From Rachel Rygh
La Crosse, Black Hawk High School, Class of 2011
To the editor,
Unless University of Wisconsin-Madison can find a way around its sports obligations in 2013 and 2014, the state basketball games could be moving to the Resch Center in Green Bay for good. Due to men's and women's college hockey conflicts, the Kohl Center has become unavailable to host the state games on the Thursday, Friday, and Championship Saturday in March that they usually occur. Dave Anderson, a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association (WIAA) executive staff member, voted to make a deal with PMI Entertainment and the Resch Center in Green Bay for a five-year contract that could start taking effect next year as the temporary host to the state basketball games. If more conflicts within the Kohl Center arise, the games may permanently be moved out of Madison and into Green Bay.
According to Dave Anderson, the WIAA executive director, the WIAA profits close to $3 million during the state basketball games in Madison. Moving the state games to the Resch Center is a huge financial risk for the WIAA because it is its biggest moneymaker and it could lose a lot of money if this event is not as big of a success as it has been in Madison. The WIAA isn't the only one that profits from these games, though. UW Athletic Director Sean Frazier said that Madison's economy brings in about $9 million due to the state games and the tens of thousands of players, coaches, and spectators that tour and stay in the capitol city during the state games.
Since the city and people of Madison benefit greatly from hosting the state basketball games, the Madison community should be doing everything in its power to keep the state games in Madison.
La Crosse, Black Hawk High School, Class of 2011
To the editor,
Unless University of Wisconsin-Madison can find a way around its sports obligations in 2013 and 2014, the state basketball games could be moving to the Resch Center in Green Bay for good. Due to men's and women's college hockey conflicts, the Kohl Center has become unavailable to host the state games on the Thursday, Friday, and Championship Saturday in March that they usually occur. Dave Anderson, a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association (WIAA) executive staff member, voted to make a deal with PMI Entertainment and the Resch Center in Green Bay for a five-year contract that could start taking effect next year as the temporary host to the state basketball games. If more conflicts within the Kohl Center arise, the games may permanently be moved out of Madison and into Green Bay.
According to Dave Anderson, the WIAA executive director, the WIAA profits close to $3 million during the state basketball games in Madison. Moving the state games to the Resch Center is a huge financial risk for the WIAA because it is its biggest moneymaker and it could lose a lot of money if this event is not as big of a success as it has been in Madison. The WIAA isn't the only one that profits from these games, though. UW Athletic Director Sean Frazier said that Madison's economy brings in about $9 million due to the state games and the tens of thousands of players, coaches, and spectators that tour and stay in the capitol city during the state games.
Since the city and people of Madison benefit greatly from hosting the state basketball games, the Madison community should be doing everything in its power to keep the state games in Madison.
