Graham Fans Venue Question

[lucustookis]

Graham fas, I read on here a year ago where you have played some basketball games in the past at the National Guard Armory Gym in Bluefield, WV. I just did a google search and it said that place can hold 3000-3500 people. If so, then what's the deal? Why is the game tonight not there and if you win (a big if with Martinsville coming in) why is the game with GC being talked about at Tazewell High instead of that Armory Gym and knowing the McClung fans that will come? If you play your home football games in Bluefield, WV, then why not play the huge basketball playoff games in the same town that apparently has a huge facility? What's the deal? What's the rub man?

 

[pizzzzza]

My 'guess' would be the fact that it's in West Virginia - not Virginia - and I don't know exactly how that works for the VHSL - if there's some rule or something that the game HAS to be played IN the state of Virginia.

 

[lucustookis]

My 'guess' would be the fact that it's in West Virginia - not Virginia - and I don't know exactly how that works for the VHSL - if there's some rule or something that the game HAS to be played IN the state of Virginia.

I get that, but as mentioned in the post, Graham plays home football games in WV, and....I think Graham has even played playoff football games and a state championship game years ago in the state of WV. What I'm getting at is....why is the thought process immediately Wise or Tazewell and not the gym in Bluefield, WV 6 miles away from the school? Perplexing to me?

 

[eh31]

Graham fas, I read on here a year ago where you have played some basketball games in the past at the National Guard Armory Gym in Bluefield, WV. I just did a google search and it said that place can hold 3000-3500 people. If so, then what's the deal? Why is the game tonight not there and if you win (a big if with Martinsville coming in) why is the game with GC being talked about at Tazewell High instead of that Armory Gym and knowing the McClung fans that will come? If you play your home football games in Bluefield, WV, then why not play the huge basketball playoff games in the same town that apparently has a huge facility? What's the deal? What's

I didn’t see this thread until now so I just copied and pasted from the other one.

Bluefield high school used to play at Bluefield State College but it was too small so they play their games now at the Brushfork National Guard Armory which is just a couple miles outside of the city of Bluefield, WV and only around 6 miles from Graham High School. I’m not sure how much exactly it holds but it’s a good venue to watch an event. Other than the games they have big events there like the Coal show, the better living show, womens expo, etc. I don’t know if you follow Barstool Sports but they recently bought a boxing contest company called “The Rough n Rowdy Brawl”... and the Armory hosts the “rough n rowdy brawl” there each year & in December it was Barstool Sports first one as owners and they said it sold out both nights and ticket sales and pay per views sales equaled over 1 million dollars. I take the kids to a circus there each year and there’s not a bad seat in the place. The lower bleachers have backs to the seats too.

Graham plays all of their home football games at Mitchell Stadium in the city of Bluefield, WV and the VHSL is okay with that so I’m sure they could okay the Amory if they put in a little work but it’s the VHSL.

You can kind of tell in this pic how big the armory is. Under the opposite basket is a stage but I think there are pull out bleachers there too. If not they could always bring in temporary if more seats were needed.

 

[honestjohn60]

Why would you go to W VA for a playoff game?

 

[eh31]

I get that, but as mentioned in the post, Graham plays home football games in WV, and....I think Graham has even played playoff football games and a state championship game years ago in the state of WV. What I'm getting at is....why is the thought process immediately Wise or Tazewell and not the gym in Bluefield, WV 6 miles away from the school? Perplexing to me?

I really don’t know the answer but I’d guess that Tazewell County public schools would rather it be played in Tazewell County than in Mercer County, WV.

Graham does play it’s home football games in WV but Tazewell County Public Schools has to pay the city of Bluefield, WV $40,000 a year to rent the stadium for Graham, plus an additional $5,000 for each playoff game.

The city doesn’t own the armory of course so I’m sure a rental fee could be worked out but does/would the VHSL pay it?

 

[eh31]

Why would you go to W VA for a playoff game?

Bluefield, Va to UVA-Wise is around 95 miles.
Martinsville to UVA-Wise is around 195 miles.

Bluefield, Va to Brushfork, WV is 6 miles.
Martinsville to Brushfork , WV is 128 miles.

Playing the playoff game in WV would save over 300 miles of driving between the two schools.

 

[DMSpartan]

It's a question of "Who gets the money from the gate?" If they play at the Armory, Graham has to rent the site - in advance - and, since the VHSL gets the "lion's share" of the game's ticket receipts, it's likely that the G-men would wind-up losing money. And that's the truth!

 

[19GHS87]

Revenue sharing... They even do it for basketball down this way apparently. smh.

 

[valleydist13]

The main issue is the fact that these games aren’t at super sites. Furthermore, a state semifinal game belongs at a common venue..be it VCU or at least the super sites, either way, this is the worst state tournament set up i’ve ever seen. Poor planning on VHSL part.

 

[9fter]

the VHSL controls this and they are not going to let the game go across state lines where they cant control it,

 

[lucustookis]

the VHSL controls this and they are not going to let the game go across state lines where they cant control it,

I understand that. But the consequences are as follows.....Graham and Martinsville get to travel a combined 300 additional miles with no radio coverage, and no money going to Tazewell County or the host school. And again, still somewhat understandable....... if this didnt happen in football, but the VHSL only a few months ago allowed Graham to host not 1, but 2 playoff home games in the state of WV, and has allowed this for decades. Not only that, Graham played a state title game years ago in the state of WV. That's right, the VHSL state title game played in the state of WV. It's not like this is something new. I suspect this may not be a VHSL thing, but more of a Graham coaching preference thing, or.....a Tazewell County School Board thing where they don't want to pay the rental for the WV site. It could be a little of all three, but I suspect it's less about the VHSL than it is the local county school board or the Graham coach.

 

[eh31]

I understand that. But the consequences are as follows.....Graham and Martinsville get to travel a combined 300 additional miles with no radio coverage, and no money going to Tazewell County or the host school. And again, still somewhat understandable....... if this didnt happen in football, but the VHSL only a few months ago allowed Graham to host not 1, but 2 playoff home games in the state of WV, and has allowed this for decades. Not only that, Graham played a state title game years ago in the state of WV. That's right, the VHSL state title game played in the state of WV. It's not like this is something new. I suspect this may not be a VHSL thing, but more of a Graham coaching preference thing, or.....a Tazewell County School Board thing where they don't want to pay the rental for the WV site. It could be a little of all three, but I suspect it's less about the VHSL than it is the local county school board or the Graham coach.

^ my money is on the TCSB