LetcherCentral23
03-07-2007, 11:17 PM
It seems like there have been some things to wonder around on here that is completely not true about Letcher County Central, it's gymnasium, and their hosting of the 14th region tournament.
The gym capacity:
What gives people the idea that Letcher County Central doesn't have the capacity to host a regional tournament? They have been approved by KHSAA to do so. I'm just wondering, where are people getting that the capacity for the gym is 2,500 people? That is entirely not true. I was on the committee to help design the high school and I assure you, that is false. The gymnasium was built and approved by the fire marshall to SEAT 3,500 people. There is also enough balcony standing room for 200 more. That is 200 more than the capacity for Hazard and Powell County even though KHSAA has it at 3,500. They do not account for the balcony, but the fire marshall does. As far as parking is concerned, the site is also capable of hosting a regional tournament. There is parking on 4 different levels of the campus with shuttle busses running throughout all four levels.
Is this the only time LCC will get to host?
No. That was an old rumor that is entirely false. KHSAA had requested an estimated seating capacity for the gymnasium while it was still in planning. That estimate was at 3,000 people. KHSAA told them they would not be able to host a regional tournamet. As said before, I was on the commitee to help design the high school and I clearly remember the superintendent pushing for the gym to be increased to have the capacity to host both boys and girls regional tournaments. It was then that they went back to the drawing board to increase it to 3,500. I assure you, KHSAA has approved Letcher County Central to be in permanent rotation for the 14th region tourney.
The clearing of the gym:
This is only for the semi-finals night and is not due in part to seating capacity. If it were Hazard and Powell would have to do this as well. This was done in part to better accomodate the fans when their teams are playing. At the end of the first game, all of the first game fans will have the lower arena and most likely will remain there for the second game. This would leave the second game's fans in the upper arena nowhere close to their team. This is just giving the fans a chance to simply have the best seats possible to watch their team. People who wants to stay for both games can pay 7 dollars instead of 5 and have their hand stamped. This will allow them to go into the lobby after the first game, stand momentarily, and then be released into the gymnasium in a special line with no pay, no waits, no anything. Other regions have done this before and have found it very effecient. Personally, I don't like it myself. This is the first time that Letcher Central has got to host, they just wanted to take precautionary measures to ensure the best experience for all fans. After this time they will have everything "ironed out". Personally, I do not think this will happen in their next rotation.
They held the opening rounds of the tournament tonight. Everything went well. It was very organized from the parking to the security, and even the concessions. THE SEATING WAS FINE. The food is outstanding, and the hospitality room is unlike any other I have seen. There are big screens in the lobby and in the hospitality room for viewing the game while stretching or getting something to eat. I love the starting line-up announcements. They turn out all the lights and have music playing (they probably have the best sound system in the region. If they wanted to they could shake the walls down in that place) and spotlights shining while the starting line-ups are announced. It really helps the players and fans to get into it. Overall I feel Letcher Central has done a fine job. Yes, they have some things they need to iron out, but they have done fine.
The gym capacity:
What gives people the idea that Letcher County Central doesn't have the capacity to host a regional tournament? They have been approved by KHSAA to do so. I'm just wondering, where are people getting that the capacity for the gym is 2,500 people? That is entirely not true. I was on the committee to help design the high school and I assure you, that is false. The gymnasium was built and approved by the fire marshall to SEAT 3,500 people. There is also enough balcony standing room for 200 more. That is 200 more than the capacity for Hazard and Powell County even though KHSAA has it at 3,500. They do not account for the balcony, but the fire marshall does. As far as parking is concerned, the site is also capable of hosting a regional tournament. There is parking on 4 different levels of the campus with shuttle busses running throughout all four levels.
Is this the only time LCC will get to host?
No. That was an old rumor that is entirely false. KHSAA had requested an estimated seating capacity for the gymnasium while it was still in planning. That estimate was at 3,000 people. KHSAA told them they would not be able to host a regional tournamet. As said before, I was on the commitee to help design the high school and I clearly remember the superintendent pushing for the gym to be increased to have the capacity to host both boys and girls regional tournaments. It was then that they went back to the drawing board to increase it to 3,500. I assure you, KHSAA has approved Letcher County Central to be in permanent rotation for the 14th region tourney.
The clearing of the gym:
This is only for the semi-finals night and is not due in part to seating capacity. If it were Hazard and Powell would have to do this as well. This was done in part to better accomodate the fans when their teams are playing. At the end of the first game, all of the first game fans will have the lower arena and most likely will remain there for the second game. This would leave the second game's fans in the upper arena nowhere close to their team. This is just giving the fans a chance to simply have the best seats possible to watch their team. People who wants to stay for both games can pay 7 dollars instead of 5 and have their hand stamped. This will allow them to go into the lobby after the first game, stand momentarily, and then be released into the gymnasium in a special line with no pay, no waits, no anything. Other regions have done this before and have found it very effecient. Personally, I don't like it myself. This is the first time that Letcher Central has got to host, they just wanted to take precautionary measures to ensure the best experience for all fans. After this time they will have everything "ironed out". Personally, I do not think this will happen in their next rotation.
They held the opening rounds of the tournament tonight. Everything went well. It was very organized from the parking to the security, and even the concessions. THE SEATING WAS FINE. The food is outstanding, and the hospitality room is unlike any other I have seen. There are big screens in the lobby and in the hospitality room for viewing the game while stretching or getting something to eat. I love the starting line-up announcements. They turn out all the lights and have music playing (they probably have the best sound system in the region. If they wanted to they could shake the walls down in that place) and spotlights shining while the starting line-ups are announced. It really helps the players and fans to get into it. Overall I feel Letcher Central has done a fine job. Yes, they have some things they need to iron out, but they have done fine.