Despite the best efforts of the All “A” Classic Committee, the present All “A” State Basketball Tournament is a mere shadow of its former self, is bleeding money – rumored to be six figures in the past two years in Owensboro, and faces an uncertain future.  If you remember when we played in the Boys “A” Finals in 2004 and again in 2007 in Richmond at EKU, we played in front of huge crowds, and the event was marked with patriotic pageantry, a solo singer saluting each branch of the service, National Guard involvement with presentations of Players of the Game for each game and the live presentation of the colors for each day’s National Anthem.  There was a first-class Hospitality Room, a Press Corps room, and an area for the cheerleaders.  Teams were invited to stay for the duration of the tournament even after being eliminated, we received food per diem allowances, and blocks of rooms were provided by the “A” State Committee whose goal it was to one-up the KHASAA “Sweet Sixteen” State Tournament.  These are things of the past.  While minimal room allowances are provided, participating in the All “A” State Tournament has become a financial burden to the participating schools, and in our case, the actual team which represents our school in the event.

I almost felt sorry for the participating teams this year, who played in a near-empty arena with no bands, student sections, or pageantry.  It had the feeling as though we we merely going through the motions.  The All “A” hasn’t had a sponsor since Ashland Oil and Touchstone Energy pulled out.  They have been operating on a bankroll that was built up over the good years, but is being drained by low attendances, caused primarily by the remote sites the the tournament has called home over the past few years – Corbin, and Owensboro.  The Owensboro Sportscenter, is a perfect venue and Owensboro a perfect host city, but it is not centrally located and fans do not travel there to support their teams.

When we departed Richmond three years ago, we were told that it was due to the renovation of McBrayer Arena, which was completed earlier this year, and is being used for athletic events by EKU.  In talking to the senior members of the All “A” Committee last week and over this weekend they face a dilemma.  The City of Richmond wants to host the All “A” badly. It is a huge boost to their local economy, but the EKU Athletic department, committed to a ASUN Conference schedule and their requirements cannot free up their facility for the time allotment needed to host the All “A”.  Berea College was mentioned as a future possibility, but Berea College and the City of Berea, seem ill-equipped to host our event.  In addition to sports, the All “A” provides a myriad of scholarships, allowing it to maintain its 401-K non-profit status, but if sponsors are not found and their showcase event – the basketball tournament – cannot break even, they may be forced to drop “A” Competition of some of the minor sports that they presently sponsor.   Another issue is that the good folks who serve as the backbone of the All “A” Committee who have served in a voluntary capacity for decades are getting older.  The organization desperately needs an infusion of some younger movers and shakers with contacts to help carry the torch and revitalize the organization’s bottom line.

I am providing this as an update, simply answering some of the questions that I am asked.  I have no answers.  We can only hope that something will be worked out with EKU, that the event will return to Richmond, and the All “A” will be saved.