Good job gang. The Clarion-Ledger reports Jackson is losing the MHSAA football champeenships:
For the first time in more than two decades, the Mississippi High School Activities Association will play its football championships away from Jackson.
Veterans Memorial Stadium, owned by Jackson State, had been the site of the state title games for the last 21 years. This December, however, the championships will begin a new four-year rotation, following the model set forth in 2009 by the Alabama High School Activities Association by playing the games on college campuses.
Mississippi State will lead off hosting the games and rotate yearly with Ole Miss through 2017.
With the championships moving away, close to $1 million will go with it. Last week, the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau reported a $2.7 million impact brought in yearly by the football championships.
However, Yolanda Clay-Moore, the public relations manager at the CVB, said Monday the data for the yearly economic impact had been revised. The data initially run by The Clarion-Ledger was the estimated economic impact, Clay-Moore said. The revised information showed that the 13,600 attendance mark for the 2013 football championships brought a $960,000 economic impact. Still, many in Jackson are concerned with the championships leaving..... Article
Well, it looks like Jackson loses.... again. Lets be honest. The championships have not even been an after-thought in Jackson in terms of tourism and economic development. The Frascognas wrote books praising Mississippi as the high school football capital of the world (although Texas might disagree). One wouldn't know it from that first weekend in December if he was in Jackson. There has been little, if any marketing of the event. The stadium looks run down. The teams show up in town, they play, they go home. We hear a little bit about it but if you weren't reading the papers, you probably didn't even know they took place.
There has been no marketing, no promotion of this event. This event could have been used to showcase Jackson to the rest of the state. High school football. Good, family-friendly, affordable entertainment. Lets be honest: We all took this even for granted and it bit us in the ass. The Jackson Convention & Visitor's Bureau did nothing although it will drop nearly half a million dollars on bluesfests that lose money. The Chamber? Not their problem. They hate seeing it leave but well, tourism isn't their thing. The City? Well, Mayor Yarber just walked into office so its not fair to blame him but we can blame previous Mayors who literally did nothing. Hmmm.... does the Mississippi Braves ring a bell? The Mississippi Music Hall of Fame (Yes Harvey, that means you.) Someone will blame the state or JSU for the condition of the stadium so lets blame them as well.
We could have used this event to promote Jackson to the rest of the state. Make it a giant tailgate weekend. Bands, booths, etc. in the parking lot. A battle of the bands or a cheerleader competition. More people attend these championships than do Mistletoe Marketplace yet which event does one see all over tv and social media? Its not the games on the gridiron. Such is the result when there is no branding, no promoting, and no serious effort towards creating an actual event. These people really believe if they have it people will come. Kind of like a college kid who thinks there are thousands of perfect 10's who will fall out of trees forever.
The games will instead rotate to the colleges. Yeah, that's nice. The furthest a family might have to drive is 3 1/2 hours to Jackson. Parents from the coast will now have to drive all the way to Oxford or from Tupelo to Hattiesburg. Lets face it, we had it, we blew it, and we lost it. There is quite a bit of blame to go around. What will be surprising is if anyone accepts it.
Note: You are so tired of the Senate race, feel free to blame Whole Foods if it will liven things up for you. One final thought: Can we outsource the JCVB to Natchez?
40 comments:
Where there is no vision, the people perish.
Don't let JSU off the hook as well. They made NO effort to try and keep the games. No bid at all. They probably realized they couldn't compete with UM and MSU in bidding for the games and didn't even try.
Both Oxford and Starkville will make maximum efforts to make this arrangement permanent.
Why was the stadium built in the first place? It's time to raze it.
By the sheerest of coincidences, I was there when Gov. Barnett lost it at halftime of the UM/UK game, and I also attended the Apotheosis of Tim Ellis against Notre Dame. Those were different times. Put up historical markers for those two events, and truck the rest away.
Playing the games at MSU and Ole Miss will help recruiting for the in-state schools. Students will walk in there and think--why go to LSU, Bama, or Auburn when I can come here...
Regarding promotions and advertisement, I would put forth that Jackson State and the C-L put in far more leg work and cheerleading advertising the upcoming basketball season/players than any of the other sports. The other sports have always been more of an afterthought, in my opinion.
They probably moved it away from Jackson because they don't want to get raped and/or murdered. Seems logical to me.
Would be real interested in knowing what the mysterious $30,000 expense is for. Time to do some investigating...extra "security" maybe?
in the late 50's both stadiums at MSU and UM seated about 30,000. the stadium in Jackson was built for both schools to share and I think it originally seated about 44,000. It was "renovated" and enlarged in the very early 80's. Ole Miss hasn't played there since about 1985 or 1986.
It was my understanding that this had more to do with a contractual dispute with JSU, rather than anythingmg the city could have done.
Once again Jackson shows its knack for running off paying customers while actively spending money appealing to demographics that don't have or don't spend money in the city. Call me an elitist, but I feel that marketing to people with money to spend in the city works better than appealing to people that statistically don't spend money here.
I have fond memories of watching Ole Miss vs. LSU games and even the Egg Bowl at Veteran's Memorial, but I certainly understand why the schools want to play those games in their multimillion dollar stadiums. How much should Jackson have invested in a stadium that will no longer be hosting big games? It's sad, but time has passed it by. Playing the games at the universities will probably generate renewed interest.
Also the Mississippi High School Activities Association deserves much of the blame for failing to market they games. They benefit financially.
Not true that JSU didn't do anything. Do you not remember their plan for a $300M domed stadium that they wouldn't pay for and no one would ever use?
I have a small quibble with the title of this post.
This is not a loss only for Jackson. It is a loss for the metro area.
Another step in the Govs plan to make this area into a medical Mecca.
This was not a Jackson issue. Once the state of Alabama decided to put their high school championship games at Alabama and Auburn, it was a matter of time before MS followed suit and put the games at MSU and OM. Those are the best facilities in the state and the athletes will enjoy it. The states of Georgia and Louisiana play their state championships in the Georgia Dome and SuperDome. The only way the State Championships will be coming back to Jackson is if a new stadium or dome is built.
This article and ALL the comments are hilarious. There is NOTHING the City of Jackson or JSU could have done to keep the games from moving. This was a backroom deal hatched YEARS ago. It couldn't be done then because they had a CONTRACT with JSU that ended this past December. The good ole boys at the MHSAA want to be like Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana. Further, the economic impact number is an estimate based on assumptions. Let's see how many FANS drive 3-6 hours to sit in the cold when they can watch the game on TV in the comfort of their homes. They will be lucky to get the 13,000 that attended this past year for those 2 days. The fans surely won't come from Starkville. Classes at MSU are over on Dec 2 and the games are during finals week. Good luck with that. It's easy for you guys to take shots but why would JSU waste the paper to submit a proposal so they could then turn around and say that the other bids were lower. Game peeps game Kingfish. The City and JSU are just the scapegoats for the good ole boys. Too many cowards on that board to actually say that they were going to move the games regardless!
4:16
So, Whitey done did ya'll at JSU wrong AGAIN. Damn dem good ole boys. Put up the proof of your alledged backroom deal, that was, of course, hatched YEARS ago, back in the Jim Crow days. Got to keep a brother down, right?
It could be about recruiting. Getting the best players in the state on campus and getting to play on an SEC field like the kids do in the other states. Even if a kids playing days stop after the championship game it would be a good story to tell later in life.
Exactly 3:17....if we want these kids to stay in state, let them play at USM, MSU, UM and yes JSU on a rotation. Not a fair comparison for 10th graders in AL to play at Bryant Denny and ours to play at Memorial. Put your best foot forward.
JSU did not bid b/c they are still in dispute with MHSAA for over $30k for the 2013 year after paying JSU over $80k. UM/MSU bid $50k each for this year.
Don't forget Northpark Mall. It was originally announced for the Jackson side of County Line Road. The city screwed that up, too. Now Kennuff is fighting the purported gun manufacturing plant on Norrell Road, comparing them to drug dealers. Keep it up, Fat Boy, and we'll lose that huge economic boost, too.
I'm old enough to remember driving with my parents to Jackson to watch some HUGE games at the stadium (Ole Miss win over Notre Dame, MSU win over Alabama). We attended the Billy Graham Crusade in the stadium. We always left town with the impression that Jackson could take or leave us. Sullen police officers yelling at fans, sloppy plates of food slammed down in front of us at local restaurants, etc. Jackson has never been very welcoming toward visitors. That's one of the big reasons the universities went home.
It's all about the participating teams and the fans enjoying the venue and benefitting from the experience. It has nothing to do with racism and the butt-hurt of JSU and Jackson bitchers.
This change will expose the best teams in the state to excellent venues, will give them a sense of excitement and will allow a variety of communities to share in the bounty.
A boy who plays in the updated, excellent facilities of the major colleges in this state will forever remember the experience and that opportunity may push him to the next level....chosing a Mississippi University in which to enroll.
Everything on this blog canNOT be about racism, Jackistan and the Republic of New Afrika.
258 medical mecca? If you only knew....but not just the governor. Former gov was real deep into medical mecca too and still may be......? Too many politicians involved in medical. Too much "opportunity" -- goes deep, real deep or....shall I say real high. Hhmmmm.
733 not all correct. The main magnet store in the mall had say so in this. Taxes cheaper on other side of road.
When I was in high school, the state championships were played at MC. It was a great game & we (I was a spectator) enjoyed being on a college campus! I imagine kids will love going to USM, MSU, or UM. It will be great exposure for the football players & for the other high school kids as well as parents. Also, college towns are welcoming to kids & parents. The venue is probably much safer as well.
I'm always dubious of economic impact studies. The estimated revenue is often way over stated. A lot of the money from the State Championship crowd was spent in Madison, Ridgeland and Flohood.
I'm surprised they stayed in Jackson for as long as they did.
A family trip to Oxford or Starkville might add an extra hour or two to the journey, but at least those towns aren't famous for random boil water alerts.
Why is USM not included in the rotation? It seems a bit unfair for teams in the southern half of the state to travel so far north to play in a championship game year in and year out.
5:38- my guess is that, as usual, the "big two" want to show off their stadiums, campuses, town atmospheres to the top teams in the state, therefore creating even more of a recruiting advantage. If it were simply a venue change for "safety", they could have likely returned to Mississippi College for the central location.
I really think this is about keeping more MS football talent in state (SEC schools) than anti-Jackson.
Kingfish's comments seem to bemoan the fact that a fan from north Mississippi might eventually have to drive to USM or a fan from the coast might have to drive half a day to Oxford. Face it, the 'fans' are typically parents, relatives and girl friends. And coaches and a few scouts. They'd drive over to Atlanta if the games were there.
Nobody attending these games could risk over-nighting in Jackson and it's my belief that very little money was being spent 'in Jackson' anyway.
People gritted their teeth at the prospect of coming into Jackson for these games, but found great relief when seeing Jackson in their rear-view mirror as the ate, slept and shopped in nearby towns or on the way home.
Consider, also, the fact that the youth rodeo, held at the coliseum property for quite a long time, pulled out and went to Hattiesburg, stating that they would not continue to subject their fans and participants to crime in Jackson. And who expects a Bassmasters Classic event to EVER return to the Jackson area?
All that aside, however, a college venue with a really nice stadium will be an exciting, uplifting, long-remembered event for family, relatives and players.
Recruiting. End of story.
7:35 a.m.: This move was not about crime in Jackson. If that was the case, why did they keep the high school basketball tournament in Jackson? This was about benefitting MSU and OM football programs. No other reason would explain USM being left out of the rotation.
You're ridiculous, 7:35. The move was because of a contract dispute with JSU and the chance to play in the biggest university stadiums in Mississippi. It has nothing to do with the fact that it is in Jackson. Your post is not only extremely negative, but baseless as well. Your animosity benefits no one, and it is inaccurate. If you don't want to come to Jackson, please don't because we won't miss you. I hope you enjoy your life in whatever Jones County-esque place that you live.
Those of you who think Jackson crime played no part in the decision are naive.
@ 2:08 PM. Agreed.
Jackson has a bad perception to most Mississippi residents not from the metro area.
The fact is when someone gets killed like the bass pro last year, it doesn't help that stigma.
July 23, 2014 at 11:10 AM
So, instead of taking the high road, the adult road, and saying that it's unfortunate that they feel that way and should give Jackson the chance to prove them wrong,you do as almost all Fondrenite children do and petulantly pronounce that you didn't want them here anyway, and include what, in your tiny mind, was some kind of insult.
You sir/madam are an asshole.
July 23, 2014 at 3:08 PM
And you are obviously Jones County's finest. I cannot imagine a worse insult.
Some of you are apparently naive enough to actually believe that this decision/contract was worked out hurriedly following a dispute with JSU.
And to the harpie who keeps bringing up USM, please read the paper and watch the TV news. Southern will join the rotation soon enough. The High School Athletic Association has no prevailing interest in whether a kid goes to Ole Miss, State or Phoenix University.
So, basketball games are left in Jackson? Those games draw so few fans (even parents stay home) that they could be played in High school gyms anywhere. High School football is a great Mississippi tradition. High School basketball and baseball are NOT. Sorry.
As the author of 7:43, I must say that 11:10 made my case perfectly. Thanks, bro.
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