Benedict's CW Johnson stadium is inadequate for 4A/5A Championship games

[AngryMax]

Playing at Benedict is a joke in various ways. To begin with what kid grows up dreaming of playing in a high school state championship game in such a facility. And they see their neighbors in North Carolina playing in the big D1 stadiums. Same with basketball. North Carolina kids playing in the Smith Center, while the kids from SC have the thrill of playing at the odd location of USC-Aiken. Everything ought to be played in Columbia. They have the facilities that should be used, and a central location for everyone in the state. If USC wants too high a fee as has been rumored, then pressure needs to be brought to beat as our tax dollars fund that university. But that doesn’t overlook the fact that we all know Jerome, and his minions, will always opt for the easiest way out, no matter the result

1. USC-Aiken is a great venue for state basketball.
2. Kids playing for a state championship shouldn’t care where they play. They’ll play in a parking lot if need be.
3. SCHSL isn’t some all-powerful monolith. It’s the schools themselves. Including the favorite school of each and every one of you.

[SF Band dad]

2. Kids playing for a state championship shouldn’t care where they play. They’ll play in a parking lot if need be.
3. SCHSL isn’t some all-powerful monolith. It’s the schools themselves. Including the favorite school of each and every one of you.

2. The kids may not care where they play the game, but they do care if their parents, friends and relatives are still trying to pay and park halfway through the first quarter.

3. I understand that the HSL is composed of member schools, that is why I started this topic. I know that a lot of coaches and ADs (occasionally, accidently) read the posts on this forum. I'm hoping that one or more of them will start pushing for changes.

[Penguin]

I think that CW Johnson "could work", provided the SCHSL turns over management to Benedict. After all, they manage to have 5 or 6 home games per season, probably drawing more spectators than a HS Championship game. And the biggest issue that I see with that, is that added cost to the SCHSL. But seriously, come on guys, what do you realistically expect to get when your ticket tab is only 10 bucks? Do you really expect a College level experience for a fraction of the cost of a College level ticket? Most of the ticket costs are dispersed back to the participating schools. For years, I have said that Harry Perone Stadium is the absolute best choice that the SCHSL could make. Harry Perone can accomodate the largest crowds that High Schools would bring. The location is in the Columbia area. And seeing a paltry 15 to 20 thousand people in an 80 odd thousand seat stadium is hardly a good look. Plus, both of those in this state, still use antiquated real grass that is beyond dead in December. Paint is a wonderful thing, but the grass is still dead. There is no real answer to satisfy everyone, but just remember what you are paying against those lofty expectations.

[icoachfb53]

Lets just say Charlie and Jerome SUCK

[DFOLDMAN]

You're exactly right, I personally would love to see the game's back at Clemson, but I know that will never happen again.

The Shitadel is a much better option. A whole lot closer for Beaufort.

...it's The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.

Class of '85

Fear The Fox...

[Penguin]

You're exactly right, I personally would love to see the game's back at Clemson, but I know that will never happen again.

The Shitadel is a much better option. A whole lot closer for Beaufort.

...it's The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.

Class of '85

Fear The Fox...

Well, that explains alot. SMH

[SF Band dad]

For years, I have said that Harry Perone Stadium is the absolute best choice that the SCHSL could make. Harry Perone can accommodate the largest crowds that High Schools would bring. The location is in the Columbia area. And seeing a paltry 15 to 20 thousand people in an 80 odd thousand seat stadium is hardly a good look. Plus, both of those in this state, still use antiquated real grass that is beyond dead in December. Paint is a wonderful thing, but the grass is still dead.

Do they allow people to sit on the grass hill at Parone stadium? I was skeptical of the capacity numbers I found on the internet, and checked the actual square footage of the stands at a couple of stadiums. CW Johnson actually has 30% more seating area than Parone stadium, but if overflow is allowed onto the hill, Parone's seating area is 40% larger.

The home stands at CW Johnson are almost three times the size of the Visitor's. At Parone, they are equally sized.

[Penguin]

I have been to several SCHSL Playoff games at Harry Perone Stadium. Never seen it beyond full, but much like D3 in Rock Hill, it can handle a lot of fans and the atmosphere is amazing. There is plenty of room on the top decks as well. And, like D3, they have a great security plan in force to keep fans on the correct side of the tracks. I just don't think that a perfect solution exists for this problem, so I look for what seem to be the best alternatives. Living in a world where the "perfect" solution is the only acceptable answer, leeds to so much angst and unhealthy decisions.

[Rebel-Fan-74]

An additional "OPTION" would be to do some updates to gain additional capacity at one of the Columbia stadiums and make use of the stadium for games other than the State Championship Games. For example, Spring Valley's stadium or River Bluff or Irmo, or whatever, and have Week 0 games on Friday and Saturday and Week 1 games on Friday and Saturday that are sponsored by the SCHSL and have matchups like Gaffney -vs- Fort Dorchester, Beaufort -vs- Daniel, and these can be played at the stadium that was "upgraded" and help offset the costs of the upgrades.

[CITYSLICKER]

PLEASE GET MARRIED SO YOU CAN FADE AWAY LIKE ALL THE OTHER BURNS YUCKS

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