Statehouse Live: Location of high school football championship games focus of resolution

? Two legislators want the Legislature to suit up in a debate over where high school football championship games should be played.

House Majority Leader Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, and Rep. Lance Kinzer, R-Olathe have authored House Concurrent Resolution 5030.

The resolution supports conducting a statewide statistical survey of 11-man high school football players’ families to gauge interest in utilizing the stadiums at Kansas University, Kansas State University and Wichita State University as host venues for all five of the 11-man high school football championship games. Currently, the games are played at smaller venues.

The resolution states that a survey conducted by citizen volunteers in December already shows widespread support of parents from 32 high schools across Kansas to use KU’s Memorial Stadium and K-State’s Bill Snyder Family Stadium. And the resolution says that in most states, the high school championship games are played in large stadiums.

But the Kansas State High School Activities Association has rejected the idea. In the past, KSHSAA officials have said playing the games at larger stadiums costs more and may involve more travel and lodging expenses for fans.

Under the resolution, the legislators want an independent, third-party survey of parents to gather information about whether there is support to use the stadiums at KU, K-State or WSU for championship games in two out of every four years. The costs of the survey would be paid for by “volunteer citizens.” A hearing on the resolution is scheduled for next week before the House Education Committee.

If approved, the resolution would be forwarded to the high school activities organization and the Kansas Association of School Boards.