The price may be right, but the facilities are wrong

It is always about money?

When it comes to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, it is a legitimate question.

In the middle of the girls’ basketball championships, I asked an LHSAA official if the association was happy with the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.

“They have done a nice job with the lights, and a new floor,” the official said. “Plus, they gave us the building for free.”

Burton wasn’t a bad site. But the basketball championships were once played at much better venues. The Cajundome in Lafayette hosted the boys‘ tournament for 14 years. The tournament was run well, and the event was centrally located.

The same could be said for girls’ hoops in Hammond – well conducted and an easy drive.

The LHSAA balked at the Cajundome’s request for a $55,000 facility fee. So, the event went to Ruston on the way to southwest Louisiana.

On the way to the girls’ semifinals on a Thursday afternoon, we passed the exit for the Cajundome. At that point, we still had 90 minutes to travel to get to Burton Coliseum. On Tuesday night, March 11, defending state champion Scotlandville beat St. Aug 47-46 in the 5A semifinals.

Scotlandville’s attendance at the game was mediocre. St. Aug’s was worse. Sometimes things that are free actually cost a lot more. Some venues are just the right fit.

The state wrestling tournament belongs at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner. After a one-year reversal, when the event foolishly went to Bossier City (where the building was free), it returned to Kenner.

The tournament is first rate. Plus, the vast majority of the schools who excel in wrestling are from the southern part of the state.

High school football exploded in the ’80s because of the destination. It is the desire of every Louisiana high school football player to go to the Superdome. More than 200 public school principals have those same aspirations.

In January 2013, they voted to split the football championships into public and private. The state 5A baseball tournament was very good at Tulane and even better at Zephyrs Field. Getting a chance to play in the AAA park enhanced the championship experience.

One of the considerations for awarding all seven boys’ championships to Sulphur was the ability to play on three quality fields. But, the 5A baseball tournament, the best there is to offer in the state, deserves its own venue.

So, if you are heading to Sulphur next Friday, make sure you allow enough time to get through the bottleneck on I-10 at the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge. Once you cross the bridge in Lake Charles, you are almost there.

In June 2013, Rodrick Anderson of the Sulphur Daily News wrote the following: “Sulphur is now the mecca for high school sports in Louisiana.”

Am I the only one who is troubled by that?

Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].