The future location of the 3rd Region Basketball Tournament is uncertain after seven of 15 member schools voted Wednesday against a proposal that would have kept the event at the Owensboro Sportscenter.
The proposal — presented by Spectra Venue Management — would have kept the girls’ and boys’ region tournaments at the Sportscenter, which is currently in the final year of its third three-year contract to host them.
Though the proposal did not pass — a two-thirds majority of 10 votes was required — no backup plan is officially in place.
That’s in part because the final decision actually falls to KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett, and the vote is more of a recommendation by member schools.
It’s possible Tackett could dictate that the Sportscenter is the most adequate facility and should remain the site regardless of which school is host. However, with such a close vote, members in favor of working out a different option are hoping Tackett opts to let the schools hash out their own solution.
According to past 3rd Region meeting minutes, the tournament could revert to what it was prior to 2012. It would rotate from school to school, with all four first-round games played at the sites of district tournament winners and the remaining games played at the host school.
However, no vote was taken on that plan, as all representatives agreed to wait for feedback from Tackett first.
Schools voting in favor of keeping the tournament at the Sportscenter included Apollo (9th District), Daviess County (9th), Owensboro (9th), Owensboro Catholic (9th), McLean County (10th), Muhlenberg County (10th), Frederick Fraize (11th) and Trinity (12th).
Schools opposed included Ohio County (10th), Breckinridge County (11th), Hancock County (11th), Meade County (11th), Butler County (12th), Edmonson County (12th) and Grayson County (12th).
Owensboro Catholic principal Gates Settle and Owensboro athletic director Todd Harper are both strong advocates for keeping the tournament at the Sportscenter, and not just because of its location.
“I’m disappointed because I think this is the best facility to host the region tournament in because of all those things that were discussed,” Settle said. “If there was a facility like this in other counties, then we should rotate among the facilities. To me it’s all about the venue and the facility, what you can handle and what you can host comfortably.”
Few schools truly have the capacity to host such a big event, let alone provide the full package offered by the Sportscenter. The package includes, in part:
• On-site event director, operations manager
• Media coordinator, marketing and social media manager
• Video board and operators
• Athletic trainers, EMTs
• Security
• Concession workers
• Staff ranging from ushers to gate workers to housekeeping
“I’m disappointed it didn’t get the 10 votes it needed,” Harper said. “We’ve had good momentum the last eight years. I think the Sportscenter has been an excellent venue and a great host. Everybody has been happy with the result on the court. To not show full support is disappointing.”
The drive to return a rotational site — or at least some version that doesn’t leave the Sportscenter as the sole host venue — has been championed by Ohio County principal Robby Asberry.
“I think there’s some schools that want to have it (at the Sportscenter), but there’s other schools that feel like it should be spread around amongst all schools,” he said. “I hope everyone comes together and comes up with a compromise that’s good for all schools. I think we can do that if we all just come to the table with the mindset that we can work it out.”
Plenty of issues and concerns still remain, and most pressing is the availability of the Sportscenter for the 2021 tournament if either Tackett chooses to keep it there or the host school prefers it there.
Though Spectra can keep the dates on hold for a short time while the schools seek a solution, there is some urgency required. Seven business opportunities were already turned down in order to host the tournament this year.
“We are going to be booking other things during that week,” said Laura Alexander, General Manager with Spectra Venue Management at the Convention Center and Sportscenter. “It is the most sought-after week of the entire year just because it’s the first week of March.”
Also of top concern are which schools are truly capable of hosting the tournament because of the size of their facilities.
Asberry said even if it’s at the Sportscenter most years, a handful of schools still want the opportunity to bring it to their city.
“I understand there’s different parameters as far as gyms go, but we can work that out,” he said. “I’m only asking for one out of every 15 years. I’m not asking to monopolize it in any form, but I think there’s other schools that would like to bring that to their community because it’s a big deal to them.”
Other concerns that will be in future discussions included Title IX, revenue sharing, travel and what do do if a school opts to let the Sportscenter host the tournament.
Settle said without knowing what Tackett will recommend, the uncertainty is a frustrating takeaway from the meeting.
“I think once a decision is made, everybody will be able to move on,” he said. “That’s kind of what we’re hoping for. Hopefully he can make a decision quickly and we can move forward with it.”
Harper said while there is plenty of disappointment and frustration, it is encouraging that so many people really care about their student-athletes. He, too, is hoping a resolution can be found quickly.
“I truly feel everybody thinks they’re doing the best thing for their student-athletes,” he said. “We’ve just got to be able to get it right. We’ll see how it all plays out. We’re going to play basketball no matter where it’s at and do the best we can.”
