OHSAA Baseball Tournament Remains IN Akron For The Next Three Years

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AllSports12

Moderator
I figured that in light of the annual "move the football finals everywhere" discussion I'd put this put there for the annual banter as well....

For those who want a direct link to the story......

OHSAA Baseball State Tournament Staying at Akron Canal Park

News Release – Ohio High School Athletic Association Executive Director Doug Ute www.OHSAA.org | twitter.com/OHSAASports | facebook.com/OHSAASports For Immediate Release – December 17, 2021 OHSAA Contact – Tim Stried, Director of Media Relations, tstried@ohsaa.org Akron...
www.ohsaa.org

OHSAA Baseball State Tournament Staying at Akron Canal Park
OHSAA and Akron RubberDucks announce three-year agreement

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association and the Akron RubberDucks have announced a partnership to keep the OHSAA baseball state tournament at Canal Park in Akron for the next three years.

The RubberDucks have hosted the OHSAA baseball state tournament since 2019 at Canal Park, a 7,630-seat stadium in downtown Akron that is home to the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.

“We are excited to return as the host of the baseball championships,” RubberDucks General Manager and COO Jim Pfander said. “It is an honor to once again be able to bring the best high school players from all around the state to the wonderful community of Akron. Thank you to Doug Ute, Emily Mason and the entire OHSAA staff for bringing this event back to Akron. After our own championship season in 2021, we are excited to see more champions crowned at Canal Park.”

The OHSAA softball state tournament is also held in Akron at nearby Firestone Stadium the first weekend in June, while the baseball state tournament is held the second weekend in June.

“The RubberDucks have been great hosts and we are very excited to continue working with them,” OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said. “Canal Park is such a fantastic venue and our schools, communities and staff have had a wonderful experience in Akron. The stadium is a perfect fit for our state tournament, and even more importantly, the RubberDucks staff is so great to work with, and they go above and beyond to make the experience special.”

Canal Park features two of the largest dugouts in minor league baseball and indoor batting cages for teams to warm up. Beyond right field is one of the largest video boards in the minor leagues. In 2022, Canal Park will debut an upgraded seating experience with the replacement and modernization of the seating bowl. Canal Park's playing surface of Kentucky bluegrass rests on top of three levels of sand, fine peat gravel and a combination of large peat gravel and drainage tiles. The infield is a mixture of sand and clay, with the track surrounding the playing field is comprised of crushed red brick.
 
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I suspect the complaining won't be as bad about baseball (or softball). Baseball fans/parents are accustomed to traveling and staying in hotels. Also, with the semifinals and finals at the same location the same weekend, most are hoping/expecting to stay the night for the next game. There is also no school that weekend for any of the teams involved, so they can get here as early or late as they want.

Huntington was a great venue but if they can't make it work, Akron is a great venue also.
 
Yappi said:
I suspect the complaining won't be as bad about baseball (or softball). Baseball fans/parents are accustomed to traveling and staying in hotels. Also, with the semifinals and finals at the same location the same weekend, most are hoping/expecting to stay the night for the next game. There is also no school that weekend for any of the teams involved, so they can get here as early or late as they want.

Huntington was a great venue but if they can't make it work, Akron is a great venue also.
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and not as many people care about baseball........
 
Playing at Huntington Park in 2015 and 2016 was a ton of fun......I sure would like to experience Canal Park too!
 
Well here is the one negative issue that cropped up last year for both softball and baseball. Crummy weather. In both cases the finals fought the rain and delayed the championships by at least one day. Combine that with the fact that the schools paid the whole freight for the teams to stay up there (no OHSAA support last year due to budget constraints) and you had some strange times for championship games. I think the D1 softball championship was played at 10:00 am one day later than scheduled and the D1 baseball championship was played at 9:00 PM on a Sunday night. Both situations might have been avoided if they could find a location more centrally located, both teams could have gone home, rested and played at a reasonable time with more fans in attendance. But I get it, if it can't be worked out at OSU for softball and Huntington for baseball then these other facilities are just as good. The bottom line is that these facilities have got to want to host and the relationship between OSU and OSHAA has to be at an all time low right now
 
I’ve been to a number of baseball final fours. I would guess the attendance to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000-1500. There is a large number of very suitable and well maintained baseball facilities across the state able to handle those crowds. There’s more to the bid process than meets the eye.
 
GCPRO said:
I’ve been to a number of baseball final fours. I would guess the attendance to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000-1500. There is a large number of very suitable and well maintained baseball facilities across the state able to handle those crowds. There’s more to the bid process than meets the eye.
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While I agree a number of places would be 'good enough' I still believe a state championship should be at a worthy facility.
Minor League, major college, etc. Maybe it is my jaded self as I do realize those players/fans would play anywhere for a title, but I prefer a place with some stature.

That is why I dislike when people recommend normal HS stadiums for title games that gets kicked around for football. To be completely honest, a state semi football game does not seem like you are 'at state' like it does in hoops and baseball. Being at OSU's facility for baseball and I am not certain it could handle some of the larger crowd title games.
 
thavoice said:
While I agree a number of places would be 'good enough' I still believe a state championship should be at a worthy facility.
Minor League, major college, etc. Maybe it is my jaded self as I do realize those players/fans would play anywhere for a title, but I prefer a place with some stature.

That is why I dislike when people recommend normal HS stadiums for title games that gets kicked around for football. To be completely honest, a state semi football game does not seem like you are 'at state' like it does in hoops and baseball. Being at OSU's facility for baseball and I am not certain it could handle some of the larger crowd title games
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While I agree that playing in a professional stadium is a tremendous atmosphere I don't see a great deal of difference between Canal Park and OSU/UC baseball facilities. My preference would be to play in front of a nearly packed smaller atmosphere as opposed to 10-20% capacity. Canal, Huntington, Dayton Dragons, Toledo Mudhens are the professional stadiums or are there some Independent teams with nice venues?
Ohio State doesn't want to mess with it as they feel they could some day be in the mix to host a NCAA regional though they would have to qualify.
Canal is nice, as is Huntington, just wishing those tourneys could be moved around the state.
 
GCPRO said:
While I agree that playing in a professional stadium is a tremendous atmosphere I don't see a great deal of difference between Canal Park and OSU/UC baseball facilities. My preference would be to play in front of a nearly packed smaller atmosphere as opposed to 10-20% capacity. Canal, Huntington, Dayton Dragons, Toledo Mudhens are the professional stadiums or are there some Independent teams with nice venues?
Ohio State doesn't want to mess with it as they feel they could some day be in the mix to host a NCAA regional though they would have to qualify.
Canal is nice, as is Huntington, just wishing those tourneys could be moved around the state.
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Only independant team I know of is Chilicothe, and I was there 2 years ago and.....no. That place is out.

I felt the games at 5/3 and Huntington had a very good atmoshere. We had a pathetic following at Canal Park and I think much of it had to do with it being a Sunday night, 7pm game maybe and I know many wimped out that it would be too late after the game. I think that was just a copout. That day I drove from Indianapolis to Akron for the title game, and then the 3 plus hours home again and then up early for work.
Spoiled fan base, I reckon.
 
I'm all for playing it at all the professional stadiums that can handle the event at a reasonable price. IMO, it does not need to be centrally located. Move it around the state into Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, Akron and any other Major/Minor league stadium that wants it.
 
Prasco Park in Mason would be a great spot. Problem is OHSAA does not seek locations and just hopes people will submit a bid. Lot's of Ohioan's could also experience LaRosa's, Montgomery Inn, Graters Ice cream along with the usual Ball park Hot Dogs and Burgers.

https://www.prascopark.com/bigeast/
www.prascopark.com

Home - Prasco Park

Come for baseball, food, and family entertainment. Leave with a full heart. See Upcoming Events Scroll FEATURED EVENT December 17 / ticket required We’re excited to welcome you to A Night in Lights at Prasco Park! To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, all ticket holders must review the...
www.prascopark.com www.prascopark.com
 
HSFB Fan said:
Prasco Park in Mason would be a great spot. Problem is OHSAA does not seek locations and just hopes people will submit a bid. Lot's of Ohioan's could also experience LaRosa's, Montgomery Inn, Graters Ice cream along with the usual Ball park Hot Dogs and Burgers.

https://www.prascopark.com/bigeast/
www.prascopark.com

Home - Prasco Park

Come for baseball, food, and family entertainment. Leave with a full heart. See Upcoming Events Scroll FEATURED EVENT December 17 / ticket required We’re excited to welcome you to A Night in Lights at Prasco Park! To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, all ticket holders must review the...
www.prascopark.com www.prascopark.com
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The facilities around Ohio know how to contact Columbus. There were more than just Canal Park under consideration....

That said, Prasco is a great facility. However, two things that make Prasco a tough sell.....

Limited seating capacity (I believe less than 1500)
Short distance from the plate to the backstop
 
AllSports12 said:
The facilities around Ohio know how to contact Columbus. There were more than just Canal Park under consideration....

That said, Prasco is a great facility. However, two things that make Prasco a tough sell.....

Limited seating capacity (I believe less than 1500)
Short distance from the plate to the backstop
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I've been to 10+ state games and have yet to see 1500 at a game.
 
GCPRO said:
I've been to 10+ state games and have yet to see 1500 at a game.
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Been going for decades..... I've seen it plenty of times.

Where are you going to park and put the people arriving for a game when a game is going on?

Prasco's own website indicates a 1250 seat capacity.
 
AllSports12 said:
Been going for decades..... I've seen it plenty of times.

Where are you going to park and put the people arriving for a game when a game is going on?

Prasco's own website indicates a 1250 seat capacity.
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And a big complaint is not centrally located....Mason does bit fix that problem.
 
Would love to see Prasco host if they are moving it around. Great environment, both of my sons have played ball there. Could easily hold the state type crowd and plenty to do for out of town travelers
 
Prasco would be outstanding and they hold several large college level tourneys there but they would not be interested in providing the "cough, cough " amenities.
 
men in charge do not care about parking! If they did they would NEVER hold anything at Univ. of Cincinnati.
for football & basketball Parking garages 500yd. walk to arena in the rain.
 
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