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Pretty sad day actually! I think i would of voted no for that arena if I would of known that high school events were going to be priced out of being able to use it! I would love to sit down face to face with the Wichita Sports Commission and ask them what they are trul thinking by letting this decent sized event get away. Hotels, restraunts, had to of made some money that week-end!

While State May be moving, I am not done fighting the fight!

This is quite a shocker--and not refering to WSU.

What and where now?? Need to get to KU Allen or KSU Bramlage and at least put 654As back together, if they can fit in those BB arenas. Don't think 3 classes will fit in the Salina arena!

This article needs to be read by everyone in the Kansas wrestling community.

Probably save a lot of money if 4A,5A and 6A were all put back together! If there was a place that could house this event. Not too mention, wherever this event was held would have a nice boost to the economy of the community that Thursday, Friday and Saturday!

That can't happen before 2014 when the contract with Salina has run.

I think Hartman Arena is perfect for 5A & 6A.

I vote for Hartman Arena! Easy access and plenty of parking and a darn nice guy! Kids Classic was held there and it was neat!

Never been there but looks good on the web.

Says it seats only 5,000 for sports. Is that enough for 6A and 5A. Those 2 class filled 2/3s or more of the Kansas Coliseum back when 654A state was there--and I think the Coliseum seating was around or over 10,000. Do not think you can fit three classes in Hartman. Have heard that some 4A folks do not want 4A to leave Salina. But, geting three classes under one roof should save a lot of rent and other costs--if anybody is looking to save money.

A good reason to stay in the Wichita is or was the community support structure for the tournament--or so it was a few years ago when I last attended. Assume it was still there the last couple of years when the tournament was at Intrust.

Is the Coliseum still operating? A big barn but still a good venue.

“They pretty well priced us out of the market to use that facility,” said Gary Musselman, the executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association.

Musselman said expenses were triple what the KSHSAA paid to use the Kansas Coliseum.

Let me guess, no one knew ahead of time what the cost to use this facility would be? Don't they usually sign a contract for something like this? It sounds like someone is being overpaid to make a bad decision.

4A was the class that filled the Coliseum back then. The first year 4A went to Salina it was reported that the crowd for the finals back at the Coliseum, only filled the first few rows of the upper deck. Not sure if that was accurate as I was in Salina. The amount of seating at Hartman should be more than sufficient for the two upper classes. They had 9 full mats in use for the kids tournament there this year, so it can handle the 8 required for state, with room to spare.
The Coliseum is closed and moth-balled and will likely be demolished at some point in the future. Too bad, it was still serviceable and would have worked nicely for our purposes.

If they can't/don't go back to Wichita, where could they go that has a big enough facility?

Could go to Kemper in KCMO. In Missouri but only by half a mile. Big enough for professional hockey and arena football. No going to happen!

Really can't see Wichita letting it get away. To much of a community money maker for restaurants, fast food, and hotel/motels! Bet the Sedgwick County Sporta Commission and County Commissioners are getting an ear full.

That HAS to be it! OR, the price for the next contract went up that much? Ya think? I wouldn't put it past those people at KSHSAA to just have signed a blank contract and not known how much it cost!

SportsFan02.

Challenge you on 4A filling the Coliseum-especially in the mid and late 90s. 4A filled one end and around both sides to about where the end of a basketball court woul be (about even with where the tournament admin guys/computers used to sit). 6A and 5A filled both long sides and the other end, 5A on the North, 6A on the South. Ark city, Kudos to Beeson and the Ark City Crowd, always filled one section by themselves.

What you said about the first year 4A went to Salina may be true. But, if 6A and 5A filled the bottom tier, plus two rows of the Upper tier, both all the way around the Coliseum, that is probably as many or more 6A and 5A spectators/fans (6,000 to 7,000) as when the 3 classes were there. Still begs the quetion, is Hartman big enough seating only 5,000.

Surely KSHSAA has attendance history for all the years when there has been just a two class 6A/5A tournament. Critical info to make a selection on a different facility.

Late 90s Abilene filled up two full sections Top to bottom North West side of gym, I have pictures. I would guess Goodland almost had as many people there as well. Abilene won it, Dodge City won it. It was the first year Ark City did NOT win it. (I think they won 13 in a row prior.)

4a filled and Rocked that stadium in 1999. We were back to back state champs with 5 seniors we had a huge following.

The only match I can remember from 5a or 6a that year is Jeff Razor(JC) Winning State in triple OT and was so excited he sprinted off the mat and jumped over the Hockey Wall. They had to call him back so the ref could raise his hand,

If you were there in 99 It was the 4a fans that filled half of the Kansas Colliseum.

Just a little history.......

The first thing to remember about the Coliseum is that you have to separate it by the various sub-facilities (Britt Brown Arena, the Pavillions, etc.). Most people when they talk about the "Coliseum" mean the Britt Brown Arena. As you said, Britt Brown Arena is closed, but the Pavilions are still operating and there are many horse shows and the like coming this summer.

Now, about you calling the Arena "serviceable", not really.

The issue with Britt Brown Arena was that it had serious challenges in many areas (accessibility, restrooms, exiting, etc.) and exposed the county to potential lawsuits in these areas (particularily around accessibility). In order to address those accessibility challenges the entire facility would have to have been brought up to current building codes, which included correcting everything mentioned and more. In 2003 the cost of these repairs and updates was estimated at $55 Million and still would have only been (officially) a 9,900 seat venue. Unlike Koch Arena at WSU, the structural system of BBA designed so that expanding the arena was also not possible.

So, good or bad, we have a new arena.

Now, I truly enjoyed watching 5A and 6A there, and it would be a shame if they moved the tournament. BUT, I am very appreciatine of the KSHAA standing firm around costs, especially now.

I would like to know what the single day attendance at the 5A/6A tournament was, as I think that Hartman would be enough. They had the entire 2nd concourse at Intrust Bank Arena closed for the tournament. If my sources are correct, that is 6K seats meaning that the lower level seats 8K to 9K with the floor completely open. Take away the 2K seats below the main concourse level that were folded in and I think you are getting close to Hartman's numbers.

Will be interesting to see what happens, my letter to the County Commissioners on keeping the tournament here is already sent.

Looks like you lost this challenge. Listen to them cow bells when we walk in font of the camera. South end looks pretty bare maybe you big city folks were running late.

Parade of Champions 4,5,6,A 1999 Video
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There was no bottom tier when set up for wrestling at the Coliseum. There is only the upper tier which describes the problem with the crowds. I always believed 4A took up about half of all seating. The majority of the remainder went to 5A and the rest to 6A.

The figure to refurbish the Coliseum was grossly inflated to help sell the downtown arena at that time. It could have been done for a third of that if desired. The only real issue that would have had to be addressed with the facility were the bathrooms. Even at that, they wouldn't have had to address any ADA issues, most likely, except/unless they did decide to spend some money on it. It would have just kept humming along as was.

Did you see the bid proposals? The $55 million figure included renovation of the Coliseum (Britt Brown Arena) and the three (3) Pavilion buildings.

As part of a settlement of an Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit, the Sedgwick County Commission was legally bound to improve accesssibility to the building as well as other improvements.

With a $5.5 million cash reserve they should be able to figure something out. The state colleges are tough to use because of all their own activities going on. Try Salina, Topeka, Back to Back weekends or a 3 day event (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) for wrestling in one of those places - spilt sessions like other states use. They could run 6A, 5A, and 4A each division all in one day - If they change the amount of matches allowed in one day. One day weigh-ins - how does that sound? Every year it rotates what class wrestles on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It could be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each class has its own special day. Some years kids would not miss any classroom time.