New PIAA Football Championship Site?
- Thread starter 2020sports
- Start date
Sad. Anything for the almighty dollar I assume? It hurts the tradition in my opinion.
Any reason given? Seating capacity looks adequate, but not parking capacity. Agree that tradition takes a hit. Hasn't it been at Hershey since the start?
Is weird. But CV has a nice stadium with decent parking and good capacity. It's just 15" off turnpike (Rt-15 exit). They have it for next 4 years.
Many were complaining about the locker rooms and crumbling nature of Her Pk Stad. You won't feel swallowed up at Chapman Field, much more comfortable, good views all around. Cozy atmosphere that seats at least 8000.
Many were complaining about the locker rooms and crumbling nature of Her Pk Stad. You won't feel swallowed up at Chapman Field, much more comfortable, good views all around. Cozy atmosphere that seats at least 8000.
Last edited:
Been there since 1998, Altoona the previous 6 or 7. More than enough capacity. Maybe Herco upped the rent?
Look no dog in the fight but does State College High have the facilities? If not Beaver Stadium, being in State College would at least offer the central location and the idea of being "at Penn State" for a State Championship game. Most states host in a big college or pro stadium. Just seems second class to host your football state championship in a nice HS stadium.
Does the PIAA have enough money to pour into a municipal location for the sole purpose of hosting events like championships?
Does the PIAA have enough money to pour into a municipal location for the sole purpose of hosting events like championships?
I take it CV will have to close school on that Thursday and Friday? Can't see school being in session with a state championship game being played on your campus.
CV had to be the lowest bidder. This is classic PIAA. What's next, moving the wrestling championships to CV's gym? (granted, CV's gym is as nice as one will find in a high school)
Good point Relayer, can't imagine they would have kids in school those days. CV is a huge school (about 2,900 kids per their website) so logistically that wouldn't even make sense.
** CV probably was the "lowest bidder" as that's the state's mo or policy. HerPkSd is an impressive structure and I suppose people outside the area are impressed with that. It is grand in a way. Crumbling but grand.
** "Not"....State College is attractive and the geographical center of the state, just renovated but still smallish at 4000-4500. Chapman holds at least 8 grand. Altoona is at 10 but I don't believe capacity is the overriding issue given HPStad was a cavernous (sadly empty) stadium for nearly all games recently. CV certainly fits the bill in terms of location and size.
** If it's roughly a central PA thing or something close to that as in Altoona, the Reading area has some nice fields.
** "Not"....State College is attractive and the geographical center of the state, just renovated but still smallish at 4000-4500. Chapman holds at least 8 grand. Altoona is at 10 but I don't believe capacity is the overriding issue given HPStad was a cavernous (sadly empty) stadium for nearly all games recently. CV certainly fits the bill in terms of location and size.
** If it's roughly a central PA thing or something close to that as in Altoona, the Reading area has some nice fields.
This echoes what I mentioned but here's the info in more detail plus a linked article to Lombardi;
Mid-Penn Conference rep Cumberland Valley named PIAA Football Championship host for next four seasons
Updated: Feb. 23, 2022, 7:02 p.m. | Published: Feb. 23, 2022, 6:31 p.m.
Mt. Lebanon student section cheers for their team as Mt. Lebanon beats St. JosephÕs Prep 35-17 for the 2021 PIAA Class 6A Football Championship at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pa., Dec. 11, 2021. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com
By Eric F. Epler | eepler@pennlive.com
After concluding the last 24 championship football seasons at Hersheypark Stadium, The PIAA has selected a new host venue for the next four years.
The state’s governing sports body announced Wednesday that Cumberland Valley High School was approved to take over at 8,045-seat Chapman Field in December.
The contract runs through the 2025 season.
“We’re super excited about hosting it,” Cumberland Valley athletic director Mike Craig said. “We’re getting new turf at Chapman Field in August, a new Jumbo Tron, and looking to make improvements in other areas, as well.”
Hersheypark Stadium became the permanent home of the PIAA Football Championships in 1998, hosting four finals prior to the state’s postseason expansion to six classifications in 2016.
However, several challenges with conducting the finals in Hershey -- rising rental fees, insufficient locker rooms and practice areas, etc. -- likely led to the PIAA’s decision.
PIAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Lombardi addressed some of those issues with PennLive in October.
Hershey and Altoona, which hosted the state finals from 1992-97 at Mansion Park Stadium, did submit bids for the new contract. Penn State, according to one report, also submitted a bid.
Cumberland Valley High School, meanwhile, presents a similar, central location as Hershey. “We feel like we’re centrally located, with easy access to all major highways,” Craig said.
“We’re like 177 miles from Philadelphia and 190 miles from Pittsburgh. We’ve got plenty of parking and access to hotels and restaurants. It definitely will benefit our community, so we’ll do our best to make it a championship venue.”
Cumberland Valley also was named host venue for the PIAA Field Hockey and Soccer Championships. Field hockey also will be contested at Chapman Field, while soccer will be played at nearby Eagle View, where additional sets will be added.
Craig said the school will continue to host the volleyball finals, as well.
With all due respect to CV, and their "municipality" this decision by PIAA is a JOKE!! Lots of kids, parents and families will be very disappointed. Hershey was a "destination." It is was not pretty, but it was unique. Yes, other states play in Pro stadiums, and PA is gonna play at a high school? I know lots of kids and families and kids who visited there, watched games and PLAYED there. Never heard of anyone complain. Yes, the Hershey stadium has flaws. So freakin what- there is amusement park, and a huge CANDY store right beside it! And CV saying it a "good for their economy?" Huh? Sorry, not relevant to thousands of high school athletes across the state. Honestly, again, no disrespect intended to the CV community, but I have never even heard of Cumberland Valley. Not even a "famous high school." PIAA championship game will NO LONGER feel like a "destination." WPIAL? Those teams will slug it out, win their championship at Heinz Field, then make it to play in a championship- in some high school in the middle of the state that they have never heard of?? But is has a nice scoreboard, and a new Chik-filet nearby?
Mmm, maybe the "people complaining" was Bob Lombardi's friends or relatives, not liking the bathrooms at Hershey stadium. All of this to save the state a couple thousand dollars?? Ridiculous, sad and disappointing.
Mmm, maybe the "people complaining" was Bob Lombardi's friends or relatives, not liking the bathrooms at Hershey stadium. All of this to save the state a couple thousand dollars?? Ridiculous, sad and disappointing.
2020sports.
Many of us look upon the place as a grand old lady. I know, weird. But we’ve been seeing it since we were kids, flying around the sky on that woody rollercoaster since real small, seeing Globetrotters at the arena with dad as a little dude, taking in the park and games thru HS, college and some concerts at the place. It was always a big deal going to Hershey even tho it’s just 50 miles from Gettysburg. Later on chasing pretty things from Hershey (caught a few!), hanging at the hot spots since the Hershey Bears were a big deal at one point and that’s where the girls were trying to snag a Bear I guess.
We’ll all miss it but hey, HERCO can put a bid in like everyone else and maybe get it back. Franklin was/is pushing for it to be at Beaver.
So here’s a short history of Cumberland Valley since you said….you never even heard of it. Here goes, shedding some 20/20 so to speak on the topic.
** They are one of the winningest teams in the state at 530-229-11 since opening in 1954
** Serious commitment to FB in 1971 going 441-122-4 thru last year
** Conference titles, outright or shared
- Lower Susquehanna Conference (1955-1959) 0
- Capital Area Conference (1960-1981) 5
- Mid Penn Conference (1982-2021) 16
** District title since the process (1982) 13
Currently in a 4-year funk (3-7, 5-6, 3-5, 5-5), unheard of levels at CV with a glimmer last year emerging from the stress and strain of a new coach and system; Wing-T to Spread. HC is Josh Oswalt since 2020, their 4th coach since inception with a decent resume from Carlisle and especially Central York.
i agree with most of what you said, but since the PIAA went to 6 classifications some of the WPIAL title games have been played at high school stadiums
the 6A title game last year was at Norwin high school, in past years the 5A game was at Norwin I live in the Pittsburgh area and I've never been to Norwin so it's not exactly a destination point in the area
Cumberland Valley is a famous school to anybody that follows Pa high school sports , they have won championships in many different sports and are always highly competitive, though their football state title was 30 years ago with Jon Richie
I think at the very least it would've been nice to play at some college, the 1A and 2A Wpial title games were played at Robert Morris in recent years
I think Bucknell would be an ideal site: a nice stadium that's in every respect a step or two above any high school stadium but that wouldn't overwhelm / dwarf the crowd and the game like Penn State would.
It would all be much easier for any site if there were four rather than six games. That in itself is not a reason to reduce the number of classifications, but it's an issue for any host site.
Similar threads
