Prant I don't lnow how you figure Wichita is winning. 60 percent of the people want it in Topeka or anyplace other than Wichita. I think anyplace other than Wichita would include Topeka.

I have to think a college fieldhouse like K-state would provide a much better atmosphere. I know Manhattan doesn't have the motel rooms for 3 classes but I think the atmosphere would be better. When I was in Wichita I didn't like the concrete drab atmosphere, and in that regard Topeka isn't any better.

There are lots of hotels in Hawaii

And lots better atmosphere than Manhattan

My anywhere else vote wouldn't include topeka. I'd rather go to Iraq than Topeka. In fact, I believe the guys who run the Expocenter, got their management techniques in Iraq.

You must excuse Prant, his addition skills must have faded. In any case we all know that the state tournament won't be moving anytime in the near future. The whole point of this post and several others that have covered this topic is that we want people's opinions. The opinion seems to be that wichita hasn't really been the greatest place to be. The only reason why I made a case for the expocenter was becuase it has the highest occupancy of every other option. And the kids tournament runs great there and they far more kids than the High school tournament does.

jasper not funny with the Iraq comment considering a former Kansas wrestler was a P.O.W. over there....but back to the topic at hand....

I think every one should have there own state tourny and on different weekends so we can travel to see them....

321 @ Hays Since it works for them
4 @ Salina
5 @ Wichita
6 @ KSU

I think if you look for the most part those would be the central location for 4, 5, and 6 for the most part...though splitting it up would be bad for the sport. Oklahoma has a 1day State Tourny I believe...and only 2 regionals per classification...they also have a gay rule that if you place higher than the 4th place guy you can challenge down for his spot to have a tougher match 1st off at stateand only top 4 place at State...if we had the super regionals I would want to to see the 8 man bracket at state have say4a and 6a on Friday and 5a and 3a(still in Hays) on Saturday...just a thought

I agree with Aaron's suggestion of Salina for the 4a site. There should be plenty of rooms for 4a fans and it would open up several other possibilities for the 5/6a guys as a smaller facility/motel situation would work for them without the additional crowd attached to 4a.
some would point out that much of the Wichita Coliseum crowd comes because they can see more than one tournament at the same location but when you look at the success that 321a has had at Hays it seems possible that 4a alone would probably generate quite a crowd.

Another possible option in a few years, if it ever gets built, is the new "coliseum" in Olathe that is scheduled to hold 8,000 (this would be slightly smaller than the Wichita Coliseum and slightly larger than Salina Bicentennial Center)...There is also talk about a possible "coliseum" near the Kansas Speedway in western KCK...

Also, why is it that Allen Field House is never mentioned as a possible site, and Bramlage Coliseum is seldom mentioned??? I know KU and KSU both dumped wrestling over the years, and people are bitter about it, but you know, sometimes you have to "nut up" and approach the schools (I don't know if the KWCA or KSHSAA has ever done this---if they have and were previously turned down, I hope each keeps approaching them)...They are the two biggest arenas in the state, yet they are not utilized...

Yes, but as far as the actual poll, the Colliseum is winning 39%-31%-31%. Just like the presidential elections of years past- you don't have to have a majority to win. (Ross Perot factor in '92, Clinton in '96, G-Dubs '00). I'm just using the system our great nation does.

And yes, Bramlage would be sweet.

And since we're all against CandyLand, what about having the tournament at Cabaret USA in Topeka? I would definitely ditch Wichita for that.

GorillaHawk:

A couple of years ago, I floated the idea (and Fanatic, don't start) of moving the whole tournament to Manhattan, putting the 6As and 5As in Bramlege and 4As and 3-2-1As in Ahearn. Then move ALL of the medal matches to one arena on Saturday along with the finals. Probably won't happen, since we can't tinker with Hays, but it would be pretty cool.

As for Allen Fieldhouse, forget it. I think Truman was president the last time there was a mat in that building. There's a better chance of having the State tournament at Kemper Arena or Saint Francis High School than in the cathedrial of basketball.

Why would I start, you already admitted it was not going to happen. Oh and I agree it is a (cool) NOT TOO HOT of an idea.

Thanks for not disappointing me. Got to admit, it's still better than Hawaii or CandyLand!

A potential conflict with both Allen Field House in Lawrence and Bramlage in Manhattan is the Big 12 basketball season. Rarely, if ever, will either schools regular season be completed by the time of the State Wrestling Tournament.

While both have more seating than the Coliseum, I do not believe either have the necessary floor space to accommodate nine (9) wrestling mats, the scoreboards, and the tables!

Again, I will state as I have in the past, it is easy for all of you to complain, however have any of you volunteered to be a part of the solution? It is the individual school administrators in the metropolitan Wichita area, (Andover, Augusta, Chaparral, Circle, Derby, El Dorado, Goddard, Haysville, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Valley Center, Wichita, and many others) which provide the leadership and round up the volunteers, who perform the grunt work which enable the tournament run at all.

I do not remember seeing any of you last year when I was assisting in the rolling up of mats and performing other necessary grunt work to prepare for the finals.

Lastly, when Salina gets a 4A high school which is willing to step and handle the duties associated with the tournament, then we can consider the Bi-Centennial Center.

It is also certainly easy for Nigel to once again complain about the site, when he did not attend the tournament last year.

Any of you willing to step up, and provide the necessary leadership to be solution providers, feel free to contact me and I will provide you with the name of the appropriate contact person.

Mr. Salyer:

There are no arguments that the area schools who staff Wichita work hard — we all know that and appriciate it.

But there are a couple of points you should understand.

First, due to places like Concordia, Abiline and Concordia, Salina would be have plenty of 4A schools to staff the Bicentenial Center, if that subject ever came up.

And as for using facilities at KU or K-State during the Big 12 basketball season, keep in mind that the Missouri tournament is held in the Hearnes Center and the Nebraska tourney is held during the Devaney Center, during the Big 12 season. And, Iowa State has put a bid in to get the Iowa tournament at Hilton.

It's merely a matter of asking the Big 12 to schedule around the three days needed.

Another point to consider in a college town hosted one-site state tournament: college basketball games are typically played on Wednesday and Saturday nights and SUNDAY afternoons.

I am a died-in-the-wool Hays 3-2-1A kind of guy -- but the idea of having a combined state tournament in Manhattan, Bramledge/Ahearm in an exciting thought. It won't happen, I know, but it is fun to think about.

I think the biggest thing to keep in mind about Wichita is not the building itself or the volunteers. The building is adequate for the event and the workers are tireless. It's more the attitude of the local officials.

After KSHSAA went to the city with some concerns, the city came back and basically said "Well, you don't have anyother options so here's our deal, take it or leave it."

And they were right, KSHSAA had (at least for next year) no other options, so it's back to Wichita in 2004. But if the Expocenter is available for the 2005 tournament, expect Topeka to bid on it and if Wichita doesn't change its tune, they will probably lose it.

THe State Tournament as it is in Wichita gets a lot of help from mostly Augusta and Andover people...other thatn that it's Butler County Community college helping out!!! As for the Salina proposal...4A would pull alot of help from Abilene, Concordia(which was mentioned twice by Tkdwn), as well as chapman, and Clay center. I'm sure if it were closer the 4a teams rom the NWKL like Goodland would feel more inclined to help out as well...furthermore even though the top 6 place...I think that the state tournament should take the top 4 guys at each weight (give them like 3lbs for thenext week and have a preset pairing like they do for regional 1st vs another regional 4th and have all 4 classes go at it Grand State style.

To Tkdwn42:

I readily admit the staff at the Coliseum, from the ticket handlers to the security guards, should have a more customer friendly disposition.

I too have complained to the Coliseum Director regarding the staff, and have been told the staff for this event are sub-contractors.

The "city" I believe you are referring is the City of Wichita which has no control over the Coliseum as the facility is owned by Sedgwick County. The County Commissioners have unfortunately had a deaf ear.

There also is no question that cooperative efforts by officials from Shawnee County and the City of Topeka enable the Expocenter to bid on certain events which are partially underwritten by the local governments. The City of Wichita will not assist with any funding as the Coliseum is located in the County. Difficult to convince the City of Wichita officials that not all visitors to the event will stay at hotels and frequent restaurants only in the county and that the Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau should participate as they are the recipient of certain hotel room taxes from the event.

You're right, I did mean the county, but the sentiments are the same.

I have no objection whatsoever to the tournament remaining in Wichita, but if it is, then county needs to actually work with KSHSAA and the KWCA to figure out better way. Charging for the hospitality room sort of defines the whole thing: "We'll be hospitable, but it will cost you!"

Perhaps losing the tournament for a while to Topeka will make Wichita and Sedgwick County wake up. But when they come back to KSHSAA and say "take it or leave it," they really don't do a lot to help their case.