2006 MDIA National Championship - location

[Sonny]

As for attendance during the week for championship games. Of course middle of the day games are going to draw less crowds due to folks working but, when I coached youth teams at the potential site this past summer, we had over 250 5-7 grade kids come out each wednesday for 8 weeks at 530 to 800pm. And we had close to 150 spectators for each round of games. The crowd base is strong, it is just a matter of scheduling a few marquee games later in the afternoon so that kids can get their working parents to take them out there.

How many of these kids can make it to midweek games when school is still in session and during their respective lacrosse season(s)? Little to none, I imagine. This will be a problem whereever we go.

[tamu33]

well sonny that is why i stated that there would need to be a few late games such as a 5pm start. Actually, having one men's and one women's match with a later start will significantly increase attendance figures. Most of those kids would show up. Heck, 15 of my kids are coming out to watch a HS alumni game this saturday.

School will be a problem for the midday games but that is going to be a problem anywhere. But the prospective sights are centrally located in a very lacrosse oriented community.

As for lacrosse interference, the state championships are held approximately at the same time but during the weekend. But with the championships coming to town, most likely they will be held earlier or later. I don't see texas trying to host two major events the same weekend. I mean we start our leagues in early feb. so I don't see that to be a problem.

[John Paul]

Depends on whether or not you consider it a problem. I don't think we ever intended to draw large crowds to the 1st and 2nd round games. We highlight the A semifinals and A and B championships. Those are played in a better venue at times and on days people can attend. Hopkins and Duke wouldn't draw a very big crowd at noon on a Wednesday.

[Pinball]

Tell the truth Matt Benson. Great work.

Laxpower: Minnesota has 47 varsity teams
Texas has 64 varsity teams

D1 recruits from last season
Minnesota: 2, to Stony Brook and Air Force
Texas: 9, to Bellarmine, Hofstra, Penn State, Ohio State, Denver, Penn,
Villanova, Lafayette

Ok yes, maybe you have had a little more D1 recruits, i get that, you won that battle.

Look at the size of texas compared to Minnesota. texas is a HUGE state. With Minnesota 98% of the teams are around the Minneapolis area you can see that the lacrosse community is mostly around there.

Almost every Varsity team has a JV team, but it is when you can field a sophomore and freshman team is when you have a large community of people that want to play and are interested in lacrosse. I do not see those teams in texas as much as in MN.

Square Miles of Minnesota-86,943
Number of Varsity Lax Teams- 47

Square Miles of texas
268,601
Number of Varsity lax teams- 64

Square Miles of Minnesota and Wisconson
151,00
Number of Varsity Lax teams- 70

[TexOle]

Plano would be a great area for the tournament in the Dallas area. I still think it is out there, but then again I am an LH boy. I am not sure what stadiums or fields would be used, but I am sure the USL-MDIA could find solid facilities. Plano is very protective of their facilities and who can be a part of them which might present problems. I always had problems getting on the field with a field pass in Plano. I think Wildcat/Ram along with Richland College fields would be awesome. That would remind me of Dallas Cup which presents a better atmosphere for TV, but the lacrosse is non-existent there. I think those people that know the North Dallas area could agree that area is where the kids play lacrosse. I would worry about volunteers there, but I think Dallas could do well. I still vote to give MN one more chance. If it improves keep it in MN, but if the teams still hate it then move it.

Things to improve the experience:
better scoreboards with large clocks
stands where people can watch multiple games as opposed to lots of people watching one game (possibly switch to the fields where there are 4 in a clump rather than in a row)
the laxworld tent and concessions should be closer to the action
it might be better to let the local teams run the concessions for fundraising
more facilities (bathrooms)
reserve facilities if the weather is an issue (domes in MN and extra fields)
plenty of hotels for teams
practice facilities for teams

These are just a few of my thoughts.

[tamu33]

Look at the size of texas compared to Minnesota. texas is a HUGE state. With Minnesota 98% of the teams are around the Minneapolis area you can see that the lacrosse community is mostly around there.
Square Miles of Minnesota-86,943
Number of Varsity Lax Teams- 47

Square Miles of texas
268,601
Number of Varsity lax teams- 64

Square Miles of Minnesota and Wisconson
151,00
Number of Varsity Lax teams- 70

Well you can cut texas by just about half from Wichita Falls (north) to Laredo (south) and you will not find a single hs lacrosse team and only one college team (texas tech) west of that line. And most of texas' hs teams are in dallas and houston with austin and san antonio boasting several others. The sport is not UIL sponsored in the state so most players are already dedicated enough to play in their spare time. Which to me shows a dedication that is pretty hard to surpass, as we all played in our spare time in college (and look where that has lead to).

Almost every Varsity team has a JV team, but it is when you can field a sophomore and freshman team is when you have a large community of people that want to play and are interested in lacrosse. I do not see those teams in texas as much as in MN.

Why do we keep talking about varsity teams on laxpower? I can tell you from my own eyes that the number of youth (5th - 8th) teams in dallas is just about even with the varsity teams. Compared to 5 years ago when only a few private schools had teams. And last time I checked, varsity hs teams weren't the only ones who attended the MDIA championships.

[JW]

Lacrosse is erupting in the Lone Star state far more than minnesota.

That is certainly debatable. If the event is moved to Frisco (outside Dallas), I don't think our event will draw fan support from far-away Texas cities like Houston, San Antonio, or Austin (especially Tuesday thru Friday). Regardless of where we play the event, fan support will be luke-warm. We are going to ALWAYS have a tough time attract any amount of fans for the early rounds.

Frisco, while being outside of Dallas is considered the fastest growing city in the United States. It has boomed to become one of the most affluent cities in texas and Lacrosse is starting to catch on there. They have a great Sport complex that is currently used for Soccer, if the National Championships were played there it would get more fans than you think. While being outside of Dallas, it is only 30 to 45 minutes from Dallas and Fort Worth and only 1 hour from the Oklahoma Border.

Just a thought, but the USLIA if they want to put the Championship in Frisco should talk to the owners of Pizza Hut Park about playing the Championship games there. It is an awesome Soccer stadium the FC Dallas of the MLS plays in.

Just remember in Texas alone there are almost 20 MDIA teams.

"If you move it, they will come".

[tamu33]

Pizza Hut park is a soccer exclusive venue right now during that time. North Texas Lacrosse has approached them for several events including IA championships and they have made it clear that soccer is the priority for their fields. Plus, the IA's are right during the middle of the State Cup (soccer) and the beginning of the MLS season. To many conflicts for it to be worth it for the new sets of fields.

[Bentiss]

My vote still goes to Blaine...When I think of the MDIA Championships, I think of Blaine...Lacrosse might as well change its name to LaBlaine...

[Bluevelvet]

The Frisco complex has not been considered for the championships. It was not part of the Dallas bid.

Further discussion of Frisco seems like a waste of time.

...two separate venues - one city rec center (multiple fields) for the preliminary rounds and a high school football stadium for the semis and finals. All in the Plano / Highland Park area.

This does not sound like an improvement. Two separate venues? A high school football field and a city rec center? My vote, if I had one, goes to Minneapolis.

[JW]

See I thought the bid was from Frisco, I was unaware the bid came from Dallas Proper...

My Bad.

Dallas is just as good for me.

[Ballaholic]

i think the committee should look to emulate what the WCLL did last year with their lacrosse tourney in San Fran. That sounded like it was a major success. This was most likely due to the popularity of lacrosse in San Fran. We should try to get some high school teams to schedule games at the same facility maybe the weekend before or something. Just some thoughts but i like the idea of rotating the host city every year. Club lacrosse is helping to spread the game and by having different host cities it increases our sphere of influence. Just some random ideas i thought id share.

also, for next year i think the committee should consider denver, chicago and any city in cali.

[benji]

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

plus... Texas women are just better looking.

Lacrosse in growing like wildfire in Texas right now, especially in North Texas.

Areas like Plano, Allen, Frisco and Richardson are all within minutes of each other and are all more than capable of providing excellent field, hotel, and entertainment accommodations.

If the IA championships were to be held there, I'm sure it would be with little dissappointment.[/b]

[shrekjr]

This does not sound like an improvement. Two separate venues? A high school football field and a city rec center? My vote, if I had one, goes to Minneapolis.

If it is the fields I'm thinking of, these are not your typical high school and city rec center fields.

Highland Park's "high school" stadium has the new artificial turf and holds over 8000. It is one of the nicest, but not nearly the biggest, high school stadiums in Texas.

The "city rec center" fields in Plano are extremely well maintained since additional money was used to upgrade them several years ago for the U.S. Soccer Southern Regional tournament. They are separated by chain link fences but close enough to watch multiple games.

[Bluevelvet]

This does not sound like an improvement. Two separate venues? A high school football field and a city rec center? My vote, if I had one, goes to Minneapolis.

They (the fields) are separated by chain link fences but close enough to watch multiple games.

Chain link fences surround each field? I assume that means no bleachers. How about multiple clocks and scoreboards?
The entire tournament (concessions, tents, food, equipment etc.) has to be moved to a separate venue for the semi finals and finals?
How is this an improvement?