Neutral Sites

[knightrider]

The answer to Richland/Jtown seems simple to me. They are in D6. Why would D5 hand over revenue to a D6 school? I'm sure they aren't going to let D5 use the stadium for free. I don't know if the PIAA has any rules regarding a district scheduling a championship game outside of it's own district.

To actually play at a nice stadium! There is life outside of Windber stadium!

[coachcarter]

Good point fro - Richland would be perfect. Turf field so weather would be of little concern, ample parking-bleachers-and a great fieldhouse to have the teams dress in. Why can d-5 play basketball on the hill but not football?

[southpaw2000wr]

The answer to Richland/Jtown seems simple to me. They are in D6. Why would D5 hand over revenue to a D6 school? I'm sure they aren't going to let D5 use the stadium for free. I don't know if the PIAA has any rules regarding a district scheduling a championship game outside of it's own district.

To actually play at a nice stadium! There is life outside of Windber stadium!

Windber stadium is horrible, unless you get a saturday game. then you get a football game, locals racing their cavaliers and k-cars.

No I agree, it would be nice to give the d5 players a dream come true and let them play under the lights on field turf. ha just kidding

[El-Moldo]

As I asked under a different topic, why does North Star from District 5 get to play a home game vs District 8 Langley? Once inter-districts start, I didn't think a team was allowed to play on their own home field.

[AmusedObserver]

southpaw,

I agree with you and others that Berlin has nicer facilities, i.e., bleachers, concession stands, etc. However, when important issues such as playing surface and parking contiguous to the facility are factored in, Windber Stadium clearly has as much, if not more, to offer than Snyder Field. Obviously I am not suggesting that Windber Stadium is even an option for this game, just talking generalities. One thing is for sure, Snyder Field is one of, if not the worst playing surface in District 5 (outside of Rockwood) (By the way I have been on all of the fields in District 5 with the exception of Everett and Tussey Mountain). I would rather see the teams travel to Bedford so the kids could play on a good surface than see them settle for Berlin.

[philip's dad]

you are 100% percent right fro about the basketball championship site of UPJ. The only answer I can come up with for the football issues is simply what already was said about Rich/John being District 6 sites instead of Berlin's District 5. UPJ, Mansion Park, and Heinz Field are sites that not make sense to the teams that are playing for the chapionships that year, but these sites are booked a year in advance without knowing who the actual team are that will qualify. I think for the most part if you would ask kids playing in Districts 5, 6, and 7 to pick a place they would like to play their championships in I would be surprised if the sites already mentioned would not be high on most kids' list. So I think the facility itself is the true reason which makes it special to win your title at a nice facility. In D5 football they keep moving it to a neutral site unlike the permanent site in basketball (UPJ). Don't know for sure if my reasoning makes sense, just an insight on my part.

[D60]

southpaw,

I agree with you and others that Berlin has nicer facilities, i.e., bleachers, concession stands, etc. However, when important issues such as playing surface and parking contiguous to the facility are factored in, Windber Stadium clearly has as much, if not more, to offer than Snyder Field. Obviously I am not suggesting that Windber Stadium is even an option for this game, just talking generalities. One thing is for sure, Snyder Field is one of, if not the worst playing surface in District 5 (outside of Rockwood) (By the way I have been on all of the fields in District 5 with the exception of Everett and Tussey Mountain). I would rather see the teams travel to Bedford so the kids could play on a good surface than see them settle for Berlin.

Any team that cares eneough would play in the berlin parking lot. :lol:

It dosn't matter where you play, just play the game.

[muckitup]

D60 I have to agree with your philosophy just play the game!!

[ctindian00]

this post isnt mainly about the teams..but the fans, parents, and friends who are being forced to drive a ridiculous distance when the game could be held closer to home for both schools

[fro]

D60 and muckitup:

I am sure the Windber players and coaches and the Township players and coaches would agree with you. And I am sure most fans of these schools don't really care where the game is played and will go to the game no matter where it is played. All I am saying is that from the fans perspective it is about convenience. The bottom line is it is inconvenient for the fans of both schools to go to Berlin when there are facilities much closer that can be used. I haven't been to Shade's facility so I can speak if it is nicer than Berlin, but would certainily be closer to each of the participating schools.