 6A was there.

Ive been to the Indiana state tournament the last 5 years. Indiana is fortunate to have a great facility, which is "Bankers Life Arena" or where the Pacers play. Holds 19k. Also logistically they are much better off as its in Indy which is almost exactly in the middle of the state, its in a major metro city with plenty of hotels, restaurants and parking.

Also unique to Indiana is they have one class and the tournament starts on Friday night and finals are Saturday night.

But its a party and good time. The whole wrestling community from the state shows up, and the kids get recognized. They do a parade of champions on Friday night and announce every school. Its weird as they have a school with over 5000 students and a school with under 200 students that qualified a wrestler. They stand next to each other the same. Its just a great atmosphere watching the final on Saturday night. They turn the lights out and I they had around 15K in attendance. Its professionally done is on Fox sports TV and the winner of each weight gets interviewed after the match like the pros. The atmosphere is electric and I would say if the kid makes the finals, he's most likely will be wrestling D1.

I know its logistically difficult in Kansas to put a state tournament together in one spot. But the tournament should be a gathering of the whole community. Kansas doesn't know what they're missing out on I know people don't like change, but if it happened, people would enjoy it so much more.

I know discussed, but tweak the format to make it happen. Go to 8 man brackets or switch to 3 classes. I think you could make it happen that way.

I think Bramlage would be the best place. Central location with large enough stadium and parking to host it. 40 hotels in the city should be able to handle the capacity. Junction city could also help. I don't know, but what city wouldn't want 800 wrestlers and there families to come to spend a lot of cash in their city. Its easy money. That's what I don't get, Cities not wanting the stimulus.

so the question is. would it cost more to rent 3 sites for 2 days or would it cost more to rent intrust arena for 3 days. i dont know what the cost of 3 sites is but i cant imagine it would be less than 3 days at intrust. the parking becomes the problem at intrust during the daytime.

Would it be cheaper to rent on facility or three.

There is no way you could do it at Intrust. Not enough parking. It would be a mess.

As a former Kansas wrestler now experiencing South Dakota's State tournament as a fan/future coach, the Kansas state tournament set up needs to change.

South Dakota still mainly uses AAU for their youth wrestling tournaments and clubs compared to USA Wrestling. Yet, SD is able to figure out a way to move both state tournaments to the same venue AND within the next year or two add in a state dual tournament.

I understand logistics behind moving all state tournaments into one venue are complex and difficult, but it needs to happen! Too many great wrestling matches are being missed by passionate fans, coaches, and wrestlers. Kansas needs to make this happen and help the sport thrive in the state!

um you are talking about a state that is about to split their kids tournament too....never gonna happen, we do what we want here in Kansas

I would like to see all classes under one roof as well, but in the mean time, get 321a and 4a in the same venue. Doubling the excitement wouldn't be a bad thing!

um no. move 4a back to wichita with 5 and 6a.

Parking at Intrust, not a nightmare. Yeah gotta pay $5-$10 to park or park at Lawerence dumont and take a shuttle. It is what it is. But it's the only Venue to hold, imop 4,5,6A. Not big enough to hold all. And let's be real, the stands aren't packed until Finals day, so it's only 1 day that would be tough.

You need to remember, much of that paid parking around Intrust is taken with downtown workers on weekdays. They can't even provide enough parking for the two upper classes alone, as others on here have attested. Trying to add 4A would be a disaster, which I know both Intrust and KSHSAA executives already know.

i think Hartman could add 4a back. if you take the wrestlers out of the stands and let them set up sitting areas up on the top row behind the seating. they also have other rooms where wrestlers could set up camp. Im not trying to talk about other sports but if you have been to a volleyball tournament its exactly like that. teams set up an area for the kids to rest with food and all that. obviously they would not let you bring food in cause thats like jail time at Hartman. I know the Newton tournament is set up like that. i do realize it would be more people but with a little work it could be done. The stands werent exactly packed with just 5 and 6a. Even the finals was not packed. Yes it would have its challenges but i think it could be done. Im not sure how much money that would save but im thinking it would save quite a bit. Then that money could be used in getting a grand state started because its just the right thing to do for the sport.

The problem with Hartman is seating compacity. For those around in the Coliseum days, they will remember that for finals, all seating was full. The Coliseum had a compacity of 10k plus. Hartman has about half that amount.