New Playoff Location?

[DRich17]

What do people think about the current playoff location for GRLC?

I personally think Lwood has a pretty cool facility for playoffs; it's a nice stadium all around. I believe my freshman year, 2 years ago, they were in Chicago and I know last year and this year they were/are at Lwood. Lindenwood does a great job hosting, but considering the home field and all, would it be possible to have future playoffs somewhere else?

I don't think there's anything wrong with Lwood's place, I wouldn't mind though getting a chance to go somewhere different every year. It would be cool to rotate the playoffs.

[bste_lax]

Usually someone or someones need to step up with a new location proposal and present it at the fall meeting. As usual, not many people do, so the conference seems (I could be wrong on this) to go with easiest/best which has been Lindenwood in recent years (I am guessing the GRLC does not have to pay to use the fields like other possible locations).

When I played, Lindenwood's place was still under construction and it was a nice play. Based on pictures, it seems like an even nicer place with it being finished.

I am trying to think of other possible locations and I can't think off the top of my head. Possibly somewhere in Chicago.

I doubt many would be against playing it elsewhere, but someone would need to step up in setting it up.

[DRich17]

Well, like with us, we have a pretty nice football stadium, with field turf that has double sides stands (ok i wont go into a lot of detail but its a nice stadium) and with a little bit of coordinating and talking to the right people, we could use that for one. I mean I don't know that I could say we'd be able to host every home game there, but especially if we were hosting the conf tourney, it'd be very likely.

Another thing I thought would be cool is having (for example) Mizzou try the same thing. Playing the GRLC playoffs at Faurot Field? Are you kidding that'd be awesome. I don't know how likely that would be, but it's a cool idea. Really playing at any of the GRLC's schools main football stadium would be cool. You know college kids we love to travel, Id be up for having the playoffs in Hawaii (HA!) if it was realistic!

And I bet Hood is able to get the use of Lwoods football stadium for nothing, and i dont know if itd be different anywhere else, but I bet thats a big deal as well, rental cost.

[Timbalaned]

Only issue with that that we have had out here is that the football stadium fields aren't the same size as lacrosse fields or the lines aren't right is actually more a more correct statement and the athletic departments usually have issues with "club" teams messing with lines and stuff on "their" fields.

[DRich17]

yea we had the same issue..
The first one being they told us we couldnt use it cause the tape we'd put down would pull up too much of the rubber pellets... we finally got them to budge when we told them (the athletic directors) that we would buy them as much new rubber as they wanted...
We played our first home game on the field and I gotta say it was really sweet, it beats the heck outta playing in some random, "no one else uses it so you can" field.

Ive also heard about this spray on chalk lining they use up north, its supposed to come off with a rub and a bit of water, I have yet to see it though

[Dan Wishengrad]

Ive also heard about this spray on chalk lining they use up north, its supposed to come off with a rub and a bit of water, I have yet to see it though

Liquid Marking Chalk made by Aervoe is the stuff you want. We have had FieldTurf up here in the Pacific Northwest for longer than most places around the country, and went through all the issues with lining these expensive surfaces that are so zealously protected by the powers-that-be. Paul Allen sprung for FieldTurf in Husky Stadium when the Seahawks played there for a couple years, and I remember all the athletic department and facilities people coming out one day while we were practicing to test the LMC on the turf. They put down some lines of varying thicknesses off to the edge of the FieldTurf. When they left we went over with some water bottles, dumped it on the paint and with our feet rubbed out the lines. When they came back to check on the lines a few days later they quickly decided the stuff wouldn't cause any permanent staining or damage, and we have been using it ever since.

[essn1064]

How about Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium its probably one of the best stadiums in the GRLC

But who wants to go to oxford except for a good time... atleast STL is centralized

[The_Buddha_Man]

But who wants to go to oxford except for a good time... at least STL is centralized

I know Will and I are always down for a good time , but I think that hits the nail on the head. I think it's the Centralized location of the state of MO. We could rotate within MO, but with the geographical size of the GRLC, MO might be the best place.

Now if we rotated geographically (i.e.- clockwise 90 degrees every year), then within the time your eligibility runs out you would have at least one chance for a "closer to home" playoff location. Just some thoughts....

[Michael Martin]

Within the GRLC there are obviously some great potential venues for the conference tournament. Five years ago Missouri S&T played Missouri State in their football stadium, a very impressive facility.

There are a number of things to consider when deciding the venue:

We now have 2 (Div I and II) six team brackets, which means 10 games over the weekend. This may require more than 1 field. In the past, there have been games in "St Louis" occurring simultaneously at Lindenwood (St Charles) and Francis Field at Wash U (site of MO HS Championships and also 1904 Summer Olympics).

Fields - weather sensitivity (concerns about heavy May rains) - Turf would be preferable - less concern on cancellation and damage costs to field. Proper lighting, indoor or outdoor.

Costs - Fields for 10 games and backup for grass fields, if used.

Referees - yes, they are part of the equation. Willingness of "tournament qualified" officials to travel to the site and cost of their travel.

Location - We are a geographically large conference, travel time for early Friday games has been a concern in the past. Probably not a deal breaker for any location, but a consideration.

Other - previous experience with site, other services provided, local support, etc.

I have covered most of my criteria, but I may have overlooked something.

I would encourage any team serious about potentially hosting the tournament to contact Brian Mosher, he may have things to add to the list. It may also be helpful to have someone from your team volunteer to help with this year's tournament.

[ISULAX22]

You have to have your request in prior to the fall meeting. ISU was trying to host this year but was unaware of this requirement.

[The_Buddha_Man]

For the record, I have no problem with Lindenwood...It allows Will and I to indulge in Steak n Shake incessantly...
Oh yeah, and Bowling Pin shaped bottles....

[A.J. Stevens]

The GRLC assigner has advised the exec. board that if any location other than St. Louis or Chicago were chosen he would not be able to find enough officials to work the games.

[essn1064]

Are you sure AJ, I am sure Memphis would have enough refs too

[A.J. Stevens]

We have access to a lot of highly experienced officials in those two locations. We are talking 10 games in 3 days. I'm sure our assigner is aware of the availability of officials throughout the GRLC and he says St. Louis or Chicago if we want enough experienced officials to work every game. I'm just repeating what we were told.

[DRich17]

just to bring it to the top of the discussion page again...